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THE WEEKEND OUTLOOK Friday March 1 1MI Page Plan renovation projects carefully A few years ago the movie The Money Pit looked at the lighter side of home renovation The bandyman special that the unwary couple in the film bought sucked up all their savings and literally collapsed around them To some that picture was a pain ful reminder of their own misadventures in the game Canadians spent on home renovation last year and some of that cash was undoubted ly spent fixing problems that PLUMBING SUPPLIES Acrylic Bath Shower Units Whirlpools Spas Pedestals Vanities Medicine Cabinets PLUMBING SHOWROOM Armstrong Georgetown shouldnt have happened in the first place Take one case cited by Doug Grieve a Toronto claims adjuster for Wellington In surance Our client was laying floor tiles in his basement He didnt have the room properly vented though and the glue vapours were collecting When the furnace kicked on the whole room blew up and caused in damages This homeowner wasnt seriously hurt but others arent so lucky SHERMANS When renovation projects wrong they can at minimum be expensive and at worst endanger you and your family Latest figures 1988 from the Canadian Safety Council show that of the over 1500 fatalities in Canadian homes that year more than half per cent were the result of falls or fires Electrical fires and falls are common mishaps during renovation or can be triggered by poor design or workmanship such as the lack of railing on a SIDING SOFFITS FASCIA ALUMINUM INCH SEAMLESS EAVEamOOQlflMO WINDOWS DOORS ASPHALT SHINGLE ROOFING YEAH WRITTEN GUARANTEE OR 8731951 Join the new generation in home cleaning with anew Ebctrokix Central Vacuum System Run be easily instated Into new and existing homes For more informition calk 4S17429 first level square feet second level 1206 square feet AMLY CUSTOM HOMES All Phases General Contracting Complete Homes or Basement Frame Package Labour All Material Supplied 8736104 PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE CURTIS EVANS PAINTING WALLPAPERING phone 8730707 HERWYNEN SAWMILL fifrs Bruce ii RED WESTERN CEDAR 8561180 TUGA FORMING ltd Concrete Foundation Custom Homes Our Specialty ArdlIlkr VICTORS GLASS ENCLOSURES Sotanttms Sunrooms Pool Enclosures Entrances 8731258 Tree Plant Centre Landscape Design Construction LANGILLE WELL DRILLING Diameter Cable Drilling Pump Sales Service or DID YOU MISS OUR INVITATION TO HAVE YOUR AD INCLUDED IN THIS WEEKLY FEATURE IF SO AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT CALL KIM HARYOTT at ROBERT FREESTONE CONSTRUCTION LTD Residential Commercial Protects To Your Specifications or Ours 8772698 deck or incorrect wiring Whether you do the work yourself or contract it out pro tect yourself against un necessarily costly and unsafe practices Grieve is concerned the dangers could increase dur ing the recession People who cant afford to move or hire a builder will do the work themselves And some contrac tors faced with less business wilt be forced to cut comers to make jobs profitable IT Fabrication STAIR SYSTEMS DESIGNED FOR THE DOIT YOURSEIF ENTHUSIAST EXPERT INSTALLATION AVAILABLE LENNOX TERRY ROWLEY INC SI Milton 8781979 WATER PUMP Sales Service comes sunns BOYES PLUMBING 8554232 JlTl CorKZi Mwntlnf Monthli Debts Ptinnlng Improwminb To Youi Home Call Us Fot Your Morlpfi Heads CORES WELL DRILLING LHi5lhWmWn5Gtntration complete water systems installed 8784515 milton CUSTOM DM ION Mirror Walls Ceilings Mirror Closet Doors Sliding na COMMUTATION A 8731230 LANDSCAPING Driveways Patios Decks Pruning Interlocking Stone And Much More 8779591 Representing A Touch KITCHEN SHOWBOCM INC Acton Ontario 8534577 asms When shopping for that handy mans special or inspecting your current house for needed renova tions look closely Thats the ad vice of Bob partner in Carson Dunlop and Associates limited Toronto consulting engineers and building inspec tors Hie previous owner might have claimed the house was totally reqlred but says the number of houses that have had thorough rewiring are in the minority The reality is theyve updated one or two plugs in the kitchen period Some just put new faceplates on Using a tree analogy says the key is to have a wide and even distribution of power along many circuits or branches so one circuit doesnt bear too much of the load service with circuits is better than 200amp service with only 12 There should also be individual circuits dedicated to feed major ap pliances such as stoves and microwaves Beyond the electrical system other areas that commonly pose safety problems include remov ing a wall to create that open concept look make sure Its not a support beam and adding an insert to an old fireplace Get a fireplace professional to ensure there is sufficient ventilation and that the chimney damper and original firebrick can be ade quately inspected and cleaned after installation Entrusting the work to a building contractor Is the safe route to go But get the right con tractor Shop around and talk to some of their previous clients Its important to have a con tract that spells out the rights and obligations of both parties says Harvey Kirsh a lawyer in the construction department of Cassels Brock and Blackwell Toronto We see a lot of litiga tion between contractors and homeowners resulting from the fact that the conditions of the contract werent clear Among other things the contract should specify how long the project will take and address how the parties will negotiate further time and price of something unforeseen is discovered during the work Keep 10 per cent of the con tractors final pay as holdback and dont release it until days after completion of the project and you have searched title on your own house to ensure there were no liens placed against it This protects you from the con tractors subtrades plumbers coming back to you for wages the contractor should have paid Make sure your contractor has liability insurance lmlllion minimum is standard to cover any injury or damage that results from negligence on his part says Wellingtons Doug Grieve Grieve suggests you declare the work areas offsite to kids and dogs while the job is underway Besides having a good helping of patience family members should go about their business mindful of lurking safety hazards Wellington Insurance offers the following guidelines to minim the risk of accidents SAFETY TIPS Declare jobsite offlimits to all family members whether or not work is in progress Dont lift heavy objects or help the tradespeople in other ways Check with the contractor for hazardous materials such as cleaners and make sure they are stored safely Be aware of airborne particles such as dust and solvent vapours Designate a specific spot for discarding used materials DOITYOUHSELF SAFETY TIPS Unplug all power tools from the wall socket when not in use and when changing accessories such as bits and blades Wear CSA approved protec tive eye- and footwear Keep the work area clear of debris to prevent falls Store tools on a high shelf or locked away out cf the reach of children