Renovation & Design

Renovation & Design

Be careful when building tree house

The article on tree houses that appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press on April 20, 2008, covers the technical aspects of building the structure reasonably well. What about the living tree? The advice about removing dead limbs and keeping the structure well beyond reach of electrical wires are excellent points. The writers, however, are obviously not learned arborists. The average person does not understand the characteristics of a tree that can make it unsafe. The tree should be thoroughly inspected by a certified Manitoba licensed arborist.

Removing dead branches can have serious safety consequences if the person removing the branches is not properly secured to the tree. Some branches may look safe to the unpractised eye but may be full of decayed wood that will not support a person. Living branches may appear healthy, but they might have a weak point of attachment to a main trunk, especially if there is evidence of a widening crack in the crevice between the trunk and branch. Older Manitoba maples in our area are often used as a support for tree houses because of their tendency to produce horizontal branches, especially in the lower part of the tree crown. These maples are also one of the most common species at risk for extensive internal wood decay.

Are there electrical wires very close or touching tree branches? Under the right circumstances, living trees can conduct electricity. Contacting Manitoba Hydro first would be wise, especially if the tree house is going to be located near any local power distribution structures.

A common mistake is not realizing trees grow in circumference every year. The trunks and branches get wider in diameter. Carpentry work is often constructed very close to the tree bark, thereby providing no room for natural tree growth expansion. The tree can usually grow around the deck wood and envelop the portion closest to it. With time, this extended portion of the tree covering the wood will become weak with pockets of decay. This has now become a potential hazard if the tree breaks at that point. The solution is to give the tree sufficient room to grow. Placing removable deck pieces in a circumference around the trunk will allow you to provide room for the tree's expansion. The supporting deck joists should be kept at least 76 centimetres (30 inches) from the trunk. If piles are used to support the tree house deck, they should be kept as far away from the trunk and its supporting roots as possible. A pile too close to the trunk may undermine the tree's ability to support itself, and/or cause significant death of crown branches from loss of roots.

Many shade tree species in our area are subject to heavy feeding by pests. The most common culprits are cankerworms, aphids, gall mites and scales. All of these pests produce secretions that either rain down as sticky 'honey dew' (aphids, mites and scales), or as tiny pellets (cankerworms). The tree house may be subject to a seasonal invasion of these critters. I recommend that all susceptible trees -- with or without a tree house -- be power-washed using water only starting in mid to late May and continue at least every week until the end of June. The blast of water will help remove significant quantities of pests from the tree. A good thorough regular power-washing reduces the need to use chemical spray products. The secret is to start early in the season.

Michael Allen is a consulting urban forester and certified I.S.A. arborist and owner of Viburnum Tree Experts. He makes house and garden visits to assess tree and shrub problems. He can be contacted by calling 831-6503 or by e-mail at viburnumtrees@shaw.ca Questions can be mailed to Michael Allen, c/o Newsroom, Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6. His website is www.treeexperts.mb.ca

Mike Allen...Tree Care
April 27

Renovation & Design

Forever in blue jeans

If there's such a place as a blue jeans heaven, Matt and Lisa MacDonnell, husband and wife partners of I.R.I.S. Inc. Contractors, would be the first to suggest where that might be. Try this on for size; how about as insulation in the walls of your house.

"It's no joke," says Matt MacDonnell. Recycled denim in the form of blue-jean castoffs are being reincarnated as cotton-fibre insulation in the walls of green new-builds and retrofitted into existing houses that are undergoing renovations.

I.R.I.S. is working on a major renovation to a 3,300-square-foot Charleswood home built in 1974 that is incorporating new-to-Manitoba green materials that will distinguish this renovation as part of the LEED for Homes Pilot Project, a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes.

'Greenest'

"This renovation is the greenest we have ever done as a company, says MacDonnell, lauding the effectiveness and green properties of recycled denim as an insulation material.

Re-cycled denim racks up some impressive green stats representing 85 percent post-consumer waste as well as being 100 percent recyclable. "Fifty years from now, instead of bagging it and hauling if off to the dump, you would send it to the manufacturer and they would turn it right back into insulation. It simply has to be reshred to get it back to usefulness," says MacDonnell.

"While it's in your walls, recycled denim has a few major advantages compared to the typical bat insulation, whether it be fibreglass or mineral wool."

MacDonnell says that recycled denim is a better thermal insulator than fibreglass with a slightly higher R-value per inch. It also acts as an effective acoustic barrier for use on interior walls. "For the project we're working on now, we're using it to insulate the mechanical room walls so the furnace and hot-water-tank noise doesn't transmit into the rest of the house."

"The product is also 100 per cent mould and fungus resistant. You won't get any growth from it whatsoever and it is, of course, fire-resistant. It has everything you're looking for in just one product."

Recycled denim that is marketed under the Bonded Logic brand name, has zero volatile organic compound emissions (VOC). VOC refers to the "off-gas" properties of various construction materials that can contribute to adverse health and allergic reactions for home occupants.

"When you're putting it into the house, it's clean as far as what it's going to put into the air. As well, my crew guys don't have to protect themselves while they install it. They can wear shorts and a T-shirt. In fact, I have a sample I use in my office as a pillow if I ever get too tired."

Bonded Logic is manufactured in Arizona and has three distributors in Canada, with I.R.I.S. being a regional supplier. "The company gets the denim from a recycling program down in the United States by putting the word out that instead of sending jeans and other denim clothing to the dump, people can send them to be recycled. It seems to be working well. I don't have any supply issues with them at all," says MacDonnell.

Before installing the recycled denim insulation, the I.R.I.S. crew lined the exterior walls and the basement floor with one-inch rigid foam insulation as a proactive measure. "The rigid insulation stops air and moisture intrusion and also increases our thermal values to 1.5 of typical code, meaning we will be going through less heat. Rigid insulation also prevents any type of moisture intrusion which ensures that no mould will grow in any of the insulation."

Another significant green innovation for the Charleswood house is the installation of a grey-water recycling system. "It is by far the best product as far as green intelligence that I've ever come across." MacDonnell says.

The grey-water process involves diverting semi-soiled water from sources like bathtubs, showers and bathroom sinks. The water is diverted from going into the waste-water system, and is channeled to a unit that filters and chlorinates it to remove any particulate and bacteria. It is then stored until the toilet is flushed, and then pumped out to refill the tank.

Less stress

"We're taking semi-soiled water, cleaning it so that it's going to be clear and fresh-smelling, and then using it to flush your toilet. It will reduce the potable water consumption and waste water production by about 35 per cent, as soon as the system is installed."

MacDonnell says that besides the savings to the homeowner's water and sewer bills, there is less stress on our civic system to filter, clean and send the water back to the residence.

The homeowner is considering a rainwater collection system. "It's a separate system," says MacDonnell, "and our clients will be deciding on it during the next phase of the renovation.

As a green builder, I.R.I.S. approaches its project planning to include the most intelligent use of materials possible along with the best choice of products for the job. "In this renovation, we are going with concrete countertops in the basement which is a natural green choice. We are also using reclaimed hardwood flooring for the lower level rather than using new oak from old-growth forests. We have located a supplier who has provided us with a 100-year-old ash product that was salvaged from an old grain elevator and re-milled. We are also using carpeting made from post-consumer waste that will be 100 per cent recyclable at the end of its life cycle."

MacDonnell takes the long view when it comes to building for the future. "I think it's important to build for longevity, and to build for 45 to 55 years instead of just 10 to 15 years before having to be redone. The homeowner is spending a little bit more money now by adding the rigid foam insulation in the walls and basement floor but it will drastically increase the life cycle of the final product."

MacDonnell anticipates that the dollar gap between building green and the more conventional construction methods will continue to narrow as green methods become more mainstream. "Today's cost of the building contract will be higher, because we are increasing the insulation values and installing the grey-water system which costs more to do. If we were to take today's contract value for green, compared to a conventional contractor for the same project, and look at the total life-cycle costs, undoubtedly, building green would cost way less."

I.R.I.S. takes on conventional projects in addition to its green clients. "While there are still many people who will not consider going green, the way we operate as a company is still green. We continue to follow the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) philosophy through practices like deconstruction and reconstruction that aim for less wastage. As a company we continue to operate intelligently and give our clients a greener product than standard renovations without the additional costs."

Both Matt and Lisa MacDonnell want to counter the perception that building green has to be ugly or more expensive. "There are choices to be made and when you look at the big picture, it saves everybody time, money and resources."

Margaret Anne Fehr
April 27

Renovation & Design

How to rediscover your inner garage

SASKATOON --Too often, we end up with our vehicles parked outside because our garages are so full with well, everything else. Here are five easy steps that Ultimate Garage's Jamie Hutton says will help you rediscover your inner garage.

--Canwest News Service

Step 1: Decide on your garage's purpose. Is it workspace, storage, a gym or vehicle storage or a combination?

Step 2: Set a cleaning deadline. Then empty everything out of the space, into separate piles (Keep, Recycle, Garbage, Donate, Hazardous Waste Drop-off).

Step 3: Sort your "Keep" items into categories such as winter-summer sports, garden, tools, recreation and seasonal.

Step 4: Sweep and then wash the floors, removing any oil stains using a degreasing agent (ensure runoff does not enter the storm sewer system). Clean all dirt and cobwebs from lights, ceilings, windows and doors. If the walls need a fresh coat of paint (or, in fact, insulation, vapour barrier and drywall...), now is a great time to do it.

Step 5: Enlist the help of a professional garage designer-organizer to help store you use the space most effectively.

Resources:

Canadian Tire: canadiantire.com

Carpools: carpoolsystem.com

Lift King: liftking.ca

Rubbermaid: rubbermaid.com

Slide-Lok: slide-lok.com

Ultimate Garage: ultimategarageinc.com

--Canwest News Service

April 27

Renovation & Design

It's the centre of attention

If the fireplace in this photo had a diminutive mantel and a few tiles surrounding its hearth, it wouldn't make the grand statement that it does. A focal point is so important to the guts of a room and going big is the way to go. Make a statement in public areas like the living room or den for maximum impact.

Creating a balanced focal point is a bit tricky. The large, tiled area in this picture is what makes this one work. The tones of the tiles are earthy and muted but the scale of the application makes it grand without being ostentatious. Bright red tiles, for example, would be too over-the-top for this space. The subtle pattern in the tile adds dimension but is asymmetrical, which makes it work. If you had tiles with a floral pattern, for instance, it might be a little too busy. You need some visual restraint to get it right. As a side note, the wavy lighting fixture above the tiles softens the square lines of the tile and adds visual flow. The lighting also dots the fireplace fa ßade with soft light. Simple window blinds do not deter from the focal point but provide much needed privacy. Finally, having the actual firebox in the centre of the tiles rather than closer to the floor is another twist that makes this focal wall beautiful and unique.

Don't be shy

A focal wall that is too understated is not a focus at all. Hanging a few unassuming paintings over the sofa won't cut it. Either purchase an oversize, colourful piece or create a large-scale display using several smaller pieces. Painting the focal wall in a stronger colour is another way to bring it up a notch. As you can see in our photo, the focal wall is painted in a deeper earth tone than the other walls in the space, which makes the focus a little stronger, even if in a subtle way.

Use furniture

to create focus

The furniture placement in our photo further enhances the focal point in the room. By flanking this stunning fireplace with comfortable seating, it beckons you to have a seat and relax. Placing the coffee table on an angle is a nice touch that creates yet more visual appeal. Keeping the area in front of the fireplace surround free from bric-a-brac lets the focus stay on the focal point. If you can, try to use your furniture placement to further enhance your focal point. If you're trying to create a dramatic bedroom focal point, a stunning headboard, for example, is a good start. Place the bed on an angle instead of against a wall or place it between two windows to create visual symmetry.

Let there be light

Lighting your focal point will further enhance the visual experience. Consider using spot lighting to highlight artwork and softer lighting, like wall sconces, to create ambient lighting for the general area. Up-lights are very dramatic and can be placed behind floor plants or furniture to provide another lighting dimension. Visit your lighting retailer for ideas and assistance. There are tons of awesome new products out there in the lighting field. Some lighting fixtures and/or lamps can be focal points on their own simply by their unique design.

Room by room

In the bedroom, as mentioned above, use a decorative headboard as a starting point for your focal wall. Paint a stronger colour behind the bed for emphasis, then add large, striking artwork to bring the look to fruition. Use architectural details in the room, like a pair of windows or angled ceilings, to further enhance your focal point when possible.

In the family room, go large and vivid. Use architectural elements, like a fireplace, as a starting point. Beef it up with a new, grander fa ßade and mantel or use strong paint colours to make a boring fireplace a work of art. Flank it with great furniture, like matching wing chairs, which brings the focus to where it should be. If you don't have a fireplace, then use colour and artwork to create drama on a focal wall. Window treatments on a focal wall should be grand and tall. Bring them close to the ceiling to create visual height and use texture and pattern to further enhance the overall effect.

In the kitchen, the cupboard wall may be the focal point simply because they consume so much visual space. Ensure that the cupboards are stained or painted in a great, fresh colour and update the hardware. Have a new backsplash installed using today's lovely subway tiles or glass tiles to create a new look. If you choose to use a different wall as a focus in the kitchen, then once again use pattern (wallpaper, perhaps) and colour to make a statement.

Even in the bathroom, a rich wall colour behind the soaker tub will beef things up a little. If you ever go to a spa, take notice of the rich, soothing colours they use in their establishment. Rich brown, burgundy and navy are just a few choice options in wall colour that can add drama to the bathroom.

If your space seems boring or lacklustre, you probably need a stronger focal point. Look around your home and see what you can use to create a little drama in your decor.

coliver@3web.net

Connie Oliver --Room For Change
April 27

Renovation & Design

Problem? Maybe we've got the answer

Some things, you just can't categorize. So it is with this week's tips, a round-up of ideas for various parts of your home. Even your finger.

1. Remove a stuck ring by greasing your ring with butter or oil. Wrap the entire finger with plastic wrap. Pull off the plastic wrap and ring; they should both slide off with ease. Tip: Glass cleaner sprayed onto the area is another trick for removing a stuck ring.

2. Pigeon problems? Screen the birds out of wall recesses and window ledges with fine-mesh chicken wire sold at hardware and garden shops. Also, sheets of plastic with plastic spikes at narrow intervals are available in hardware shops for use on flat roofs or window ledges. It is impossible for pigeons to perch on them or find a comfortable foothold.

3. Discourage mice from visiting areas around the home, car or barn by shaving several bars of Irish Spring soap and sprinkling them wherever mice tend to gather. Tip: Discourage rats and mice with the help of a weasel. They'll soon be gone.

4. Transfer your jelly to a small plastic squeeze bottle, no more mess, sticky jars or knives! This also works well for homemade salad dressing!

5. Concrete that has black colouration from weather is usually mould. Spray bleach water on the concrete with 1 part bleach to 3 parts water. Brush in and let set. Then wash off.

6. Wax paper taped inside slatted closet doors will help to keep out moths and dust.

7. The best way to hammer a small nail into the wall is to use a small comb to hold the nail.

8. For all of the little wastebaskets around the house use this housecleaner's trick. Keep folded garbage bags underneath the liner being used. That way you don't have to track down another liner after you empty the basket.

9. Use glue traps (the kind for mice) in the corners of rooms to catch unwanted insects such as spiders, bugs and flies. The glue traps are small, flat and inexpensive.

10. When cutting/chopping onions, light a candle first in the area where you'll be doing your work. The candle flame "burns up" the fumes from the onion and your eyes won't water as quickly.

11. Store birdseed in a large bottle, for quick and easy filling of bird feeders. Less mess, and less time.

12. Before cooking, place a sheet of waxed paper on the counter top. This makes a convenient disposable spoon rest and clean up a snap.

13. For painting crafts, use an empty egg carton to place puddles of paint colours in, when finished dispose of carton, no mess to clean! 14. Make ripe tomatoes firm again. Dip tomatoes in cold water, add some salt and leave overnight.

15. Make leafy vegetables crunchy again. Cut the stem off and separate the stalks. Add three quarter cup granulated sugar to a vessel filled with cold water. Place vegetables inside. Soak for 4 to 5 hours. Drain well and refrigerate.

Solutions, is compiled from various sources: Thank-you to all who contributed! 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 programs across Canada and seen on the CBC TV show Living Winnipeg.

www.householdsolutions.org

Reena Nerbas --Solutions
April 27

Renovation & Design

Growing or not...it works

It's not often that a new home design receives universal acclaim.

As it turns out, The Majestic, a 1,413-square-foot bungalow built by Broadview Homes, is an exception to the rule.

"Without question, it's the most popular bungalow design offered by Qualico," says Qualico's single family sales manager, Dale Penner. "In a nutshell, it's an open, spacious home that offers complete flexibility to buyers, right from young couples to empty nesters."

Corinna McNamara, new homes sales consultant for 249 Aldgate, concurs.

"The design has worked well for pretty much everyone who's come through the home. You can start a young family here and still have room to expand as the family grows, or empty nesters can downsize yet still have enough room and creature comforts to keep them happy," she says.

The secret to the Majestic's sales success lies in the clever arrangement of the interior, says Penner. One of the key design features is the vaulted ceilings that can be found throughout the home's main level.

"Right from the outset, to have a vaulted ceiling really opens up the foyer and dining room area," he explains. "And that theme is carried through to each room on the rest of the main floor. Even though every area is spacious, the vaulted ceilings further increase the feeling of space, making the home feel much bigger than its listed square footage."

Indeed, the balance between open space and segmentation is just right: a one-third wall (with optional maple capping) separates the angled foyer from the dining room in understated fashion, while a three-quarter wall with plant ledge simultaneously separates the dining room from the kitchen, while allowing light to filter lazily back and forth between the two areas.

At the same time, large windows on virtually every wall make for a bright interior. Yet, although the design is predominantly open-concept, there is enough division to define each space -- the three-quarter wall behind that defines the rear of the dining room creates a hallway-type entrance that takes you into the kitchen/great room quadrant of the home.

"You don't want it to be so open that it feels like one big room," says McNamara. "This design can go as small as 1,200 square feet if necessary; adding the extra 200 square feet allowed our designers to include more subtle division features and creative touches. The great room, with its vaulted ceiling, five big windows and gas fireplace (set in beige ceramic tile beneath a maple mantle) is big, bright and relaxing."

That creativity is front-and-centre once you enter the kitchen/great room area -- it's a must, considering The Majestic (at least on paper) isn't a huge home. Use of space in the kitchen area is exceptional thanks to a corner-oriented stove and a maple island (with breakfast nook for two) that's just the right size, with the aisleway between the island and counter being four feet wide.

There's even room for a circular dinette for four, courtesy of an angled cutout (painted burnt orange to contrast with the tan paint) that allows traffic to flow freely into the great room.

"That cutout is a great touch," says Penner, adding the one-third maple capped wall that divides the dinette area from the great room is optional. "Without it, putting a table in the kitchen might be a stretch. People can walk through while you're eating, and you'll never be disturbed."

Meanwhile, the bedroom wing is set away from the kitchen and great room in its own separate wing. The light maple flooring that runs from the dining room into the kitchen and great room extends into the hallway, making for a light, rich feel. The two secondary bedrooms are amply proportioned, with a four-piece bathroom separating them from the master bedroom.

A short hallway leading into the master bedroom provides further separation and reveals a large master suite with a pair or double closets instead of a walk-in closet. There's room for the requisite king size bed, two end tables, a low-slung dresser and a funky display/storage unit; the ensuite is compact and functional with a maple vanity and frosted glass shower enclosure with sliding doors.

As winning as the design of the main floor is, Penner says the design of the lower level -- which is fully developed -- rivals it in style and utility.

"Placement of the stairs (at the front of the home) makes for a phenomenal layout down there," he says. "That's due to two steel beams that created the need for only one telepost. As a result, there's tons of room for expansion. There's all kinds of storage space, plus you get a fourth bedroom, games area, sitting area and third bathroom. This is a home that provides you with great flexibility -- and value."

lewys@mts.net

Size: 1,413 sq. ft.

Minimum Lot: 40' x 107'

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

Price: $348,900 (including lot net GST)

Key Features: Bright, open design; front-oriented formal dining room; kitchen/dinette/great room with great flow due to open-concept floor plan; island kitchen with unique wall niche for dinette; large, secluded master bedroom with functional ensuite with frosted glass shower enclosure; fully developed lower level with large windows, fourth bedroom, full bathroom and games area.

Contact: Corinna McNamara @ 253-6238, Pager 946-2740

Todd Lewys
April 27

Renovation & Design

Moist air makes house doors expand, stick

QUESTION -- During much of this winter, my front door stuck badly after being fine for four years. And other doors in the house stick at different times throughout the year. What's the cause?

ANSWER -- Your doors are expanding and contracting. This condition is typical, and is a result of the level of moisture in the air. When the air is damp, the doors tend to expand and may rub in several locations. When the weather is hot and dry, the doors shrink. Another cause for this condition is house shifting caused by changes in the level of moisture in the soil.

There are two major precautions you can take to prevent this problem. First, paint or seal the door on all six sides. That is, when painting the front and backside of a door, don't forget to hit the top, bottom, hinge side and latch side. This will protect all exposed surfaces of the door.

Second, the crawl space below the house should be ventilated to keep the soil dry. You should also make sure the soil surrounding the foundation is sloped so water runs away from the house. And don't over-water your lawn or landscaping. All of these precautions will help minimize the house from shifting and, in turn, help prevent your doors from sticking.

--Associated Press

Morris and James Carey
April 27

Renovation & Design

Bob the builder

Bob Cameron once got his kicks playing professional football -- literally. The CFL's all-time leading punter kicked for more than 13,000 yards and may be one of the Blue Bombers' most well-known, well-liked players in its history.

After playing a record 324 games in a row, Cameron called it quits in 2002 and now gets his kicks from something else: Home building.

"With football, you get an immediate rush when you're on the field playing," says Cameron, who recently finished his first complete, from-the-ground-up home building project on Beresford Avenue in Fort Rouge.

"This may not have that but at the end of the day, I see something that's been accomplished. When the job is done right, you can stand behind your work; you're proud of it. It's just a neat experience."

Cameron has home building in his blood. His father was a building contractor, and Cameron picked it up as a hobby in 1985. He bought a house, renovated it and still lives there today.

And each CFL off-season to follow, he would spend his time buying houses, fixing them up and selling them. It has been a journey spanning more than two decades that brought Cameron to the project on Beresford today.

Part duplex, part townhouse and part single-family home, the project is situated on a double lot. The two-storey building itself is actually two dwellings with the first 12 feet at the front of both homes separated by a space of about a couple of feet. The remainder of the both homes are attached but split by soundproofed walls.

"You could go nuts in there, and your neighbours wouldn't hear you," says Cameron, adding he elected to attach the homes to create additional living space over and above the average home built today.

"Instead of the typical 17 feet in width, you have 21 feet in width in each home."

Although the dwelling on the west side is now sold, the other home, to which the finishing touches have just been completed, is now on the market for $329,900.

It might sound steep in price, but realtor Tom Haines says that is a reflection of Bob Cameron the perfectionist.

"Everything he does is high-quality," says Haines, an agent for Maximum Realty. "That's what Bob's all about, and that's the reason I work with him."

From using the most expensive carpet underlay available for added comfort to maple hardwood floors with recessed vents (each one costing about $100), no high-end item was deemed too much.

The front features cultured stonework and a porch made of brown pressure-treated lumber. Inside, the main and second floors offer more than 2,000 square feet to roam. Cameron preferred to call the basement the "lower floor" because at 800 square feet, it is more than just a lowly root cellar. It is another entirely finished level with a full bathroom, featuring a heated, ceramic tile floor, and plush mocha carpeting in the living areas.

Throughout the home, the colour palette is an eye-pleasing array of soft shades of light brown, complementing the dark, maple woodwork.

The main floor has an open concept with hardwood flooring throughout. The kitchen features stainless steel Frigidaire appliances, including a built-in dishwasher and microwave.

The countertops are granite, and Cameron says he slightly lowered the kitchen ceiling from nine feet, which is otherwise the norm throughout the main floor, to create a separate sense of space.

Out the back, a large cedar deck is protected by high fencing for added privacy, and the double-car garage neatly seals off the yard for added seclusion.

The staircase to the second floor is also made of maple with wrought-iron inserts.

"An issue when you have homes with mutual walls is 'how do you get the natural light inside?'" Cameron says. "That's why we put a skylight in so you have natural light coming up the stairs."

On the second floor, the master bedroom faces the front, overlooking a fire station and park. Like every other room in the home, it includes several grounded plugs, potted lights and coax-cable/phone jack outlets, each with its own dedicated line allowing for multiple phone and cable feeds.

The master also includes a small balcony, ideal for gazing at sunsets, or sneaking a cigarette. The ensuite bathroom has a ceramic tile floor with heating, a Jacuzzi tub, tiled shower and his and hers sinks.

"The walk-in closest is bigger than most kids' rooms in other homes," says Haines, about the eight-foot-by-10-foot closet off the bathroom.

Down the hall is the laundry room, also tiled and with a sink. And further along at the back is the second bedroom with its own full ensuite bath and nook -- a perfect space for a desk.

"I did every bit of this by hand," Cameron jokes, adding he hired contractors to help with much of the work.

"I used to do all the work, but this was a big project. I still did some of it myself -- the tiling, the front and back decks. I'm hands on."

Quick facts:

The home: Two-storey, two-bedroom (option for third bedroom in basement) semi-detached home.

address: 844 Beresford Ave.

Listing price: $329,900 (taxes yet to be assessed)

Builder: Bob Cameron, former Blue Bomber

Features: Maple cabinets and hardwood flooring on main floor, three and a half bathrooms, front porch, back deck, stainless steel appliances, built-in speaker system on main floor, plush carpet in lower and second floors, ceramic tile in entranceways and bathrooms, energy-efficient insulation and windows, double garage, balcony facing east off master bedroom, alarm system, soundproof insulation for complete privacy, 30-year shingles.

open house: Today (Sunday) from 1-4 p.m.

Joel Schlesinger
April 20

Renovation & Design

Wood as an art form

So often these days, we walk into a building store and come out with a pre-formed piece of manufactured wood -- a crown moulding made out of MDF, for example, or a set of flat-pack pine cabinets that we just need to put together with hammer and screwdrivers. Now, there's nothing wrong with this. But if you have the budget, you can hire artisans to create stunning cabinetry that raises wood from the status of simply functional or attractive all the way to art.

Take Noreen Irvine's Calgary home, for example. It's been eight years since a major renovation brought finish carpenter Dennis Heinzig in, but the solid maple doors, mouldings and built-in cabinetry that Heinzig and his crew created throughout the house still look -- and feel -- new. And none of it, from the fluted columns in the fireplace surround to the details above the built-in display cabinet, came out of a box or off a shelf.

"Everything was built on site," confirms Heinzig, owner of Heinbar Enterprises.

That includes the granite-topped centre island that anchors the open-concept living area, where the kitchen, casual dining and family area look out over a picturesque ravine. The maple wraps around two-thirds of the space, from the kitchen cabinets to the corner fireplace to the built-in computer nook and wet bar. A light finish keeps the woodwork from overwhelming the space, creating stunning accents that are repeated in the home's bathrooms and master bedroom.

But what makes this even more stunning is how it started. "I took Home Depot graph paper and put stickers on it to show where the fridge would be and where the dishwasher would be," explains Irvine. She gave Heinzig pictures of what she liked in magazines and photographs, including one from a family home in Ireland. He took it from there.

"From that conceptual point of view that the client provides, you can sketch out a more complete plan, adapting it to the framing and size that you have to work with," says Heinzig, who began his career in finish carpentry in 1975, working for another finishing company and learning on the job.

Heinzig and the three other carpenters who worked on Irvine's home have certainly created beauty. Gentle arches in the open display cabinets soften the vertical lines of the fluting, while the darker dentil strips set off the light finish in key areas. Repetition of these details creates continuity throughout the space, contributing to a style best described as classic made contemporary.

"The most valued asset of finishing is being able to leave the job and know that what you've done is always visible," says Heinzig. "You could come back five years from now and what you did will still be there. In finishing, everything you do creates the curb appeal -- the ambience for the home. To know that you're a part of it, and a part of your client's satisfaction with the home, is very fulfilling."

--Canwest News Service

: Yvonne Jeffery
April 20

Renovation & Design

The greening of Mike Holmes

Mike Holmes has gone green.

No, he doesn't have a new pair of overalls. The 44-year-old reno expert has taken up the environmental cause, and is as enthusiastic about energy efficiency and saving the planet as he is about saving homeowners from bad renovations.

Holmes is enthusiastic about several topics, such as what green building actually means and how to figure out which products are truly green. He could probably do a whole hour on green roofs, a topic that really gets him going.

"Is it just green because you can grow grass on it?" he says over the long distance line from his home near Toronto.

"Well, that's great, (but) the whole purpose of it is to keep in (heat). It creates a thermal barrier. If you put in six inches of earth on top of a flat roof, it helps hold in the heat value 60 per cent better than six inches of rigid foam.

"That's pretty impressive, SSRqcause six inches of rigid foam is considered a thermal break, much like a cooler. If you were to add six inches of earth on top of (a roof) it will hold 60 per cent more in. Now we're talkin' environmental. We're using earth, that's not so bad. We didn't have to boil it or do anything to it, much like we do to concrete or steel. And is asphalt (the standard flat roof material) really a good product, is it environmentally friendly? The answer is no, it's not."

Then there's the whole problem of using toxic material indoors, such as certain types of outdoor caulking, paint or adhesives.

"There's lots (of stuff) that we bring into the inside of our house that we should never use," he states.

"I think this really comes back to reading directions. Too many of us are proud and think we know what the hell we're doing. How many shower doors have I installed, and I still read the directions, in case there's something different about this product. We have to do this."

"I've seen people use exterior foundation coating on the inside to supposedly solve a leak. And this was a contractor, by the way, it wasn't a homeowner. That is the last product you want on the inside of your house. Most foundation coatings are extremely toxic."

Uncovering mistakes like this, and fixing them, has made Holmes into something of a national folk hero. His popular HGTV show Holmes on Homes receives a staggering amount of requests from the public to come and right the wrongs contractors have done.

"Last year, 65,000 people were begging for my help, and I helped 13 families," he says.

"It is depressing to see how many people are in trouble. Do you know, some of them will e-mail me back 20 times: 'I am desperate, I am in trouble.' And I can't help them and I feel terrible about it."

Holmes divides contractors into three types: the good, the bad and the ugly.

"The good, there are no more than 20 per cent," he says. "The bad, 70 per cent, the ugly, 10 per cent."

The difference? The good are constantly training and educating themselves, and also have personal integrity. The bad may know how to bang in a few nails, but "unfortunately just don't know enough, and they don't care enough, because they don't have the same integrity as the good."

The ugly are genuine ripoff artists, smooth-talkers who "can sell fridges to eskimos" and scam people out of tens of thousands of dollars, again and again.

How do you protect yourself against bad or ugly contractors? Do your homework, and don't be in a hurry to do a reno.

"A sure sign somebody (who) doesn't know what they're doing is when they don't walk in the door, presenting themselves as a professional, and hand you a list of references right there," he says.

"I'm sorry, pros don't do that. Pros walk in and they have a portfolio package of who they are and why they're that way. Remember, they're almost anal because they care about what they do, they're perfectionists.

Holmes says a pro will say " 'Here's at least 20 references, please phone each and every one of them. Ask them a ton of questions. You want to go see them? Go see them. Let's talk about what you want to do and we'll come back and talk about price later.' That's a pro."

"(The bad is) the guys who walk in and go 'Yeah, I'm Joe. Whattya want, whattya want?' They don't write anything down, they don't seem to know anything, and they say 'That'll cost 10 grand, and I want nine grand down now.'"

How much should you give as a down payment?

"Well, rule of thumb is you don't give them any money on the very first day. But the second day, if they've presented themselves again with professionalism, I would say 10 per cent down, absolute max. Remember, you're only tying up your time, because they're going to schedule.

"Then you've got to look at how much is that? Is the job $100,000, should you really give them $10,000? Maybe not more than $1,500. (Create) a cap on how much you're going to give them down before they actually start the job.

"Once they start the job, that's when you give them 10 per cent. Then just pay them in milestones, because it makes logical sense. Pay as the work is being done."

You also should hold back some money at the end of the job, to make sure everything has been done right.

"The lien act was designed on purpose, and it says hold back 10 per cent," he says.

"You want to hold back 10 per cent for 45 days, and the reason it's 45 days is the company has a right to lien you for 45 days after the last day of work. So hold that money back, make sure nothing goes wrong. A pro will let you do it anyways."

"Never (completely) pay them. Because if you do, trying to get them back in your door is probably not going to happen."

Giving out advice like this, and ripping contractors who have done a bad job, cannot endear him to many people in construction. Does he ever come face to face with the guys he rips?

"I have a couple of times," he says.

"I'm not there to get into a confrontation. Although I'm not afraid of it, don't get me wrong. But I had one of them say to me 'You're just bashin' everyone, you're makin' us all look foolish.' I said 'Do you watch my show? Dude, I'm not bashin' everyone, I'm saying there's good guys out there, I'm saying there's pros out there, and I'm telling the homeowners to find them.' I'm saying to 'check out guys like you, because here I am fixing your work. And did you come back and fix it?'"

He's so busy fixing up other people's messes he doesn't really do any renos outside his TV jobs anymore. But he hopes to slow down his schedule over the next couple of years to concentrate on doing specials rather than a weekly show. He also is starting his own development company.

"To me, Holmes on Homes, I've done enough of it, I think I need to go to the next level," he says.

"I've opened up a development company, I'm going to build the world's best homes, and guarantee them myself. Everyone is going to have the opportunity to buy them. I'm hoping to change the building industry."

The Holmes homes will feature a modern style, low slung bungalows with flat roofs. He says they'll be so environmentally friendly they'll be "dark green."

"I've always said this: we can build a house that won't burn down. We can build a house that won't leak, we can build a house that will not mould. Now if we can do that, and then build it environmentally friendly and energy efficient, I think you've hit the lottery. Shouldn't you be doing that? The question is, why aren't we? I've been saying this for years, so I'm going to do it."

Time for one final question: A female friend wonders how many pairs of overalls he has.

"Forty-five," he replies.

Really? He has different 45 pairs of overalls?

"Well, yeah," he laughs.

"Why not? I've also got boots, clothing, you name it. It's going to be (available) to the public very soon."

When he does sell them, it'll be for charity.

"That's why I have 45 -- I kept all my overalls from the first few seasons and put them away," he says.

"The idea was to give them to charity and raise money. It kind of made sense to me, instead of just giving them away. We can help make a difference, that's what it's all about."

--Canwest News Service

John Mackie
April 20