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THE H ALTON HILLS Saturday July 28 1990 Pa Re S A revamped driveway does wonders for property This article Is provided by local Realtors and the Ontario Real Estate Association for the benefit of consumers In the real estate market When you pull Into your driveway do you feel like youre on an obstacle course dodging holes bumps and heaving cracks Has your driveway become so drab with age and neglect that its an eyesore If you answered yes to these two questions you may want to perk up your drive by resurfac ing or replacing it altogether Youll find that a revamped driveway can do wonders for the overall appearance and value of your home There are a number of attractive options to choose from when con sidering paving including asphalt concrete loose fill and brick Turf blocks hollow cement blocks con taining grass can also be used to create a lawnlike effect Many homeowners are now in stalling interlocking brick to give their driveway a distinctive state ly look that offers more color and texture than some of the more traditional paving When revamping or replacing your driveway keep in mind that the larger your driveway is the more it will cost you to maintain it Also try to avoid putting new sec tions too close to existing trees and shrubs Pavement should be slightly sloped as well to make sure that water runs off There should also be a slope across the width so that water does not pond This can be achieved by raising the centre a bit so the water rolls off both sides ASPHALT The most common and popular material used for driveways is asphalt If property installed and maintained this black surface can give you many years of reliable service But keep in mind that it radiates a lot of in the sum mertime Damage can occur from frost and oil leaks It may also become gouged easily from sharp objects like bicycle kickstands and ladders A poor installation job will result in fairly quick deterioration and fading Make sure you hire profes sionals to do the job A sturdy gravel subbase must be installed Carpet care very important for new asphalt driveways or those that are being replaced Any future cracks and holes in asphalt can be fixed with special driveway sealer and patching material sold at your local hard ware store It is recommended that a sealer be applied about every two to three years to compensate for wear and tear LOOSE FILL Loose fill is another type of pav ing and consists of several usually crushed limestone or pebbles It is generally not as expensive as other paving but may be harder to keep clear of weeds and yard debns A gravel or pebble drive may also be more difficult to maintain in winter months because the stones have a tendency to get mix ed with snow and become displac ed as the driveway is being shovell ed Stones or pebbles can also become dislodged by your car tires as you pull in and out of your driveway every day However a loose fill driveway can provide an attractive contrast to adjacent lawns and flowerbeds It can also provide a very good base for a future asphalt or con crete driveway CONCRETE Concrete is another paving op tion It can be more expensive than other driveway materials but can When you make any investment you want to protect it and a home furnishings investment is no dif ferent You should take care in selecting items for your home Since you will be using them every day its important to- you that they con tinue to look good and last Carpeting is a major investment and one of the most visible design elements in the home The best way to protect the appearance and pro long the life of your carpet is to clean it regularly When dirt particles are trampled deep into carpet pile they tear the fibres and ruin the look Vacuuming on a regular basis is the most impor tant thing you can do to protect your carpet CARPET CARE Carpets should be lightly vacuum ed two passes with the machine twice a week and receive a thorough vacuuming four passes once a week Dont worry about vacuuming too much it will not harm your carpet In fact its best if vacuum has a beater bar to agitate the pile and br ing the dirt up to the surface for easy removal If your carpet starts to look dull its probably time for a major Most carpets need shampooing every one to three years If you are a doityourselfer products and equip ment for thorough cleaning can be bought or rented There are four basic methods of allover carpet cleaning steam cleaning wet shampooing aerosol form sprays and powder sprays STEAM CLEANING Steam cleaning is the do-it- yourself method closest to a profes sional job The process employs a highpressure jet sprayer that distributes hot detergent solution deep into the carpet pile then im mediately sucks up the dirt and water These machines can be rented at many large supermarkets Steam cleaning is especially good for deep piles because it doesnt crush the carpet fibres However its a slower process than other methods and the equipment costs moretorenti withstand a lot of weight is ex tremely durable and doesnt re- qure upkeep Made up of cement aggregate and water concrete is a good substance for a driveway contain ing curves and comers Installa tion of a concrete driveway Is not an easy task and should be left to professionals A solid subsurface must be in place before the con crete can be added If you plan to resurface an old concrete driveway make sure you patch any cracks or holes before applying the new material BRICK Brick particularly the interlock ing variety is a popular option to more traditional paving Bricks can be laid In a number of in teresting patterns and many col ors are available Although bricks are more expen sive than traditional paving many homeowners enjoy the appearance of a brick driveway and the numerous patterns that can be us ed to create a distinctive look As with other types of paving a good subbase is necessary before the bricks can be laid BE WATER SMART YOUR BOAT CAN ONLY CARRY SO MUCH the o m ONTARIO SHAMPOO With wet shampooing the carpet is wetted down with liquid detergent then brushed in with a rotary brush machine also easily rented This method involves more work however and is more prone to pro blems than steam cleaning If the waterdetergent solution is allowed to stay on the carpet too long it can cause mildew damage to the backing and damage to the floors underneath For lightly soiled carpets an aerosol foam spray or powder spray will do the job Both are applied to the carpet sponged or brushed in allowed to dry and vacuumed STAIN REMOVAL If you have a spot stain on your carpet it should be removed before general cleaning Attend to stains as soon after they appear as possible The faster you treat stains the bet ter chance you have of getting rid of them Different stains require different treatments but the first step is always to blot or scrape up as much of the spill as possible before treating the stain If its an oilbased stain like asphalt butter crayon lotion or ink apply a commercial spot remover follow directions on label careful ly blot wash with detergent and rinse with clear water Always blot excess moisture before allowing the spot to dry For deep stains like blood ket chup chocolate or egg first use a detergent and then ammonia Next apply more detergent rinse with clear water and blot Need a cleaner Detergent and vinegar will remove stains from beer coffee berries candy sugar and fruit juice If you have a stain that you cant remove yourself or if you decide your carpi needs a professional cleaning check with your friends to find a reputable cleaner who is up- todate on the latest procedures and chemicals Get a few estimates before you make a final decision SUNDAY SALE FINAL 6 HOURS NEW FURNITURE CLEARANCE CONTINUES 115 pm ONTARIO CHESTERFIELD WHOLESALERS BEHIND GUELPH AUTO MALL SHE 120126 MALCOLM 7634477 GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICES SATISFACTION