Vancouver Home Décor and Renovations - APR/MAY 2013

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tipsandtRicks

TQ ConsTruCTion

Trends for 2013

MIKE Spring/Summer Maintenance Spring has sprung and with that comes the promise of an upcoming summer full of sun and fun! This sunshine and heat will be even more welcome if you were one of the unlucky few who had a leaky roof, failed drain tile, moisture appearing between windows—you get the idea. The dry season gives you the opportunity to address these issues. Guard against the temptation to delay...sadly, before you know it the rainy season will be upon us once again! Home ownership comes with challenges but many of these are easily overcome with knowledge. Perhaps you’re thinking of landscaping or adding a deck to the back of your home. Consider the age of your home and whether or not things like drain tile have been upgraded. The only thing more frustrating than doing drain tile, from a maintenance point of view, is doing drain tile after removing your beautiful new deck, or digging up your amazing flower garden. We have the knowledge so ask us your questions and have a great summer followed by a stress-free winter.

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It’s that time of year again-outdoor furniture sets are beautifully displayed in stores and beckoning for you to create that ultimate outdoor space. But where to start? The choices are overwhelming. How do you determine which is the right product for your needs?

BBQ season is upon us!

Designing for the ages?

It is spring time and people all around are firing up their grills. Not only is it the time to kick off BBQ season, it is also a great time for an outdoor upgrade. If you are already planning a project for your home, take the opportunity to give your backyard some attention too.

A truly economical design will consider the year to year…to years costs. How you design will have a significant effect on your mid and longer term maintenance costs and your potential renovation to renovation costs as well.

There are several types of outdoor furniture to consider: wood, metal, plastics. Your choice should have as much to do with maintenance as it does with style. With wood furniture, teak is an outdoor favourite. Unfinished, this natural product will weather down to a silvery grey colour. If you want to maintain its warm colour you will need to sand and oil regularly. Metal or cast iron is another popular choice. This product is available in many shapes and styles but, remember, it will need to be painted to prevent rusting. Powder coating is a more durable finish when looking at metals. Covering your metal furniture when it’s raining will help prevent rust. Plastic outdoor furniture is also offered in many styles. One of the more popular is synthetic wicker. To care for this simply hose it off with water to remove airborne dust. In general, warm soapy water works well for cleaning most outdoor furniture, but certainly read the manufacturer’s instructions on maintenance. To keep your cushion fabrics fresh & vibrant, store them out of the elements.

18 home décor and renovations apr - may 2013

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If you have unused, or underused outdoor space, and are looking for more space to entertain your friends and family, consider creating an outdoor dining space. Level an area of your yard and cover it with paving stones or a cedar deck built at ground-level. Add some tasteful outdoor furniture for lounging and entertaining as well as something for storage. Now you’ve created an inviting outdoor space with a relatively small investment! Consider taking it to the next level by adding a cover to the area and you can use your new BBQ space year-round. A furnished and inviting BBQ area can be a great addition to any yard. With your new space you will be adding fresh possibilities for entertaining friends and family in the coming summer months.

A good example is labour: labour costs factor greatly in every renovation. A material that will last twice as long and have low maintenance requirements can save over 30% of the labour and materials cost of renovating in the mid- to long-term. So why not invest in materials that will last? If there are any reasons for short term thinking, they are uncertainty about the future, and a restrictive budget. So if you feel certainty concerning your next ten to twenty years, and can find a way to afford the upgrade to quality and low maintenance materials, then you can know that you are saving yourself money and trouble. Ask your contractor to make the calculation for you. While you are at it, do your research to be sure you have found someone dedicated to quality workmanship.

Ready to leaRn moRe?

The TQ team can be contacted at 604.430.9900 or online at www.tqconstruction.ca


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