Renovation & Design

Renovation & Design

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Bad plumbing may cause sewer-gas smell

QUESTION: We have just recently completed a cabin at Lake of the Prairies and are having some issues with sewer gas.

The cabin is constructed close to the lake which is man-made, where the Assiniboine River has been dammed at Shellmouth and flooded back about 45 miles. There are hills at the back of the cabin, the Assiniboine Valley, and the lake to the front.

The structure is a 4/12 pitch bungalow. We have one sewer stack on each end of the cabin. In the summer the sewer smell drifts down most times either to the deck side of the cabin or the back, where the main entrance is. I believe it likely has something to do with the air pressure, as you can really notice how the smoke from the chimney in the winter runs along the roof line, down and away.

Is there anything we can do that would stop the smell from coming down, possibly extending the pipes? Please let me know if you have any suggestions as there are times that you just can't sit on the deck because of the smell.

Thanks, Rita Hanlin

ANSWER: You have presented a problem that may be very difficult to solve, but has likely been experienced by others with similar geographical characteristics near their homes. An explanation of the situation is pretty straightforward and may help with remediation.

Sewer gas is produced from the waste portion of the plumbing system in buildings due to decomposition of organic matter from toilets and sinks. It may be primarily composed of methane, but will have other components that may be equally or more offensive and toxic.

Because of the hazardous and noxious nature of this gas, it must be eliminated from your home and prevented from entering the living area. Proper water-filled P-traps underneath the plumbing fixtures and drains prevent this gas from entering the living area. The open tops of the drain vents above your roof allow the majority of this gas to escape, relatively harmlessly, into the air outside.

In normal situations, sewer gas will naturally rise above the roof and be harmlessly carried away by wind and other natural forces. With your cabin, the topography of the land, combined with the high relative humidity due to proximity to the lake, is screwing up this natural process. You are likely correct that differing air pressures created by the valley and the hills surrounding the building are the culprits.

I have experienced similar situations on a few occasions with homes built on a slope above man-made retention ponds, even in urban areas. My initial reaction was to suspect a defect or blockage in the plumbing drains, but further evaluation normally reveals a temporary situation with no visible workmanship issues by the plumber. Unfortunately, there is little that I can offer as a solution to my clients, but rarely is it a serious or constant problem.

In your case, there may be more chance that something could be improved in the overall plumbing system, due to the nature of rural systems. Most modern rural systems are a combination of a holding tank, pump and field. Unless you have a very large lot, you may not have been allowed to drain your effluent to a field due to the proximity of the lake, so I will assume that you simply have a holding tank that requires regular pumping. In that situation, there's a chance that the excess amounts of sewer gas are escaping the tank due to its location, the length of the drain pipes from the cabin, or direct connection to drains.

The first option may be to install an inline backflow preventer, or backwater valve, to minimize gas escaping from the holding tank into the main stacks. Unfortunately, depending on the location of this valve, it may not be acceptable to the local building officials and they should be consulted before attempting such an installation.

The previous point leads me to my next suspicion, that the plumbing drains may have been amateurishly or improperly installed. If you have installed portions of the plumbing yourselves, especially the drains, you may have done something wrong. Improperly plumbed sink drains, missing or wrongly configured traps and vents, and other drain defects are some of the most common issues I find during inspections. This is particularly notable on newly renovated buildings, and can be attributed to amateurs that simply don't know the correct method of installation and function of these critical components.

If your plumbing is checked out and there are none of the defects I have identified, there may be little you can do to remedy the situation due to the topography around your cabin. Inspection of the system by a local, licensed journeyman plumber may yield a solution, especially if you installed portions of the plumbing yourselves. Beyond that, while only a stopgap measure that can provide temporary relief, you could use a common household fan to direct any noticeable odours and gas away from your deck when sitting outside.

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 e-mailed to the address below. Ari can be reached at (204) 291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca.

trainedeye@iname.com

Ari Marantz
September 11

Renovation & Design

Pick right fixtures and you'll see the light

Dear Marc: I'm working on the design for my living room. I'm going for a contemporary style, and have picked my furniture and a beautiful pastel colour scheme for my walls. I'm now shopping for light fixtures, but I have no idea where to start. Is lighting that important? -- Pauline

Dear Pauline:

There's a restaurant where the hallway going to the washrooms is so badly lit that women end up in the men's washroom and vice versa. During my first visit to the washrooms, I was welcomed by dark-coloured walls with a small source of light trying to illuminate the entire room. You can imagine my surprise, after trying to find the men's room for what seemed like forever, I walk in another badly lit room. The entire journey to the men's room was like an obstacle course -- and a race against time, might I add! As a designer, I wondered if the horrible lack of lighting was due to their small design budget for washrooms, but it was not the case: The washrooms fit quite nicely with the entire decor of the restaurant. So why would they choose to renovate the washrooms and not have anybody see them? It just doesn't make sense!

The same can be said for a residential space such as a living room. If you're going to spend hard-earned money on a space, it must be properly lit so the design is visible. Very few homeowners leave room in their budgets for lighting. Most of it is spent on furniture, accessories, textiles, paint, wall and floor coverings. Then, once all the items are purchased, the homeowner spends whatever pennies are left on light fixtures. This should not be the case, as proper lighting can make or break a space. I have seen expensively designed spaces look mediocre, simply because the light fixtures seemed like an afterthought.

There are three kinds of lighting: general, accent and local. General lights the overall space, while accents are used to light certain features in a room. Local lighting is for practical uses, such as reading areas. A designer space will maximize the use of all three.

In order to successfully integrate lighting in a space, draw up a floor plan. This will help determine which areas should have accent and local lighting. If it's an existing space, the general lighting will already be in place, therefore, you have the option of keeping the current lighting or upgrading it with the help of an electrical engineer. Before upgrading current fixtures, be sure to consider the amount of light the fixture will exude and balance that with the esthetic look of the fixture. A pretty fixture exuding very little light will have to be complemented by many accent and local light fixtures.

Another thing to consider is energy efficiency. While visiting your local light store, ask the staff about the efficiency of the fixture you have in mind. While shopping for fixtures, be sure to also bring along measurements of the room in question.

The fixture's size should be in proportion with the overall design and size of the space. Nothing looks worse than having a small fixture in a large open space. The same goes for small spaces. If your dream chandelier is too large for the space, choose the pendant version of the chandelier from the same lighting collection. Pendants come in smaller sizes than chandeliers and are often large enough to look perfect in small spaces.

A badly lit space is like dressing up for a party and staying home so nobody will see you. Sometimes you just have to put the limelight on your work of art.

-- Postmedia News

Marc Atiyolil is the editor-in-chief of Canadian Home Trends -- Canada's Home Decor & Lifestyle Magazine. To submit a question for him, visit CanadianHomeTrends.ca.

Marc Atiyolil
September 11

Renovation & Design

SOLUTIONS: Clip your costs

QUESTION: Some people say coupons are a thing of the past. Do you think clipping coupons is time well spent? What are some tips on smart ways to save money using coupons? Landon, Emerson

ANSWER: When you are a frugal person, count it as a blessing for your entire family! Start by collecting coupons for items you normally purchase. Refrain from clipping coupons just for the sake of saving money. Organize your coupons into a photo album so you can see what you have. Save your coupons until products are on sale; unless the coupon specifies otherwise, you can stock up on items and save a bundle if you use the coupons when the items are already sale price.

Unless otherwise stated on the coupon, combine manufacturers' coupons with store coupons. Do not feel you need to use store coupons immediately. Many 'in store coupons' are good for several months and can be combined with other offers.

If you do collect coupons for items you normally would not buy, exchange them with a fellow coupon collector. Participating in a coupon exchange club can expand your coupon collection and ultimately save you money at the grocery store. If you do not know where to join a coupon exchange, start your own.

Be careful when signing up for coupon deals on the Internet. Some sites offer worthless promises to save you money, just to capture your email address. It's sometimes wiser to go directly to the manufacturer's website and check for coupons.

QUESTION: What is bleach and is it harmful to use as a household cleaner? Tamra, Winnipeg

ANSWER: Bleach is a chemical compound derived from natural sources used to whiten and kill bacteria and mould. Simply put, bleach works by the process of oxidation. While you don't need to garbage all of your bleach cleaners, you may want to consider alternative choices. To some people, homes just aren't clean if they don't smell like bleach, but keep in mind chlorine in the home can be a pretty nasty product, not only for yourself but for pets as well.

Hydrogen peroxide is one option. It is made up of hydrogen and oxygen and in low concentrations it works well as a disinfectant and antiseptic without the smell and potentially harmful effects of chlorine bleach.

Just as a side note: Asthma rates in children under the age of five has increased more than 160 per cent from 1980-1994. Many hospitals nowadays are using peroxide based cleaners instead of bleach.

QUESTION: Your book series is a fountain of useful tips; I have bought several as gifts for family members. Here's my dilemma -- my car reeks! It smells like it's 50 years old. I wash the outside once a month but never bother with the inside. What can I do to cover up the musty smell? I have to give my boss a ride to the airport next week and I am embarrassed to pick him up. Do you have a quick fix? Thanks.

Laura, Winnipeg

ANSWER: The time has come to clean your car interior, but have no fear, it won't take long.

Number one, vacuum the interior and number two, use soap and water to clean the floor mats. Number three, wipe all leather or vinyl with a good-quality micro fibre cloth as well as the dashboard to zap dust.

Next, make your own car jar freshener. In a pot, boil half-cup water. Add two packages unflavoured gelatine. Stir for five minutes to dissolve. Add two drops food colouring (optional) and 1 tbsp. salt (to prevent mould). Pour half-cup cold water into the pot and stir. Pour solution into a clean jar and add essential oils or other bottled scents. Or if you are really in a hurry, drop essential oils onto a piece of cardboard or a scrap piece of fabric and place it somewhere in the car. The more essential oils on the cloth, the more powerful the smell, so be sure to choose a fragrance that you can live with.

Fabulous Feedback from Reader:

Dear Reena,

In a recent column, you answered a letter about preventing ballpoint pens from drying out. I think I can help with a trick I learned from my dad. The ink doesn't actually dry up in the pen. Ink dries at the tip around the ball of the "ballpoint." You can save a dried-up pen by holding the tip briefly in a flame. This melts the dried ink and the ball will move freely again. Take care, Michele

Tips for People Ache'n for Bacon:

-- Pull bacon apart with ease. Refrigerate for two hours. Place the package of bacon on to the counter. Roll bacon into a tube from short end to short end. Hold it for one minute. Unroll and unwrap; your bacon should now pull off and separate quickly.

-- Minimize bacon shrinkage by running bacon under water before frying.

-- Instead of frying bacon, bake it! Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Lay bacon pieces on the foil with the pieces just touching. Bake in a preheated 400-degrees oven for 15-20 minutes depending on personal preference for crispiness. Remove from the oven and serve.

-- Bacon grease can be frozen for future use; however, unless you have a steady supply of bacon grease on hand you can't use up fast enough, you can just keep it in the refrigerator. Pour cooled bacon grease into a thick glass jar or mug and refrigerate, topping it up with fresh bacon grease as you have it. Refrigerated bacon grease lasts for months and months with no problem. If bacon grease goes rancid, you'll smell it.

-- If you don't want to eat bacon grease, check out recipes for making soap using bacon grease.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO READERS: If you have called 'HOUSEHOLD SOLUTIONS' (204-320-2757) during the past three weeks to order books and your call has not been returned, please call again as the phone system had some behaviour issues.

Speaking of behaviour issues ... Happy Back-To-School everyone!

Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org. You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, Man., ROA 0C0.

Reena Nerbas
September 11

Renovation & Design

Your fireplace choice: update it or re-create

Dear Leanne: We want to update our family-room fireplace from its traditional light-oak look to a more modern feel. When we bought the house eight years ago, our furniture was traditional and it worked. Now that we are changing our design scheme, the fireplace looks weak -- not much of a focal point. Do we tear the whole thing out and start again? Or can we do some quick fixes to make it work?

 

ANSWER: The answer to both your questions is yes. It depends on what your overall expectations are, not to mention what your budget is for this project.

If you really want to pull off a designer's wow effect, starting from scratch would give you the foundation to create the room you really want.

Staying with the existing fireplace is an option that should be considered, however. Traditional mantels fall into many different categories, including highly sculptured designs exuding historical presence. These can have a phenomenal impact in the room, but I suspect from your definition, the mantel and surround in question may not be that interesting.

So even if you sand it down and apply a striking effect, such as gloss red, matte charcoal, espresso stain or a metallic paint, the bones of the fireplace may still be uninspiring. If you have a tile surround or brick accompanying the design, these will likely need to be replaced, regardless of the oak.

Your most cost-effective option is to refinish what you have. Some of the options I have just shared will certainly change the look of the fireplace and make it more supportive of a contemporary environment. You could try this first and if it does not give you the look you want, go to Plan B -- tear it down and re-create.

You can get some wonderful ideas simply by skimming through favourite design magazines and visiting show homes. To create a stunning contemporary fireplace, consider geometric shapes such as elongated triangular and trapezoidal silhouettes. You may choose to not use a mantel on the new design, particularly if it detracts from the lines of the unit.

Keeping the upper portion of the fireplace available for artwork will enhance the focal effect you are attempting to achieve. If you do wish to have a mantel, choose materials that are sleek and modern, such as metal, acrylic or stone. Contemporary design also masters the art of asymmetrical symmetry. This means that you create balance without mirroring the items.

Balancing visual weight can be achieved with colour, shapes and sizes of the elements used. For instance, rather than one long, horizontal mantel, three shorter acrylic or stone forms can be placed in staggered configuration up the wall of the fireplace to display eye-catching accessories.

Lighting will also play an important role in bringing your fireplace to life. Strategically focused halogen fixtures can highlight the fireplace's best features, whether it's a gleaming copper facade, a spectacular work of art or staggered sculptures.

 

Dear Leanne: How difficult is it to convert an antique dresser into a bathroom vanity?

A: I am regularly asked about this, confirming the growing popularity of repurposing antique dressers. Their stunning lines are making statements from powder rooms to master ensuites.

To address this phenomenon, major furniture designers have added vanities to their company's lines. So buying one would certainly ensure you avoid the work of transforming an old dresser. Still, there are plenty of antiques out there looking to be valued for their former glory.

In terms of difficulty, this is not a project for a carpentry or plumbing novice. We are talking about precision cutting and co-sordinating plumbing. If you have carpentry experience, this project may be perfect for you. If not, then take your design ideas to someone who can create the vanity correctly -- the first time.

Many antique vanities use the vessel-style sink as opposed to the mounted option. This is from a practical, esthetic and a labour perspective.

If you choose a mounted sink, you may be limited in your options due to width of the cabinet. Small oval sinks and bar sinks will likely fit the space allotment, but this may not be the look you are intending to have.

Remember that you need to fit not only the basin in, but the tap and faucet assembly as well. If your dresser has drawers directly under the sink, these will need to be permanently fixed in place. Antique cabinets with doors, rather than drawers provide a more efficient design for this type of conversion.

When ready to design your project, visit a local hardware and plumbing store and discuss your plan with the experts. A number of do-it-yourself websites, such as www.houseandhome.com/design/custom-vanity, can guide you through the process.

When you are planning, remember you are converting a piece of old furniture. The integrity of the unit will determine whether it is a good candidate for the project.

You must also consider that the wood top may be exposed to water. Take precautions to protect the finish with Varathane or consider changing the top to stone or granite.

-- Canwest News Service

 

Leanne Brownoff is an Edmonton interior design consultant who welcomes your questions at www.leannebrownoff.com. Answers will be featured in her column, as high volumes prevent individual email responses.

Leanne Brownoff
September 4

Renovation & Design

Know the formal, informal rules, then design home to suit yourself

Dear Marc: I will be renovating and redesigning my home this summer.

While researching the rules of design by reading through magazines and watching televised design projects, I find that not every designer follows the same rules of thumb. I find the entire research and learning process overwhelming and confusing. Which rules should I follow in my design project? -- Julia

 

Dear Julia: Today's application of current styles and design trends can be challenging, as homeowners have many sources of information available to them. The first lesson in design is that there are two categories of design rules: formal and informal.

Formal design rules serve as the cornerstone of every design project and should be followed to create successful designs. They are found in every design project, whether the design is televised or displayed in the pages of a glossy magazine. These rules reveal traces of colour theory, space planning, scale and balance.

The formal rules are constant in every design project. Colour theory, which comprises your primary colours (red, yellow and blue) and your secondary colours (violet, orange and green) does not change. Designers use these colours, which are part of the colour wheel, to help determine which ones can be used together for a successful colour scheme. If you're unsure of the rules of the colour wheel, I suggest you seek a colour consultation from a professional or extract a set colour scheme from an existing designer space.

In professionally designed spaces, look at the layout, scale and balance of the room. Take a closer look at the proportion between the furniture and other design/architectural elements. Is the sofa oversized? Are the furniture pieces blocking the natural traffic flow of the room? If so, the space is not functional and the furniture does not complement the design.

Design also comes in many shapes, colours and sizes. Therefore, every space is different. Designers have come up with rules of thumb to help homeowners with their design process. Although most of these rules depend on the designer's taste and style, they fall under the informal design rules and are thus customized from one source to the other.

Take a designer who loves multiple neutrals. His mantra would be that the pairing of multiple neutrals in one space creates peace and serenity. But to a bold, eclectic designer, the look might be monotone and boring.

As you can imagine, these informal rules are subjective and very much customized to the needs of the designer's style and target client. The key is to find a designer who reflects your style and integrate his rules of thumb in the space, as he will successfully personalize your room, while keeping in mind the formal constant rules of design.

 

-- Canwest News Service

 

Marc Atiyolil is editor-in-chief of Canadian Home Trends, Canada's Home Decor & Lifestyle Magazine. To submit a question for Marc Atiyolil, visit CanadianHomeTrends.ca.

 

Marc Atiyolil
September 4