Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Mirror trick brightens your outdoors
Dear Debbie: We live in a townhouse with a small back deck that gets lots of sun. We enjoy it all summer long as a quiet spot to relax -- it's just big enough to have a few friends drop by for a barbecue. Do you have you any ideas for making the space look bigger? Ben
Dear Ben: I discovered a brilliant idea a few weeks ago when I peeked into my neighbour's garden. He's a big rugby player, but deep down obviously has a great sense of style. Mirrors have always been one of the best solutions for making small spaces look larger. My friend has mirrored one garden wall. (You can use exterior-grade mirrored glass or plastic-backed mirror.) Lattice panels sit in front of the mirror, giving the impression you are looking through the lattice into more garden. It doubles the space. Very clever! Luke Brown took this photo so I could share the look. Old ladders rest against the walls; flower boxes and ivy decorate the lattice and metal flower pots are stacked up on the ladders. The table is also an easy project -- a piece of plywood covered in a sheet of bendable metal rests on two wrought-iron bases that have been spray-painted red. Benches are space-savers too, and suit the casual nature of the garden. Try the magic mirror trick, and enjoy the rest of the summer.
Dear Debbie: We bought a 30-year-old condo for our retirement and plan to fix it up nicely but do not want to put so much of our budget into tearing out the popcorn ceilings. Is there an alternative? The ceilings are low except for the cathedral ceiling in the living room. Ann
Dear Ann: I wish I had a magical answer for you, but I've yet to discover one. Popcorn ceilings have haunted decorators and homeowners ever since they were blasted on as an inexpensive way to cover a ceiling, especially when there were cracks and imperfections to hide. Removing the popcorn is messy and you will have to patch and plaster to get a smooth surface for paint. Or apply wallpaper designed for ceilings. You can paint over the popcorn to freshen it up. Use a split foam roller to get into all the nooks and crannies. If you decide to change the look, the most reasonable option is to apply ceiling tiles over the popcorn. Check your area home-renovation store and the internet for Styrofoam or metal ceiling tiles. They come in a variety of patterns and are paintable. You could also have plywood planks installed for the cathedral ceiling, again easy to paint.
Dear Debbie: We remodelled our kitchen 15 years ago and still like our solid surface countertops and light-wood cabinetry. However, we would like to add something fresh and new. Would glass tiles on the backsplash work with this type of countertop? Sandy
Dear Sandy: Glass tiles come in so many sizes and colours now that you can devise any pattern you choose in the space you have. Since your countertop and cabinetry are both solid colours, here's an opportunity to build in some interesting texture. A multi-coloured one-inch glass-tile combination in shades of mocha, coffee and cream would create a modern and fresh focal point and add sparkle to the room. Your tile store will let you bring home samples to test on site, which is always a good idea. Once you have seen the colourways of these beautiful tiles, you will have a difficult time making a choice.
Debbie Travis' House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. You can follow Debbie on Twitter at www.twitter.com/debbie_travis, and visit Debbie's new website, www.debbietravis.com.
Renovation & Design
Keeping the sheeting from rotting the shingles
QUESTION: My cousin built a house in a rural area of Manitoba about 35 years ago. His north and south walls are sheeted with Aspenite, and shingled with asphalt shingles. He has about a five- to 10-degree angle on the wall sloping in at the top. The shingles are in good shape, in fact they look brand-new. He has a problem with the Aspenite rotting away under the shingles, enough that they fall off in the area where the rot is. This is the second time this has happened to him. I feel he should strip all the shingles on both sides, repair the rotted portions, cover the wall with Tyvec and put on vinyl siding.
Do you agree this would be his best way to solve the problem? During the '40s and '50s, people would cover their walls with imitation brick panels, which looked like impregnated ground-up paper and tar. I heard a lot of walls rotted out because of this.
Thank you, Jack Aspin
ANSWER: I think you have a very good grasp on the problem and a very reasonable way to solve it. Your advice to your cousin is sound and I will elaborate on the reason for this and caution others about the reasons for this occurring.
Many homeowners will realize excessive moisture is the largest factor in deterioration to their homes. Not as readily understood is that most exterior siding appears to be impervious to water, but is actually not. Many types of siding materials are quite porous and will allow significant amounts of moisture to penetrate. While this seems odd on the surface, the explanation makes perfect sense. What we have to understand is many of the best building materials in our homes can absorb quite a bit of moisture from the environment. Proper release of this moisture is the true key to longevity.
To illustrate the previous point, we should look at two of the most common types of siding materials used historically: brick and stucco. Both of these products are made of natural materials that have been modified, mainly cement and clay. While they appear to shed water at the surface, both of these actually absorb water quite readily. That is why we may see a significant colour change when they are wet, as opposed to dry. What makes them both good siding materials is the ability to easily dry out after a significant wetting, with the help of sun and wind. This property is critically important in allowing the escape of moisture that gains entry to the wall cavity, behind the siding. This prevents trapping moisture in the wall system, which is the obvious cause of your cousin's dilemma.
Another unknown feature of many siding applications is there is a small gap behind the siding that helps in its drying properties. Both of the previous types of siding normally have a built-in cavity, which prevents any moisture that penetrates the full thickness absorb into the wall sheathing. With brick and stone veneers, a small void is installed by leaving the masonry finishes slightly away from the sheathing. With stucco, the wire reinforcement that holds it in place is crimped to naturally form a small space behind the initial "scratch coat" after it cures. Both of these small voids allow excess moisture that may develop in this area to run down to the bottom of the siding and harmlessly leak out to the exterior. For brick veneer walls, small weeping holes are installed in the bottom course, every few bricks, to allow this water to drain. For stucco, an often unnoticeable gap along the bottom serves the same purpose.
What is also critical is the building paper or housewrap installed between the sheathing and the siding. This material provided the dual purpose of being an air barrier, and moisture wicking from the wall assembly. While these paper-thin membranes allow water vapour to escape the wall cavity, they also prevent wind-driven rain from wetting the exterior sheathing. They also provide a moisture-resistant surface, for water that penetrates the siding, to flow down. Both of these properties prevent rot in the wooden sheathing on the outside of the wall. While it is slightly different in nature, natural wood or vinyl siding also should operate in the same manner in relation to moisture.
Older homes with typical horizontal siding, often referred to as lap siding, also have a gap behind to allow escape of moisture. This type of siding only has the top portion touching the building paper, with the bottom resting on the upper section of the lower piece of tapered wood. This creates a small gap behind a portion of each piece, so any water that penetrates the surface will drip on to the lower section. Because the bottom of the siding is not securely fastened, this moisture can work its way out to the exposed surface, where it harmlessly dries, preventing the wood from rotting. Vinyl siding, while not as breathable as wood, is also loosely connected to the lower sections and has small drain holes integral in the bottom of each piece. This also allows any rain or melted snow that penetrates the surface to escape.
You have properly identified the problem with using materials for siding that were not designed specifically for that purpose. Asphalt shingles may be well-designed for roofing, due to their properties of being completely impenetrable to water when sealed, but that does not suit a siding application. Proper siding materials should be somewhat permeable to moisture, and be designed with a method to eliminate any moisture that does penetrate the surface. They must also be able to allow the escape of water vapour that penetrates the wall assembly from the living space, not trap it like the asphalt roofing on the house in question. Use of proper vinyl siding and synthetic housewrap sheathing should prevent a recurrence of the problems, as you have suggested.
Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and the president of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors -- Manitoba (www.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 www.trainedeye.ca.
trainedeye@iname.com
Renovation & Design
A lingering stink in the sink
QUESTION: You helped me before with removal of odor from spilt milk in my car. I am currently trying to remove a constant odor arising from our kitchen drain. I have "scoured" the pages of your book, Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets but was unable to find what I need. We tried baking soda and hot water but were not successful. We do not have a garburator but try to collect debris in the drain strainers. However, I know bits and pieces slip through. Suggestions please. Thank you so much. Beverley, Winnipeg
ANSWER: The overnight baking soda, hot water and vinegar solution is a powerful way to freshen drains and using this method once a month has no disadvantages. However, if your sink continues to smell, you may have a clog in your pipes which will need to be cleaned out. Other causes of smelly drains are old grease sitting in pipes for a long period and becoming rancid or, poor ventilation. Instead of vinegar, pour 1 cup household non-sudsing ammonia down the drain and chase with 1 cup baking soda. Plug drain and leave overnight. In the morning remove drain and pour boiling water down the drain. If smell remains call in a licensed plumber to check out the system, and vent lines. The plumber should also check valves, and controls needed to bring the job up to code.
Extra tip for people who do own a garbage disposal: Regularly drop ice cubes, lemon and orange peels through the garbage disposal to freshen.
QUESTION: Can you tell me if there is a special name to describe deer meat? Thanks, Penny, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Never worry about asking me a question, smart people ask questions. Deer meat is most commonly known as Venison.
Did you know? The term 'venison' originally referred to the edible flesh of any wild animal.
Dandruff is the shedding of the skin on the scalp, and a little dandruff is normal for everyone. If you have an oily scalp, the Mayo Clinic recommends shampooing often to prevent dandruff. Another solution is to clean hair with shampoos containing tea tree oil, use only a few drops and stop use if scalp becomes irritated. If you are desperate, visit a dermatologist and he/she can prescribe medicated shampoo.
Fabulous Tips of the Week
*An effective way to remove bird poop off of an outside deck is to scrub it with red cider vinegar. Works great! Submitted by: Jan
* Clean windows, glass and mirrors by collecting tea leaves in a bucket. Cover with rainwater and leave overnight. Strain and use with a squeegee. Dry with 3 day old or older newspaper.
*After raking the yard, do not throw away the leaves. Spread them over the garden and wet down. Till in the spring, this adds nutrients for the plants, as the leaves decompose.
*If your bathtub has a yellow or brown stain around the drain hole. Lay a dishcloth over the drain hole and soak the cloth with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Next sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda onto the cloth. Flip the cloth (baking soda side down) over the drain hole and leave for a few hours. Scrub with a nylon pad to remove the stain.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Missed a column? Can't remember a solution? Need a speaker for an upcoming event? Check out my brand new videos/blog/website: reena.ca!
Renovation & Design
Heard of cola for cooking?
QUESTION: I was asking a clerk in our local store about cola for cooking and he had never heard of it. Where can I find it? Secondly, what I have found most excellent for mosquito bites is to put a teeny dab of toothpaste on the bite and you can forget all about it. It works like a charm, believe me. And, when I burn a finger working around the kitchen, I always put it under cold water for a minute, then dab it with a towel to get most of the water off. Then I put on some lavender oil (available in health stores). Years ago, two men were working in a lab when one of them burnt his hand. He automatically pulled his hand away and inadvertently put it into a bowl of lavender oil. It healed right away, with no scarring or anything. I am loving your books! Sincerely, Gordon (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: Thank you for the great solutions. With regards to cola, this refers to cola products such as Pepsi, Coca Cola, etc. The combination of carbonic, citric and phosphoric acids can be used for making chili, BBQ sauce and brownies, and cooking/marinating meat.
QUESTION: I heard you on the radio but I could not get through before the show ended. Root weevil (strawberry I think) have gotten worse inside our house over the years. I kill about 50 to 100 a day. We are trying to reduce outside foliage and plan to replace flooring (mostly carpet) in future. We have kids and the weevils are in all rooms. I would like some suggestions if possible. The house is well-sealed; the attached garage not too bad. I am looking for a solution for inside if possible as now that they (weevils) are inside, it seems they are here to stay. Thanks in advance. David (West St. Paul)
ANSWER: Strawberry root weevils look like large wood ticks. A single female can lay up to 400 eggs, and this challenge needs immediate attention as they sometimes wander into houses by mistake as accidental invaders. Household aerosol insecticides are not very effective for controlling weevils. Your best bet is to vacuum them up as soon as you see them. Secure a plastic bag over the vacuum nozzle when not in use so the weevils do not escape. If the problem persists, contact an exterminator.
Fabulous tips of the week
-- Secure a button permanently with dental floss; it is much stronger than thread and perfect for repairs to outdoor items. Because dental floss is resilient but fine, it is an ideal replacement for thread when you are repairing an umbrella, tent or rucksack.
I enjoy your questions and tips, keep them coming. Missed a column? Can't remember a solution? Need a speaker for an upcoming event? Check out my videos/blog/website: www.reena.ca