Checklist For Winterizing Your Toronto Home [infographic]

So far this Fall we’ve been pretty lucky up here weather wise in Toronto.  With a warmer than usual Fall and being fortunate enough to miss hurricane Sandy’s ugly path, Winter still seems like it’s a ways off from us.  But we all know that Canadian Winter is coming, she’s just taking her time this year.

If you haven’t done so already, be sure to spend a weekend afternoon going through your home and preparing it for the coming cold.  As a waterproofing company here in Toronto, one of the most important steps you can take as far as avoiding water leaks in your basement over the Winter is to examine and clean out your gutters before the snow and ice come.

Some of the things you should check for are making sure the Fall leaves have been removed and won’t clog your downspouts.  If water and ice start to accumulate due to a clogged downspout, you run the risk of water leaking over the top of the gutter (or through cracks and leaks that develop) and that water accumulating around the perimeter of your home.  What happens is that on warmer Winter days, that accumulated water starts to make its way through the tiny cracks in your basement’s foundation.  Also make sure that your downspout extensions are directed far enough away from your home so water doesn’t start to accumulate in the soil around your foundation.

While we are the waterproofing experts here in Toronto, there are other things you should do before the freeze sets in.  Check out this infographic courtesy of elocal.com for a quick and handy checklist of things you should do to Winterize your home.

Winter checklist Toronto home

Handbook for Reducing Basement Flooding [free pdf download]

The North East of the Americas have experienced a record number of storms this season, resulting in billions on property damage and loss of personal memories that can’t be replaced.  Here in Toronto, while we experienced quite a bit of flooding, we were luckily spared from most of the damage.  We wanted to introduce everyone to a really useful guide available to residents from The Institute of Catastrophic Loss Reduction

This helpful guide, sponsored by the Canadian insurance industry and produced in collaboration with the University of Ontario, is available for free via a pdf download (see the link at the end of the article). It’s packed brim full with everything you need to know about reducing the risk of basement flooding, and recovering from it when it happens.

It’s laid out like a reference book with handy summaries in the index, content that’s easy to understand, helpful diagrams, and even a glossary of terms you might not know. It puts you in a picture to either do the work yourself, or to negotiate with a tradesperson from a position of knowledge.

Format of the Book

The Handbook for Reducing Basement Flooding is built around twenty projects, twelve of which are within the reach of most Canadian householders. The author calls these “options” because not all of them apply to every home. The book starts with a general introduction to the three main reasons why basements flood, and the principles behind avoiding this.

The twelve basic options are all intensely practical. They range from preventative measures (like fixing cracks and watching what goes down the sink), to sensible things like having a risk-assessment done, getting insurance in place and chatting with the local municipality.

The other eight options are more technical in nature, and will likely require expert intervention. Nonetheless, the knowledge gained by reading them will go a long way towards spotting cowboy contractors and avoiding scams.

There are five drawings in the Handbook for Reducing Basement Flooding that illustrate the primary causes and solutions, and how the twenty options fit into the bigger picture. It’s a good idea to print these out and have them available as you read the other content. You’ll be sure to want to pass this essential information on to others.

 

You can download the Handbook for Reducing Basement Flooding Here

10 Mold Removal Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

Mold can be unpleasant when it invades our homes.  In a city like Toronto, where the homes are aging and the weather isn’t always pleasant, mold can easily take hold if left unchecked. Mold looks unsightly and can leave a terrible smell in the house. Left too long it damages soft furnishings irreparably. However before you dash off and have another go at it, it’s worthwhile considering these ten tips before you decide to tackle any mold problems.

Safety Comes First – Setting aside the risks of standing on ladders cleaning ceilings, the spores you release at the same time can be harmful to the very young, the very old, and anybody with upper-respiratory tract concerns.  Mold spores are the most dangerous when disturbed, usually when trying to clean up the area so wear proper protection.

Seek Advice – There are different kinds of mold. This includes the black mold you’ll find taking hold in your bathroom if you look, and the lighter-colored ones that thrive in clothes cupboards. Research can save you loads of time and trouble. Read articles like this one and do your homework before jumping in.  If it looks like it’s spreading to areas you can’t reach, or just looks like alot, consider calling in a mold removal company.

Be smart – When you touch mold  it releases thousands of tiny seeds called mold spores. Once in the air, they settle on almost anything, and that includes you and your clothes. Wear protective clothing that you can disinfect thoroughly afterwards. Professional mold removal companies will seal an area off before starting work as to not spread the spores throughout the house.

Test First – Among other things, mold looks dirty, and sometimes it’s confused with other signs of neglect. Test first by diluting bleach in water to a ratio of 1:16 and dabbing it on with a cotton bud. Mold lightens quickly, dirt does not. Deal with the problem accordingly.  Think twice before purchasing a mold inspection kit, they don’t work very well.

Look for Reasons – It’s pointless to remove mold without first dealing with the root causes, or else it becomes a permanent resident. Inspect your home for leaking plumbing, failing roof flashing and bad air-conditioning joints first.  If you fail to remove the leak in your basement, the mold will just return.

Kill It Dead – Don’t waste time with old wives’ tales and urban myths. There’s only one true way to evict mold  and that’s to wipe it out on the spot with anti-microbial spray that’s easy to disperse.

Manage Condensation – Central heating and double glazing produces tropical conditions that mold just thrives on. Ventilate your house each morning to disperse humidity. The air will soon warm up again!

Clean Regularly – It takes a while for mold spores to take root, and this provides a window of opportunity to prevent this happening. Wipe areas where you see moisture gathering regularly – prevent mold from taking over.

Lifestyle Changes – Could settles in our homes because we share a similar life-style. Try turning down the thermostat a few degrees, and opening the bathroom window after you shower. Little things like this can save a huge amount of trouble later.

Establish Norms – Create a regular inspection schedule to check susceptible areas in your home for mold.  Consider making it a part of your Fall and Spring home inspections.

When you follow these handy ten tips you’ll know how to get rid of mold  and how to prevent it coming back. That’s not to say it won’t keep on trying. This means the battle to keep mold from our homes is never over.  The only way to rid mold from your home permanently is to remove the source of moisture first.

 

 

The WD-40 Homeowners Survival Guide [infographic]

using wd40 around the houseIf there is one product every basement and garage in North America has on hand, it’s most likely WD-40.  The “Blue Standby” has become as essential as duct tape in helping the resident handyman fix everything from a rusted bolt that refuses to turn, to our children’s bicycles after a long Toronto Winter.

WD-40 is a water dis-placer (WD) that helps to remove moisture (and keep rust away) from hundreds of household items.  Over the years, the uses for WD-40 have gone beyond home repairs.  Crayola Crayons recommends using WD-40 regular crayon marks from everyday surfaces and a bus driver once used a can to loosen a Python that coiled itself around the undercarriage of his bus.

Below is a great infographic from the makers of WD-40.  It’s a survival guide of everyday problem solving with your handy can of old blue.

Using wd-40 for everyday use