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Whitby Free Press. Wednsday, June 9. 1993, Page 11 A HOME DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENT FEATURE SMART PROJE .CTS ADD VALUE Backyard improvements Many Canadian homeowners spend their vacations in their own backyards. With the tight economy, it's understandable. But there's more ta the stay-at-home vacation than finance. If your home is your castle, then your garden is your playground. The business of home renovations is booming as the nineties unfold. Annually, Canadians spend more than $16 billion improving their homes and, as the days grow longer, attention turns to outdoor improvements. Fromn romantic gazebos and covered wooden swings ta fences, benches and docks, the possibilities are almost endless. l3est of ail, creating attractive and functional outdoor additions is8 more than just fun and aestheticall' pleasing. The fact is, smnart gardon projects add value to your property. Indeed, there are dozens of easy backyard ideas that will not only improve the look of your home, but also its monetary worth. However, Henry Walthort, executive directar of the Canadian Institute of Treated Wood (CITW) cautions it is iprtant ta have a plan that will wr, before you go rushing out to tho garden arssed with a hammer and saw. "You can't just start throwing things together,' Walthert says. "That's whýy we make a varioty of design plans available ta the public. It's part of our commitmnent to providing con- sumers with useful information." Each year, the CITW offers Canadian do-it-yourselfers a full range of dosign plans for backyard projects. They are available for free, along with a handy information kit. Amnong the most requested plans are ideas for patio and pool decks, entertainment areas, pienie tables, storage sheds and a variety of fences and gates. Pressure-treated Wood is especially useful for outdoor projects because it 15 more durable than untreated Wood and requires less maintenance. "And the fact that it lasts much longer than untreated Wood also makes it better for the environment," Walthert adds. "Using pressure treated Wood means we cut down fewer Canadian trees. "For example, let's take' an average backyard deck," he continues. "That might caîl for two or three trees ta begin with, but if' you work with untreated Wood, you'll probably need ta replace ail or part of it every fewv years. "On the other hand, using pressure-treated Wood that sasse deck could last up to 50 years." Quality pressure-treated wood is as ideal for landscaping as it is for docks. t makos an attractive and lasting border for patios, driveways or flowver gardens. t is also on excellent choice for raised vegetable gardons. In fact, a recent study conductod by independont researchers through laboratories at Texas AMM and Southwest Researich Institute conrlrmed that treated wood is safe for ahl types of gardons wvhen it is used properly. "WVhcn the lumiber is in close contact wvith the ground, ites very important to make sure the wood is properly tirea-ted," Walthert point out. "The fact is not aIl treated wood is the sasse and you have ta consider the application before you buy it." Whien using pressure-treated wood for g-round contact applications, Walthort advises it is best to chooso incised wvood. ""he incising process allowvs the presorvatives to penetrato the wood more completely and deoper," ho says. "That affords you ssuch botter and lnsting protection." Consurnirs can tell wvhich wood has been incised by sssall staple-like incisions on the wood's sur-face. Project design plans for your gardon are available by calling 1-800-463-TREE. Improving the qualty fyourotdo lvn Now that the lazy, hazy days of summer are almost upon us, ssost hosseowners have turned their thoughts to the world of outdoor living and the endloss arry of activities -- and choros -- that await them. Aftor aIl, what botter tisse of year is thore ta think of ways you can onhance your home and improvo the quality of your outdoor living at the sasse tisse? If you've been mulling over sasse ideas during the winter ssonths -- such as that dock or patio you'vo been sseaning ta instaîl or a water gardon or gazebo -- now's the tisse ta, put yorplan intoaction.. 'r By enharicing outdoor surroundings, you're esseatiallyE expanding your living space,i while adding ta, the value of yourj home at the sasse tisse.3 Types of projects manyi homoowners talce on at this tisse of year include common outdoor improvemerits such as docks, patios, cnhnnced landscaping,1 water gardens, Pools, gazebos, gatos and fonces. Be roalistic If you're new te, the world of home ownership, you ssay have a myiad of projects you'd really like ta tnckle. Chances are you'll want to do absolutely everything away by your oathusiasss, it's important to sit dovn and look nt your ideas realistically -- keeping your budget and tisse constraints in mind. In fact, you ssaiy find that once you start costing your projects out, sasse of your ideas ssay have ta be put on the back burner until next season. Afler al, you dnn't want to rua out of funding in the msiddle of thr-eo on-going proqjects and not bo able tao njoy the results of any of them. Examine ncc-ds If you have a growý.ing famlily, you'1l want to, tnke current and installing something such as a pool or a deluxe gardon. Dlicato flowers will be more prone ta damage if they're planted near aroas of heavy nctivity -- such as your children's play arca. And, although a small, shallow pool ssay be ideal for your youngsters nov, it ssay not be suitzblo ffr themn as thy gr-o older. You'll also want to look closelAy at your own needs and goals. There are probably certai n aspects of your property that you'd either liko ta emphasize or c.amouflage. A panoranic viow, for q~aflç M45 p a fhn l'yqww a rnt, you'll ant t screen --nd ths cia baed garetilyonc th fencig or and oscrping-. ndti If yo'ro een tiynsta a wter fngaro d orscarch efo tfouina deisionistmade. Find oute d o uesch ongoing maintenance is involved. Extcndod space and privacy in recent years, docks and fonces have become one of the înust popular outdoor projects for homieowvncrs because a dock extends the living space, while a ft.nce affords privacy from ail the hus'tie and bustle of the outside - -1-1- - ---I-