Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Cut the trash: Reduce, reuse recycle
Let's face it we all produce garbage, and we are all part of the problem. The good news is that we can also be part of the solution. Studies show that 65 per cent of garbage can be recycled or composted instead of tossed. Instead of throwing away items we no longer need, why not make sure they find their way to the next stage in their life cycle?Did you know? 17 million Canadians (nearly 2/3) have access to recycling.
1. REDUCE: Every person creates an average of 4.6 pounds of waste per day -- almost double the amount created 35 years ago. Reducing the amount and the toxicity of the waste is the preferable method of waste management. Reducing is easy! Buying bulk, purchasing longer-lasting products and demanding that manufacturers use less packaging for non-bulk items are simple ways of reducing waste.
Did you know? Since 1986, the average weight of soft drink cans has been reduced by 33 per cent and 2-litre plastic soft drink bottles went from 68 grams of plastic per bottle to 51 grams -- saving 250 million pounds of plastic per year.
2. REUSE: Before throwing household items away consider another use for them. For example, a scratched CD makes a great reflector. Get creative or donate items you no longer want to charity and community organizations. Reusing is a step above recycling because less waste all together is produced.
3. RECYCLE: According to the EPA, in 1999 recycling, including composting, diverted 64 million tons of material from landfills and incinerators. The benefits of recycling include conservation of resources, prevention of greenhouse emissions and other pollutants, saving energy, creating jobs, stimulating development of greener technologies and reducing need for landfills. Tip: Buy products that contain recycled materials.
4. Whether at home or in the office, use both sides of every sheet of paper and print double-sided copies instead of single.
5. Try to reuse every scrap of paper, even if it is written on before recycling it. You can even go one step further and buy writing pads that are made with recycled paper and cost a fraction of the price.
6. Buy fresh produce instead of canned. Buying loose or "bulk" is another way to reduce trash. Bulk refers to items that are loosely stored in large bins; purchase only the amount you need and scoop the product into a small plastic bag. Tip: Take a shopping bag to the supermarket.
7. Buy items that are going to last longer so you do not have to buy them as often. Yes, there will be some items that do not have a long shelf life but try to find items that do. Some packaging contains harsher chemicals than others.
8. Reuse as many products as possible in your own household. Plastic milk jugs make great pitchers for tea and water. Reusing also occurs when recyclables are turned into different products, such as asphalt for paving roads or new notebooks.
9. Be sure that your area has a recycling program and that you know which materials are accepted and then get the appropriate recycling containers. In some areas, plastics go into one container, paper goes into another container and glass goes into a separate container. All three containers, along with garbage that cannot be recycled, are picked up by the local sanitation or recycling program. As well, you can recycle your food waste products by starting a compost heap.
10. If possible, use a Blue Box to recover any recyclable items you have around the house and place it curbside for collection on your scheduled recycling date.
Did you know? Five recycled two-litre plastic bottles make enough fibrefill for a ski jacket.
11. Say good-bye to paper plates and plastic forks. Pack your lunch in reusable containers. Also, use a durable refillable mug or glass at school or work.
12. One big change you could make is to take a look at the things you throw out. Thrift stores will take old furniture, clothing, household items, toys, and accessories. Your community also may have a centre for collecting salvaged building materials such as old sinks, carpet, carpet pads, lumber, screen doors, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, paint and more. Certain charities will even take old cars, eye glasses, computers, and cellphones. Newspapers can be donated to the Humane Society.
Did you know? Each recycled aluminum can saves enough electricity to run a television set for three hours.
13. To encourage employees to reduce waste, companies should upend the usual bin standards. Place a recycling container next to every desk and make the regular garbage can a communal receptacle.
Did you know? It takes one 35-foot tall tree to make a stack of paper six feet tall. Recycling approximately 1 ton of newspapers saves 17 trees.
14. Plastic is a synthetic material that is made from natural gas and oil. We use plastic in some form in our everyday life. A good majority of a household's garbage is made up of plastics. There are many different types of plastics. For example, a soda bottle is made from polyethylene terephthalate, or called PET or Code 1. These codes can be found by looking at the number in the chasing arrow recycle symbol. Milk jugs are made from high density polyethylene, or called HDPE or Code 2. These two types are the most commonly recycled plastics used to make new products. All plastics should be marked with a code. Even though plastics are marked doesn't mean they can be recycled. Most areas recycle plastics type 1 and 2 and some areas take other types as well.
Did you know? Most bottles and jars contain at least 25 per cent recycled glass. Glass can always be recycled; it never breaks down in the landfill.
15. Lastly, use rechargeable batteries. Life just got better!
Solutions is compiled from various sources: greenlivinganswers.com, 43things.com, associatedcontent.com, eswa.org, stltoday.com, wyoenergy.com, ecomall.com, louisvilleky.gov. Similar information may be found elsewhere.
Solutions sleuth Reena Nerbas is a home economist and speaks professionally on the topic of household challenges; she is also the author of two national bestsellers, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions and Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets. She can be heard on radio and television programs across Canada.
Renovation & Design
How long will it last?
How long will your roof last? When will your kitchen appliances need to be replaced? Will your furnace make it through another heating season?Knowing the life expectancy of your home's building components can help you determine how to deal with the inevitable.
The National Association of Home Builders together with Bank of America Home Equity recently created a "Life Expectancy of Home Components" study that outlines the longevity of housing components. What follows are some of the report's findings and tips for prolonging all your home's parts:
APPLIANCES
According to the NAHB study you can expect your gas range to last 15 years; clothes dryers and refrigerators should last about 13; microwave ovens and dishwashers nine; and trash compactors about six years.
Keeping appliances clean will help them operate more efficiently. Keeping your refrigerator's coils and door gasket clean will make for a better seal, cut down on energy loss and prevent wear and tear on the motor. When it comes to the dishwasher, the more you use it, the longer it is likely to operate. Infrequent use causes gaskets to dry out and results in leaks.
DECKS
The life expectancy of a wooden deck can vary dramatically depending upon many factors such as climate, sun exposure, deck construction and finish. According to the NAHB study, a deck has a life expectancy of about 20 years under ideal conditions. We have yet to find "ideal" conditions.
There are a few very common mistakes that people make when it comes to building and maintaining a deck that are sure to hasten its demise. First, the lowest portion of the deck framing should be no less than 20 centimetres from the soil to prevent rot and pest damage. Deck boards should never be face nailed or screwed to the framing as this tears the wood fibre and acts as an entrance source for water to damage both the decking and framing. Using a hidden deck fastener from below will prevent this condition. Keep the deck clean and add a new coat of finish every three to five years.
DOORS
Although the NAHB study finds that exterior fibreglass, steel and wood doors will last as long as the house, fibreglass is the most stable and won't expand and contract like steel or crack like wood.
Whatever the material, the best step that you can take to maintain an exterior door is to keep it clean and give it a fresh coat of paint from time to time.
FLOORING
Wood, marble, granite and slate are the most durable floor finishes with projected life expectancy of 100 years or more. Although the NAHB study finds that vinyl and linoleum floors will last about 50 and 25 years respectively, we believe that you will grow tired of their appearance and rip them out well before.
Average quality carpet is rated to have a life of eight to 10 years according to the study. When purchasing carpet keep in mind that the better the grade the longer it will last. It is not unusual for good carpet to last 20 to 30 years.
HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING
Heating and air-conditioning systems typically last 15 to 25 years. Truth is, advancements in efficiency can make replacement after 10 to 15 years a smart decision.
Until you're ready for a high-efficiency upgrade, you can keep your heating and cooling system in peak operating condition by regularly changing filters (every one to three months), cleaning and adjusting burners and by keeping shrubbery trimmed surrounding the air conditioner's condensing unit.
ROOFING
If you have a slate, copper, clay or concrete roof, chances are good that it will last 50 to 100 years. However, some 70 per cent of homeowners have a roof made of asphalt shingles, so be prepared to replace the roof after about 20 years, more or less.
Cleanliness is again the key to longevity. Trim overhanging trees and keep valleys free of debris. Equally important is good attic ventilation. Aside from helping lower your utility bill it can prevent roofing material from sustaining damage due to extreme heat in summer and prevent ice dams in winter.
-- Associated Press
Renovation & Design
Obsolete TV cabinets find new lease on life
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Are we saying au revoir to the armoire?Sleek flat-panel televisions, typically mounted to walls or perched on credenzas, have rendered the bulky but lovely furniture piece superfluous. And when people want to get rid of their television armoires, so pricy and popular in the 1990s, they aren't finding many takers at garage sales or consignment stores.
"They're the dinosaurs of 2008," says Debbie Taylor, owner of Revival Home Furnishings, a consignment store in Overland Park, Kan. "We sell them for $50 or $60."
But wait. Before unloading a TV armoire on the cheap or, even worse, setting one on the curb destined for the landfill, think about how it can still be used.
When Carol Whitney of Olathe, Kan., switched to a flat-panel television, she wasn't keen on parting with her TV armoire. After all, she paid a lot for it and still loved the wood finish. Inspiration struck when she was flipping through a Pottery Barn catalog and saw a picture of an office armoire.
Whitney took the cabinet to Cheep Antiques in North Kansas City. The store used to retool vintage wardrobes into TV armoires, so she figured it could convert her TV cabinet into an office armoire. Store employees removed existing shelves and added shelving and eight cubby holes. The drawer in the middle became a drop-hinge platform for a computer keyboard.
Bobanne Kalkofen, an interior design professor at Johnson County Community College, assigned students to come up with new uses for old armoires.
"Every decade our needs as a society change," Kalkofen says. "So many people have TV armoires. I knew there had to be ways to rethink and repurpose them."
Student April Welsh, a designer and drafter at Olympic Cabinet Co. in Kansas City, Kan., went gung-ho for the assignment. She brainstormed ideas while she drove home from class and typed up a proposal for half a dozen ideas. She also sent out a college-wide e-mail seeking people who weren't using their TV armoires.
Instead of merely coming up with plans on paper for the assignment, Welsh decided to actually transform two TV armoires for people who responded to her e-mail.
Matt and Kristin Wantland of Prairie Village, Kan., had an unused one in their garage, a gift from his mother. The French country piece didn't fit with the couple's decor.
Welsh learned the Wantlands were expecting their first child this summer and didn't have any baby furniture. So Welsh decided to create a diaper-changing station.
She removed the top and bottom ornate trim pieces, giving the cabinet cleaner lines. She added solid maple backing and reinforced the base so it would be sturdy enough for a baby. She added hooks to the back and cubbies for storage. Welsh sewed a diaper-changing pad herself.
"It's awesome," says Kristin Wantland. "The new look is perfect for our house. The ceilings are low, so the lower top will be great. We're really excited."
Welsh's other client, Mary Hedberg of Shawnee, Kan., paid $3,000 for her three-piece TV armoire in the 1990s. The set eventually sat in the basement and didn't get much use. Welch interviewed Hedberg and discovered she wanted a coffee bar for her master bedroom.
So Welsh lowered the cabinet and added a granite top for a coffee maker, drawers for mugs and coffee and a waste-basket for coffee grounds. She refinished the piece in a darker glaze that complemented Hedberg's other furnishings.
Welsh proposed fresh uses for Hedberg's remaining two armoire pieces: One will be converted into a display case to be used by Hedberg's son who recently graduated from college. The other will become a bookcase.
Another "new" use for a TV armoire, suggests Welsh, is to go old school: Install a rod and use it to store clothes.
-- The Kansas City Star
Some transformations
China hutch: Add lighting, shelves and glass doors for displaying dishes.
Garage cabinetry: Keep the large spaces for storing bulk items. Or add hooks and cubbies for tools.
Kitchen pantry: Add hooks for pots and pans and shelves for baking trays. Install a blackboard inside the door for grocery lists.
Linen closet: Add shelves for towels and sheets.
Liquor cabinet: Add racks for hanging glasses from ceiling. Install shelf that pulls out as a cutting board for garnishes and another shelf for cocktail books. Use glass shelves for liquor bottles. Add wine- storage cubbies underneath. Add lighting. Install mirrored back.
-- Source: The case-goods class in the interior design department of Johnson County Community College
Renovation & Design
Leaking bay window hard to diagnose
QUESTION -- We have a bay window in our kitchen made up of three separate Pella triple-pane windows. The two side windows open and have not given us a problem. The large centre window juts out from the floor on the bottom and on the top reaches the edge of the eaves. This window leaks a lot in a heavy rainstorm. You can see the eavestrough overflowing above the centre window. We have caulked extensively and cleaned the eavestrough regularly. The rain comes in where the vertical window frame hits the horizontal sill. I'm not sure of the technical names if any.We want to fix this but we aren't sure what the problem is. Could it be a roofing problem? Someone suggested we add another downspout as the window is fairly close to an existing downspout. The water seems to like to come inside rather than rush to the spout.
-- Penny Bryans, e-mail
Answer -- As I look out my window at the pouring spring rain that we are currently experiencing, it appears to be an ideal time to deal with your chronic problem. It is unusual for a leak of this nature to continue for that long without extensive rot being visible in the wooden components of the window. If the window is still in serviceable condition, there is much less concern with the leakage than there would be if significant damage is seen. However, if the window frame, wall, or support structure below the window is soft to the touch in any area, replacement of the window or entire bay area may be required.
The insidious thing about moisture intrusion, particularly at exterior walls and windows, is that the point of entry into the living space may be quite different from the initial area of leakage. You are correct that the leak could be a roofing problem, but it is just as likely that it is a problem with the window seals, eavestroughs or due to a missing or loose flashing. I will offer some possibilities but it is impossible to diagnose the true nature of the problem without a physical inspection, ideally on a wet day like the day I'm writing this.
Many bay windows in older homes, especially smaller ones in kitchens, have been installed long after the home was initially constructed. To accommodate these types of retrofit units a support structure has to be built underneath as well as a small roof, if the unit extends beyond the existing eaves. In your case, it sounds like the eave was of sufficient depth to cover the top of the window, but just barely. If the window framing has been installed directly up to the underside of the older soffit, there may be no flashing installed over top. With no room for a flashing in this area, there is always a possibility of wind-driven rain or water leaking down from the eaves above, sneaking into any small gap or hole between the window frame and the soffit. This is particularly a concern if the eavestroughs overflow due to blocked downspouts or excessively heavy rains. What can happen in that case is that the overflowing water may travel along the front and underside of the trough, by capillary action, and leak into any gap at the junction of the window and the soffits. Alternatively, if this overflow is extensive enough, the water may run down the outside of the window until it finds its way in through a worn weatherstrip or small opening in the exterior of the window.
From your description of the point of entry, it appears that the leak is occurring near the top of the window and running down the vertical frame or mullions, until it works its way inside at the sill. Unfortunately, this is only a guess, at best, and the leak could also be occurring much higher up on the roof and running in through the window. This can occur as the window frame may be the easiest point of entry in the building envelope in this area. The leak could also be at the side of the window frame and only occur when the wind is strong enough and from the right direction to blow the water through small gaps between the frames of the different window units in this bay area.
As previously stated, the main concern with the leakage in your kitchen bay window is potential damage to the wooden components of the window and surrounding area. If these give way or feel rotten when probed with a screwdriver or scratch awl, then the potential for a major repair is high. If significant leakage has occurred for the two decades you have noticed this issue and rotten wood is discovered in or near the window, the entire unit may have to be rebuilt. Implications from years of leakage include the presence of extensive mould and rot in this area. The only way to determine this for certain is to enlist the services of a CAHPI inspector or qualified general contractor to inspect the area, ideally on a rainy day.
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 or sent to: Ask The Inspector, P. O. Box 69021, #110-2025 Corydon Ave., Winnipeg, MB. R3P 2G9. Ari can be reached at (204) 291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca
Renovation & Design
Green ideas to keep you cool this summer
Forewarned, you can forearm yourself in the battle to stay cool and green this summer.Start with your air-conditioning system. A power pig, it's a direct contributor to those hot, smoggy days.
A new, well-maintained air-conditioning system is more energy efficient than an old, dirty one.
Electric fans offer an alternative to air-conditioning and cost about 50 cents a day to run. Pointed directly at you, a fan will whisk away the internal body heat that your perspiration carries to the surface. Low-tech but high-impact.
You also need to keep your home from overheating during the day and allow it to cool naturally at night. Close windows and window coverings in the morning and keep them shut until the evening when it's cooler outside than in.
A Wireless Weather Station from Lee Valley (www.leevalley.com) will help: this $36.50, battery-powered gadget consists of a small outdoor monitor and an indoor digital reader that indicates the temperature in both places. The only drawback is that its default setting is Fahrenheit and the procedure for switching to Celsius is buried in the instruction manual.
Window film, which blocks the sun's ultraviolet rays, will slash your home's summer heat gain by up to 60 per cent, while also reducing heat loss in the winter. Installed cost is $6 and up per square foot; look under Window Tinting & Coating in the Yellow Pages.
-- Canwest News Service
Cool ideas
Keep lamps and televisions away from your thermostat: their heat will make your air-conditioner work overtime.
Wash clothes in cold water (a green move year-round: we've been doing it for 30 years and folks don't wrinkle their noses when we walk by).
Run your dryer at night or use a clothesline.
Use your dishwasher in the evening and air-dry the dishes.
If you must use the stove on a hot day, turn on the exhaust fan instead of the air-conditioner.
Renovation & Design
Get kids outside with varied, fun activities
If you have kids at your house, you will inevitably want them to go outside. That's right, turn the TV off and play! Here are tips and recipes that will make summer exciting and safe.1. In recent years, outdoor play structures have undergone a design revolution. When building a play yard, cedar is the classic, rot-resistant choice and it's great in every way except the price. Cedar is costly. That's why quite a few people choose pressure-treated lumber instead. PT wood has an ominous reputation because of the chemical preservatives traditionally used to prevent rot, but things have changed considerably over the last few years. The lumber industry voluntarily withdrew the use of arsenic-based preservatives back in December 2003, and the chemicals used to treat PT wood today are considered safer.
2. Place play equipment at least six feet from house walls, fences, trees, or other obstacles, especially if the equipment includes swings. Make sure the equipment is level and anchor it firmly in the ground.
3. Secure each post for a swing set in a concrete hole at least nine inches square. Tighten all nuts and bolts. Cut off protruding bolt ends with a hacksaw. Attach each swing to wood only with a heavy bolt or eve bolt that penetrates all the way through and is secured by a locknut. A screw eye will loosen with the swing's motion and eventually fall.
4. Playing in a sandbox is the perfect outdoor activity for children one to eight years of age. Depending on their age and skill, each child can experience sand in a different way. Before purchasing a sandbox consider the following: How many kids? Even if you only have one child, there will always be friends who will want to play. How much room? How big is your yard? Will it accommodate a huge sandpit attached to play equipment or are you better suited to a smaller plastic model that is easier to store and get rid of once your children grow up? Your budget? Sandboxes vary from about $50 anywhere up to $1,000 for models that are included as a part of an outdoor play set. If you have a preference for timber, they tend to be expensive, but are more visually appealing. If you choose a smaller plastic model like those for a one- or two-year-old, it will be easier to store and transport. Keep in mind how much sand you will need to purchase to go into the sandbox as this definitely is not included in the price.
5. Before using the sandbox, rub talcum powder on exposed skin. It will make brushing off any sand much easier when your kids are ready to come indoors. After outdoor sand play, use a soft brush to remove any sand particles from children's clothes before they return inside. Keep a mat by the door to reduce the amount of sand that is tracked indoors.
6. Trampolines range in size from the large outdoor variety to the small, personal-exercise type. In 2000, trampoline gymnastics became an official Olympic event, which probably contributed to their recent increase in popularity. The number of trampoline-related injuries has also grown. Currently there is no regulatory agency in Canada monitoring the design and safety of trampolines. Before purchasing a trampoline check that it meets ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) standards.
7. Cleaning your trampoline: Use a large broom to sweep any loose debris off the mat, or use a shop vacuum. Wash the trampoline mat with warm water and dish soap. Scrub the mat with brushes or sponges. Rinse all soap off so that the mat does not become slimy. Leave the mat to air-dry.
8. Outdoor activities often include bike riding. On this topic, bicycle helmet use should not be optional for anyone in your family, no matter where you are or how short the ride. In many areas it's the law. Here's why: Most bike accidents involve a head injury, so a crash could mean permanent brain damage or death for someone who doesn't wear one while riding. In fact, each year in the United States, about half a million kids are seriously injured in bicycle-related accidents, and most of those injuries could have been avoided if a helmet were worn.
9. Be sure to replace any helmet made before 1999. If your child hits the surface hard while wearing a helmet, replace it -- helmets lose their capacity to absorb shock after taking serious hits. A few bike helmets can be used as protection for other activities, but in general, they're best suited to biking. Most helmets are made for one specific type of activity -- for example, special helmets are made for inline skating, baseball, and snowmobiling. Kids should not wear any helmet when they're on a playground or climbing a tree -- there is a risk of strangulation from the chinstrap during these types of activities.
10. In addition to wearing a helmet, your children should be dressed in light or bright-coloured clothing to help them stand out while riding their bikes. Avoid riding in low-light conditions or at night when it is tough for a motorist to see your child on their bike. Many parents have purchased reflective stripes for their kids' coats that help them stand out while they are riding or walking.
11. Sidewalk chalk recipe: In an empty margarine tub measure two parts plaster of Paris and slowly stir in one part water (or just a little less). Add colouring -- either powdered or liquid tempera paint, food colouring, or acrylic craft paint. Mix and allow mixture to thicken. Add more water, if required, to the consistency of thick frosting, pour into small plastic moulds. This is a fun activity for a child's birthday!
12. Homemade sidewalk chalk moulds: Use paper towel rolls (cut to desired length and covered on one end with plastic wrap, foil, duct tape or something similar), muffin or cupcake pans, Dixie cups, cookie cutters, small sand moulds, soap moulds, ice cube trays, clean prescription pill bottles or Popsicle moulds. Line tubular moulds such as Popsicle containers with waxed paper before filling and the dried chalk should slide out easily. It may take several days for your homemade chalk to harden. Caution: Making chalk is a messy business; cover your work surface with newspaper before you begin.
Important: Avoid breathing in the dust of plaster of Paris and follow all safety precautions written on the box.
13. Best bubble-making solution: In a bucket combine one cup water, two tablespoons glycerine (helps bubbles last longer) and four tablespoons Dawn Ultra, Dawn, Joy or Ivory dish soap. Make the solution the day before using to increase bubble-making capacity. Soft water is good for bubbles. Hard well water, and any water containing high levels of iron, are bad for bubbles. Remember, you don't want foam, it is the enemy of bubbles and will make your solution weaker. When you mix, don't stir too much. If foam forms, simply scoop it out. Note that wind and humidity can affect your solution enormously; for best results use solution early in the morning or evening (after rain is superb).
14. Homemade bubble wands: A fly swatter will produce plenty of itty-bitty bubbles. Cookie cutters and pipe cleaners are ideal for constructing bubble blowers. Twist two together into a circle and wind on another for a handle. Help your little ones bend the wire into shapes like hearts, diamonds, or even stars. Of course, there's always the durable yet pliable wire clothes hanger. Unwind the hanger and straighten out the wire, loop a small section at one end and use the length as a handle.
15. Delicious brain freeze homemade ice cream: In a large bowl, combine two cups half-and-half cream, two cups whipping cream, one (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk and two tablespoons vanilla extract. Mix well. Pour contents into large plastic freezable container, close lid. Freeze.
Solutions is compiled from various sources: hometips.com, kids-fun-and-games.com, wikihow.com, hc-sc.gc.ca, allfreecrafts.com, theideabox, bubbles.org, kidshealth.org, homeenvy.com. Similar information may be found elsewhere.
Solutions sleuth Reena Nerbas is a home economist and speaks professionally on the topic of household challenges; she is also the author of two national bestsellers, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions and Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets. She can be heard on radio and television programs across Canada.
Renovation & Design
Digging easy on wrists using a Y-Grip spade
Sandra Nelson never knows what to expect when she peers into a car trunk.As the owner of Urban Oasis, a store dedicated to the needs of gardeners, Nelson is routinely offered items for sale at her store. Usually, the item is in the trunk of the seller's car. And usually she politely declines.
But recently she was impressed with a new hand spade designed by Vancouver Island inventor Paul Carr because she could see its advantages to those with limited mobility.
"I recognized right away the ergonomic benefits of the tool," says Nelson, 46, who coaches a seniors' dragon boat team. "As a coach, I constantly tell my crew to keep their wrists neutral when paddling to reduce strain."
She says the concept in gardening is similar.
"When you use a traditional spade, you tend to torque and swivel the wrist. With this design, it works like a wrist brace, keeping the wrist in a neutral position," Nelson says.
According to Carr, 53, the inventor of the Y-shaped spade, the ergonomic benefit is second only to its digging ability.
When the Comox gardener had trouble digging up bulbs using a conventional hand spade, the part-time inventor grafted a bicycle part onto his hand trowel.
"The soil in my yard was so hard I just couldn't push the hand spade in," says Carr, a registered massage therapist when not tinkering in his workshop. "The mountain bike bar-end grafted onto the spade allowed for one- or two handed operation, which made it easy to dig."
He says the modified hand spade, which he calls the Y-Grip, is the first invention he has brought to market.
"It's my get-rich-slow scheme," Carr jokes.
After eight years of family and friends working on prototypes ,the final product is an ergonomically friendly twist on the traditional spade. The small spade is designed to be easy to use in tight spaces where a regular shovel would not be appropriate.
"It's unique because you can put weight on it," Nelson says. "I see it being popular among the arthritis group because it is easy on the joints."
She says the Y-Grip forces gardeners to use larger shoulder muscles when they dig.
She praises the design: "It's dead simple."
The Y-grip, available with a red or blue handle, is starting to show up on the shelves of some garden centres.
It's also available online for $11.95, plus shipping and handling ,from www.ygrip.ca.
-- Canwest News Service