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DESIGN & BUILD Expand your view and add your personal style with custom windows and doors from Add New Life to Your Home! NO HST on orders before Aug. 31st 2011 905.582.0872 QEW/403 Speers Rd. D orv al Dr . 4th Li ne GRAND OPENING SPECIALS Hardwood starting from $249 sq. ft. Huge inventory of hand-scraped hardwood GREEN HARDWOOD FLOORING 418 Speers Rd., Oakville 905-815-8818 w w w .in si d eH A LT O N .c o m O A K V IL LE B E A V E R F ri d ay , A u g u st 5 , 2 01 1 1 4 406 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE ACROSS FROM RONA LANSING 905-337-2066 w w w. c o b b l e s t o n e m b e r s . c a MASONRY & FIREPLACE DESIGN SPECIALISTS The Heat Is On! (NC)Planning some major home reno- vations this summer or fall? As a homeowner, you have some important insurancerelated things to remember before you get started. We asked Tara LessardWebb, an underwriter with Desjardins General Insurance Group, to share her do's and don'ts about home insur- ance and renovations: What's the first thing that homeowners should do? Before starting any renovation project, the homeowners should notify their insurance company because some renovations could impact their insurance coverage. For exam- ple, if the homeowners vacated the house for more than 30 days while the work was being done and didn't inform their insurance com- pany, it would be a violation of their policy. If the house was burglarized while it was empty, there's a good chance the claim wouldn't be covered. What if they don't vacate the house? Again, they still need to inform their insurance company to make sure they have coverage through the process and for when it is completed. This avoids unpleasant sur- prises such as the cancellation of coverage or denial of a claim. Shouldn't the contractor have his own insurance? Yes and the homeowners should make sure the contractor's liability insurance is adequate and current. Generally speaking, the contractor's insurance and the homeown- ers' insurance combined will provide good coverage through the renovation project. Could the work cause their premiums to increase? Actually, it depends, which is why it's important to have the conversation with the insurance provider. In some cases, improve- mentslike upgrading the electrical system or replacing a weathered roofmay help lower insurance premiums. However, if the renovation increases the replacement value of the homefor example, with a new addi- tion, or the installation of highend granite countertops or expensive appliancesthe homeowners' premium may go up. Doingityourself is very popular these days. What if a homeowner prefers to do the work himself? I understand the appealtypically major renovations mean major expense. But even if you do your own work, you still need to con- tact your insurance company to ensure you remain covered through the project and that your policy is updated accordingly. It may mean a bit more premium, but it could pro- tect you during the project and once it's completed. What if the renovation is complete and the homeowners neglected to inform their insurance company? They should do so as soon as possible to ensure they are adequately protected. Otherwise, they may discover when they have a claim that it is not fully covered, which could prove very costly. Where can homeowners find more infor- mation about renovations and their home insurance? They should speak to their insurance pro- vider. However, more immediate answers can be found on the Desjardins General Insurance website: www.desjardinsgeneralinsurance. com. www.newscanada.com Consider insurance when renovating Special coverage could be required