Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Winnipeg Renovation Show on now
Today and Sunday are the final two days of the Winnipeg Renovation Show at the RBC Convention Centre. The show runs today from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This show has always kicked off the new year for home renovations and Manitobans lead the nation in that department. Manitoba is the only province where more money is spent on renovations than new home construction on a consistent basis. Winnipeg has the third oldest housing stock in all of Canada and home renovations are a very big part of our lifestyle.
The Winnipeg Renovation Show is unique in that it provides a free avenue for consumers to test the renovation market. The Ask a Renovator section of the Manitoba Home Builders Association booth is staffed with two professional RenoMark renovators available to answer your questions about a job you may be planning or just dreaming about. They are there to provide free 15 minute consultations to help steer you in the right direction towards an enjoyable and exciting upgrade to your home. Stop by the show and you will be able to pick the brains of some of Manitoba's finest renovators.
Whether the job is big or small; whether it's something you're committed to or just thinking about; whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or looking for a professional to help, this is the perfect place to start.
Whether you have created detailed plans, scratched out some lines on the back of a cocktail napkin or just have some thoughts, bring them along to the Ask a Renovator booth. Start your renovation off on the right foot with professional advice.
Don't miss HGTV star Bryan Baeumler today at 2 p.m. for what promises to be a terrific presentation. The Lifestyle Stage also features numerous other experts throughout the day, today and tomorrow. You can also enter to win a complete kitchen makeover from Springfield Woodworking valued at $10,000. Tickets for the grand prize are being sold by volunteers from Variety -- The Children's Charity.
Don't miss your chance to see all of Manitoba's best suppliers and renovators located conveniently under one roof this weekend.
For more information check out www.winnipegrenovationshow.com.
Mike Moore is president of the
Manitoba Home Builder's Association
Renovation & Design
Wash vintage plastic penguin with dish soap and water
Question: I have an original Fisher-Price penguin pull toy from the early '70s. Any recommendations for cleaning the plastic? Marion, Winnipeg
Answer: I think I know exactly which toy you are referring to. According to the Fisher Price website; "Regularly clean toys with dish soap and water (avoid anti-bacterial soaps). After cleaning, sanitize toys: dilute one tablespoon of bleach in one gallon (four litres) water." Wash and dry toys. Use a non-scratching, abrasive pad to erase marks.
Question: I am an amazing cook and all around fantastic housekeeper. My family and friends are always begging me to open my own restaurant. I love to cook and am an expert in international cuisine. I just have one question: I made cookie-cutter pancakes for my family on New Year's Day and I could not release the batter from the cookie cutter. Do you know any solutions for this? Roseanne, Emerson
Answer: Cooking is an art and it sounds like your family reaps the benefits of your gifts. Here are a few ideas for well-shaped individual pancakes: spray the cookie cutter with cooking spray before use. Make sure your frying pan is flat and the batter is thin enough to pour. Fill a squeeze bottle with the batter and squeeze the batter inside the cookie cutter to reach every corner. Alternatively, pour the batter inside the pan a little larger than the cutter. After the pancake is cooked, cut shapes using the cookie cutter. Or forget the cookie cutter and use the squeeze bottle to write names or draw pictures in the frying pan. When the batter bubbles, flip the pancake.
Question: I have a mat at my front door which has been there for about 18 years. I put a foam underlay under the carpet to prevent slipping. It has now welded itself to my oak hardwood floors. What is the best way to remove it without damaging the hardwood? Tom, Winnipeg
Answer: Rent a wallpaper steamer to soften the glue, or use a hair dryer to heat the underlay, and as the heat softens the glue, scrape with a plastic putty knife. Or spray the underlay with Resolve Carpet Cleaner and scrape with a plastic putty knife. Or wet the area with 50/50 vinegar and water. Leave for 30 minutes then scrape with a plastic putty knife.
Question: I was a guest in a friend's home recently and I was scandalized because she defrosted her raw and pre-cooked meats in the kitchen sink while she was at work for the day. I was afraid to eat it, as I understand any kind of raw and pre-cooked meat should be thawed in the fridge. Anonymous
Answer: You are right. It is recommended that meat, poultry and fish are defrosted in the fridge or microwave and not in the kitchen sink or on the counter. One exception is to submerge frozen packaged meat in cold ice water to defrost. As soon as the ice melts, the water should be replaced with fresh ice water.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Need a presenter on the topic: Effective Speaking or The Power of Words? Check out: Reena.ca
Renovation & Design
Basement floors require preparation prior to flooring install
Question: I like your column in the Free Press, and I have a question for you. We have removed our carpeting from our basement and now are considering what we should put in place of the carpet. We would like to put in laminate flooring, but people have told us this is not a good idea depending on moisture and that carpet tiles would be better. I'm confused. Is it OK to install laminate flooring?
Thank you, Shirley Trafton
Answer: Installing flooring on a concrete basement floor is often problematic, even in a dry basement. Condensation is always a consideration because the floor may be considerably cooler than the other basement surfaces, and special measures may have to be taken to prevent this from occurring. Laminate flooring may be a good choice, but should have subfloor protection to prevent damage from moisture.
Because the concrete slab in a basement floor is in contact with the soil beneath and touching the foundation walls at the perimeter, it may be considerably cooler than the air and surrounding surfaces in the same area. If the relative humidity (RH) is too high in the basement and air movement is stagnant, there is a high probability of condensation on the cool basement slab. If there is no floor covering on this slab, a small amount of condensation should eventually dry without any serious consequences.
Some white, powdery efflorescence may be left behind, but there should be little chance of any major mould growth or damage happening, if the damp surface is allowed to dry unimpeded. As soon as the concrete is covered, whether it is with flooring, storage boxes, suitcases, or other items, problems can occur.
The main considerations for choosing your basement flooring is it does not increase the chance of condensation and will not allow mould growth if that does occur. Carpets, whether they are made from synthetic fibres or natural ones, are not the best option. Even nylon or polyester carpets can absorb some moisture depending on the texture and can be difficult to clean. Not only can they trap moisture against the cool concrete, they may also be a great collector of dirt and dust. If this debris gets wet while embedded in the carpet fibres, mould growth is likely. This may only be noticed as a damp, musty smell in the basement, but should be avoided, nonetheless.
Carpet tiles often have foam backing that may prevent the actual fibres from touching the concrete surface, preventing wetting, but this can pose another dilemma. The foam backing can also act as insulation, preventing warm air from the heating system contacting the concrete surface. This can make the concrete temperature slightly colder than when uncovered, further increasing the chance of condensation. To make matters worse, the foam backing can also act as a partial vapour barrier, trapping moisture underneath. For these reasons, I always recommend removal of any existing carpets from the basement to my clients and avoiding replacement directly on the concrete floor.
Laminate flooring is normally comprised of medium to high density wood fibre with a moisture-resistant and scratch-resistant surface. The problem with installing this material in any location is it is not very moisture resistant on the underside. Also, water spilled or sitting on the surface for more than a short period of time will leak into the seams between the individual planks. Either of these water-related issues can cause the flooring to swell, rendering it useless.
To prevent the underside from absorbing moisture from the substrate or subfloor below, a thin foam underlay is normally installed, which also gives the floor a more cushioned feeling when walked on. The foam underlay may be highly moisture resistant, which normally will inhibit water vapour from travelling from the substrate to the fibreboard core of the laminate flooring.
The downside of this same property is condensation occurring on the surface of the cool concrete slab may not be able to easily dry for long periods of time. In that case, mould may begin to grow on dust, dirt and debris underneath the foam underlayment. If it remains wet, it will further the spread of the mould until the flooring is removed. Even worse, if a wetting does occur because of foundation seepage, the water trapped under the flooring may have disastrous consequences, ultimately requiring the removal and discarding of the laminate flooring.
The solution to this problem may be to install an underlay that not only is moisture resistant, but also has a mechanism to allow water vapour to escape in case of minor seepage or condensation.
There are several subfloor products that incorporate a plywood or OSB sheathing surface with a plastic or foam base and are moderately priced. The best ones have a partially raised or dimpled bottom layer that allows some airflow underneath to help drying. Once these products are installed, there is little chance of moisture absorption from either laminate or carpet because they are no longer in contact with the cool surface of the concrete floor.
Even if condensation does happen, it should be limited to the small air space under the subflooring, which should eventually dry if the subfloor is properly installed and vented. If the basement is known to have periodic seepage, the subfloor may be effective, or a more complex subfloor ventilation system may be required.
No matter what type of flooring is chosen for your basement, it should be installed with prevention of condensation from the cool concrete floor taken into consideration. The best method to ensure this is to install a subfloor with a vented airspace beneath, to prevent direct contact between the flooring and the substrate.
Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and the past president of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors -- Manitoba (cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be emailed to the address below. Ari can be reached at 204-291-5358, or check out his website at trainedeye.ca.
trainedeye@iname.com
Renovation & Design
Coffee grounds keep curious cats out of mischief
Question: I saw the blurb about using used coffee grounds to keep cats away from the Christmas tree. Will this work to keep cats from scratching behind furniture? Do the grounds have to be kept moist or can they be dry? Heather, Winnipeg
Answer: The mere aroma of dry coffee grounds has the capacity to keep some cats away, while others don't mind the smell. Positioning a cat scratching tree near the furniture is another great deterrent for cats who like to scratch. Or spray the cats with a spray bottle filled with water and say the word no when they scratch -- repetition is key. If cats tend to jump on furniture while you are away, lay strips of aluminum foil on furniture or cut up plastic computer floor mats and place them on the furniture with the spikes up. Cats won't like the feeling on their cute little paws.
Question: My problem is that I cannot keep my packet of brown sugar soft. It always goes hard and lumpy and I have to throw it away. I keep it carefully closed and sealed, and in a dry cupboard. I seem to remember my mother saying to put something in with it to prevent hardening, but can't recall what she advised. Do you have any suggestions? Carol, Carrot River
Answer: The most common solutions are to store pieces of bread, or halved apples in brown-sugar containers to prevent future hardening. But the best little gadget for softening is a little piece of moistened clay. These can be purchased at most stores where household items are sold. Extra tip: In order to soften brown sugar put it in a container and place it in the microwave with a small bowl full of water beside it. Microwave for about 1 minute. If it is still hard, microwave for an additional 30 seconds. Repeat until sugar is soft, being careful not to burn the sugar.
Question: I had some bleeding as a result of surgery. Now my white cotton duvet cover has some blood spots on it. I have tried hydrogen peroxide, both dabbing and soaking the spots, to no avail. What am I doing wrong? What else should I try? Many thanks. Moira, Winnipeg
Answer: Normally either Head and Shoulders Dandruff shampoo or three per cent hydrogen peroxide are the best products on the market for getting rid of old and new blood stains. However, since the stains remain, your best bet is to purchase Rit Dye Remover and use it according to the directions on the box. The blood has dyed your duvet, and Rit will extract the dye. Places such as Michaels carry this product.
Note: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of any suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Need a presenter on the topic: Effective Speaking or The Power of Words? Check out: Reena.ca
