Special Features - Fall Home Improvement 2014

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BY ERIN FAWCETTRed Deer Express

A good way for homeowners to stay cozy

during the fall and winter months is by

having an in-fl oor heating system installed

in their home.

In-fl oor heating is a radiant heat con-

duction system for warming the coldest

objects in a given space.

In-fl oor heat has been around for de-

cades but has grown in popularity over the

last 15 years in both forms - hydronic and

electric.

The delivery of heat can come in the

form of hot water running through pipes

buried in the fl oor assembly.

The other is an electric heating system

which is installed directly below fl oor cov-

erings like tile or stone. Depending on the

system, in-fl oor heat can be installed dur-

ing construction of a home, or after the

fact as well.

“The advantages for in-floor heat can

typically be substantially reduced aller-

gens in a given space.

“The other consideration is even and

comfortable heat especially when used for

secondary heating under tile and stone,”

said Darrell McGorman, territory man-

ager for Schluter Systems Canada Inc. and

a representative for Central Alberta Tile

One in Red Deer.

There are different technologies used

in in-fl oor heating systems nowadays, so

homeowners have options in terms of what

kind of system would be suit their needs.

McGorman said one type is a hydronic

system.

“Hydronic systems consist of heating

pipe installed in the floor and a boiler sys-

tem or a geothermal heat source,” he said.

There are different types of hydronic

systems.

Some are a traditional design; others

involve wooden sub-floor panels. In a tra-

ditional system the heating tubes are in-

stalled into concrete.

This type of system is usually seen in

new residential construction and is of-

ten used in basement slabs. The slabs are

typically insulated with a thermal break

below with two to four inches of high-

density foam insulation.

Rebar and heating tube runs are in-

stalled above the foam then concrete is

placed over top.

The heating tube network is attached to

a manifold and boiler system.

Sensors in the floor relay the tempera-

ture of the floor back to the boiler that

regulates its temperature. The traditional

system described above creates a large ef-

fi cient thermal mass that will warm all the

objects in the space of the system, McGor-

man added.

“There is also wood panel hydronic

flooring systems on the market today and

they are not nearly as effi cient as a tradi-

tional hydronic system,” he said. “These

wood panel products are not always used as

the primary heat source, there may also be

a forced air system in place as well. These

systems consist of a special sub-floor panel

that has a predetermined track cut into the

sub-floor that allows for the installation of

heating tubes directly into the wood panel.

“The disadvantage here is no effective

thermal mass is achieved. Wood is a natu-

ral insulator and will not present an even

heat over the floor. Warm and cold spots

will be felt,” said McGorman.

“Some other hydronic wood panel man-

ufacturers responded to this with the addi-

tion of an aluminum sheet as a means of

creating a more even heated surface. The

addition of a metal surface may help in a

more even heat but complicate the instal-

lation of ceramic tile and stone products.”

Another type of in-fl oor heating technol-

ogy is by using secondary heating only and

it is based on an installed electrical heating

element.

“These types of systems are often used

on suspended wood floors. Sub-floor

thickness between joist or I-beams spans

must also be suitable for the installation of

tile and stone products,” said McGorman.

He added there are several manufactur-

ers who supply in-fl oor heating systems,

but there are some things the homeowner

has to consider as well.

“Some systems use a heating cable en-

capsulated in a fabric mesh, others are an

anchoring clip and an installer strung ca-

ble system. The encapsulated cable in fab-

ric or mesh is quicker in some cases to in-

stall on the jobsite than a string cable and

anchoring clip method,” said McGorman.

“The disadvantage is standard heat-

ing mats may not work with the project’s

specific room dimensions.

“These types of mats can often be spe-

cial ordered to fit the room but require pre-

planning and wait times for custom mats.

Custom mats depending on the distributor

dealing with the manufacturer may be de-

layed for various reasons.”

When thinking about in-fl oor heat, many

homeowners might think it can only be in-

stalled in the basement of their homes, but

this is not the case.

“In-fl oor heating can be used in many

areas of the home. In new construction,

builders often opt for a radiant hydronic

system in the slab for basements. In base-

ments renovation projects electric heat

can also be incorporated, however, radiant

heat warms the coldest objects first.

“That cold object could also be the

ground under a basement so it is impera-

tive to factor in a thermal brake before the

cable is installed,” said McGorman.

“High density extruded polystyrene

foam panels can be used over leveled con-

crete to insulate and separate the heating

element. The use of a half an inch thick

HD foam panel will yield an R2 rating.

“The thicker the foam the better for R

value.”

[email protected]

The ins and outs of residential in-fl oor heating

“IN-FLOOR HEATING CAN BE USED IN MANY AREAS OF THE HOME.”

DARRELL MCGORMAN


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The holiday season is

offi cially upon us. Thanks-

giving has whipped past

leaving us all in a sea of

leftover turkey and pota-

toes as we begin to look for-

ward to Christmas - but not

quite yet! There is still time

to prepare and gather your

thoughts before the mad-

ness hits.

How did you manage

during Thanksgiving? Was

there a houseful of happy

content people staying out

of your way while you pre-

pared the meal or were peo-

ple under foot and under

your skin the whole time?

The perfect solution for

company woes is to create

the ultimate, can’t resist

guest bedroom. I guarantee

if you have an ultra luxuri-

ous guest room prepared

in your home your guests

will spend more time in

said room and less time in

your kitchen testing your

gravy every fi ve minutes.

They will emerge ready

for a good meal and jovial

conversation after resting

in your fabulous guest bed-

room.

Think about the most

divine hotel you have ever

stayed at and try to recall

why it was such a favourite.

Many guest rooms are ne-

glected dumping grounds

for our old mattresses and

furniture and often a col-

lection of our clutter. Take

a fresh approach to your

guest room by giving your

visitors a decadent place to

lay their heads.

Even if a new mattress is

out of budget, ensure that

your guests have a selec-

tion of foam or feather pil-

lows and add memory foam

or down topper to your ex-

isting mattress.

Sheeting should be com-

fortable and fresh smelling

so it’s a good idea to not

leave a guest bed made up

for long periods of time but

to put clean linens down

just before arrival.

Give your guests places

to put items; whether they

are staying overnight or for

a week it is a great kindness

to have a drawer empty and

unfi lled hangers swinging

in the closet which will in-

vite them to put some of

their personals away. Inex-

pensive lush bathrobes and

slippers are another fantas-

tic way to say ‘come in and

relax’ to everyone you host.

If at all possible, have a

television or Internet ac-

cess in your guest bedroom

which will allow people

to unwind and have some

down time after travelling

or too much visiting with

Uncle Ned.

Most drug stores now

carry a wide variety of

travel-sized toiletries which

can be a nice little welcome

for company. Who wouldn’t

be thrilled to see a collec-

tion of soap, toothpaste

and lotion waiting for them

upon arrival? Even when

staying with family it can

be uncomfortable to ask

for personal hygiene items

from your host if you have

forgotten them. An over

the top indulgence would

be a mini fridge fi lled with

water, juice and snacks or

even a single serve coffee

machine for your guests

to serve themselves in the

early AM - wouldn’t that

give you a little more free

time in the morning?

The comforts that are

important to you are also

important to your guests.

Quality blankets, adequate

heat or cold and room dark-

ening blinds or curtains all

add up to very comfortable

and happy guests. Depend-

ing on the season you can

include treats such as in-

stant packages of a spicy

pumpkin drink or pepper-

mint hot chocolate. These

can be left in the room

and changed out as sea-

sons come and go. If you

are extremely energetic

you might consider a jar

of cookies or even small

snacks such as nuts or gra-

nola bars.

Put this on your fall ‘to

do’ list and create a wel-

coming retreat for upcom-

ing guests, you know they

are on the way. Take some

time this fall before life

speeds up to embellish and

beautify your guest room.

Kim Meckler is an interior designer in Red Deer with Car-pet Colour Centre.

Fall is the time to get ready for the holiday season

Kim

M E C K L E R


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Fall Project List


BY KALISHA MENDONSARed Deer Express

Before the leaves fall, the frost sets in

and gardening tools get stored for winter,

be sure to prepare gardens and lawns for

the cold months ahead.

Fall garden preparation includes a vari-

ety of aspects from trimming and pruning,

to early planting for bulbs to the fi nal lawn

cut of the season. There are plants to soak,

leaves to collect and measures to take to

protect foliage from winter damage.

“Putting your plants to bed for the win-

ter involves a few different things but it’s

not as big a job as everybody makes it out

to be,” said Alfred Prins, long-time garden

enthusiast and greenhouse manager at

Parkland Nurseries & Garden Centre.

“There’s a lot of pruning and cleaning to

do. Pruning does nothing for the hardiness

of the plant, it just makes things easier and

tidier – especially things that hang over

the sidewalk and catch your pants when

you’re shovelling.”

It is not essential to prune every plant in

fall. If the plant blooms all summer, then

pruning should happen in September/Oc-

tober. For shrubs that bloom in May and

June, pruning occurs in July.

Fruit trees can be pruned either in the

fall or in the spring. Trees that should be

trimmed in fall include willow and poplar

trees, as the branches will be more acces-

sible after the leaves have fallen. Birch and

maple trees are not to be done in the fall,

but rather in July.

“Pruning is done after hard frost and af-

ter the leaves have fallen. That way, noth-

ing starts to grow back right away while

the tree is trying to harden off for the win-

ter,” said Prins.

Perennial plants ought to be trimmed to

about eight or 10 inches of height so as to

provide a place for snow cover to gather

over the winter. The trimming of perenni-

als and long grasses helps maintain a clean

looking yard.

Ornamental grasses can be left long in

winter to add some depth to an otherwise

white garden, and to provide a place for the

sparse birds to gather.

“Any shrubs or bushes - tea roses for

example – they get cut back at the end of

October just to make them easier to cov-

er, not for hardiness. Those get covered

right over with peat moss, wood shavings,

mulch, garden rubble, daily stocks and

leaves you rake up – that’s all insulating.

You can even put an old piece of carpet

on it so that the snow doesn’t push it all

down,” said Prins.

He stressed the fact that grass clippings

make poor insulation as they are fi ne and

will smother and mould. The covering and

insulating should occur at the end of Octo-

ber or early in November.

Late fall fertilization in October can

save some time in the spring for those who

want a jump start on their lawns next year.

Some planting can occur in late fall, in-

cluding carrots, leeks, onions, lettuce and

some other bulbs.

“There are some vegetables that you can

plant in late fall so they can germinate fi rst

thing in spring – not things like beans and

cucumbers because they need warm soil

to germinate. You can get a little bit of a

jump if you’ve got too much spring work to

do. Usually, you seed it a little extra or put

some mulch over it so it all over-winters

nicely,” said Prins.

He added that plants from planters or

raised beds tend to have a diffi cult time

in winter and so should be removed from

their summer home, placed in the ground

and insulated for better growth in spring-

time.

“Geraniums are plants that should come

right into a house and hang out on a sunny

windowsill for the winter. Cold storage will

not be an ideal condition for these plants,

unlike dahlias and gladiolas, which can be

stored in the cold,” said Prins.

Some trees, such as cedars and little Al-

berta spruce trees should be soaked at the

end of October and then covered at the

base with burlap to protect from wind and

sun. Prins said there are products that can

be sprayed on trees that provide a sort of

waxy coating so that trees and roots do not

dry out.

Fountains ought to be emptied to avoid

cracking from frozen water. They can sim-

ply be turned upside down and left on a

lawn. The same goes for birdbaths. Fragile

ornaments made of glass should be taken

indoors so they do not freeze and crack

once they thaw.

“There’s one other thing –you can’t fi x

vole damage after it’s there. That means

trapping mice and getting them out of your

area, removing weed material and scruffy

plant stuff, anything with seeds or places

they can hide. It removes habitat and food

so they’ll go somewhere else,” said Prins.

“There is something you can spray on

trees or shrubs that deters chewing as

well. There are wraps and guards that can

be had – any good garden centre carries

those.”

[email protected]

Properly preparing yards and gardens for winter

TEXT US 403-348-1036

3-7819 – 50th Ave. Red Deer

Many times when customers come into the store they ask, “Jack, how do we choose the right fi replace for

our home?” When it starts to get cold there’s nothing like gathering around a fi re with your family and friends. The warm glow and heat from a fi replace on a cool day and the light smell of burning wood create a serene environment in any size home. Fireplaces make great get together spots and many families hang out around the fi replace in the evenings to watch a movie or to just be together.

Almost all new house plans now have at least one fi replace built into their design to accommodate the desire for the heat and glow coming from a burning fi re. You’ll fi nd fi replaces everywhere including dining rooms, kitchen spaces, master bedrooms and even out-door patios.

Gas fi replaces have created a strong trend with more affordability than wood burning fi replaces, which

require a Class ‘A’ chimney. Gas fi replaces now dominate the marketplace with pre-fab-ricated units that are generally at a lower cost than their wood burning counterparts. At Fireplace Experience, one of the ways we assist customers in selecting the right unit for their home is to have them bring in a photo of their room, so that visualizing the new fi replace in their space is easier. Along with the selection on display in the showroom,

customers can also access up to 300 different models in the virtual showroom. With so many options, there is bound to be a perfect fi t for any space and lifestyle.

Gas fi replaces remain popular as they provide radiant heat and a hearth

fl ame with out the inconvenience of wood. With so many options for sizes and decorative details combined with the energy effi ciency, they remain a fi rst choice among consumers.

Visit our showroom today and check out the selection

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The pros and cons of fall and winter home buyingSo perhaps circumstances have

deemed it your time to purchase a

new home.

We have all heard of the brisk

spring market but what can you ex-

pect when you look to buy in the fall

or winter?

Let’s take a look shall we? I will

warn you all that the ‘S’ word is go-

ing to be used. That’s right, we will

be talking about snow.

Always look on the bright side of

life, as the song goes, so let’s start

with the pros.

1. Fall is a really pretty time of

year. The upside is that you will be

able to look at your potential new

backyard before the snow hides any

fl aws. You will also get the chance to

peek through the trees as the leaves

fall to know just what your view will

be throughout the winter when those

same trees are bare.

2. The natural light of fall is very

comparable to the winter light. You

will be able to see your new home as

it will be through the winter, at its

least vibrant.

This is a true benefi t in my opin-

ion. You are seeing the property in

its truest and most naked form.

3. The fall market is generally

slower. This means less chance of

competing offers on the property.

The sellers may be more motivated

to negotiate on the details such as

the price or possession date.

4. You will be shopping with cer-

tain features in mind. This time of

year reminds us that winter is in-

deed coming.

Energy effi cient furnaces and win-

dows, a garage built for two, in fl oor

heat and a myriad of other features

are at the top of the list when you

shop in the fall. Given how long the

winters can be here and how much

it costs to heat your home for those

long months, this can be a great ben-

efi t.

5. And fi nally, if you move in be-

fore the holiday season you get to

enjoy your new home all decked out

while snuggled on the couch in your

PJ’s.

And now the cons. Remember, you

were forewarned that we would be

discussing snow.

1. The snow can come quickly and

when it does it can be very hard to

get a true sense of the land once it is

covered.

You will not be able to determine

how well the yard was maintained or

what level of ongoing maintenance

will be required for the landscaping.

If you are purchasing a home with

pets you may even want to negotiate

for the cost of poop clean up for the

spring.

2. Given the snow, you may not be

able to determine if the traffi c near

the home is lighter than usual due to

adverse road conditions.

3. You will have to view the poten-

tial properties much earlier in the

day to be able to see the property in

the natural light.

4. The inventory is much lower in

December and January given fi rst

the preparation for, the enjoyment of

and the recovery from the Christmas

season.

5. Lawyers and lenders often close

or operate on greatly reduced staff

during the holiday season. Any

glitch to the mortgage funding may

not be addressed until business as

usual resumes in January.

6. Moving in the winter when it is

-40C give or take with the wind chill

and when the snowdrifts prevent the

moving truck from getting closer

than a half block make moving dur-

ing the winter less than ideal to say

the least.

Yikes, that’s all I have to say about

that.

So there you have it. The pros and

cons of buying a home during the

fall or winter.

Pam Pikkert is a mortgage broker with Dominion Lending Centres – Regional Mortgage Group in Red Deer.

Pam

P I K K E R T


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Making Your House A Home

Today, every member of the

household is seeking a retreat

of their own. Mom has the ul-

timate in pampering with her

deep Jacuzzi tub with scented

candles. The young son may

have an arcade room, where a

fl at screen sits proudly mount-

ed on the wall. But what about

Dad?

“Creating a ‘man cave’ is such

a fun way to give a nod to Dad

and offer him a tailored room

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Below, Morse offers tips on how

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man cave.

Fashion and Function - don’t

overwhelm the space with too

many bells and whistles – the in-

spiration is, after all, a cave, the

most basic of dwellings. “Try

to make every piece go double

duty, like a luxe-looking card

table that also works for drinks

and snacking,” Morse advises.

Playful Accents - “I like to

always ask about favorite child-

hood memories or hobbies that

evoke a feeling of comfort, and

brainstorm ideas from there,”

Morse says. If your man spent

his summer breaks sailing the

seas, for example, try a ship-

shaped chandelier.

The “T” Factor - from James

Bond’s luxurious hideaways

to Batman’s dark lair, a com-

mon theme occurs: technology.

“Home automation systems are

always impressive and fun,”

Morse notes. “They also make

living in any space seamless

and easy.”

The Hunter Douglas Plati-

num App, for example, can be

integrated into existing systems

or be used on its own for a taste

of home automation at a frac-

tion of the cost. The app allows

mobile device users to adjust

their window treatments with

the tap of a fi nger. Move all the

Hunter Douglas window dress-

ings in the home at once or by

room, at the same time or one

shade at a time, and by “scenes”

you can pre-set, such as “movie

night.” You can even activate

the timer feature to set the

shades in motion while you’re

away. Morse also recommends

Hunter Douglas Designer Roller

Shades with the Blockout Sys-

tem that eliminates light gaps

for complete room darkening

and privacy.

With these handy tips, spend

less time creating and more

time enjoying your man cave.

More information is available

at www.hunterdouglas.ca.

www.newscanada.com

Tips on how to build your very own man-friendly space

FOR THE GUYS - This Burbank Game Table from Frontgate has special pullouts for drinks, maximizing table space.photo submitted


What have you done to

bundle up your home for

winter?

It’s time to think of fi n-

ishing up some of those

projects you didn’t get

fi nished over the sum-

mer months. Summers are

short in Alberta and who

can blame you for want-

ing to enjoy a beautiful day

on the golf course or on

your deck, sharing a glass

of wine with friends. But

now it’s time to get serious

- your home deserves some

attention.

Fall is a great time to

start creating a plan for

an upcoming renovation.

When undertaking any

renovation, it is impera-

tive to come up with a plan.

Many clients are not able to

complete an entire renova-

tion all at once.

However, piecing togeth-

er your project with no fore-

thought will result in less

than spectacular results.

So even if you can only af-

ford to re-do your powder

room this fall, be sure to in-

corporate all areas of your

home into your long-term

plan. Use that plan to pro-

ceed step-by-step through

your renovation.

For example, you would

like to replace that horrible

carpet with a new hard-

wood fl oor. But your budget

won’t allow for it right now.

As you look around, you

notice the walls could sure

use a freshening up with

new paint. Hmmm…you

have always hated that ugly

chandelier above your din-

ing room table. Not to men-

tion you’ve always wanted

to make that dining room

bigger to have more space

for entertaining friends

and family. It’s time to

bring in some professional

advice.

Find a reputable compa-

ny to work with to help cre-

ate a step-by-step plan for

you to work towards get-

ting everything you have

envisioned for your home.

Utilize the knowledge a

designer can bring to your

project.

Set out a budget you are

comfortable with and the

stages at which you can

move forward with your

renovation. One of the big-

gest mistakes a client can

make is to allow an unrea-

sonably short amount of

time to complete a project.

This leads to disappoint-

ment and frustration for

both client and contractor.

An interior designer can

assist you to coordinate all

of your product choices, co-

lour palette, and also help

you to determine which ar-

eas of your project are best

to start with as you begin

to create a beautiful fl ow

through each room of your

home.

Next comes the big ques-

tion - what’s in style now?

Of course, there are always

changing styles and trends.

It’s the most exciting part

of design.

I always guide clients

by current trends, but al-

ways within a framework

of what’s comfortable for

them. Choose colours and

fi nishes you’re at ease

with. Think about how you

use your home. There is an

amazing amount of prod-

ucts on the market. Deter-

mine what best suits your

needs.

Look for ways to change

up your interior by add-

ing a new colour combina-

tion. We have been excited

to see lighter shades of

hardwood fl ooring coming

into our showroom. Some

have a washed effect, and

maybe even a bit of metal-

lic sparkle. There are more

golden tones re-emerging,

but with hints of grey

tones. These are modern

takes on woods, with lots

of dimension, detail and

shading to add character to

your home. Tiles are more

contemporary with the

popularity of both matte

and gloss fi nishes continu-

ing to fi nd their way into

many homes. Organic tex-

tures and styles appeal

to homeowners, whether

they choose a traditional or

modern décor.

Whichever direction

your renovation takes you,

begin with a solid plan. En-

list competent, knowledge-

able designers and contrac-

tors and trades people to

ensure your project is com-

pleted properly and to code.

Your home should be a true

refl ection of you and your

family and your individual

styles and needs.

Stacey Swain is an interior design consultant with Central Alberta Tile One in Red Deer.

Fall is the perfect time to plan for a home renovation

Winter is just

around the corner,

before the cold hits

call us for a general service.

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S W A I N


Old Man Winter is just around the corner, bringing cold,

frigid temperatures and a desire to stay in and stay warm.

Heating costs make up a signifi cant portion of house-

hold expenses, but there are ways to manage your energy

use while still staying warm and cozy. Josh Orzech, the di-

rector of home services for Direct Energy Alberta, shares

fi ve easy ways to improve energy effi ciency this winter:

1. Lower the thermostat: put on a sweater or extra blan-

ket and lower your thermostat by two degrees celsius to

save up to 4% on your heating bill. Consider replacing

your old thermostat with a programmable one – some

versions learn your behavior and adjust the temperature

based on your living patterns.

2. Keep in the heat: look into the attic and check to see if

your current insulation needs to be topped up. Regardless

of the type of insulation you have, there should be a mini-

mum of 12 inches of insulation in your attic. Improving

your home’s insulation is one of the fastest and most cost

effective ways to cut down on your heating costs.

3. Maintain your furnace: most manufacturers recom-

mend that you clean or replace furnace fi lters every three

months. It’s important to book a full inspection with a

professional to maintain your manufacturer’s warranty

and ensure your system is working safely and effi ciently.

Doing this should also help cut down on your energy con-

sumption.

4. Use ‘free’ heat: open curtains and blinds on sunny

days to let the warmth in.

5. Seal it up: check for air leaks around doors, windows

and electrical outlets and use caulking or weather strip-

ping to seal out the cold air. If you were to add up all the

leaks in the average Canadian home, you would end with

a hole about the size of a basketball.

Additional tips and ideas can be found at www.directen-

ergy.com/alberta.

www.newscanada.com

Five ways to stay energy effi cient this winter

Call today for a FREE in-home design consultation:

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BETTER.

Winterize your homeWe know that Canadian

winters can be tough on

our homes - both inside and

out.

Prep the deck - cleaning

the deck’s surface, especial-

ly removing debris caught

between deck boards, can

save a lot of time come

spring. Consider using a

power washer and recom-

mended cleaner to remove

mold, mildew and grime.

When the surface is clean

again, seal it with a weath-

erproofi ng wood stain for

lasting protection.

Keep a maintained roof

over your head. A well-

maintained roof keeps the

warm air in and cold air

out.

Being proactive now,

with repairs and mainte-

nance, will prevent larger

issues in the spring months.

Remember to check and

examine if there are any

leaks, ventilation issues, or

insulation defi ciencies.

Install door sweeps - a

door sweep takes care of

air leaks at the bottom of

doors common in older

homes. A door sweep is

easy to install with a few

simple screws. By applying

weather stripping, you can

save up to 20% on heating

and cooling bills.

Prep drains for winter

- prepare for the winter

run-off by adding a down-

spout extension to your

current drainage system.

Come spring, melting snow

should be directed at least

three to four feet away from

your home’s foundation.

Make sure exterior faucets

have been turned off. Any

water left in the pipe could

freeze, forcing expensive

repairs for burst pipes.

Fall dust down - now

is the time to thoroughly

clean heating ducts, grills,

registers and ceiling fans.

Air fi lters should be re-

placed as least once every

three months as they can

become clogged, causing

your system to work less

effi ciently and increasing

operating costs.

www.newscanada.com


ABC

832

02 2

014/

10

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Special Features - Fall Home Improvement 2014