Sept 28, 2011 Homeowner's Resource Guide by Goldstream Gazette

HOMEOWNER’S RESOURCE GUIDE 2011 FALL EDITION

Supplement to:

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2 Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011

VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE

Welcome to your 2011 fall Homeowner’s Guide

fter a glorious late summer, the weather has definitely changed as the calendar turns to fall. And just as it’s time to head back to school and work after a relaxing summer at the beach or ball field, it’s also time to return our attention to the homefront. Fall is one of the busiest times around the house, as Victorians ready for winter wind and rain storms – are you prepared? Those same storms will also be bringing down the leaves from the trees, but there’s plenty to be done with these gifts for the garden. Find out more about these and many other home-related subjects inside, along with terrific resources from your local business community, in the fall edition of the Black Press Homeowner’s Guide.

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Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011 PAGE 3

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4 Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011

VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE

Advertiser Index APPLIANCES

Furniture/upholstery

Resource

Lansdowne Appliance.......................................6

Modern Living by Standard Furniture................2 Morgan’s Fabrics & Interiors............................14

Homeowner Protection Office.........................16

Bath Fitter.........................................................3 Seabridge Bathing............................................3 Island Acrylic Bath Systems.............................11

Heating

Bartlett Tree Experts........................................12

Building Supply

Home Inspection

Bathroom

Windsor Plywood..............................................6 ReStore...........................................................15

Island Furnace & Fireplace.................................7 Pacific Fireplace...............................................13 Fairhome Building Inspection Inc......................7

Independent Concrete Ltd...............................14 Tedford Overhead Doors..................................15

Painting

Arrow Painting................................................14

Excavation

Active Bobcat & Trucking Ltd...........................14

Property Management

Baywood Property Management......................7

Flooring

Oak Bay Broadloam & Fine Floors......................4 Canada Laminate..............................................8

Ponds................................................................5 Capital Regional District (CRD)........................10

Published by:

New Homes, Renos, Additions

Plan 2 Design Consultants Ltd...........................4

Doors

Water Services

Kitchens

Successful Visions Group Inc..............................9

Concrete

Tree Services

Recycling

Capital Regional District (CRD)..........................7

818 Broughton St. Victoria, BC V8W 1E4 250-381-3484 Fax: 250-386-2624 www.vicnews.com www.oakbaynews.com www.saanichnews.com www.goldstreamgazette.com

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Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011 PAGE 5

Home Maintenance Tips for Fall

Protect Your Home — and Investment!

all is the time to get your home ready for the coming winter, which here in Victoria means heavy rains, blowing winds and sometimes chilly temperatures that can catch homeowners off guard. The result? What can easily be the most gruelling season for your home. However, a few largely simple tasks can prevent many common — and costly — problems before they occur, suggests the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. For example: • Ensure leaves and other debris are removed from eavestroughs and downspouts for proper drainage from the roof. Ensure downspouts direct water away from the house foundation. • Have a gas, oil, or other non-electric heating system serviced by a qualified company (every two years for a gas furnace and every year for an oil furnace, or in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions). • Have chimneys or combustion vents checked for nests or other obstructions before turning on your heating system. • If you have a furnace, check and clean or replace filters monthly during the heating season. • Gently vacuum in and around hot water baseboard and electric baseboard heaters to remove dust. Remove grilles on forced-air heating systems and vacuum inside the ducts. Ensure airflow dampers are open. • If you have a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), ensure the air intake grille — located on the outside of the house — is clean,

filters and core within the unit are clean, the condensate drains properly (test by pouring water into the drain pan under the core and watching the flow through the drain tube), and the HRV is turned on and is set at the right speed. Clean gutters to ensure water drains • If you have a well, test the properly from the roof. water quality. • If you have a sump pump, ensure it is operating properly, with no obstructions or leaks in the drain line. • If you have a septic tank, have it checked to determine if it needs to be emptied before the winter starts. • Remove and store window screens, install storm windows, and ensure windows, doors and skylights shut tightly, including the door between your house and garage; repair or replace weatherstripping, as needed. • Ensure that the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation wall to decrease the likelihood of water draining into the basement. • Drain and store outdoor hoses. Close the valve to the outdoor hose connection and drain the faucet. For a free copy of the “About Your House” fact sheet Home Maintenance Schedule, or other information, visit www.cmhc.ca or call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642.

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6 Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011

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Name _______________________________________ Address _____________________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Phone _______________________________________ Email ________________________________________ Fill out entry form, cut out and drop off at your local participating Windsor Plywood store. For a list of all participating locations please visit our website at www.windsorplywood.com 1. To be eligible for a chance to win, deposit a completed entry form in the specially marked contest ballot box at participating Windsor Plywood locations. 2, The winner will be the first entry selected by random draw who correctly answers the skill testing question. 3. Contest is open to everyone except to employees of Windsor Plywood or their immediate families. 4. No purchase is necessary to enter this contest. Mail entries are not acceptable. 5. The prize is not refundable. No substitution for or transfer of the prize is allowed. Prize has no cash value, store credit only. 6. One entry per person. 7. See store or website for complete rules.

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VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE

Rain Gardens 101

f there’s something southern Vancouver Islanders know about, it’s rain. And from rain, we get stormwater which, because it often picks up road salt, heavy metals and other harmful substances along the way, can impact water quality of lakes and streams, explains Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. One way to minimize stormwater run-off is with a rain garden to capture stormwater so it can be absorbed into the soil. CMHC offers the following tips on designing a raingarden: Choose a location along a path that stormwater generally follows through your yard, particularly at an existing low point. To ensure water soaks in and doesn’t stand in for more than two days, choose a location with well-drained soil – sandy, gravelly, loam or no more than 10 per cent clay. • To avoid creating moisture problems, direct stormwater away from vulnerable areas, such as your house’s foundation, septic beds or neighbouring homes. Place your rain garden at least 4 m (13 ft.) away from such areas. • Lay out the size and shape of the garden with a rope or hose. To capture as much water as possible, a rain garden should be at least 1.5 times longer than it is wide. Many prefer kidney or oval shapes, but use any shape that suits your taste and yard. • If the existing area is lawn, use a sod cutter, spade or edger to remove lawn from the garden space, making sure to get rid of the roots. Dig the bed of the garden to between 7.5 cm to 15 cm deep, depending on the soil. To help the new plants take root, add a layer of compost to the top few inches of soil. • Rain gardens can be planted or covered with a permeable hard surface such as river stone, or a combination of both. If planting, choose species that tolerate both wet and dry conditions. For more details, visit www.cmhc.ca or call 1-800-668-2642.

Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011 PAGE 7

Price of Natural Gas is going up! How Old is your Furnace? A High Efficiency Furnace will pay for itself within 7 years.

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Victoria’s Home Rental Specialists

Go Blue. It’s the right thing to do.

We’re happy to see so many people taking to recycling. It’s the right thing to do. Lifting recyclables in oversized containers has become an occupational health and safety concern for the people that pick them up. That’s why only CRD approved blue boxes and blue bags are emptied at the curb. This way we can all care for the environment, and the people who work every day to make it better. Find CRD Blue Box sales locations at: www.crd.bc.ca/bluebox or call the CRD Hotline at 250.360.3030.

Mid and upper style homes Thorough tenant screening Owner communication by email and 1-800 Prompt deposits to owners 25 years’ experience in property management

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www.baywood.ca • 250-592-5852 baywood@shawcable.com

Baywood Property Management Ltd

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8 Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011

VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE

Leave it to leaves! Compost

hether you’re blessed with Garry oaks or towering maples, chances are, the next few months will have you raking leaves. Rather than bemoaning the chore, consider it a gift for the garden! “Leaves have many uses for the home gardener and when used properly can greatly improve a garden’s soil,” explain the experts at the Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre. Need ideas? “Leaves can be used for composting, mulch, lasagna gardening/sheet mulching, potting soil, soil building, worm bedding and chicken coop bedding.”

Storage

When storing the leaves, try to compact them to take up less space. As wet leaves can be difficult to work with, spreading them out and allowing them to dry first makes them more user friendly. Store in strong plastic garbage bags or bins, or for larger amounts, try a hoop bin.

“Composting is a great way of utilizing the nutrients and qualities of leaves,” the centre notes. Composting with leaves is quick and easy. Leaves that have turned brown and fallen to the ground have lost most of their nitrogen and should be mixed with a high-nitrogen material like fresh manure, grass clippings or food scraps to make a balanced compost. Shredding the leaves will accelerate their decomposition. This can be done by using a leaf shredder or a common rotary lawnmower. To compost leaves, use 50 to 70 per cent (by volume) leaves and 30 to 50 per cent of high nitrogen materials. For “hot composting” the leaves, ensure the compost pile is at least one cubic metre (three cubic feet) to break leaves down more quickly. For composting in a backyard bin, mix the leaves thoroughly with food scraps and other materials in the bin.

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Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011 PAGE 9

Leaf Mold

For the busy gardener, leaf mold can be a handy resource. Simply keep leaves in a plastic bag, covered pile, or hoop bin, they’ll slowly break down over a year or two, resulting in leaf mold – known for its ability to hold water, meaning less likelihood of plant stress in drought situations. Leaf mold is also a great soil amendment, decomposing slowly to release nutrients to the soil over time. Use leaf mold wherever you would use compost or use as a fine mulch or ingredient in potting soil or worm bin bedding.

Mulching

As a mulch, leaves help keep the soil cool and moist in summer and warm and protected from the the compaction and erosion of rain in winter. As the leaves break down they also add nutrients to the soil and provide a perfect environment for earthworms to thrive. However, most leaves are slightly acidic so your soil pH may need to be raised by applying dolomite lime. For plants that prefer acidic soil (i.e. strawberries), pine needles and oak leaves work well as a mulch. Because leaves are so small, they are easy to work with and can easily be shaped to fit around the trunks of trees and stems of perennial plants. Keep the leaves a few inches away from trunks and stems, as continued contact with leaves could cause stems and trunks to rot. Caution: Some plants, such as black walnut, arbutus and pine release chemicals through their roots and leaves that suppress the growth of other plants and can be composted on their own and/or used in areas where you don’t want plants to grow. Some leaves are harder to compost because they take longer to break down; these can be left to decompose in their own pile or shredded before being added to a compost.

Common local leaves and their properties Maple: Maple leaves are high in calcium and potassium and their wide leaf is a great mulch that breaks down quickly. Oak: Contrary to popular belief, oak leaves are very beneficial for the garden. As a mulch they are long-lasting, requiring less work to maintain. Acidic in nature, they’re good for acid-loving plants like strawberries and native plants. In a compost, the acidity of moderate amounts of oak leaves can be balanced by the other materials. Pine Needles: Pine needles and other conifer leaves and needles are very acidic. Use these to mulch acid-loving plants such as strawberries, blueberries, or rhododendrons. They can be added to your compost in small quantities. Cherry: Though not very high in nutrients, cherry leaves are abundant in some areas of the CRD and make long-lasting, effective mulch.

LOVE YOUR KITCHEN

Innovation, Style, Quality

Successful Visions Group Inc. Custom Kitchen Manufacturer

Family owned and operated | 26 years experience & service | Free Design Service Se | Visit our showroom

www.successfulvisionsgroup.ca f l ii • 2550 RRockk BBay AAvenue • Victoria • Ph: 250.384.5711

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10 Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011

VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE

9 ways to boost your water wisdom this fall A

s Victorians come off summer’s outdoor water restrictions, it’s time to turn our attention indoors, and there’s no better time to take a careful look at daily habits that can make a big difference –both to the environment, and homeowners’ water and energy bills. Here are nine easy ideas from the Capital Regional District to reduce water use in your home:

Shorten your shower – Going from 10 minutes to five minutes or less while using a 9.5-litre-per-minute showerhead can save up to 40 litres of water each time. Save even more by replacing your older, inefficient showerhead. A family

of four could save up to 160,000 litres of water in one year by switching from an older 18 to 30-litre-per-minute model to a 9.5 lpm showerhead, and even more with a 5.6 lpm showerhead.

Insulate water pipes to reduce the time it takes for water to run hot from the faucets. While waiting, catch the cool water in a bucket or water can to use later for plants, pets or cleaning.

Save more than 20 litres per flush by replacing old toilets with low-flow six-litre models, high-efficiency 4.8-litre models, or dual 3/6-litre models. A family of four could save up to 30,000 litres of water a year with a 6L toilet, and even more with a high-efficiency

model – that’s a 20-per-cent-reduction in household consumption. If unable to replace an older toilet, look for a toilet displacement device, but do not put plastic bottles or bricks in a toilet tank, which can interrupt the flushing mechanisms and possibly cause leaks, the CRD notes.

Do not let the water run while brushing teeth, washing or shaving. Instead, turn off the faucet when not directly using the water. Retrofit all household faucets with inexpensive, water-saving aerators or consider replacing with water-efficient models.

Consider a point-of-use water heater or on-demand hot water sys-

Water Savings You Can Bank On Looking to reduce operational costs in your multi-residential complex? Take the ﬁrst step towards saving money — conduct a water audit! Our step by step guide helps strata members, property owners and managers to measure water use and ﬁnd potential savings. If your multi-residential building is connected to the Greater Victoria drinking water system, order your free copy of the Water Saving Guide for Multi-Residential Dwellings. Call us at 250.474.9684 to order. Some restrictions apply. Limit one per water bill account number or multiresidential complex.

VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE

Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011 PAGE 11

which uses less water. Save cooking water from vegetables for soups gravies, sauces or outdoor plants.

Avoid rinsing fruits and vegetables under running water; use a pan instead, then re-use the water for plants.

Scrape dishes instead of rinsing them before loading the dishwasher. For heavy cleaning, pre-soak overnight. Compost organic kitchen waste instead of using a sink garbage disposal system, which consume hundreds of litres of water each week, and increase the load for the water treatment facilities. When handwashing dishes, use tubs or plug the sink instead of running water.

tem, which can significantly reduce hot water use where a frequently used sink or shower is a long way from the central water heater. Some systems use a valve and a pump to divert the cold water sitting in the hot water line to a heater that quickly warms it and sends hot water to fixtures in seconds without wasting water. Compact water heaters can fit under a sink, or a small hot water tank may be

placed in a nearby storage area. For details, view the CRD Research Brief, “OnDemand Hot Water Systems.”

Rinse fruit and vegetables in a pan instead of under running water, then use the water for indoor and outdoor plant watering. Keep a bottle of drinking water in the fridge. When cooking, use a small amount of water and a covered pot,

Dishwashers use large volumes of water, so operate at full capacity and/or set the water level for the size of your load. In the market for a new dishwasher? Look for a water- and energy-efficient model.

Washing machines use anywhere from 100 to 200 litres of water per load, so only operate at full capacity. If available, use a “suds-saver” feature, which reuses clean rinse water for washing the next load. Buying new? Consider a higheffiiciency machine which uses less detergent and up to 40-per-cent-less water and 50-cent-less energy than top-loading machines.

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12 Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011

VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE

Winter storms or earthquakes:

Be Prepared

By Jennifer Blyth

veryone who lives on the West Coast knows we are at risk of an earthquake, which could happen without warning at any time. But as we welcome fall, windstorms and even snowstorms can also bring emergency situations that require residents to be prepared to fend for themselves for a few days...sometimes longer. Being prepared doesn’t need to take a lot of time, and local experts are ready to get you on your way. Coming up from the City of Victoria is a series of free Emergency Preparedness Workshops that will show participants how to better prepare for an emergency, including how to safely store drinking water, put together first aid and emergency supply kits, and prepare a family reunification plan. Daytime sessions are scheduled in the City Hall antechamber from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 and Thursday, Nov. 24. Additional sessions are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 20, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Fairfield Gonzales Community Centre and Tuesday, Nov. 22, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Cook Street Village Activity Centre. Register at 250-920-3373 or email vema@victoria.ca For

more information, visit www.PrepareVictoria.ca In Saanich, join Saanich Emergency Program representatives at Pearkes Recreation Centre and at the Nellie McClung Library this Thursday, Sept. 29, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and learn how to be prepared for an emergency – what disasters does Saanich anticipate; what should you do about household utilities; how can you adjust to loss of water/sewage services; and do you have a communication plan? The sessions are free but please pre-register: for Pearkes, call 250475-5400 or for the library, visit www.gvpl.ca or call 250477-7111. An additional workshop is planned Oct. 22, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Saanich Commonwealth Place – register at 250 4757600. The next Oak Bay Emergency Preparedness session is planned for Tuesday, Nov. 15 from 6:45 to 9 p.m. at Windsor Park Pavilion, in addition to a special Oct. 5 session on Seniors Preparedness from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Monterey Centre – learn what you need to do to protect yourself in an earthquake and for other hazards, the importance of a buddy system and how to develop your Personal Preparedness Plan.

Bartlett Offers All Phases of Tree Care • Pruning • Removals • Insect and Disease Suppression • Tree Structure Evaluation • Cabling and Bracing • Soil Management/Fertilization • Diagnostic Services • Maintenance Programs

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250 479 3873 or 877 BARTLETT • www.bartlett.com

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Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011 PAGE 13

Basic emergency kit

For the seniors session, register at Monterey Centre reception or call 250-370-7300; for the general session, pre-register at 250-592-9121 or email coordinator@oakbayemergency.com. In Esquimalt, Individual and Family Preparedness sessions are planned for Saturday, Oct. 15 and 22, from 10 a.m. to noon – register with Keith Davies at 250-412-8543 – with a course on Disaster First Aid scheduled as well. Davies is also currently seeking volunteers for Esquimalt’s Emergency Social Services program. In the Westshore, volunteers are needed to help local emergency preparedness programs – for details in Langford, call the Emergency Social Services office at 250-478-5510 and leave a message. For View Royal residents, call 250-479-7322 and in Metchosin, call 250-478-1307.

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Homeowers may have many basic emergency kit items already, such as a flashlight, batteryoperated radio, food, water and blankets. The key is to make sure they are organized, easy to find and easy to carry, such as in a suitcase with wheels or in a backpack, in case you need to evacuate your home, notes Canada’s emergency preparedness site, GetPrepared.gc.ca At its most basic, here’s what you should have: • Water – two litres per person per day (Include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order) • Food – that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods (remember to replace the food and water once a year) • Manual can opener • Flashlight and batteries • Wind-up or battery-powered or radio (with extra batteries) • First aid kit • Special needs items – prescription medications, infant formula, equipment for people with disabilities, and pet items. • Extra keys – for your car and house • Cash – include smaller bills, such as $10 bills (traveller’s cheques are also useful) and change for payphones • Emergency plan – include a copy of it and ensure it contains in-town and out-of-town contact information

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14 Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011

VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE

Protect hardwood floors for decades of enjoyment

EEs FR timate Es

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• • • • • •

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hether you own one of Victoria’s many older homes with original hardwood floors, or you’ve renovated to add the attractive feature to your living space, knowing how to care for hardwood properly will keep your floors looking gorgeous for years to come. Caring for hardwood floors only takes some common sense precautions and minimal maintenance. Today’s hardwood floors are often produced with durable sealants that protect the wood underneath or are comprised of composite or reclaimed wood products. However, precautions should still be taken to further protect against potential damage to the flooring. • Place area rugs or mats at the doorways entering the home. This way sand, dirt and other debris can be wiped off at the entryway and not carried onto the wood flooring where it can cause abrasions over time. • Pay careful attention to which types of shoes are worn on the floors. High heels or cleats can damage the wood. Removing shoes prior to walking on the floor is a safer bet. • Choose the right type of cleaner for the floor. Do not assume just because a particular cleaner is adequate for wood cabinetry or furniture that it is also fine for wood flooring. Check the label. • Use area rugs and carpet runners on areas of the floor that tend to be high-traffic areas. This will prevent these areas from

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Doing our part to “Make Victoria Beautiful” on the inside

Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011 PAGE 15

VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE

Quality Building Supplies at up to 75% Below Retail! From ooring to xtures, countertops to cabinets, you’ll nd it at the ReStore, WestShore’s favourite resource for home renova�on projects… with deeply discounted prices every day! • Browse our selec�on of new and gently-used building materials, xtures, tools and appliances. • Discover treasures to transform your home at a frac�on of full retail prices. • Celebrate that your purchase helps make homeownership a reality for local families in need. All proceeds support Habitat Victoria’s work right here in our community!

Several easy steps will help homeowners protect their timeless and attractive hardwood floors. being worn down unevenly from other areas of the floor. • Do not allow water or other liquids to stand on the floor for a long duration. This can cause degradation of the wood and staining. • Use felt or plastic protectors on the “feet” of dining room chairs or other furniture to prevent against scuffing or scratches.

Call for FREE pick-up of your donated materials! 250-386-7867 849 Orono Avenue (between Pea� & Jacklin) Mon-Sat 9:30-5:30 Sun 11:00-5:00

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16 Homeowner’s Resource Guide • September 28, 2011

VICTORIA NEWS • OAK BAY NEWS • SAANICH NEWS • GOLDSTREAM NEWS GAZETTE

New Residential Construction Guide Benefits Homeowners and Builders For most consumers, buying a new home is one of the largest ﬁnancial investments they will make.

Homeowners have a new tool at their fingertips to help them better understand how warranty providers evaluate claims for possible design, labour or material defects in new homes. The Residential Construction Performance Guide is the newest online resource available on the provincial Homeowner Protection Office website at www.hpo.bc.ca. It explains how homes covered by home warranty insurance should perform. Every new home built for sale by a licensed residential builder in B.C. is protected by mandatory third-party home warranty insurance. It’s the strongest system of construction defect insurance in Canada. “For most consumers, buying a new home is one of the largest financial investments they will make. So it’s essential that homebuyers can make that investment with confidence, knowing that they will not be faced with additional expenses to repair defects after they move in,” said Tony Gioventu, executive director of the Condominium Home Owners’ Association and an advocate for consumer protection. This simple, practical guide is easy to use. It outlines more than 200 possible defects that are searchable online. This includes the most common defect claims that might be submitted under a home warranty insurance policy – from windows that malfunction, to driveway or interior concrete floors that have cracked, to siding that has buckled. Designed primarily for conventional low-rise, wood-frame homes, the guide also provides some helpful guidelines for the common property of multi-unit buildings. Builders can also use the guide to help ensure that they deliver high performance homes.