Evidence of water may indicate problems with the structure, foundation or drainage system around the building.
Stains and peeling paint on walls or window frames are signs you have water in your basement.
Staining on walls or ceilings and rust on exposed pipes in the basement may indicate you have water caused by leaks inside your home from either the plumbing or HVAC systems.

In either case, if your basement is finished, you may see rotted or warped wood paneling and doors, loose floor tiles and mildew stains. Often one of the first things people notice is the smell or feeling of dampness in the air.

Water may be coming in through the walls, cracks in the floor, backed up floor drains or leaky plumbing lines. The key is to identify and locate the source before more damage occurs.

If you suspect you have a problem, you should consider hiring a home inspector or other professional trained in the use of infrared thermography.

Thermal imaging is one of the best tools available to detect the source of water. Instead of searching for moisture inch by inch with a moisture meter, an infrared camera using thermal imaging can provide a scan of the entire room within minutes.

The camera is not a moisture meter nor does it “see” the moisture, but rather it detects temperature differential caused by evaporative moisture that cools the surface of the material. A unique thermal pattern is created that can be detected in images taken by the camera.

Though this technology has been around for years, it has only recently gained popularity in the home inspection industry mainly because of the cost and extensive training required for proper use.

Like other devices such as moisture meters, CO detectors and circuit testers, an infrared camera is only a tool to provide the home inspector with assistance in trying to determine a condition when they are not able to see the area with their own eyes.

Most manufacturers offer courses for certification as a thermographer. Formal examinations and completion of an acceptable report are also required.  The infrared readings are very sensitive and depending on the conditions, the camera may or may not provide the most accurate or clear thermal images.

Once you have confirmed the source of the water, you then need to determine its source and take corrective action. Plumbing and other equipment-related sources are usually easier to fix than those related to the foundation and drainage systems outside your house.

If water is leaking in through cracks in the foundation, you might be able to patch small cracks from inside with a cement-based material or use an injection type foundation repair system.

For larger cracks causing reoccurring leaks, you would be best to contact either a structural engineer or a basement waterproofing specialist for assistance because the cracks may be an indication of future structural problems.

Even after repairing the cracks, you may still have water entering if you haven’t corrected the source of the problem.

A major cause of basement leaking is deficiencies in how water is drained around the exterior of the house. Make sure the roof, eavestroughs, downspouts and grading direct water away from the house.

Be sure you have drainage below the window wells as without it water may accumulate in the well and lead to possible leakage through or around the window. Make sure the grade inside the window well is at least 10 to 15 cm below the bottom of the window. A poor drainage system will continue to provide a large volume of water that will find its way in.

Once the problem is corrected you should also make sure you remove any wet or damp materials such as insulation, carpeting, tiling or wood because these materials are breeding grounds for mold.

Khai Foo has some concrete ideas when it comes to designing outdoor fire pits. He believes they should preserve the natural beauty of a flame without detracting from it. He also thinks they should embrace clean lines, simple geometry and organic materials.
In 2010, Foo introduced his design concepts to Toronto with the launch of Paloform, a company he founded to handcraft fire pits as well as fireplace surrounds, mantels and tiles, using concrete, Corten and stainless steel.
Since then he’s been heating things up in the market, growing to more than a dozen employees and moving to a larger manufacturing space in Mississauga.
“The approach I’ve taken to design is to try and make things honest,” says Foo, who holds a degree in fine art and started out as a painter before dabbling in decorative concrete.
“I’ve never been a fan of fire pits that are designed to look like something else . . . For me, it was about treating fire as an esthetic material just like anything else you work with,” he says.
“Palo” is Finnish for “fire” and reflects Foo’s admiration for the work of modern era designers from Finland. “Form” refers to the art of casting. The result is a made-to-order take on backyard fire pits that have a serene quality about them.
Paloform’s product line ranges from shallow bowls to square boxes to rectangular planters. Their appeal is their simplicity.

Concrete fire pits are available in six tints, each derived from earth oxides and taking on its own variation of colour after casting.

Corten is a weathering steel that stabilizes as it rusts, creating a no-maintenance finish and preventing further corrosion.
Flames are fueled by natural gas or propane burners topped with either honed basalt river rock or lava rock to maintain an organic feel. Most homeowners plan for a fire pit as part of their backyard design, running a concealed gas line under their deck or patio to the spot where they anticipate placing it. Some models can be turned on using a switch, most are match lit.
For those who still desire a wood-burning fire pit, the company offers an ultra modern Corten model that resembles the crater left by a sunken volcano and can be used as a vessel for wood.
Foo, who was fascinated by fire as a child, says launching Paloform has allowed him to rediscover the element, along with its mesmerizing qualities.
One of the beliefs listed on his website reads “good design improves lives.” Another one states that he “believes in coaxing beauty from humble materials.” His company’s custom line of locally handcrafted fire pits does both.
Miso is a peaceful firebowl with wide, shallow dimensions. A classic centrepiece to outdoor rooms and patios of any style, its low stature is reminiscent of a campfire, making it the perfect accompaniment to warm conversations and evening entertaining. Its cast concrete vessel is attractive and functional: weather-resistant, substantial with clean, crisp lines that convey an air of sophistication.
All fire pits come complete with choice of topping medium, a commercial-grade all-season cover and are available in a selection of architectural concrete colours. Fire pits are manually lit and employ a simple on/off key to ensure durability and trouble-free use.

That’s the message of Toronto-based Renovantage Inc. (www.renovantage.com), a home renovation group made up of qualified contractors who specialize in all areas of home renovations, from kitchen and bathroom remodelling to complete two-storey additions.
“It’s critical to think through all the details before taking on a renovation project, no matter how big or small it may be,” says Greg Peterson, President and CEO of Renovantage, a program designed to help protect both the homeowner and the contractor in the event of renovation issues.
“All too often, homeowners get caught up in the excitement of a renovation project and start work before taking into account every aspect of the job, which inevitably leads to mistakes,” Peterson says. “Yet, with the proper preparation, common errors can be easily avoided,” he emphasizes, citing these top five renovation mistakes homeowners make.
1. Overbuilding for the neighbourhood. Bigger is not necessarily better, especially if the other homes in your area are significantly smaller. If you overbuild, your return on investment will suffer. In fact, you will most likely lose money when it comes time to sell. The best rule of thumb is to renovate for lifestyle and comfort, not financial gain.
2. Doing it yourself instead of hiring a contractor. Why hire a professional? All too often, people have good intentions but often find themselves taking on more than they can reasonably handle. A professional contractor has the experience and technical know-how to take you from the design and planning stages through to product purchases, construction and completion. They take away any worries by ensuring the project is done right the first time.
3. Hiring the wrong contractor. Do your due diligence, and avoid falling for the lowest price – you will get what you pay for. Do comprehensive background and reference checks, and verify liability insurance and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage in case anything goes wrong. Watch out for contractors willing to work for cash and who don’t secure permits. If they play fast and loose with the laws, they will play fast and loose with you.
4. Not enough planning. In any renovation project, there are hundreds of decisions to make and products to select. Most homeowners get “decision fatigue,” leading to stress and anxiety. This is the single biggest reason why projects are late and over-budget. To avoid undue hardship, make all of your selections and purchases before work starts. Get designer help, and buy quality products to save money on repairs later on.
5. Poor budgeting. Discuss your objectives and budget with the contractor before he quotes. A contractor’s quote takes into account both labour and material, but it’s also important that he budget for surprises and changes. You don’t know what’s behind those old walls, and experience shows that all homeowners change their mind at some point during construction.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about protecting your interests and ensuring your home renovation project turns out the way you expected,” Peterson said.
Renovantage takes the worry out of home improvement by giving contractors the business tools and systems they need to do their jobs efficiently, and by providing homeowners with a unique no-risk performance guarantee as well as access to a one-stop décor and design centre to ease and speed up the renovation process.

When planting a new tree, bury a section of perforated PVC pipe beside the tree so that the bottom of the pipe sits on the bottom of the hole you dug and the top is about 15 cm above ground. When you water your tree throughout the season, fill the pipe with water and it will be able to slowly release the water right down to the bottom of the roots allowing the root to get established really well.

For a while I thought spring might never come, but it’s well on its way now. I enjoy the busy time in the garden centre, the hours of cleanup in the garden but most of all I love the colour of spring.

Everything is showing new growth. I thought I would share some of my favourite flowering shrubs and trees.

Autumn Magic Black Chokeberry has fragrant white flowers in May, followed by large edible dark purple-black berries that persist throughout the season. The berries are commonly used to make juice. The glossy dark green foliage has incredible red and purple fall colors. Because it grows rapidly, you don’t have to wait long for it to become an impressive large shrub within a year. This vase-shaped shrub does fine in wet or dry soil, in sun or partial shade, even in poor soils. This plant makes an excellent specimen shrub or border shrub and can be used for erosion control. It may be pruned to desired size, and can be used for a natural windbreak or snow fence. Another favourite of mine in the chokeberry family is the Canadian Red Chokeberry that is a wonderful spring flowering tree.

For me, so much of what I do in the garden depends on when the forsythia blooms. Then I know it’s warm enough to do any transplanting of ornamental grass and perennials. The grass is growing enough to use the fertilizer I put down. For many years, I have worked with large, almost out of control shrubs, and Proven Winners finally answered my prayers with a smaller more well-behaved variety.

Show Off is not your typical Forsythia. It’s compact and full of blooms from the ground to the ends of every stem. Older varieties can become out of control and often become victims of pruning. This little beauty will stay small, so there’s no need to prune. It will just put a smile on your face. This variety is a vast improvement. Now you can even have your hedge — tight and compact the way you want it  — without doing any work.

If you’re looking for a larger shrub or a small multi-stemmed tree, consider the following:

The Serviceberry is self-pollinating, with white and light pink flowers in early spring followed by purplish red berries in summer. It’s not a true blueberry but tastes like one. The tiny edible fruit are popular with birds, including American goldfinch, tufted titmice, brown thrashers, blue jays, Carolina chickadees, northern cardinals and American robins. Serviceberries taste the way they look: like red blueberries. They can be used in jellies, cobblers, pies, muffins, coffee cakes or as dessert toppings.

Plants will begin to produce fruit two to three years after planting. In the fall, the Serviceberry has lovely yellow and gold foliage. If you’re looking to attract birds and wildlife to your landscape, look no further. The characteristics that make these species so visually appealing — showy flowers, stunning fruit, winter colour — are some of nature’s most powerful draws for the animal kingdom. This also comes in a tree form as well and it is also native to our area.

Also, there’s the adaptable and dependable redbud. In early spring, before leaf-out, a profusion of small sweet pea-shaped, lavender-pink to rosy purple flowers appears on twigs, branches and even the main trunk. Blossoms are followed by clusters of flat, beanlike pods that persist into winter and give rise to numerous seedlings around the tree. Handsome, broad, rounded or heart-shaped leaves may change to bright yellow in fall.

Redbuds make fine lawn trees, look great in groupings, and have their place in shrub borders and even foundation plantings. In winter, the dark leafless branches form an attractive silhouette, especially effective against a light-coloured wall. Larger types make nice small shade trees for patios and courtyards. And you can’t miss when using redbuds in naturalized settings, such as at the edge of woodland. Do any pruning in the dormant season or after bloom. We have Lavender Twist that is a weeping variety and Forest Pansy that have red leaves as well as the traditional Canadensis that is a native.

Other spring flowering trees to consider in your landscape would be Magnolias, Chanticleer Pear and June Flowering Dogwoods, Ivory Silk Lilac, Goldenrain Tree and another native the Tulip Tree.

In the early planning stages, it may be difficult to know how much your proposed renovation will cost. An initial consultation with a professional renovator can help you to determine your financing needs.

How much can I afford to spend on my renovations?

There are two factors to look at in determining this. The first is savings you’ve set aside for renovations. The second is credit, loan or mortgage add-on funding. Consult with your lender to determine the amount you can comfortably spend on renovating your home.

Lenders suggest you set aside a certain percentage of your renovation funds to cover items not included in your contract with the renovator and for unforeseen costs. Once the work is underway, homeowners often wish to add things such as new appliances, furniture and window coverings. With a separate fund, you can make these decisions easily, without having to renegotiate your financing.

I want to borrow money for my renovation. What are my options?

One of the most popular financing options for smaller renovations is a personal line of credit. For a more extensive renovation, you may choose a homeowner line of credit that allows you to borrow against the equity in your home. If you prefer an installment loan with a fixed term instead, a personal loan or a home equity loan may be a better alternative. In some cases it may be advantageous to take out a new homeowner mortgage or refinance your existing mortgage, particularly for a large renovation where you want to spread the cost over the lifetime of a mortgage.

When is the best time to think about financing?

Visit your lender early in the planning stages to find out how much you can borrow and what your options are. Consult with a lender even if you plan to pay cash from savings or through the sale of assets, such as guaranteed investment certificates. Your lender can help you to determine if this is the wisest course of action, or if you would do better with a line of credit or a personal loan.

Can I get pre-approval for my renovation loan?

Yes, lenders strongly recommend this; there’s no cost and it doesn’t oblige you to go ahead with your project or loan.  This way you know what you can afford before you enter into detailed discussions with a renovator.

What information does my lender require from me?

The lender will typically need an overview of your finances: employment income, assets and liabilities. For a mortgage, a line of credit or a loan secured by your property, you may need to provide documentation of ownership, a description of the proposed renovation work and a pre- and post-renovation property appraisal. This information allows your lender to assess the current and future value of your home, and establish the upper limits of a potential loan using your home as security.

How can I save on interest costs?

Many financial institutions offer a lower interest rate on secured loans using your home or other assets as security. Financing your renovation with a line of credit may also carry a lower interest rate than a fixed installment loan.

Want to know more about renovation financing?

Pick up printed information at lenders’ branches and offices. Check the Internet — a number of financial institutions have their own Web site. Talk with professional renovators — many have a broad knowledge of financing issues and can offer you good advice and assistance. When you are ready, you and your lender will work out the financing plan that’s right for you and will allow you to go ahead with your dream renovation.

Financial planning is an important first step to achieving a successful renovation.

Find a qualified installer

Tile contractors are busy; because of this few of them have time to properly apprentice others. When you are hiring for a tile project, be sure to ask to see a five-year certificate of apprenticeship, and check that it was issued by a reputable tile company. It’s still too easy for someone to register a tile business and have only basic experience in tile installation. Do your homework and find reputable contractors at EiEiHome.com.

Ask how they will do the tile install

One of the first things a tile contractor should do is check your floors for vibration. Vibration can damage the cement. If they find vibration they will need to screw your subfloor to your joists every 8 inches. Next, they will step level your floors with mesh and then apply dry pack on top. “Adding a thick layer of cement makes your floors straighter, more level and also stronger,” Mario added. “Simply putting down a wire mesh and a cheap scratch-coat is cheating and does not give you level floors.”

Dry packing has been around for a long time, however, many tile contractors don’t know how to work with it. For the cost of what you are spending on your tiles, make sure your dry packing is done properly. It will save you money on repairs in the long run.

Mario’s Pro Tile Installer has been around for 29 years and, in that time, Mario has seen the wide variety of incorrect materials used by contractors and he’s observed too many inexperienced installers. “At Pro Tile no job is too small or too big. We specialize in complete leveling and tile installations, from kitchen floors and backsplashes, to installing new tile for your pool.”

– Find us at Twitter (twitter.com/eieihome), Facebook (facebook.com/eieihome), Pinterest (pinterest.com/eieihome) and discover more great home service professionals at EiEihome.com.

Clicking on Buying a Home takes you to resources and advice to help you make an informed homebuying decision. Homebuying Step by Step will guide you through the entire homebuying process in five steps — from the moment you decide to buy your own home to the moment the movers carry the first box through the front door.

In the same section you’ll find worksheets and checklists to help you calculate your current and future household budgets, assemble your team of homebuying professionals, and keep track of change-of-address notifications.

The Home Purchase Cost Estimate worksheet is an easy way to add up all the upfront and other costs of buying and owning a home, while the Home Hunting Comparison Worksheet lets you compare the features and neighbourhoods of the homes you visit during your search.

CMHC’s online calculators will help you determine your financial readiness to buy a home and the maximum price you should consider. From the Buying a Home page select Homebuying Tools, or go to www.cmhc.ca/calculators, for easy-to-use tools including the Debt Service Calculator that helps you evaluate your financial situation and understand how much you can comfortably afford to spend on a mortgage.

When it comes to determining how much you can afford, the most important factors to consider are your gross household income, your monthly debt payments and expenses, your downpayment and interest rates.

Just enter your information in the Mortgage Affordability Calculator and it will calculate the maximum mortgage amount you can borrow, the maximum house price you can afford and your monthly mortgage payments.

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial and lifestyle decisions you will ever make. Detailed information about how CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance can help you buy a home with a minimum downpayment of 5% is available on the website. There’s also information on flexible financing options and financing an energy-efficient home or energy-saving renovations.

Continue to browse through the Consumers pages and you’ll discover tips to keep your home healthy, well-maintained and safe. And if you’re planning to make improvements to your home, you can download free renovation fact sheets to learn how to make your home more energy efficient or to improve its accessibility.

You can also sign up for the @Home with CMHC e-newsletter and get practical tips and helpful advice to help you care for your home year round.

Visit www.cmhc.ca for more information on buying, maintaining or renovating a home. And be sure to sign up for @Home with CMHC at www.cmhc.ca/enewsletters to get the benefit of more than 65 years of housing know-how delivered to your inbox four times a year.

According to new research from TD Canada Trust, Generation Y (or Millennials) identifies three main obstacles to homeownership that weren’t as much of an issue for Boomers: the ability to save for a down payment, housing prices and insufficient salaries.

The research revealed differences in the challenges Millennials say they face as first time homebuyers today and the challenges boomers recall facing when they were first time homebuyers, and suggests that entering the real estate market today may be more difficult than it was 30 years ago.

The top three obstacles for Millennials, as compared to Boomers, were:

•  Saving a large enough down payment (57% of Gen Y non-homeowners, versus 33% of Boomer homeowners)

•  Property prices are too high for first time buyers (52% of Gen Y non-homeowners, versus 16% of Boomer homeowners)

•  Not earning enough to afford monthly mortgage payments (48% of Gen Y non-homeowners, versus 13% of Boomer homeowners)

“While young people may be anxious to start building equity rather than paying rent, waiting until you have a larger down payment can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage,” said Farhaneh Haque, Director, Mortgage Advice, TD Canada Trust. “First time buyers can also consider the federal government’s Home Buyers’ Plan, which lets you borrow up to $25,000 from your RSP for a down payment on your first home.”

In addition, Haque suggested future homebuyers create a “down payment fund” by setting up automatic transfers each month into a TFSA or high interest savings account.

Meanwhile, millennials cite another barrier to homeownership: student loans. While only 2% of Boomers saw that as a barrier to homeownership when they were first-time buyers, 23% of Gen Y say they need to get their student debt under control.

“If you are working towards paying off student loans and wish to purchase a home, speak to your bank about how you can best pay down your loan faster and still save for a down payment,” said Haque. “A good first step is to set up a regular preauthorized transfer of a portion of your pay cheque onto your loan.”

Paul Dromogle, owner of a vintage furnishings store called Heist, thinks the quality of mid-century modern furnishings is a major factor in its popularity.

“The furniture is well made and well designed,” he says, adding original designs have stood the test of time. The exact same models of Eames chairs and Barcelona loungers are still manufactured today.

Shauntelle LeBlanc, an interior designer and owner of Ethel 20th Century Living, a vintage retailer in Toronto, says mid-century modern pieces are perfect for decorating small spaces because “furniture from that time was smaller because houses were smaller.  The pieces were often multipurpose and not as bulky.”

LeBlanc advises customers to pick one or two key elements. “Start with investment pieces — a dining room table or sofa — because you’re always eating or sleeping when you’re at home,” she says with a laugh.

If your first acquisition is a sofa, don’t hesitate to have it reupholstered.  “The frames of furniture made back then were so good that it’s definitely worth spending the money to have them reupholstered even though it’s expensive.  If it’s lasted 50 years already, then it will last you another 50 years,” she advises.

Not just smaller in scale but also “visually lighter,” LeBlanc says choosing a Danish teak table or a Saarinen tulip table will outfit your dining room nicely.   The slimmer legs on the former and pedestal base of the latter minimalize visual clutter in small spaces.  Pair either table with Lucite shell chairs and you’ve got a simple, but very comfortable, space for entertaining.

Further minimize visual clutter by eliminating unnecessary features in your small living spaces.  Ralph Lembcke, a professor in the school of building technology at Fanshawe College and a mid-century modern enthusiast, says “removing door casings, baseboards, crown moulding, ornate ceiling treatments or ceiling medallions will ensure that your rooms mesh with the mid-century modern sensibility.”

The addition of floor lamps, pot lights or pendulum lighting will brighten up small spaces that tend to be dark, as well as adding nice mid-century modern touches, he advises.

It’s also an affordable way to add some mid-century flare, according to LeBlanc.  “Vintage light fixtures often sell for $50 to $125 and can add a lot of style to a room,” she says.

If budget allows, investing in an original pieces, like an Eames lounger or Barcelona chair, will add tons of mid-century charm to your home but will set you back thousands of dollars.  Original pieces designed by Ray and Charles Eames, George Nelson, Eero Saarinen or Canadian names, like Russell Spanner or Peter Cotton, add the ultimate cool factor to your very chic environment.

Reproductions of their pieces are still manufactured today, and are available through retailers like EQ3, Heist and Ethel, as well as many online sources, like pinkandbrown.com in Montreal.

Decorating your condo or apartment in uber-cool mid-century modern style will have you wondering if Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. or the other Rat Packers will be wandering in for a martini or two.

Existing lawns

When planting grass seeds into an existing lawn, it’s harder to obtain good germination because the contact between seed and soil is often less. The key is to increase the likelihood of contact.

Aeration (using some type of spike or plug aerator, or a vertical mower to produce slits in the soil) prior to seeding helps increase the likelihood of individual seeds falling next to soil and being slightly covered because of wind or rain.

Most often experts recommend higher seeding rates because a certain percentage of the seedlings are going to fail, because of competition from existing grass or the inability to properly germinate. Even raking the area before or after spreading seeds can help increase germination and create better seed-soil contact and coverage.

Prepared seed beds

Planting on a prepared seed bed is the best choice. This is because you have removed a lot of competition by killing existing “adult” weeds or other plants. Little seedlings grow better when they don’t have to compete for food, water and sunshine that an existing plant would also want and basically take first (being the big bully).

Second, a prepared seed bed has reduced compaction of the soil allowing the roots to push through and grow (find water and nutrients) easier and faster. Third, a prepared seed bed usually insures that seed-soil contact is better. The only drawbacks are having to till up an existing lawn area (perhaps killing an existing lawn) and the fact that you have bare dirt for a period of time until the new grass can establish.

Planting early

If you decide to plant too early or too late, don’t expect germination to be as good (or perhaps not at all). First, seeds require specific planting temperatures to germinate. Second, they require a certain amount of growing time at proper temperatures and conditions (rainfall, soil nutrients available) to grow to a mature enough size to survive any dormancy caused by either high or low temperatures or other weather extremes.

Grass seedlings are like babies — you don’t put babies outside in temperatures below 12 C or above 26 C without some additional protection. There are “dormant” seeds in some grasses that are nature’s way of preserving the species. These seeds lay successfully dormant while waiting for the correct temperatures and weather conditions to occur before beginning germination.

Planting over snow

Cool season grasses (perennial ryegrasses, fescues, bluegrasses) can be successfully planted on top of snow for winter planting. What happens is that the seeds are carried down to soil level by melting snow in the spring.
At that time cracks are present in the soil from the freezing temperatures of winter that the seeds can be “melted” into.

This provides for reasonable seed-soil contact.

The disadvantages are the same as for planting out of season above — a higher risk that this method may have some failures. So save some grass seed for next spring and give this idea a try.

If you have more questions, ask the staff at your favourite independent garden centre.

– Denise Hodgins is a horticulturalist based in London, Ont. Growing Concerns is produced by Van Horik’s Greenhouses.