D2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Saturday, June 8, 2013
STORIES FROM PAGE D1
COTTAGE: Transformation The canoe, sadly, will just have to wait. Already confirmed cottagers, just five months into ownership, we’re in a state of frenzy as the prospect of a lakeside summer rolls forward. Our Muskokan odyssey, however, will be more about hard work than it will R&R, shaded by towering pines and silver birch. Yup, there is serious work to be done as we champion the transformation of our simple log cabin. God only knows what lies ahead. What have we let ourselves in for? Will our plans go to, erm, plan? Or will it transpire we’ve bitten off more than we can chew? It’s fair to say we’re about to find out. Like many other cottagers, we know that a legion of important tasks must be undertaken in preparation for the next season. If your cottage is winterized, the job list will probably be smaller but, if your home away from home is more of a two- or a three-season space, then your time will be more busily consumed. Worry not, we shall return to this point in a moment. For now, allow us to set the scene. A couple of months back, while headlining the Spring Cottage Life Show in Toronto, we had the good fortune to meet Penny Caldwell, editor of Cottage Life magazine. A busy media professional, Penny’s glossy title covers every aspect of cottaging from buying, selling and renting, to planning, decorating and entertaining. For this reason, Cottage Life has become a go-to title for anyone even remotely interested in owning — or renting — a lovely vacation home. Ahead of spending summer at the lake, we caught up again this week with Penny and asked that she compose a ‘must do’ hit list to help us — and Star readers — prepare for the coming months. Her no-nonsense approach is compelling and her advice makes informative reading. “Spring is a fantastic time for cottagers,” she explains. “We’ve spent the winter making lists and planning projects, and now we’re ready to put it all into practice as the beautiful summer stretches ahead.” Pausing, for a moment, she adds; “Sure, there’s lots to be done but it’s all about balance. “The trick is to stay on top of everything before problems arise. That way you can kick back and relax with family and friends and properly enjoy the summer.” Aspects to consider as you prepare to open your cottage:
Monitor Penny suggests a preliminary walk-around to observe any aspects that need attention. “Look for overhanging branches, especially around your cottage, as these can pose a fire hazard. And check for squirrel holes or entrance points by other animals.” She continues: “When you arrive for the first time, check for and replace broken windows. And be on the lookout for loose deck boards, missing roof shingles, and general wear and tear that could become problematic if left unattended.”
burnt out, necessitating a complete — and costly — replacement. So be warned.
choose tubes that measure 8 inches or less, or rent a post hole auger that bores holes larger than 8 in.
The inside scoop
Foundation posts make great railings
While we’ve been lucky enough to avoid mice, other pals have been less fortunate. This in mind, the editor’s tips make perfect sense. “After long periods away, check for signs of infestation such as droppings in your larder or around the floor. Disinfect counters and dishes and check your stove for nests before turning on.” Penny suggests setting traps or using warfarin, but only if you don’t have kids or pets. “Finally, plug holes with steel wool where pipes exit your cottage. It’s almost impossible for mice to break through this.”
Regardless of how your deck posts are supported, don’t make the common mistake of cutting the posts off flush with the deck surface, only to have to fasten new wood to the deck frame later to act as a railing. Far better to extend the support posts high enough to act as the main support for hand rails, base rails and whatever spindles you’ll fasten between them. This approach works especially well with posts supported on concrete piers.
Restock pantry and medicine cabinet “Discard any food stuffs that show rodent or bug infestation,” Penny instructs, “though this will be less likely if perishables were stored in tins or glass jars in the first place. This done, turn your attention to your medicine cabinet. Make sure you’ve got calamine lotion, sun screen, bug spray and other general items such as aloe and antihistamine.” Our chat drawing to its conclusion, Penny suggests (perhaps reading our mind and sensing concern) that we don’t become so wrapped up in panic we actually forget to enjoy our exciting new adventure. “In most cases,” she muses, “cottagers have little to fear. And besides, a spot of sensible planning goes a long way. When you’ve ticked off all my points, make time to relax. Set out the deck furniture, grab a beverage and put your feet up.” We certainly appreciate Penny’s summation, especially the beverage aspect. But before cracking open the vino, there is work to be done. No, wait a minute — scratch that. A chilled glass of Pinot might be just the fellow to help us concentrate. Penny’s words still ringing in our ears, we reach for the corkscrew and prepare to prioritize our workload. As we said, there is much to be done . . . Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan are the hosts of HGTV’s Colin & Justin’s Home Heist and the authors of Colin & Justin’s Home Heist Style Guide, published by Penguin Group (Canada). Catch them every Monday on Cityline (9 a.m. on City). Follow them on Twitter @colinjustin or on Facebook
DECKS: Tubes for holes Since cardboard form tubes come nested together for more efficient transport, the could measure 7-½ 8 or 8-½ inches in diameter. You’ll either need to
Doubled floor joists Whenever the ends of two deck boards meet over a single joist, you’ve got two problems. Besides the fact that rot-promoting moisture gets trapped between the two end-grain surfaces, you’re also forced to drive screws close enough to the ends of deck boards that the wood often splits. Doubling up floor joists in those places where deck board joints land solves both these problems. It takes a bit of planning to figure out which lengths of deck boards you need to buy, and where the joints will occur to minimize waste, but the effort is worth it. Leave 1’ of space between each pair of double joists, and ¼’ of space between deck board ends that land on top. You’re now free to drive screws a full 1’ from the ends of deck boards, with no chance of splitting. The space between deck board ends also encourages rapid drying and long wood life.
Add a verandah roof If you’re going to the trouble of building a deck, turning it into a verandah by adding a simple, open roof adds a lot of value. I know because I live with one. A shady spot for kids, a place to barbecue in bad weather, a spot to sit still and listen to a gentle rain in summer, and extended life for doors and windows — these are some verandah advantages. The simplest way to turn your deck project into a verandah is by extending support posts high enough to hold up a roof. You’ll find 6x6s work best here, both aesthetically and structurally. Cut tenons on the top of these posts, then create horizontal beams that connect the posts using four 2x8s, routed and bolted together. The difference between a good deck and a bad deck usually boils down to a handful of details that don’t make it to reality often enough. Work them into your next deck and they’ll pay off for years. Steve Maxwell, syndicated home improvement and woodworking columnist, has shared his DIY tips, how-to videos and product reviews since 1988. Send questions to steve@stevemaxwell.ca
Take stock of your dock “Reposition your dock and ensure it’s properly anchored,” Penny counsels. “It’s also important,” she adds, “to re-position and replace flotation if required. Be on the lookout for missing hardware items like dock rings and cleats. Ignoring aspects such as these will only create problems further down the line.”
Penny’s next port of call is cottage water supply. “Reconnect pipes, then prime and start your water pump.” On a cautionary note she adds: “Don’t forget to fill the hot water tank before turning it on.” This point seems particularly relevant; a lakeside neighbour told us recently that, because he’d neglected to fill his tank at the start of the season, it
CARPET
HOUSE TO HOME
Please see MARKETS on Page D3
MASTER BEDROOM 130 x136
BATH. 50 x 8 0 LINO
CARPET
BALCONY 80 x 12 6
! K 8 19 ITES
DINING ROOM 76 x 7 6
(96 SQ. FT.)
CARPET
HALF WALL
$ BED SUOM ! 2 FR K 9 $29
FLUSH EATING LEDGE
ENS. 0 6 5 x9
KITCHEN 106 x 9 6
W.I.C. 46 x 7 0 CARPET
LINO
LINO
CLOSET
PANT.
LIVING ROOM 17 0 x 136
ENTRY LINO.
CARPET
STACK. W/D
Flea market fix-ups I have always been a flea market junky. The sidewalk sales, the old curio shops, and demolition sites pull me in wherever I am, at home or on my travels. In her new book, Paris Flea Market Style, Claudia Strasser has a beautiful way of getting to the core of why the old and the discarded hold such an important place in our hearts. “We relish finding things of beauty, whether in artwork, lace, or an industrial remnant. And we want to have those things close to us in our homes. On tattered tables are memories and precious reminders of what we were and what we are, what we value and what we have lost.” DEBBIE Strasser takes us on a fascinating tour of her favourite TRAVIS flea market haunts in Paris, where she spends days seeking out treasures for her business and herself. From Clignancourt, a maze of 14 different markets that spread out along alleyways, to Vanves, the quintessential French flea market, with loads of eye candy that will fit in your suitcase; from March D’Aligre in the heart of Paris, which is set up and broken down each day, to Georges Brassens Old Book Market, a covered arcade that overflows with precious leather-bound volumes, mostly in French, there is nothing you can’t find if you take the time to search and discover. This book is for lovers of French décor, whether you have a passion for Napoleon III, Louis XV, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Moderne, and would love to have even a single piece that would recreate the spirit of that time in your home. However, while guiding us through these sites with their jumble of treasures, Brassen inspires us with the multitude of ways that old pieces from any era and any country can be reinvented and refreshed for new life in a new place.
BEDROOM 116 x10 0
CARPET
ES UIT S D M 1 BEFRO
UTIL. 9 0 x 40 LINO
48638F8
Water works
W.I.C. 36 x 5 0
michenerhillcondos.com
OPEN HOUSES
CHECK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON RED DEER & CENTRAL ALBERTA’S OPEN HOUSES AND FIND YOUR DREAM HOME! SATURDAY, JUNE 8 - RED DEER
39 Denison Crescent 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. 185 Allan Street 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 8, 5202 Farrell Avenue 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 12 Illingworth Close 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 124 Kendrew Drive 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 42 Overand Place 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 2322 Danielle Drive 1:00 -4 :00 p.m. 49 Mah Crescent 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. 66 Arnold Crescent 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 2 Traptow Close 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. 2 Tallman Close 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. 23 Voisin Close 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. 7 Michener Blvd. 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. If not open call for appointment.
Rod MacWhirter Milena Toncheva Gerald Dore Doug Wager Kathlen Fordice Pamella Warner Jake Warkentin Wayne Sommers Chris Forsyth Aaron Darcy Kyle Lygas Bill Cooper
SATURDAY, JUNE 8 - OUT OF TOWN
4815 - 50 Avenue 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Tim McRae 47 Emily Crescent 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Lyle Nielsen 9 Regatta Way 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Bridget Wright 4.45 Acreage 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Brad/Charlene Schindel Directions: South on QE2, East on Hwy 42, then South on Rg Rd. 264. 85 Silver Drive 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Bonnie Meaney 63 Bowman Circle 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Jennifer 639 Oak Street 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Patricia Terlaan 68 Heartland Crescent 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. Glenn Bagley
SUNDAY, JUNE 9 - RED DEER
135 Kirton Close 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. 92 Archer Drive 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. 42 Jaspar Crescent 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 24 Oliver Street 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. 46 Welliver Street 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 11 Janko Close 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 2 Cody Place 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 31 Sawyer Close 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 127 Isherwood Close 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 41 James Street 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 4625 47 Street 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 66 Arnold Crescent 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 2322 Danielle Drive 1:00 -4 :00 p.m. 2 Traptow Close 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. 2 Tallman Close 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. 23 Voisin Close 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. 7 Michener Blvd. 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. If not open call for appointment.
SUNDAY, JUNE 9- OUT OF TOWN
23 Broadway Avenue 4437 60 Avenue 44 Birch Bay 165 Westgate Crescent 63 Bowman Circle 639 Oak Street 68 Heartland Crescent
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
CENTURY 21 ADVANTAGE 391-0565 CENTURY 21 ADVANTAGE 304-5265 ROYAL LEPAGE, NETWORK 872-4505 ROYAL LEPAGE, NETWORK 304-2747 ROYAL LEPAGE, NETWORK 346-8900 ROYAL LEPAGE, NETWORK 302-3596 REALTY EXECUTIVES 348-9996/309-1778 SUTTON LANDMARK 318-9114 MAXWELL REAL ESTATE SOLUTIONS 391-8141 LAEBON HOMES 396-4016 LAEBON HOMES 392-6261 MASON MARTIN HOMES 588-2550 MEDICAN CONSTRUCTION 40 plus 340-1690
$379,900 $368,000 $599,900 $489,900 $589,900 $409,900 $284,900 $299,900
Deer Park Anders Park Fairview Inglewood Kentwood Oriole Park West Davenport Place Morrisroe Anders Park Timberstone Timberstone Vanier Woods Michener Hill
CENTURY 21 ADVANTAGE CENTURY 21 ADVANTAGE CENTURY 21 ADVANTAGE COLDWELL BANKER, ONTRACK
350-1562 346-0021 704-4063 872-1637
$220,000 $389,900 $305,000 $555,000
Clive Lacombe Sylvan Lake
SUTTON LANDMARK REALTY LAEBON HOMES MASON MARTIN HOMES CANADA WEST HOMES
885-4936 392-6841 588-2231 348-7029
$211,500
Blackfalds Sylvan Lake Springbrook Penhold
$188,900
Dorothy Morrison Jim Kelly Ivan Busenius Cindy Dooley Jan Carr Janice Mercer Marlo Ruttan Sena Walker Doug Wager Gerald Dore Roger Will Chris Forsyth Jake Warkentin Aaron Darcy Kyle Lygas Bill Cooper
CENTURY 21 ADVANTAGE 304-4649 CENTURY 21 ADVANTAGE 318-8908 RE/MAX 350-8102 RE/MAX 309-2934 ROYAL LEPAGE, NETWORK 346-8900 ROYAL LEPAGE, NETWORK 598-338 ROYAL LEPAGE, NETWORK 872-0656 ROYAL LEPAGE,NETWORK 346-8900 ROYAL LEPAGE, NETWORK 304-2747 ROYAL LEPAGE, NETWORK 872-4505 MAXWELL REAL ESTATE SOLUTIONS 350-7367 MAXWELL REAL ESTATE SOLUTIONS 391-8141 REALTY EXECUTIVES 348-9996/309-1778 LAEBON HOMES 396-4016 LAEBON HOMES 392-6261 MASON MARTIN HOMES 588-2550 MEDICAN CONSTRUCTION 40 plus 340-1690
$350,000 $589,900 $435,900 $284,700 $312,900 $254,900 $449,900 $699,900 $549,900 $299,900 $428,900 $284,900
Tim McRae Suzanne Filyk Darlis Bachusky Bonnie Meaney Jennifer Patricia Terlaan Glenn Bagley
CENTURY 21 ADVANTAGE RE/MAX ROYAL LEPAGE, NETWORK SUTTON LANDMARK REALTY LAEBON HOMES MASON MARTIN HOMES CANADA WEST HOMES
$50,000 $389,900
350-1562 341-0494 358-4981 885-4936 392-6841 588-2231 348-7029
$299,900
$369,900 $188,900
Kentwood Anders On The Lake Johnstone Park Oriole Park West Park Johnstone Park Clearview Ridge Southbrook Inglewood Johnstone Park Parkvale Anders Park Davenport Place Timberstone Timberstone Vanier Woods Michener Hill
Blackfalds Innisfail Gull Lake Blackfalds Sylvan Lake Springbrook Penhold