The rates that banks pay in Canada and the US are influenced by monthly changes and the longer-term trend changes of economic indicators. There are many variables that can influence the rates on long-term debt instruments, but an understanding of key economic indicators can provide clues to the future direction of interest rates.

A higher-than-expected CPI or increasing trend is considered inflationary, and can cause bond prices to fall and yields and interest rates to rise. Likewise, a lower-than-expected CPI cause yields and interest rates to fall. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a fixed market basket of consumer goods and services. The CPI is considered the most important measure of inflation.

The government’s employment report provides employment, hours and earnings estimates based on payroll records of business establishments. The payroll employment is the most significant indicator of current economic trends each month, together with the unemployment rate. Economists use payroll employment data to predict other economic indicators (the Personal Income, Industrial Production, and Index of Leading Economic Indicators). Consumer credit data tracks debt levels for auto financing and commercial banking credit and are considered a fairly good indicator of consumer spending. Consumer credit report is generally considered to have little impact on interest rates.

A bankruptcy makes a major impact on your credit score and makes it much more difficult to qualify for a home mortgage. First, you can expect a drop of 100 or more points. That immediately takes you from excellent to poor. Then a record of the bankruptcy stays on your credit history for 10 years. A foreclosure stays on for seven years. Other negative information such as a late payment stays on for three years.

It is important to remember that the amount of mortgage you will qualify for is the maximum. It is the amount that the lender feels you can afford, but it is not necessarily the amount that you want to pay. It sometimes is advantageous to be conservative here. For example, if you qualify for a $100,000 mortgage and you have $15,000 available in cash for downpayment and closing costs, you are qualified to buy homes with a maximum selling price of $115,000. So as to not push yourself to the limit, you may want to look at homes that sell in the $100,000 to $110,000 range.

The "magic in the bi-weekly mortgage"  is paying half the monthly payment every 2 weeks, which results in an extra monthly payment every year. (Twenty-six payments, each one for half of one monthly payment, is the equivalent of 13 monthly payments rather than 12). This extra payment is the magic that pays off a biweekly mortgage early, but you need not pay anyone to do the trick for you.

When looking to purchase a home in the Alliston real estate market remember that one of the most important conditions is that your property be inspected by a Home Inspector. There are many Home Inspectors available, but if you want a Home Inspector who has years of experience, over 4,000 inspections and is a Certified Building Code Official as designated by the Ontario Building Officials Association the call the Orillia Home Inspector, or visit his site at www.allistonhomeinspector.com to view his qualifications and “Fair Pricing Policy”. Call Roger at 705-795-8255 or Toll Free at 888-818-8608. Information and advice is always FREE. Roger is also WETT Certified for homes that have fireplaces or other wood burning appliances.

Originally posted 2007-11-17 08:23:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Safety Alert: Study Reveals Sharp Increase in Deck Failures A landmark study reveals that there have been 179 reported deck collapses from January2000 through December 2006, killing 33 and injuring 1,122. By: Michael Morse, Brittney Corwin, Robert Morse and Andrew JohnsonIn September 2006, a particularly violent deck collapse occurred. What made this collapse so frightening was it occurred with surprisingly little impetus. The potential purchasers, a family of five, were doing a final walkthrough on a single-family homeinspector.com”target=”_blank”rel=”external”title=”Orillia Home Inspector” >house in a quiet, older subdivision in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The house was situated on a lot that sloped away from the street. The back sliding door was about 12’ above grade. There was a well built and well maintained 12’ by 15’ deck overlooking a wooded backyard. When the husband, wife, and two of their teenage children stepped out onto the deck, it pulled off the house… but it did not just fall down. As the deck pulled away from the house, the deck swung underneath, struck the outside support columns, and landed upside down. The family fell to the ground and the deck, now upside down, landed on top of them. They were trapped underneath the deck, injured and traumatized. Emergency services were called and the family was transported to the hospital. Fortunately, the deck’s guardrail acted like a roll bar and held the deck off the ground, preventing the victims from being crushed.Why did this happen? How could a solidly built structure just detach and collapse?
While the deck itself was structurally sound, the connection of the deck to the house was not. When the family walked onto the deck and then stopped, their momentum was transferred to the fasteners that held the deck to the house. That little bit of movement was just enough to overcome the friction holding the fasteners to the house rim joist. The deck simply pulled away from the house.Since the deck was built to the standards prescribed by national building code, it was supposed to be capable of accommodating the weight of 48 people, but it only took four people to bring it down. Why?Scope of the problemThere is no reliable source for statistics on how many decks there are in the United States, how many decks are being built annually, or by whom. Several indirect approaches were used to generate reasonable estimates relating to deck construction and the number of decks there are in the United States. Information was collected referencing housing starts, home design trends, and the do-it-yourself market.Home BuildersGrowth of the decking industry is partly driven by sales of new homes. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) estimated housing starts in 2006 to be nearly 2 million units houses being built today new home options in 2006. This number does not include new decks installed on older homes, or renovations of older decks.Deck BuildersThe North American Deck and Rail Association (NADRA) estimates the annual retail installed value of deck components and accessories in the United States to have been between $9 and $10 billion in 2005 coming years. In fact, NADRA was started in response to this terrific growth. Based on a 2005 survey performed by national retailers, the average cost of a deck is approximately $11,300 decks were constructed in 2005 alone.HomeownersDeck construction appears to be simple and straight forward, and many homeowners undertake the project themselves. With readily available calculators, guides, and premade construction plans, it is easy to see why deck building has become one of the most common ‘do-it-yourself’ projects. Although this group makes a significant impact on the decking market, there was no apparent way to quantify its contribution.House Design InfluenceIn 2005, more than 60% of all new homes either came with a deck, or incorporated the opportunity for future outdoor living space delay the construction of a deck, the layout of the house includes, and anticipates, this future addition.While some homeowners may choose to Subdivisions, such as this town-house community, can be found across the United States. It is clear that these homes were designed to include a structure outside of the rear door. The rim joist located just below this door was intended to be the point of attachment for the future deck. Building CodesThe International Residential Code (IRC) is one of the primary references for both deck builders and code officials. It contains instructions on how to build reliable and safe structures. General requirements for all structures, including decks, are in Chapter 3, Section R301 Design Criteria. This section states that: “Buildings and structures, and all parts thereof, shall be constructed to safely support all loads, including dead loads, live loads, roof loads, flood loads, snow loads, wind loads and seismic loads as prescribed by this code. The construction of building and structures shall result in a system that provides a complete load path capable of transferring all loads from their point of origin through the load-resisting elements to the foundation.”Specifications concerning decks are found in the chapter on floors (Chapter 5) of the IRC. One section that is written specifically for decks (R502.2.2 Decks), provides a very brief and non-prescriptive recap on how decks must be attached and supported. “Where supported by attachment to an exterior wall, decks shall be positively anchored to the primary structure and designed for both vertical and lateral loads as applicable. Such attachment shall not be accomplished by the use of toenails or nails subject to withdrawal. Where positive connection to the primary building structure cannot be verified during inspection, decks shall be self-supporting.”All other guidance must be derived from sections that do not specifically cite deck construction. They are written with house building, not deck building, in mind.The Study of Reported Deck CollapsesThis study seeks to better define the scope of deck failures in the United States by providing statistical evidence of the problem. This report includes deck, porch, and associated collapses that were reported from January 2000 through the end of 2006. Although a few Internet sites referenced deck failures, no central source of data was found.MethodologyUntil now, conclusions drawn on deck collapse were based on a very limited sample size. This report hopes to establish a database with a statistically significant sample size, and to then identify trends, characteristics, or weaknesses. In order to draw accurate conclusions on deck failure, there must be adequate data to analyze.Deck collapse or deck failure, for the purpose of this report, is defined as a single negative structural event that renders a deck non-functional. If a deck either detaches or shifts away from the primary structure, it would be included in the study.An incident report form was developed, completed, and archived for every collapse. Data sought for each event includes: the height and size of the deck, construction materials, occupancy and activity at time of collapse, and cause of failure. These data points were then analyzed to identify trends or patterns.The data used for this report was gathered through comprehensive searches of Internet and periodical archives using key phrases including deck collapse, deck injury, rail collapse, etc. Great care was taken to include all legitimate events; that is, events based on construction technique rather than an unrelated accident.Source of InformationThe primary source of information detailing deck collapses is the news media. News reports focus on injuries sustained rather than the actual cause of the event. Reporters reflect the statements of emergency responders or eye witnesses, neither of which are focused on the physics or engineering of the deck structure. The cause that was initially reported may be different than what a subsequent investigation would find. This lack of complete information can lead to flawed assumptions as to the cause of deck failure.Correcting the design defects that cause deck failure is impossible if solutions are based on inaccurate information. Deck collapses are reported as isolated events. Very little background information is provided on the scope of this problem. Subsequent reporting could include the reasons why decks go down in the United States. There have been news segments on building a better deck; however, there also should be reports on the actual causes of failures and segments on preventing deck collapse.Data, Trends, and Analysis DataFrom January 2000 through December 2006, there were 179 reports of deck and railing failure. In these events 1,938 people were exposed to injury; they were either on or under the deck when the failure occurred. Of those involved, 1,122 sustained injuries, and 33 people died. This translates into 58% of the people involved in reported deck and railing failure were injured or killed.Virtually no municipalities perform an investigation that documents the cause of the deck collapse. A smaller sample was used to investigate this trend. Out of all the collapses included in the subcategory, only one such report was found.TrendsAn examination of the data on reported deck collapses reveals several interesting trends. Deck collapses are increasing at an average rate of 21% per year. Twice the number of deck collapses occur as compared to the rest of the year.There is a well-defined deck collapse season (June through August) in which over. Virtually all reported deck collapses occur while the deck is occupied. AnalysisAn analysis of the data and trends for deck collapse has led to the following observations.DECK CONSTRUCTIONReported deck collapse. This type of failure includes the separation of the rim joist from the house floor joists, the separation of the ledger board from the rim joist, and the separation of the ledger board from deck joists.Failure of the house to deck ledger connection accounted for over 90% of all deck collapses. Decks are built to the same codes and standards that houses are, yet decks are more prone to collapse. Current deck connections and/or the deck components are subject to failure long before the end of the service life of the deck. Follow up investigative reports on the cause of collapses are rarely generated.Ninety-five percent of reported collapses occurred when the decks were occupied.ConclusionAre there right ways (or, more importantly, wrong ways) to build decks? Is anyone watching?An analysis of deck collapse data indicates that deck connections are subject to failure long before the end of the service life of the other components of the deck. The lack of structural redundancy, especially at the critical connection points, leads to deck collapse.Specifically, deck collapse is related to the connection assembly of the deck ledger board to the house substructure. In the scenario where the house was built to accommodate a deck, it is assumed that the floor joist system of the house was constructed to support a deck. This intention was known by the architect, the builder, and the homeowner. Was it known by the framing contractor? A better question is: did the framer prepare the point of attachment (the rim joist) for the loads associated with a deck in use? Can this rim joist resist the pull out force exerted by a deck, no matter how large?When a deck collapses, people are injured, or worse. A design flaw in deck construction may lead to these catastrophic events. One can disagree with the process used to estimate the number of decks being built, but the underlying fact is that the growing number of decks in existence will directly translate into a proportionally larger number of collapses, which presents a significant public health risk.When a deck is bolted to a house, the strength and durability of this attachment depends primarily on the ability of the rim joist of the house to transfer the load to the house foundation. Unfortunately, the rim joist was not designed to resist the pullout action imposed by a deck. Current building codes provide details for the installation of rim boards. These details are the same whether or not a deck is to be attached. Building codes should require additional anchoring for the rim joist when constructing decks and/or houses onto which decks will most likely be attached.As with any new development, there is a learning curve to discover the long-term performance of a product. The shortcomings of current deck construction must be studied, understood, and addressed. A factor that complicates this process is the incredible number of new decking products and techniques that are constantly being introduced. There is no time to slow down and evaluate the effect that one individual product or new technique has on the overall structural performance. With new products and new techniques being introduced so quickly, there is no easy way to generate a base line of deck performance against which to evaluate change.The popularity of outdoor living space is growing despite the increasing number of deck collapses. There is a perception that each collapse is an isolated event that is dependant on the quality of the deck builder, as opposed to part of a larger trend predicated on a design or structural flaw of the deck’s critical connections.The public is not aware of the increasing danger associated with deck failure, largely because of a lack of conclusive data. A central database is needed to collect and analyze reports on deck collapses, the cause of the collapse, the number and severity of injuries, and the associated costs. Only after this information is assembled can the effect on public safety be evaluated and addressed.A central database is now being created to allow for the archiving of deck collapse events. The purpose of this new database is to provide information for the further study of deck collapses.A Bad WinterThe winter of 1996 saw an unusual amount of snowfall in North Dakota. As it continued to snow in the Fargo area, a repetitive phenomenon occurred: deck after deck collapsed under the weight of the accumulating snow.The number of collapses intrigued a local deck builder. Mr. Todd Funfar, President of Deck Masters, began keeping a photographic log of deck failures. He cataloged over eighty separate collapses that occurred during the winter of 1996.A review of his photographs leads to the following observations:.The deck detached from the house foundation, either from the house band board or from the outside support beams, and then dropped. This suggests that the deck joist system was capable of carrying loads greater than the capacity of the ledger connection and/or outside load beam connection.Rather than the deck floor joists breaking mid-span, decks simply detached from house.The loads increased very slowly and over an extended period of time. As it snowed, the weight grew greater, exerting a sustained load on the decks throughout the winter months. Normally, loads on a deck are applied quickly and for a much shorter period.Due to adverse weather conditions, this series of collapses occurred without the condition. Heat from the house would induce snowmelt adjacent to the ledger board. .The most common point of failure was the connection of the ledger board to the house. While the mechanics of ledger failure varied, the result was the same; the assembly that links the deck and the house floor joists failed, causing the deck to collapse. With the Fargo collapses, the conclusion that can be drawn is that the connection of the deck to the house was not adequate to transfer the loads from the deck, through the boards and hardware, to the foundation of the house.As an aside, while researching reports of deck collapses (covering hundreds and hundreds of hours in national archives and internet search engines) not one of the collapses from the North Dakota winter was discovered.

The deck connections and deck components were in a prolonged wet service.

Originally posted 2011-01-14 19:07:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

I never thought it would be possible to generate electricity at home with a magnet motor. Using an easy to follow guide, me and my son did just that. It started out small and as a simple science project but then it grew and took on a life of its own. Now I am saving up to one third on my energy bill each and every month.

Originally posted 2010-03-14 04:00:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Deciding to sell your home is a major decision that is intimidating for most people. A professional real estate agent can make your home sale a whole lot less complicated, but only if you hire the right agent. You need someone who is going to spend time with you and ensure that you get a fair value for your home and is willing to direct his energies towards that goal.

One important question is, “Are you a full time agent?”

Using an acquaintance, or even worse, an acquaintances friend can be the first step into a very deep hole. This decision can cost you money and your friendship.

2. How many years have you been in real estate? Are you able to show me your professional designations? Can you refer me to your previous clients?

These questions all go together because they are able to give you a good sense of the agent’s success rates. The number of years that they have been working are crucial because it will let you know what experience level they have and professional designations will clue you into their level of professionalism. Good real estate agents have clients that sing their praises.

3. Do you have an internet site and will you be marketing my property on MLS and in local papers? Are you holding Open Houses and how many. Are you going to be there, or is it your assistant.

In this era, successful real estate agents know that most buyers go to the internet to find their next home. Your selling agent should have a domain to market their properties and have a robust online marketing plan in order to put your home in front of browsers. The selling plan should include a dedicated net page about your property and then a plan for listing your property on all the major property sites ( like Realtor.com and Zillow.com ). Even if you know little about property online, your real estate agent should.

4. How will you establish the cost of my home?

Setting the price for a home is one of the most significant issues in selling a home. You need to understand the agents’ reasoning for setting the price for your home. To prepare yourself for the likely price, try to take a look at other similar homes in your area so you will get an idea of what the local market is like.

5. Do you have any kind of performance guarantee? Can I end my listing with you if your not happy with your agents performance?

Asking your agent about his past years sales figures is also a good indication of the amount of exposure he has in the real estate market.

In Alliston there are agents that I see at Home Inspections over and over again. There are also agents who I never see at the Home Inspection. I often think about which agent I would want to use if I was selling my home, and there seems to be a direct relationship between the agents that spend time ensuring their clients needs are met and the amount of business they are doing.

Originally posted 2010-03-28 03:00:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

When you buy a car, you are given an owner’s manual with instructions on how to care for your car. Septic tanks can cost as much or more than a car, unfortunately nobody gives you a manual when they are installed. Some people don’t even know they have a septic tank! As a result, many septic systems fail unnecessarily.

The Price for Failure is Steep
The price for failure is steep in two way. More than 1200 people in the US die each year from contaminated water, and failing septic systems are a leading source of waterborne disease outbreaks in the country today. In a 2000 EPA report, 31 states listed septic systems as their second greatest potential source of groundwater contamination. Septic system replacement is also very expensive, with costs often running from $5,000 to $20,000 or more. Fortunately, there are some highly effective, ineffective steps you can take to eliminate this problem. Before discussing solutions, let’s look at why septic systems fail.

Septic tank maintenance is actually pretty easy to understand. When a system fails, the tank itself doesn’t fail- the drainfield soil fails. In most cases the soil fails when it gets plugged up with solids and won’t allow liquid to pass through it. For example, it can get plugged with solids from the tank if the tank hasn’t been pumped, or with lint from a washing machine. Now for your solutions:

1. Use a washing machine filter.

Did you know that washing machines are a leading cause of septic system failure? The primary culprit is lint generated by washing machines, which clogs the soil in drain fields. Did you know that a typical family washing machine produces enough lint each year to carpet and entire living room floor! Lint screens and nylon traps found in hardware stores trap 5% or less of these particles. Because they are so light and small, the lint particles do not settle out in the septic tank. Instead, they stay in suspension and are flushed out to the drain field, where they plug up the pores of the soil bed.

To compound the problem, much of our clothing is now manufactured with synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon. These substances are not biodegradable, and will not break down in a septic system. Instead, they accumulate and plug the soil. Once these materials enter the soil, there is no way to remove them.

The good news is that lint can be prevented from entering the septic system through the use of a reusable, inline filter which attaches to your washing machine discharge hose. The filter, called the Filtrol 160, retails for $139.95.

2. Avoid Excessive Water Use
You can also damage your septic system by doing a large number of laundry loads in a short period of time. In standard septic systems, solid materials settle in the tank, while effluent flows out into the ground. If you put more water into the system than it is built to handle, the high volume of water will flood your system, and can also stir up and flush solids out of the tank into the drain field (in fact, septic pumpers use water from their hoses to help break up solids in your tank before pumping them out). A typical washing machine can use up to 60 gallons of water per wash load. On a heavy day you can easily put 400, 500 or 600 gallons of water through the system in a few hours. The solution is to spread out your water use. Do one or two loads of laundry per day, rather than 10-12 loads on Saturday morning. Water softeners can also damage your system by putting too much water through the septic system. These devices can put several hundred gallons of water down the drain every week, water that is not contaminated and does not need to go through the treatment process.

There are a couple solutions to this problem. You can upgrade your softener with a newer efficient model that uses less water and regenerates on demand, instead of a timer system that regenerates whether you use water or not. You can also install a mini septic system for your water softener.

3. Prevent Solids from Leaving the Tank
First of all, you should get your tank pumped on a regular basis to prevent excessive accumulation of solids in the tank. Under normal conditions, you should have the tank inspected and pumped every 1-3 years. Very important: tanks should be pumped and inspected through the manhole cover, not the inspection pipe. Your septic contractor should also install an effluent filter in the exit baffle of the tank. Effluent filters stop the larger solids from getting out to the drainfield. They are cleaned out every few years when you have your tank pumped. They are usually only about $80. Effluent filters are cheap insurance and along with a washing machine filter, one of the best things you can do to protect your system.

4. Use of Household Cleaning Products
Excessive use of these products can contribute to septic system failure. If you do over 5 loads a week containing bleach, problems could arise. Avoid powdered detergents as they contain plastic fillers that can plug up your lines and drain field. Also, be careful with harsh automatic toilet bowl cleaners, which have put quite a few systems out of commission.

5. Should I Use a Separate System for My Washing Machine?
Some people say you should use a separate system for your washing machine, called a laundry interceptor. However, this is not necessary and in fact undesirable. Washing machines should discharge into the regular system because it actually works better than discharging into its own system. In order to work, septic systems require bacteria colonies which break down biodegradable matter. These bacteria require “food” which is found in our wastewater, but not in detergent. Without “food” these bacteria colonies die out and the system fails. Many people who have installed these systems have found this out the hard way. A research project conducted in several east coast states utilized some rather high tech systems for washing machine discharge and many began failing in as little as eight months.

Septic Tank Maintenance Tips:

· Do: divert surface runoff water from roofs, patios, driveways and other areas away from your drainfield.
· Have your septic tank pumped regularly. It should also be inspected for leaks, cracks and to make sure the exit baffle is in place.
· Install lint and effluent filters.
· Spread out your laundry loads.
· Compost your garbage or put it in the trash

Don’t:
· Use a garbage disposal. These appliances normally double the amount of solids added to the tank!
· Flush sanitary napkins, disposable diapers or other non-biodegradable products into your system.
· Dump solvents, oils, paint thinners, disinfectants, pesticides or poisons down the drain as they can disrupt the treatment process and contaminate the groundwater.
· Dig in your drainfield or build anything over it.
· Drive over your drainfield or compact the soil in any way.
· Plant trees or shrubbery close to the septic system, because the roots can get in the lines and plug them. Grass is the only thing that should be planted on or near a drainfield.

If Your System Fails
In quite a few cases, a tune-up can fix your system and you can avoid the high costs of replacing the system. This tuneup includes properly pumping the tank, cleaning (jetting) the drainfield lines, and installing washing machine and effluent filters. If these measures are not sufficient, some failed systems can be rejuvenated by fracturing the soil. This process utilizes a hollow tube inserted into the soil, then a 300 pound blast or air is injected into the soil creating thousands of tiny fissures. These fissures allow the drainfield to drain, creating an oxygen atmosphere and the aerobic bacterial colonies to repopulate. Aerobic bacteria, which require oxygen, typically live in the top 26 inches of the drainfield and process waste much more quickly than anaerobic bacteria. This process can be performed in a matter of hours with no digging or damage to the yard. One company which performs this service is Terralift International (http://www.terraliftinternational.com).

If you have a clay soil which has become plugged due to sodium from wastewater binding with the clay, Septic Seep can help. These product releases sodium bonded clays and reopens soil, restoring passages air and water. It also has the benefit of dispersing greases and scums that clog the soil.

Originally posted 2009-01-18 17:05:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Canadian Real Estate Association Introduces Hand Held House-Hunting with New Mobile Application
OTTAWA, Nov. 12 /CNW/ – The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) unveiled its latest barriehomeinspector.com” target=”_blank”>home buying and barriesrealestateagent.com” target=”_blank”>selling innovation, a new mobile application of REALTOR.ca for Windows® Phone 7. REALTOR.ca is operated by CREA, and is the most visited real estate website in Canada, with about 350 000 orilliahomeinspector.com” target=”_blank”>property listings available at any one time.

“Allowing people to check out homeinspector.com”target=”_blank”rel=”external”title=”Orillia Home Inspector” >houses whenever they want, wherever they want, will make the home and property hunt that much easier,” said CREA President Georges Pahud. “Today’s consumers want portable, on-the-go information and REALTORS® across Canada are happy to be able to meet this need with the new REALTOR.ca app.”

The REALTOR.ca app provides house hunters with the functionality of REALTOR.ca while taking advantage of Windows Phone 7 device features such as GPS. The app allows users to search for houses and properties across Canada and to connect with REALTORS® to view, buy or sell a property. Photos, newly listed properties and open house information are all available.

Using the handheld’s GPS technology, and the REALTOR.ca search function, users can search for properties near their location and get driving directions too. Interactive BING mapping is embedded to allow consumers to focus on specific neighbourhoods.

“Buying a home is often the biggest financial transaction of one’s lifetime. Easily accessible, detailed information about homes and neighbourhoods, as well as fingertip access to the expertise of REALTORS®, helps people make well-informed decisions” said Pahud.

The REALTOR.ca app was developed through a partnership with Microsoft Canada Inc. and Navantis.

The REALTOR.ca app will be available for other handheld devices in the coming weeks. Plans are currently underway for iPhone and BlackBerry versions.

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is one of Canada’s largest single-industry trade Associations, representing more than 100,000 REALTORS® working through more than 100 real estate Boards and Associations.

Originally posted 2010-11-25 09:15:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Whether you plan on “borrowing ideas” or plan on creating your own landscaping design, you should have at the very least a basic understanding of the principles of landscape design. This doesn’t mean that you have to apply every principle to every part of your plan. But just having an understanding of these principles will help you generate ideas and increase your creativity. Great landscaping lies in the eyes of the its creator. So, while the principles of landscape design are great guidelines to follow, don’t feel like they’re the “have to rules” of landscaping. Abstract and creativity are allowed. 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. By character, I mean the height, size, texture, color schemes, etc. of different elements. A good example would be in the use of accent boulders. If you’ve ever seen a landscape design that had one large white round boulder here and another large red square granite boulder there and so on, then you’ve seen that unity wasn’t created by this particular element. This is just one example but the principle applies to all other elements such as groups of plants and materials. A simple way to create unity in your landscape is by creating themes. And one of the simplest ways to create themes is by using a little garden decor. Creating a theme garden is easier when it’s related to something you’re interested in or have a passion for. If you’re into butterflies for instance, you could create a theme using plants that attract butterflies as well as using statues, ornaments, and other decor that are related to butterflies. Unity should be expressed through at least one element in your landscape and preferably more. Using elements to express a main idea through consistent style and a specific theme is what creates harmony. Simplicity is actually one of the principles in design and art. It’s one of the best guidelines you can follow as a beginner or do it yourselfer. Just keep things simple to begin with. You can do more later. Simplicity in planting, for instance, would be to pick two or three colors and repeat them throughout the garden or landscape. Keeping decor to a minimum and within a specific theme as well as keeping hardscapes such as boulders consistent is also practicing simplicity. Balance in design is just as the word implies. A sense of equality. There are basically two types of balance in landscape design. Symmetrical and Asymmetrical. Symmetrical balance is where there are more or less equally spaced matching elements of the garden design. With a garden equally divided, both sides could share all or part of the same shape, form, plant height, plant groupings, colors, bed shapes, theme, etc. You may remember creating something like this when you were a kid in art class at school. Where you take a piece of paper, splash paint on it, fold it in half, unfold it, and then it magically creates an interesting symmetrical design. So symmetrical balance or design is somewhat of a mirror image or reflection. Asymmetrical balance on the other hand is one of the principles of landscape design that’s a little more complex. While textures, forms, colors, etc. may remain constant to create some unity, shapes and hardscapes may be more random. This form of balance often has separate or different themes with each having an equal but different type of attraction. Asymmetrical may be better understood as actually being unbalanced, abstract, or free form while still creating unity and balance through the repetition of some elements. A good example of this would be where bed shapes or paths differ on both sides of the landscape dividing line while still sharing some of the same elements and plants. One side could be curved with a sense of flow while the other side is straight, direct, hard, and completely opposite. Again, unity and balance will be created through other elements. Contrast can be very interesting and this type of form can create a neat contrast. Flowing lines are pleasing to the eye but the bold contrast of a curve combined with a straight line can be very interesting. Asymmetrical balance isn’t dependant on the shape of your garden. It can be but generally it’s not. An example might be where one side of the garden is mostly large shade trees while the other side is predominately a lower growing flower garden or even a mix of both examples. Like I stated earlier, the landscaping can be abstract while still maintaining unity through other elements such as rocks, plants, and decor. Contrast and harmony can also be achieved using plants. Fine foliage verses coarser foliage, round leaves verses spiked leaves as well as color compliments and contrasts. Plant height, color, and texture may be varied from one area to the next but each area should stay consistent within its own theme. You’ll hear me talk about “themes” a lot. Many successful do-it-yourself designs follow a basic theme to achieve most of the principles of landscape design described on this page. The proper use of plants (see plant selection)or garden decor or a mix of both is a simple way to achieve themes. Color adds the dimension of real life and interest to the landscape. Bright colors like reds, yellows and oranges seem to advance toward you and can actually make an object seem closer to you. Cool colors like greens, blues, and pastels seem to move away from you and can make an object seem farther from you. Grays, blacks, and whites are considered neutral colors and are best used in the background with bright colors in the foreground. However, to increase depth in a landscape, you can use dark and coarse textured plants in the foreground and use fine textured and light colored plants in the background. Colors can also be used to direct your attention to a specific area of the garden. A bright display among cooler colors would naturally catch the eye. Natural transition can be applied to avoid radical or abrupt changes in your landscape design. Transition is basically gradual change. It can best be illustrated in terms of plant height or color but can also be applied to all elements in the landscape including but not limited to textures, foliage shape or size, and the size and shape of different elements. In other words, transition can be achieved by the gradual, ascending or descending, arrangement of different elements with varying textures, forms, colors, or sizes. An example of a good transition would be a stair step effect from large trees to medium trees to shrubs to bedding plants. This example is where a little knowledge of proper plant selection would come in handy. Click here for proper plant selection . Transition is one of the principles of landscape design that can be used to “create illusions” in the landscape. For example a transition from taller to shorter plants can give a sense of depth and distance (like in a painting), making the garden seem larger than it really is. A transition from shorter to taller plants could be used to frame a focal point to make it stand out and seem closer than it really is. Line is of the more structural principles of landscape design. It can mostly be related to the way beds, walkways, and entryways move and flow. Straight lines are forceful and direct while curvy lines have a more natural, gentle, flowing effect. Proportion simply refers to the size of elements in relation to each other. Of all the principles of landscape design, this one is quite obvious but still requires a little thought and planning. Most of the elements in landscape design can be intentionally planned to meet the proper proportions. For instance if you are creating a small courtyard garden, an enormous seven foot garden statue placed in the center would be way out of proportion and a little tacky to say the least. Or a small four foot waterfall and pond placed in the center of a large open yard would get lost in the expanse. Don’t misunderstand this to mean that if you have a large yard you can’t have smaller features or garden decor. Proportion is relative and elements can be scaled to fit by creating different rooms in the garden. The goal is to create a pleasing relationship among the three dimensions of length, breadth, and depth or height. A small water feature can be proportionate if placed in a corner or on the edge of a large area and becomes a focal point of the larger area while creating its own distinct atmosphere. An entire room, sitting area, or theme can be created around it. Other rooms and themes can be created as well. See small gardens for ideas on creating rooms and creating illusions. Also, special consideration and study should be given to proper plant selection to avoid using plants that are out of proportion. Repetition is directly related to unity. Its good to have a variety of elements and forms in the garden but repeating these elements gives variety expression. Unity is achieved by repeating objects or elements that are alike. Too many unrelated objects can make the garden look cluttered and unplanned. There’s a fine line here. It’s possible that too much of one element can make a garden or landscape feel uninteresting, boring and monotonous. However, unity can still be created by using several different elements repeatedly. This in turn keeps the garden interesting. Steve Boulden – S&S Designed Landscaping 4404 Mescalero Dr. – Carlsbad, New Mexico – U.S.A.

Brought to by Napoleon Home Inspections – http://napoleon.cc

Originally posted 2010-01-07 11:35:56. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Originally posted 2008-10-13 05:25:59. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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$199.00 Home Inspections including $50.00 Wett inspection, FREE  Thermal Imaging Scan and Money Back Guarantee. Available 7 days a week for your convenience. Inspecting Alliston, Barrie, Innisfil and Orillia. Call Roger 705-795-8255 for Risk Free inspection

Originally posted 2010-12-05 19:24:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Next to “How’s the market?”, I think the question I’m asked most frequently is, “What’s it worth?” Considering that real estate often represents a persons largest asset, that’s a very fair question for both buyers and sellers of property and, as a Market Value Appraiser – Residential, one that I think I’m qualified to answer.

Market value is generally defined as the probable price a property will sell for in a reasonable time when fully exposed to the market and with a willing buyer and seller and with neither party under duress. Quite a mouthful, huh? Since most of us don’t carry a crystal ball, you might wonder then how we assess market value.

Well, I have to say that while most agents are quite able, I know a few too many REALTORS® who shoot from the hip or take a listing at any price. I also know of too many buyers who have unknowingly overpaid for properties. Considering that less than 40% of properties are selling right now, pricing is pretty darn important and likely, the single biggest factor in getting it sold.

But back to the question. The short answer is that we compare a property to other similar properties that have sold in the recent past to establish buyer behaviours. We start by looking for homes that have valid comparability in regard to things like usage, location, age and size. For example, a house on the water has a different value than a house in town. A new home can’t be compared to a century home and, I wouldn’t compare a 1000 square foot semi-detached home to a 3,000 sq ft chalet. Once we select the range of suitable comparative properties, we then compare the houses that sold to the one being appraised so we can adjust for differences in things like size, condition and features such as garages, number of bathrooms and so on. Surprisingly, in most cases, the adjusted values will come in to a fairly tight range of value and that becomes the best indicator of market value.

When you list your home for sale, don’t just chose someone to represent you based on them giving you the highest price because you may end up being one of the 60% of properties that don’t sell. Ask for a complete market evaluation. Get more than one opinion. Consider using a REALTOR® who is a designated MVA (Market Value Appraiser – Residential). Yup, that was a shameless plug as I’m one of only three or four MVA’s in the area. And for more tips, you may want to check my website for additional information on pricing. http://www.collingwood-bluemountain.com/homePricing.htm

Marg Scheben-Edey

Broker

RE/MAX four seasons realty limited

Collingwood, ON

http://blog.collingwood-bluemountain.com/

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Originally posted 2009-02-22 16:31:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Concrete foundations are of two types – poured concrete and concrete block. Poured concrete is a modern manner of laying foundations, while concrete blocks are more traditional.

Concrete blocks are preferred for their visual appeal and strength. Yet, as time passes, there may be degradation of concrete.

The prime cause of cracks in concrete foundation is seepage of water. Such cracks caused due to leakage of water are thin and hairline. They may widen over time, but they are present only in those areas where the seepage occurs. In order to repair leakage cracks, it is necessary first to investigate the source and the point from which the leakage originates. There may be other reasons for concrete foundations to crumble. Soil may lose its moisture content in summer. There may be underground roots which may wither and die. Such natural causes make the soil shrink and hence the foundation may move. Though this movement is gradual, overtime it will cause cracks to occur. These cracks will be large gaping ones, running across the entire length of the foundation. They may even be in the form of tiny holes in certain places. Whatever be the reason, cracks in the foundation are very perilous if ignored. Repair must be done as soon as possible.

Difficulties involved in the repair process are influenced by how big the cracks are. For tiny moisture created cracks, the repair is relatively simple and can be done by almost anyone. These cracks must first be brushed clean with a wire brush. A jet of water may be passed to remove any loose concrete particles within the crack. The crack is then allowed to dry completely and filled with concrete caulk. If the crack is large, then it is packed with patching materials that are specifically available for concrete. These patching materials must be wet when applied. They are limestone based, and they expand as they dry, filling up the crack completely. The finishing touch is to apply a sealant to the repaired crack. But if the crack is sinister and not the do-it-yourself kind, then it is most prudent to shell out a few dollars and hire some good repairmen. Such cracks occur due to rods which may have rusted inside and snapped or because of deterioration of the materials present within the concrete.

Some leakage cracks when ignored can also reach dangerous levels. Such cracks are more found in poured concrete. Contractors treat the concrete foundation with urethane injections to extract the embedded water. They may even excavate the area around the foundation and replace the faulty tile or construct a provision for the water to lose contact with the foundation.

Foundation Repair

The principal function of a foundation of a home is to transfer the weight of a structure to its underlying soil and rocks. One of the factors that bring about the need for foundation repairs is improper foundation settling. Foundation settlement can devalue structures and also render them unsafe. Building on expansive clay, compressive or improperly contracted fill soils and improper maintenance in and around foundations are some of the major reasons of improper foundation settling. Another reason for improper foundation settlement is undetected or unsuspected air pockets in the ground below the area of construction. These may cave in and cause the integrity of the foundation to be compromised.

General symptoms of a structure needing foundation repairs are bulging or cracked walls and doors that don’t close properly. Building on expansive soils is the main culprit for foundation settlement. When only one part of the foundation either settles or heaves, cracks are formed in the foundation.

The exterior warning signs of improper floor settling are rotation of walls, displaced moldings, cracked bricks and foundation and separation around doors and windows from the walls.

Interior warning signs of improper floor settling are cracks on the floor, sheet rock and misalignment in doors and windows. There are many ways of doing foundation repair. Cement, stone, steel or wood were used extensively in past techniques. They would be forced into the ground in a bid to salvage the strength of these foundations. However, this type of repair work has been known to be futile.

Two of the most successful ways of foundation repairs are slab jacking and the Piering method. Piering is also known as hydraulic jacking. Slab jacking is the process of adding grout beneath a slab or beam. This produces a lifting force and restores the said beam or slab to almost its original elevation and adds to its strength. Care should be taken that the amount of sand should be perfect while adding grout. During Piering, steel posts are driven through unstable soil. Hydraulic jacks are used to stabilize concrete slabs which are weakened due to the changes taking place in the underlying soil. Steel beams are used in the Piering method because concrete has great compressive strength. Though Piers are able to transfer huge downward loads without the help of reinforcing steel, steel is used in the piers for prevention of the pier from being pulled apart or sheared by forces of the expansive soils. The repairs normally take 21 to 30 days, however this time frame can vary depending on soil conditions and weather delays. This article is for general knowledge only, always consult with an expert regarding any structural design issues or faults.

Originally posted 2010-11-25 09:10:44. Republished by Blog Post Promoter