At Home March 27 2011

MARCH 2011

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Get Prepared!

I N S I D E : GARDENING TRENDS

A GREEN CHALLENGE

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The images of the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan have got us all thinking about disasters,

It might be one of the few positives to come out of the catastrophe.

Many of us have a few things — flashlight, candles, a couple of bottles of water — stashed where they are easy to grab, but few people are prepared to go several days without communication services, electricity or running water.

The time to prepare is now.

Paulette Mossop, education coordinator for the North Shore Emergency Management Office, said the office has been fielding plenty of calls in the past two weeks from concerned residents wondering about the likelihood of a disaster here and how to prepare for it.

Her first suggestion is for residents to visit the website of the North Shore Emergency Management Office, www.nsemo.org. There they will find an abundance of information on how to prepare for an emergency, what to do when disaster strikes, on emergency preparation courses offered by the office and even what the likelihood of certain types of disasters is for our community.

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“We’ve had a lot of calls from residents who are concerned about the possibility of a tsunami,” said Mossop. “We actually have a very low risk here.”

A tsunami report titled “Tsunami Hazard to North and West Vancouver, B.C.” was prepared by Dr. John Clague and Dr. John Orwin of Simon Fraser’s Centre for Natural Hazard Research in December 2005. As well as the barrier that Vancouver Island provides, we don’t have the same kind of topography as the low-lying areas of Japan that were hardest hit by the tsunami. The report itself, as well as a summary of it, are available for reading on the website.

Another regular — and important — question is the one of where to store emergency supplies.

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“It all depends whether you live in a house, a townhouse, or a high-rise apartment, and how much space you have to store things.”

Mossop said she herself moved her bottled water several times before deciding the right place for it is under her bed.

“Ideally you want to find a spot that is in the interior part

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of your home, an interior closet or storage area.” In most earthquakes, structures will remain standing. “A total collapse is rare,” said Mossop. An outside shed is not a wise location because of the risk of freezing, food spoilage, animals getting into it or even theft, said Mossop. “If you are storing things to keep you warm and dry, it’s important that they be warm and dry.”

What do you need? Check out the clippable list of basics below, but ultimately, it will depend on your family. “The bottom line is that people have to be prepared to take care of themselves for a week.

That’s everyone’s personal responsibility,” said Mossop. “We have to allow the first responders to do what they need to do: clear roads and look for survivors.”

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GRAB-AND-GO PACK ■ Food, water, flashlight, AM/FM radio, extra batteries, water, essential medications, extra clothes, eyeglasses, toiletries, money, pen and notepad, identification papers, first aid supplies, local map, whistle, out-of-area contact number.

Under your bed (and the beds of your family members) ■ Shoes and a flashlight, in case of broken glass and/or a power outage.

HOME EMERGENCY KIT Have emergency supplies for a minimum of three days but preferably seven days. Consider special-needs items for infants, children, seniors or people with disabilities and don’t forget your pets.

■ Gas shut-off wrench ■ Flashlight ■ Radio – battery operated or windup ■ Lightsticks/power failure lights/ 36-hour candles ■ Batteries ■ Out of area contact/quarters for phone calls ■ Drinking water (at least two litres per person per day) ■ Washing and cooking water (two litres per person per day) ■ Food (ready to eat, requiring minimal water, heat and refrigeration) ■ Hydrated lime/scoop/dust mask/ rubber kitchen gloves

■ Garbage bags/toilet paper ■ Personal hygiene items, including toothbrush/toothpaste/soap/ shampoo ■ Liquid soap/paper towels/bucket ■ Warm clothes and rain gear ■ Extra medications/prescription/ spare eyeglasses ■ Heavy workgloves/safety goggles/ dust mask ■ Whistle/pocket knife ■ Emergency cash in small denominations ■ Local map/paper/pencil or pen ■ Copies of important documents/ phone numbers ■ First aid kit

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A24 - athome - Sunday, March 27, 2011 A D V E R T I S E M E N T

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Canadian Doormaster Electric Ltd One of the biggest changes on the home building front has been an increase in government regulation regarding building practices. John Friswell of North Vancouver’s CCI Renovations has seen the shift first hand.

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Having been a builder most of his life, he began concentrating on renovations in 1992. Today, as a former chairman of the Canadian Renovations Council, he makes a point of working to improve his profession as well as renovating local homes and understands the impact of the new municipal standards.

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“The problems are numerous and none of them are worth the savings you may gain. The first problem is that anyone working for cash will not be paying their taxes, will not have Workmen’s Compensation and probably wouldn’t have insurance or even a business licence and for sure will not have an HST number. Just not having WCB can be a huge problem for a homeowner if someone is injured – or worse yet, killed – on their renovation. WCB and the courts will be looking to the homeowner to cover the

Checking a company’s track record and trade association membership can be an excellent way to find the builder you need for a trouble free project.

“

CCI Renovations is a member of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association, RenoMark and the Better Business Bureau

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In 2010, CCI was named Best Residential Renovator by the Greater Vancouver Homebuilders’ Association and won the Provincial Consumers’ Choice Georgie Award.

“These awards are based on all of the projects that we submitted for nominations in those particular programs.

The first award reflects how we faired with the judges on these projects combined with our commitment to advancing our industry and education of our own staff.

The second award is a third party poll of our customers for that year and covers all aspects of our interaction with those clients.”

If you’ve got a renovation project looming, make sure you get the right contractor at the very start. They know the changing regulatory landscape and can save you from enormous headaches and hidden costs.

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“We see a surge from all levels of government, particularly at the local level, in trying to be the greenest of the green,” says John. “Our industry has always led in it’s initiatives to provide greener, more energy efficient homes and regulation is not the best way to ‘encourage’ the industry. We are seeing this with the latest initiative from Metro Vancouver and their diversion of waste program for construction sites. As an industry we are already exceeding recycling targets set for 2015 and yet they are looking at ways to add costs to the renovation or building of a home to ‘ensure’ compliance.”

costs associated with that accident – this is akin to having a car accident without any insurance. There will always be an underground or ‘gypsy’ market and it is up to the government and the construction associations to ensure the public are aware of the multitude of dangers of dealing in this economy.”

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Sunday, March 27, 2011 - athome - A25

2011 Gardening Trends AILSA FRANCIS CHECKS OUT THE LATEST IN GARDENING DELIGHTS, FROM BLACK PETUNIAS TO URBAN FARMING. Fads and gadgets come and go in the gardening world, but I would suggest worthwhile changes usually take place over time and are better characterized as movements rather than trends. Here are some picks for the coming year that will continue to gain momentum.

NEW PLANT INTRODUCTIONS Black petunias, early blooming day lilies and a march of shrubs sporting new colours and more compact dimensions are all coming to the marketplace. Some will prove themselves over time and others will fall by the wayside, but whatever their ultimate benefit, yearly introductions are here to stay.

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and hen manure or lawn applications with corn gluten to inhibit weed growth are all on the rise.

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Plants, like ornamental grasses, succulents and other coddle-free offerings, (think no dead-heading, cutting back, heavy fertilizing or replacing) are now becoming the first choice for planters.

Green roof technology has actually been around in Canada for many years, but it has only recently been catching on for residential applications. There are certain important considerations (i.e. roof pitch, load-bearing capacity, and maintenance provisions) but there are many energy, ecological and beautifying benefits.

Not the high maintenance cottagey gardens of the past, but nevertheless, homeowners continue to look for alternate ways to cover the ground in their front gardens. The lawn continues to shrink.

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CREATING AND MANAGING BACKYARD ECOSYSTEMS We are increasingly resisting sanitizing our gardens. The result is that the vibrant cycle of life encompassing good and bad bugs, disease, visiting creatures and unpredictable weather is teaching us valuable lessons about backyard ecology and life.

NATURAL FERTILIZERS, PESTICIDES AND HERBICIDE More and more manufacturers are bringing alternative products to the marketplace.

Fertilizers with seaweed

IT’S SPRING!

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Visiting farmers’ markets in town gives a glimpse of what’s being grown on the fringes of the city. However, many resourceful individuals are turning vegetable growing into an urban business.

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A26 - athome - Sunday, March 27, 2011

Taking the challenge When it comes to saving the planet, every step counts.

That’s what North Vancouver’s Forde family learned when they took part in a nationwide challenge to reduce their environmental footprint.

“You think, my goodness, turning off one light bulb is just a small little thing and the problems we’re facing are much, much bigger than that, but I think they make a little bit of difference,” said Nancy Forde, following the family’s one-month challenge. “If everyone were to do that, it could make quite a large difference.”

This year, Nancy and Cameron Forde, both Simon Fraser University science professors, and their two children were selected to represent Greater Vancouver in a Canada-wide energy-saving challenge. In its second year, the Great Green Challenge — sponsored by Whirlpool Canada — provided three families from across the country with all-new energy saving appliances and followed each family’s quest to reduce their energy consumption by ten per cent during the month of February.

“We thought it would be really interesting to challenge ourselves,” said Nancy. After adding another storey to their Emerald Drive bungalow and the birth of their son last year, the family was looking for ways to run their larger home in a more sustainable way.

“We weren’t sure if we would be able to reduce at all because the footprint of our house was twice the size,” she said.

Nancy and Cameron Forde and their children Alistair (3 months) and Gillian (4 years) took part in the “Great Green Challenge” by reducing their energy costs and blogging about the experience.

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Sunday, March 27, 2011 - athome - A27

Reflect Refl ect Your Taste in

When the challenge began Feb. 1, the Fordes started making small changes to their daily routines. They replaced their light bulbs with fluorescent lights, they cut back on laundry and especially the dryer, and they lowered the temperature of their new heated floors that were installed during renovations last year.

Discovering easy ways to cut back on unnecessary waste, the family is motivated to continue reducing their footprint. “We didn’t set out to do things that we weren’t going to be able to stick with. We wanted to make changes that we will be able to continue,” she said.

The average Metro Vancouver resident produces 156 garbage “We didn’t set out bags worth of trash to do things that we each year, more than “That was pretty exciting to weren’t going to be able half of which ends us,” Nancy said. “We were to stick with. We wanted up in the landfill. able to reduce . . . in spite to make changes that As part of its Zero of a much larger house.” we will be able to Waste Challenge, continue.”

Metro Vancouver aims But for Nancy, the challenge to divert 70 per cent of provided not just money-saving the region’s landfill-bound tricks but also an “environmental garbage by 2015. awareness” that the family hopes to continue. Aside from reducing electricity But for Nancy, the Great Green Challenge use, the Fordes started taking public transit has demonstrated the power that each more often and packing reusable plates individual person can make when a when they went on day trips. conscious effort is made to reduce waste and cut back on energy use.

“Going to the food court, I was appalled to look around and see that every single “The Earth is heading in not a very good person was eating on something that was direction unless we all do our utmost to just going to get thrown into a landfill. reduce our energy usage and our reliance on There’s just so much waste and it’s very non-renewable natural resources,” she said. easy to carry around my own plate, fork NIAMH SCALLAN and knife,” Nancy said.

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A28 - athome - Sunday, March 27, 2011

House styles 101 As the old adages go, “a man’s home is his castle” and “there’s no place like home.”

What type of house a person chooses to call home can say a lot about his or her personality and priorities.

There are many different types of housing styles, each with unique features, benefits and detriments. When shopping for a new home or thinking about updating a current place, it can be wise to keep housing style in mind before signing on any dotted lines or making any renovations.

Colonial

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Colonial homes were developed during the colonial period of the United States and remain one of the most popular housing styles to date. Colonials generally have a distinct square or rectangular shape and are often large and stately. Main rooms are on the first floor of the house, while bedrooms are on the second level. A centre-hall colonial can have a staircase or hallway splitting the home into two distinct sides.

COLONIAL

Ranch

RANCHER

Ranch-style homes became popular in the 1960s, when many families were flocking to suburban areas. Long, spacious homes were first seen on the country’s ranches. As they cropped up in different areas, they were still referred to as ranch-style homes or ranches. Ranch homes are very popular with seniors because most are one-level homes.

Split-level A split-level home is a multi-leveled dwelling with a small staircase that leads up from the main level and another that leads down from the main level. A side split may be visible when looking at the front of the home, where a back split may only show when looking at the side elevation of the home. A bi-level home only has two levels.

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Sunday, March 27, 2011 - athome - A29

Craftsman Craftsman homes came out of the Arts and Crafts movement that spurred architectural styles as well as furniture design. Craftsman homes are built from stone or stucco and are meant to blend in with the surrounding landscape. Oftentimes one storey, the Craftsman may have one dormer over the roof and feature thick pillars on a front porchway.

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Contemporary

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A contemporary or “modern” house has little ornamentation and may be asymmetrical in design. It uses glass extensively and other modern building materials. Contemporary homes are often designated by sleek, unadorned lines.

Cape Cod Cape Cod homes were built from the 1930s through CONTEMPOR ARY the 1950s. The style originated in colonial New England, but then spread to other areas of the country. The homes are usually compact and feature a centre hall layout with rooms branching on either side of the hallway. Capes may be one- or two-storey dwellings with small rooms and dormers that protrude out of a sharply pitched roof.

Nothing says it better than the words of my clients

Mission

You and your crew provided us with the professionalism and detailed work that we were looking for when seeking out a contractor. Our relationship managed to grow over the months, so much so that you were able to envision what we expected in our finished product. We are so happy with the work, we hope selfishly that you display it on your website so that many people can see the quality work your company provides. Thank you again.

The Mission style became popular in southern U.S. between the years 1485 and 1558. It was inspired by Mexican mansions. Mission-style homes are distinguished by exterior stucco walls and parapets, or a low wall that runs at the perimeter of the roof. Mission homes also may have an arcade, or a series of arches supported by large square columns to form a large, shaded entry porch.

Tudor Tudor-style homes are reminiscent of the Tudor architectural style popular in England between 1485 and 1558. These homes are characterized by an asymmetrical floor plan, tall, thin windows, a large chimney, decorative half-timbering and steeply pitched roofs.

TUDOR

PHOTOS CINDY GOODMAN | DREAMSTIME.COM

Doug and Joann Lum and family, North Vancouver

604.970.2281 www.shakespearehomes.com

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A30 - athome - Sunday, March 27, 2011

NEW GUIDE BENEFITS HOMEBUYERS AND BUILDERS ACROSS B.C.

The guide is also a valuable information tool for residential builders. Although warranty providers are ultimately responsible for construction defects, most “The province, warranty providers, the residential warranty providers have an indemnity agreement with construction industry and consumer groups are each builder client. This requires the residential builder recommending this new publication as the ‘go to’ bestto correct defects for a certain period of time in which the practice, reference guide for owners of new homes home warranty insurance coverage is in effect. Builders and licensed residential builders,” said Rich Coleman, can use the guide to help meet or exceed the standard to minister of energy and mines and minister which their new homes will be measured in the event of responsible for housing, in a release. a claim. “For most consumers, buying a new home is one of the largest financial investments they Developed in consultation with home “It’s essential that will make. So it’s essential that homebuyers can warranty insurance providers for use homebuyers can make make that investment with confidence, knowing in British Columbia, the Residential that investment with that they will not be faced with additional Construction Performance Guide confidence, knowing that expenses to repair defects after they move in,” provides advance information that said Tony Gioventu, executive director of the they will not be faced with sets out the minimum required Condominium Home Owner’s Association in additional expenses to performance of new homes covered the release. repair defects after by home warranty insurance in they move in.”

B.C. Warranty providers have agreed The guide is designed primarily for conventional to use the guide to help determine low-rise, wood-frame homes, which is the whether or not a defect claim is covered predominant method of residential construction by their policies of home warranty insurance. in B.C. It also provides some helpful guidelines with respect to the common property of larger multiAvailable free online, the guide explains how warranty unit buildings, based on the most frequent concerns providers will evaluate claims for possible defects in identified by warranty providers. The guide is based on design, labour or materials in new homes. It outlines requirements under the Homeowner Protection Act that all more than 200 possible defects that are searchable new homes built for sale or under a construction contract online. This includes the most common defect claims that in B.C. must be covered by home warranty insurance or might be submitted under a home warranty insurance be exempted by the act. It complements the B.C. building policy — from windows that malfunction to driveway or code, but goes beyond the minimum requirements of the interior concrete floors that have cracked or siding that code to deal more specifically with defects in the design, has buckled. “Homeowners can use the guide to help materials and workmanship of new homes. determine whether or not a concern they have with the Created by the Province in partnership with the Homeowner quality of their new home may be covered by their home Protection Office (HPO) and industry, the new Residential warranty insurance,” said Coleman. “This will help protect Construction Performance Guide can be viewed on the HPO consumers and give them realistic expectations about the website at www.hpo.bc.ca performance of their new homes.”

PHOTO DREAMSTIME.COM

A new Residential Construction Performance Guide is the latest information tool to protect buyers of new homes and enhance the quality of construction in British Columbia, according to B.C.’s housing minister.

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Sunday, March 27, 2011 - athome - A31

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For those who have turned on a faucet to find a trickle or bathed under something more like a drip sprinkler than a shower, water pressure might be the culprit. Inadequate water pressure can be a nuisance.

Remedying it could take a quick fix or a major overhaul.

There are many reasons for low water pressure.

Diagnosing the problem is the key to fixing it. Silver Fern Plumbing offers some causes to consider. * Water softeners or filters in homes can reduce water pressure. * Multi-level homes could experience a drop in water pressure in upstairs bathrooms. That’s because, for every 2.31 feet of vertical climb in a water line, a homeowner will lose a pound of water pressure.

Water that originates in the basement and must travel upstairs could decrease by 12 pounds of pressure by the time it arrives at a third-floor bathroom. * Clogged pipes or fixtures can reduce water pressure.

Pipes that are also too small in diameter to meet the house water needs could also be to blame. * Water restrictors in showerheads and other fixtures can reduce water flow in an effort to conserve the natural resource.

Shower enjoyment can be impeded if water pressure isn’t up to par.

For more information and plumbing advice contact Silver Fern Plumbing at 778-340-1590 www.silverfernplumbing.com

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Homeowners can insert a gauge at the main water supply of the house to determine the pressure of the water at the source. This will help determine if the problem lies outside of the home or inside.

Some water pressure issues have easy fixes. Simply cleaning the screen on faucets or showerheads can remove debris and improve water flow. Purchasing fixtures that do not additionally restrict water flow can also alleviate the problem.

Some homes have various valves installed in the plumbing system so that a leak or problem can be isolated and turned off. However, the wrong types of valves can impede water pressure.

It can be well worth the expense to have a professional plumber to investigate home water pressure issues and recommend solutions. It may be simpler than one thinks.

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We offer high flow, unfiltered gutter outlets with filters at the bottom of the downpipe for easy access. Downpipes in eighteen colours to match trim. Heavy gauge colonial gutter in four colours. Five year installlation warranty. Fully insured and registered with Work Safe BC. 655 East 15th Avenue, Vancouver • 604.876.4604

A32 - athome - Sunday, March 27, 2011