Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Chalk it up to good style
Everyone's life needs a bit of organization -- so why not do it with a bit of fun and whimsy? For a new way to get organized, think charming, unique. Think chalkboard paint.
That's right, the Krylon paint company tells us that the old-school chalkboard is making a stylish comeback. Take a look at these creative tips to make your home organized, stylish and enjoyable:
Definable Drawers
The best way to overcome clutter is to ensure everything has its place, and labeling is a great way to stay organized. But using stickers and markers for identification can sometimes look plain and boring, and are more permanent. Luckily, there's another way to label -- chalkboard paint.
Drawers are ideal for storage and come in a variety of sizes to store anything from toys to jewelry. First, clean and paint your drawers in a colour that coordinates with your room's décor. Once the paint is dry, create a border around the front of each drawer with painter's tape and then spray several even coats of the Krylon product called Chalkboard Spray Paint inside the taped area. When the entire project is dry, use chalk to identify the contents of each drawer.
Paint The Clock
To organize your schedule -- or your whole family's -- keep track of time with a fun and creative schedule clock. This unique project replaces traditional hours and minutes with your daily activities.
Start by finding a large, flat, wall-hanging clock and carefully remove the hands. Then, apply a coat of the Indoor/Outdoor charcoal black primer to cover the entire clock, making it the same even colour. Once the primer has dried, apply three coats of the Chalkboard Spray Paint. Finally, when the clock is fully dry, re-attach the clock hands and finish by designating certain hours for your daily tasks.
This project is especially ideal for young children who don't yet know how to tell time; simply use drawings to help them know when it's time for their activities.
Labels for Entertaining Tables
Chalkboard paint can be the perfect addition to many of your go-to entertainment pieces. Spray the base of your wine glasses and label with guests' names to keep track of drinks. Spray the fronts of buckets, bowls or canisters to call out their contents. Spray a large platter or board to create a welcome sign or menu for your guests. The ideas are endless. And, for an extra decorative touch, use Krylon Leafing Pens to create whimsical designs around your creations.
Soon, your home will feel more organized and stylish with these easy and delightful craft ideas. And the best thing about the chalkboard finish, is that you can constantly change it up. Simply erase and write something new.
More information is available online at www.krylon.ca.
Renovation & Design
ASK THE INSPECTOR: Asbestos tape can be covered, left alone
QUESTION: I have just discovered we have asbestos tape on our heating-pipe joints in an area where the ceiling is open. There are about 30 pieces of tape. Can I just tape over them with duct tape? What is the best way to handle this? If I hire a company to deal with this, can you recommend any reliable companies? Thanks, John Carey
ANSWER: Asbestos in common building products has been a concern for several decades, especially when renovations or age deterioration occur. But health hazards usually only arise when the fibres become airborne, so asbestos-containing materials on your heating ducts should be a concern only if they are worn. Fortunately, you can probably deal with old tape on a few heating ducts in your basement in a cost-effective manner without professional help.
Asbestos is a very fibrous material that has been used in countless products for decades because of its strength and fire resistance. Because it will not burn, it can be embedded in cement, wood fibre, vinyl and other building materials to improve resistant to fire.
Unfortunately, the natural configuration of the tiny asbestos fibres means they can become easily embedded in human tissue if inhaled. These fibres may remain in the body for many years and have been linked to several serious illnesses, including cancer. Because of this, efforts should be made to avoid any exposure to asbestos, and products containing asbestos have been removed from thousands of buildings.
There's probably little reason for concern with the small amount of asbestos-containing duct tape seen in your home. The small amount of asbestos fibres contained in the tape do not normally dislodge unless the material becomes worn or damaged. Still, with any material known to contain asbestos, care should be taken, regardless of how minimal the health risk may be.
If the material is intact and not torn or loose, leaving it alone or encapsulating it is probably the best option. But if the tape is loose and hanging from the ducts or ends are torn or frayed, then removal is recommended. When this type of tape deteriorates, the asbestos fibres have a much higher chance to become friable and airborne.
Because this tape is accessible, you may wish to try encapsulation. This means sealing the exposed surface of the asbestos-containing material to prevent deterioration and eliminate the chance of friability. This is often done by spray-painting the surface of the material, coating it with a thin layer of plaster and canvas, or other methods.
One method that is normally within the skill-set of many homeowners is to cover it with duct tape, as you've suggested. I normally recommend self-adhesive aluminum duct tape for this purpose, as it tends to adhere better and longer than traditional vinyl or cloth duct tape.
Before starting any encapsulation or removal of this hazardous material, proper safety precautions, especially breathing protection, are essential. Buying or renting a respirator approved for asbestos is absolutely necessary before doing anything.
The area to be remediated also should be isolated and sealed with polyethylene sheathing to trap any fibres that may become loose during encapsulation or removal. This will also make it easier to clean up the area, preventing contamination of other parts of the home.
Covering your head and body completely, often with disposable coveralls, is also necessary to prevent loose fibres from leaving the area and spreading throughout the home. If portions of the tape are removed, they should be collected and sealed in a doubled-up plastic garbage bag, and taken to a hazardous-waste collections site for proper disposal.
As reluctant as I am to recommend that homeowners can deal with potentially hazardous materials personally, the small amount of duct tape in your home may fall into that category. There are several highly competent environmental companies in our area that are specially trained to deal with these types of hazards, but costs for proper professional removal may be prohibitive.
Still, if you don't believe you have the skills or will to deal with this yourself, contacting a certified asbestos removal contractor for encapsulation or elimination is the next step.
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
