Ontario Hydro states: “Aluminum wiring in residential installations will operate as safely as any other type of wiring if the proper materials are used and it is installed as per the manufacturer’s instructions and the Ontario Hydro Electrical Safety Code.”

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Home staging is the process of arranging furniture and neutralizing home decor to make the home appealling to the buyer mass. As you are well aware every home owner has their own personal taste when it comes to decor. Although this may be appealing when you are living in your home but once you have [...]

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A sewage drain field and a septic tank make up a small scale sewage treatment system. A septic tank is basically a rectangular shaped underground receptacle for wastewater. It is watertight, made of concrete, and consists of tanks that are divided into chambers. The first chamber has twice the volume as the second and the [...]

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How to make older windows more energy efficient–from films to shades Many older windows need help to become more energy efficient. Here’s what you can do to improve their energy performance, short of replacement or the addition of storm windows. * CAULK around the frame to seal any cracks or small holes. Use other material, [...]

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How do we measure how well insulation works? Most immediately think of the R-value, or the material’s resistance to heat flow via conduction. Unfortunately, we as a building industry (and homeowners) have been slightly misled when it comes to judging the performance of insulation. For instance, when the manufacturer of a fiberglass batt determines the [...]

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The Principles of Landscape Design Unity should be one of your main goals in your design. It may be better understood and applied as consistency and repetition. Repetition creates unity by repeating alike elements like plants, plant groups, or decor throughout the landscape. Consistency creates unity in the sense that some or all of the different elements of the landscape fit together to create a whole. Unity can be achieved by the consistency of character of elements in the design.

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Masonry–brick, stone, terra-cotta, and concrete block–is found on nearly every historic building. Structures with all-masonry exteriors come to mind immediately, but most other buildings at least have masonry foundations or chimneys. Although generally considered “permanent,” masonry is subject to deterioration, especially at the mortar joints. Repointing, also known simply as “pointing”or–somewhat inaccurately–”tuck pointing”*, is the process of removing deteriorated mortar from the joints of a masonry wall and replacing it with new mortar.

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Copper vs. Aluminum — The Test Results are in! Tests have demonstrated aluminum wiring has inherent properties that make it more susceptible to fires when it was not installed correctly. Here are some of the problems with using aluminum wiring to conduct electricity. Aluminum does not conduct electricity as well as copper. An aluminum wire generates more heat. Aluminum is more brittle than copper. Wire is more likely to break or crimp if it is brittle. Arcing can occur if a wire breaks or crimps. This can cause very high temperatures inside the wall or ceiling Aluminum is more likely to corrode than copper. Aluminum will oxidize if it comes in contact with moisture.

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