Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Hardware cloth a good way to keep rodents at bay
Question: What type of screening would you recommend for a screened porch, with no glass, to keep out squirrels? This is for a cottage at the lake where the squirrels chewed a hole in the metal screen and then proceeded to try and invade the cottage, itself. Fortunately, we caught it early on and were able to oust the persistent critter.
We are now looking for ways to prevent another such incident.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Shirley Bestvater.
Answer: Installation of more rigid metal materials may be the only way to prevent squirrels, and other pests, from entering your cottage through your screen porch, while you are not there. Unfortunately, these will alter the look of your bug-screen only room, and may not be to your satisfaction, aesthetically. In that case, the solution may be to ensure the screens are in perfect condition and immediately replace any that are in any way deteriorated.
Keeping pests out of your summer home can be a challenge, especially when you are not there to observe these potential invaders at all times. While tree and ground squirrels may be some of the most bothersome, they are not the only naturally occurring creatures that we have to contend with. The reason you have screens on this room, in the first place, is primarily to prevent insects from entering your living space.
Most annoying may be mosquitos, which can be quite pervasive in lake country due to large areas perfect for breeding in the hot, humid summer conditions. Aside from preventing accumulations of standing water near your property, which can be excellent breeding sites, there is not much that can be done to stop mosquitos. So, the next best option is to prevent their easy entry into your domicile. The best method for this is to ensure there are no openings in the building enclosure that will easily allow them to fly in. Because we want as much open space as possible, and to ensure adequate ventilation for natural cooling, we often have large open porches, decks, or verandahs. Especially after dusk, these open areas are a magnet for mosquitoes and other flying insects, so we often screen in these locations for comfort.
Because of the large areas of screened sections of a typical porch or verandah, it may be difficult to install rigid and durable enough screens to prevent damage. Tree limbs and debris, rain, snow, and even mechanical damage from pets and human occupants can weaken these screened windows. Once weakened, they may be more susceptible to entry by rodents and other critters with sharp claws and teeth. The best method to prevent this, especially when the cottage is not occupied, is to install large windows. These could be proper ones with sealed units, or single-pane storm windows, but should have glass fully enclosing the openings when not in use. When closed, these will ensure that no small pests enter the building by damaging the screens, but will also prevent deterioration inside the porch due to precipitation. The two negative aspects of this are loss of some ventilation and the obvious cost.
If full windows are not in the cards, and you desire to maintain the screen-only aspect of your porch, installation of new metal mesh will be a must. Often, pests gain entry through screens that are partially damaged or deteriorated. If you have older screens, they may be corroded, sagging, loose, or otherwise worn out. In that case, it may be very easy for an enterprising squirrel to locate the defect and exploit it. The first item should be to ensure the screens are in top notch condition, or they should be replaced right away with new aluminium screens. These metal screens will be fairly durable and corrosion resistant, as well. If they are properly installed, with limited slack, it may be sufficient to send the local rodent population in search of easier prey.
If you are looking for a more durable alternative, you could add a second layer of metal mesh to the screened sections. The best product I have found for this is often referred to as "hardware cloth". This aluminium mesh has square openings often ranging from around 10 to 25 mm. These are too large to stop insects, but the heavier gauge of this material is ideal for prevention of damage by small mammals. So, the solution is to use this in combination with traditional bug screening, to reinforce a weaker screened window. The downside is that this may dramatically alter the aesthetics of the room, to the point where it may be difficult to easily see through to the exterior. This may partially defeat the purpose of the screens, and may not be an acceptable option, even though it will stop the squirrel intrusion.
Installation of addition reinforcing material inside your existing screen windows may be one way to prevent future damage and entry from local rodents, but may look bad enough to search for alternatives. The simplest defence may be to regularly inspect the existing metal screens and rapidly replace any that are showing signs of wear or corrosion, with new aluminium screening, to prevent easy damage by industrious squirrels.
Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and the past president of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors — Manitoba (cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be emailed to the address below. Ari can be reached at 204-291-5358 or check out his website at trainedeye.ca.
Renovation & Design
Pet-friendly designs to make your house a home
Animal lovers know your pet is truly your family.
One way to integrate the furry companion into your life is to make your home seamlessly incorporate their needs.
From easy-to-clean sofas to wash stations, the steps you take to create your perfect oasis will also help make your house a home for your pet.
"Just as great design seamlessly melds fashion and function, the best pet-friendly kitchens create stylish, integrated spaces that allow your pets to be part of the family, without adding clutter or creating safety hazards for paws and tails," HouseBeautiful noted.
Of course, you’ll want to take flooring into account, especially if you have a puppy or kitten. Flooring Inc. counts cork, bamboo, laminate, tile and vinyl among the best flooring for pets. These surfaces provide easy cleanup and are mostly scratch-resistant, or they hide nail marks more easily.
But your four-legged friend likely won’t always be on the floor. For those ever-special cuddle sessions, you’ll likely want them to snuggle up next to you on the couch.
In that case, Apartment Therapy advises you skip the velvet, chenille or silk. Instead, stick to fabrics with a tight weave.
"In terms of other fabrics, you can’t go wrong with microfibre or canvas. These materials are made to withstand all sorts of use, and are typically easy to clean and take care of," the website said.
All those belly rubs are bound to work up an appetite, however. When that happens, you’ll want your pet to have a place where they can eat comfortably while not taking away from the esthetics of your home. Feeding stations such as a build-out in the hallway or a buffet-style feeding station tucked into the kitchen island, as shown on Houzz, make for functional designs.
And how about bath time?
One of the most challenging moments for pet owners comes when you have to give them a good cleaning after a romp in the park.
Wash stations in the mudroom or laundry area can provide an easy spot for pet owners to freshen up their furry friends.
"A deep tub that is easy for your pet to access will allow you to keep your dog clean, no matter what it discovers in the backyard. You can even create a built-in crate in this room for your dog, giving it a safe and comfortable space to dry after a nice bath," South Carolina-based Donald A. Gardner Architects said on its blog.
— TNS
Renovation & Design
Repairing storm windows a sensible option
Question: My husband and I live in a character home built around 1930. Most of our single-pane, downstairs windows are made of leaded glass.
In the 30+ years we have lived in our home we have never removed our original storm windows, except for regular cleaning and painting. Some windows have had aluminium storms, with screens, installed to replace the older wood ones.
Although the storm windows have done a good job of protecting the leaded glass inside, my husband and I are contemplating replacing these storm windows with something sleeker, less bulky, and with UV protection.
We are looking for window options that look good but we are, first and foremost, concerned about preserving and protecting our leaded glass windows.
What do we need to be thinking about before replacing the storm windows that are currently in place? Is there a product on the market that might suit the job we want done? If so, what are the issues to be considered prior to making this change?
Thank you for your attention to this request. -Irene B.
Answer: Upgrading older windows without removing the inside sashes poses some serious challenges. Leaving the original storms in place, with some repairs and painting, may be the most sensible thing if you want to preserve the inside leaded glass sashes.
Most homeowners have long ago removed and discarded their older wood storm windows and summer screens. When older homes were built, prior to the sixties, the original vertical sliding wood windows were the norm. These had interior sashes with single-pane glass, with the bottom unit typically sliding inside the upper one to allow for ventilation. Once lifted up, the two sashes almost lined up with a large airspace below. The outside portion of the window had a wooden-framed screen, which was removable. In the heating season, this screen was typically removed and replaced with a fixed single-pane sash, known as a storm window.
The purpose of the storm window was to increase the thermal resistance of the entire window by adding an extra pane of glass between the exterior and interior of the home. This definitely helps keep the cold winter wind from blowing through the window, but only to a limited degree. Because there was usually no weatherstripping installed, either on the inside sashes or the storm window, cold air could still penetrate the living space inside the poorly sealed widow. To improve upon this, and prevent the necessity of changing the outside window components twice a year, aluminum storm windows were developed.
The aluminium storm was installed to replace both the wood storm and screen. Because these permanently secured add-ons had thin, metal frames around the glass, they could easily fit both components in one unit. The inside wooden sash would have to be in the open position to access the bottom sash of the storm window, to raise it up for ventilation. The fixed screen was on the outside of the glazing and was often removable for cleaning. The major benefit of this new storm unit was the lack of storage required for the off-season component of the old window and the need to switch them spring and fall. The downside of the aluminium storm is that the metal conducts heat much better than wood, so these did not do much for warming up the window units. They did, however, often have a better seal than the old wood storm as weatherstripping was often integral in the design.
To replace either of these storm windows in your current home, in an effort to preserve the inside leaded-glass sashes, may be difficult. Any new window installed will have a dual- or triple-paned sealed unit, making it much more airtight and warmer. Unfortunately, it will also have to be fixed in place, like most of your leaded units, making the space in between it and the old sashes inaccessible. This may lead to condensation, from warm house air leaking through the leaded glass portions.
While this may be no different than with the current storms, they can easily be removed to clear any moisture, dirt, and cobwebs that may accumulate in this area. With a new window, that will not be possible. The only end-around for this situation would be to get new wooden storm windows made with dual-paned sealed units and a proper weather strip. That would be very costly and would only be feasible if the original storm windows are deteriorated.
If the original storm windows, and the corresponding screen units, are not in too bad condition it may make more sense to keep them despite the added work of yearly removal and replacement.
As long as the wood is not rotting or coming apart, and the glass and glazing material is in good condition, keeping them may be the most practical solution to having your precious leaded windows intact. If the paint, wood, or glazing is deteriorated then immediate repairs before this coming winter are warranted. Installation of modern weather strips on the inside of the window frame that the storm window stops up against, will be an inexpensive method to minimize drafts.
While it may make it somewhat warmer and less drafty to replace your current storm windows with modern, fixed, sealed units, getting access to the space between the two will be a major challenge. It makes more sense to put a smaller amount of money and labour into repairs and maintenance of the old storms, and maintain the status quo, if you are determined to keep the aesthetics of the original leaded glass windows.
Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and the past president of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors — Manitoba (cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be emailed to the address below. Ari can be reached at 204-291-5358 or check out his website at trainedeye.ca.
Renovation & Design
Kill moss dead with vinegar, soap and salt
Question: Can you please give me a few tips on the best way to clean the moss from between the pavers in our driveway? Is there a solution I can use? -Sammie
Answer: My favourite solution is to make your own weed killer by combining four cups pickling vinegar, half cup salt and two tablespoons dish soap. Spray on unwanted plants in driveway cracks. Be careful not to spray adjacent plants.
Leftover boiled potato water also makes an excellent weed killer for patios, driveways, and paths.
Question: What is the best way to clean and disinfect a cotton facemask? Thank you, Bernie
Answer: To properly disinfect a fabric facemask, begin by washing your hands. Put the mask into the washing machine and wash hands immediately.
Use the hottest water possible and dry using the highest heat possible, or air dry the mask.
To disinfect your mask, soak it in a bleach solution containing four teaspoons of household bleach per each quart of water for five minutes. If this could discolour the mask, opt for fabric-safe bleach.
Question: I have taken on the daunting task of removing carpeting from my basement floor. The carpet came up like a dream, but the foam underneath is stuck to the concrete.
I have been on my knees for two days with a putty knife trying to get this stuff off. Do you have any tips to make this mind numbingly frustrating task easier? -Emerald
Answer: Pour hot water onto the foam. Let the water soak for 10 minutes. Scrape with a long-handled ice scraper and remove all the foam.
The job will be so simple that you will be smiling all the way to the kitchen as you make your "pat on the back 10-layer chocolate cake," because that’s what everyone does when they are proud of themselves, right?
Question: I am very fed up with my dishwasher. After running a cycle, the bottom and insides of the cups are caked with baked-on food. The cutlery ends up with food hardened onto each piece.
The dishwasher was expensive, and it is only two years old. What can I do to fix this problem? -Albert
Answer: New dishwashers are made to be water efficient and use less energy, but because of this, some dishwashers don’t clean as well as they once did.
Appliances use less water and basins tends to clog up, requiring regular cleaning, because the debris in the bottom of the dishwasher prevents the water from circulating properly.
Either hire a handy person or take the dishwasher apart on your own. Begin by unsnapping and removing dishwasher racks. Remove the top sprayer arm by. Remove the lower spray arm, this is a little trickier because you will need to unscrew all the screws and some of them might be hidden.
After the dishwasher basin is disassembled, you will see all kinds of debris such as: toothpicks, chicken bones, pieces of garlic etc. Clean and reassemble the dishwasher.
Hopefully with regular maintenance, your dishwasher will run well from now on.
Note: Every user assumes all risks of injury or damage resulting from the implementation of any suggestions in this column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.
Have a great suggestion or tip? Please send an email at: info@reena.ca. Reena Nerbas is a popular motivational presenter for large and small groups; check out her website: reena.ca.
