10 Home Projects to Work on Over a Holiday Weekend

Our Top 10 Home Projects to Work on Over a Holiday Weekend

Wintertime often brings weekends stuck inside, a handful of breaks, and time spent with the family. During your next snowed in weekend, or just your weekend spent at home, our craftsmen put their heads together and thought of 10 winter home projects you can complete over a holiday weekend.

1.   Lights: It’s time to hang all those indoor and outdoor lights. 

2.   Decorations: Deck the halls from candles to wreaths and all in between.

3.   Drafts: Stop drafty doors with the purchase of a weatherstrip to keep warm air in and cold air out.

4.   Insulate Water Pipes: If you have any outdoor plumbing, or pipes that are close to the outer walls of your home, some insulation will help keep them from freezing up.

5.   Regrout: Take a weekend or just a day to regrout your bathroom tile or

6.   Caulk: Redo the caulk on your bathtub, shower, by the sink, and more if needed to avoid leaks or water damage.

7.   Install Flooring: You can get a lot done in one weekend! Replace the slippery tile in your front foyer with something more durable and waterproof.

8.   Paint: While you spend more time inside, it’s nice to give your rooms a fresh new look.

9.   Kitchen Backsplash: In the kitchen, bathroom, and more rooms, there are many little details that can be updated to give your room a new look to show off just in time for the holidays.

10.   Furnace: Before you turn on the furnace, make sure all vents are vacuumed and the furnace is checked.

All of these projects may be completed by you, or if you are short on time or are not sure where to begin, look into your local handyman companies to see if you can hire a professional to take of these winter home projects for you. By the time the holidays roll around, it will feel refreshing when these 10 winter home projects are complete.

Contact Handyman Connection

Contact our professional craftsmen at Handyman Connection today to schedule your next estimate—just in time for the holidays! Our professional handymen are here to help. 

The post 10 Home Projects to Work on Over a Holiday Weekend appeared first on Handyman Connection.

Furnace tune-ups, or preventative maintenance service appointments, are an essential part of owning a home. DIY checks and maintenance like replacing the furnace filter is important, but don’t skip out on a professional tune-up as well. Not only can it catch problems before they worsen, or before you’re left without a working furnace during the coldest days of the year, but you’ll also save more money in the long run.

With a company like Acclaimed! Heating, Cooling & Furnace Cleaning, your furnace Edmonton tune-up will be in good hands. They share the benefits of annual furnace tune-ups:

Protects your home and family

Part of a professional checkup means they’ll inspect each part of the furnace and heating system. Because most furnaces burn fuel to produce heat, a leak or crack invites severe safety risks. Escaped carbon monoxide is both odourless and colourless, but extremely dangerous. Having a professional Edmonton furnace company inspect your furnace ensures the safety of your home and peace of mind.

Saves money and bills

Reactive maintenance and repairs can cost almost double in repairs compared to preventative maintenance. The same goes for a furnace that breaks down and needs to be completely replaced as a result. Tune-ups and cleaning cost a fraction of the price compared to a new furnace replacement. Skipping out on tune-ups also risks negating any warranties that must be upheld by doing regular furnace maintenance.

Regular tune-ups will also ensure your furnace is running at peak performance. When your furnace is in top condition and clean, it can run smoothly and without strain. That helps cut the amount of energy it uses to heat your home, so your bills stay down.

Keeps your home air clean

Dirty air filters or dirty air ducts means that instead of warm, clean air, it could be blowing dirty air throughout your home. Anyone who struggles with allergies or asthma will be affected even more by the poor air quality. Long-term, indoor air pollution can have negative effects even on healthy people. In severe cases, it can cause eye and skin irritation, coughing, fatigue, and more. Furnace Edmonton filters must be regularly cleaned and replaced to keep your air quality clean.

You should also have your ducts cleaned every two to three years, to ensure the HVAC system is clean and circulating clean air into your home.

Extend your furnace’s lifespan

If your furnace is working harder than necessary because it is dirty or hasn’t been serviced, it could burn itself out sooner. On average, a furnace should have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years. Without maintenance, however, that time can easily be cut in half or more.

Costly repairs that continuously happen can also build up in expenses over the years. Instead of saving more with an efficient furnace, you end up spending more over it’s lifecycle. Plus, the cost of an unplanned replacement can be a major expense, not to mention a headache. Extend the life of your furnace by having it regularly serviced and cleaned with a trusted company.

Is it time for a furnace tune-up? Contact Acclaimed! Heating, Cooling & Furnace Cleaning!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Having a Smart Home and Updating Your Home with Technology

In this hi-tech world, many items such as our cars and phones are not the only hi-tech item around us. A smart home is a house with features such as controllable smart lights, smart blinds, and more. These new technologies are a great holiday gift, or if you want to install smart home technologies before the holidays arrive, now is the time to do it.

Smart home technologies are here to connect your home in a more controlled and connected environment. There are a multitude of smart home electronics from lights, blinds, TVs, washing machines, fridges, home entertainment systems, garage door openers, and more. Smart home technology is a technology that communicates and works to run your home more smoothly.

 If you would like to purchase one of these items but might not be sure how to install them, it would be a good idea to ask a professional handyman to take a look at installing the item to avoid the risk of breaking or damaging the item or parts of your home in the process, which incurs more expenses. A handyman will also be able to show you how the item best works in your home and will make sure it is installed correctly.

When you are ready to begin searching for or enjoying the next piece of smart technology in your home, know that your project can be completed with the streamlined help of a local handyman, or with your own know-how. In the end, updating your home with this technology will make your home a more productive and interactive place.

Contact Handyman Connection

Contact our professional handymen at Handyman Connection today to schedule an obligation-free estimate for your next project. Let our handymen know what they can do for you! 

The post Updating Your Home with Technology to a Smart Home appeared first on Handyman Connection.

Aluminum wiring was widely used in houses built in the mid-1960s through the mid-1970s. The aluminum wire itself is safe and reliable when used in the right applications, but it has issues in the connections. These issues can cause overheating and could be a fire hazard in your home.

Westland Electrical in Calgary shares more:

Why is aluminum wire unsafe?                                                           

Aluminum expands at a higher rate than copper. It can also oxidize when exposed to air, and this causes overheating. Oxidization and expansion can cause connections to become loose, overheat, or both. When that happens, so can arcing, melting, and even electrical fires. Because of aluminum wiring’s fragility at connections, small errors during installation, like over-tightening splices or not stripping the wires correctly, can cause serious hazards.

As a result of these issues, aluminum wire is no longer used for residential wiring. If your home has aluminum wiring, you need to get it inspected by electricians in Calgary. They can make recommendations to ensure your home’s electrical system is safe and to current code.

How can I tell if I have aluminum wiring?

Most of the time, the wiring will have a label on it indicating if it’s aluminum. Head down to your basement or crawl space, or check out your electrical panel, for any visible wiring. Without removing the panel cover, see if the wires are marked with abbreviations like ALUM, AL, AL AMC, or ALUM ACM. It might even have the word ALUMINUM right on it. If you can’t find any words or markings on your wiring, contact Calgary electricians for an electrical safety inspection.

What do I do if I have aluminum wiring?

If you’ve determined you have aluminum wiring, you have a couple of options.

Rewiring the home with copper wiring: You might decide to have the home completely rewired with copper wiring. While this is the safest solution, with the most long-term results, it is also the most expensive option. It is extremely labour intensive and disruptive to your home since your wiring is behind the walls. If you are doing a significant renovation and your walls and ceilings are open, a rewiring job will be more convenient and cost-effective. Otherwise, it might not be a practical solution for some.

Pigtailing with copper wiring: More commonly, homeowners choose to ‘pigtail’ the aluminum wiring at every connection. Pigtailing is when electricians in Calgary install copper pigtail wires, using a special connector, between every outlet, switch, and connection and the original aluminum wiring. This copper wire will provide a safer wiring option at the connection points, which is where most hazardous issues occur with aluminum wiring.

Any electrical work, including installations and retrofits, should always be done by a professional electrical contractor in Calgary. Hiring a professional will ensure your electrical work to code, that it is safe and compliant with home insurance policies.

If you suspect you might have aluminum wiring or are purchasing a home with aluminum wiring, contact Westland Electric.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Keeping a business or commercial building safe means taking the right steps during construction. Fire is a danger, which is why proper fireproofing can’t be skipped. With cementitious fireproofing insulation, it guarantees your building will be fire safe. It can help slow major fires or prevent electrical circuits from sparking even a minor fire.

Atlas Sprayfoam Systems Ltd. in Winnipeg is professional insulation, fireproofing, and soundproofing spray foam company. They share the benefits of using their Monokote cementitious fireproofing to protect your commercial building:

What is cementitious fireproofing?

Like spray foam, cementitious fireproofing is applied as a spray directly to surfaces like steel beams, columns, concrete, and joists. It is highly fire-resistant, and so it is commonly used in commercial buildings. The cementitious spray is a mill-mixed plaster that just needs water added to form the spray. Once mixed, it is fast and easy to install. Combining this with other fireproofing measures, like smoke detectors and sprinkler systems, can help slow the spread of any fires. It also ensures enough time for safe evacuations in case of an emergency.

How and where it works

Through thermal insulation, cementitious fireproofing helps prevent surfaces from melting or breaking down when exposed to fire. It can be applied to either exposed surfaces or concealed ones. The insulation itself offers passive fireproofing, meaning it slows the fire’s spread but doesn’t stop it like a sprinkler system.

Three levels of density are used depending on the building’s needs and where the insulation is applied. Standard-density is used in areas that won’t see physical contact or be impacted and damaged. Medium-density covers exposed materials, like stairwell columns or mechanical room columns. High-density is the third level and is for exterior surfaces where weather exposure is a factor, like parking garages.

The benefits and considerations

One of the main benefits of this insulation is the low cost and speedy installation time. Once applied, it requires little if any maintenance. It also pairs well with closed cell spray foam insulation for added energy savings, soundproofing, and overall safety. Cementitious fireproofing resists mould, insects and doesn’t release toxic fumes when exposed to fire. Unlike spray foam, it doesn’t expand once applied, so even residential homes with pre-existing sheathing can still benefit from the insulation.

There are some considerations to keep in mind, such as the visual effect of the insulation. Since it does not leave a smooth, paintable surface, it is less suited to areas where visual appeal is important. Areas, where moisture or water could get in, should also be avoided. If water gets between the coating and the surface, it can lead to corrosion and risk integrity and safety.

Insulation Contractors in Winnipeg

Atlas Sprayfoam Systems proudly provides superior and high-quality insulation solutions for residential and commercial needs. With over 50 years of experience, they guarantee top-quality results, materials, and services. Whether insulating a residential home, a commercial building, or providing fireproofing solutions, their professionals can help.

Contact Atlas Sprayfoam Systems Ltd. today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Knowing when to repaint or touch up your interior isn’t always a clear choice. Should you repaint every few years to keep the look fresh? Or do you wait until it’s time to move to do it? Recognizing when to update will save your interior ever going out of style or prevent spending money when it’s not needed.

Hi-Tech Painting Ltd. in Edmonton is a high-quality painting company. They share some tell-tale signs that your interior needs a painting upgrade:

The colours are outdated

Even paint colours can go out of style, and when they do, it quickly ages a room. Paint trends tend to change year by year, but a few timeless classics will never become dated. Neutral shades like taupe, grey, or white are timeless and can match any home design. If you want, choose bold colours like navy blue or red for a feature wall, subtle accents, or to add a splash of colour. Neutral colours are always the best choice if you plan on selling, but if not, update your out-of-date wall colours with something that suits your personal taste.

Scuffs and fading

Most scuffs caused by furniture or a stray shoe can easily be cleaned off the walls. Deeper scruffs that have damaged the wall itself can’t be so easily removed. While clever furniture placement can cover them up, they’ll need to be repainted. Either match the old look or use the opportunity to update the space. A few new colours and accents can have the same effect as a full renovation. Repairing minor damage is also an easy way to maintain and boost your home’s value, so it’s always in top condition.

Fading is another sign of age, especially in rooms that get full sunlight for hours. Over the years, the paint colour will fade or dull and lose that bright appeal. You might take a picture off the wall and notice that the wall colour has faded all around it! Hire a professional painter to discuss both new colours as well as brands or paint finishes. That way, the new paint job will last for years and without the risk of fading.

You’re planning to sell

If you know you want to sell soon, now is a great time to update your paint. A fresh look is just as important on the inside as it is on the exterior. While curb appeal can help draw in buyers, the interior can help seal the deal. By starting early, you can talk with a professional to see what paint colours appeal to buyers. Even a neutral pallet can help sell a buyer, as it lets them imagine themselves in the space. Too many personal colours and touches make the house feel owned, instead of a potential new home for the buyer. In essence, you want to choose colours that appeal to the masses.

Painters in Edmonton

High-Tech Painting provides quality in every part of their services and help. That includes everything from high-quality materials, equipment, and quality professionals. Whether you need painting help for interior, exterior, and residential, or commercial, they can help with guaranteed results.

Contact High-Tech Painting today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Investing in new windows and doors also means investing in the right company. In addition to looking good, windows and doors play a significant role in improving energy efficiency and lowering your carbon footprint. With professional assistance, you can guarantee the right fit and style for your home. That’s where Creative Home Elements Ltd. in Cochrane, a high-quality windows and doors company, can help.

They import and distribute quality materials for light commercial needs, high-end residential homes, and Passive House projects. They share about why their company is the best choice to outfit your home with their windows or doors:

Sustainability with quality

As efforts are moving towards greener initiatives and homes, sustainable products are becoming a priority for homeowners. With Creative Home Elements, they guarantee everything their products will be a sustainable and green addition. Passive Home windows are completely airtight and are typically equipped with triple glazing to prevent any air leaks or heat loss. Installing these windows can help lower your home’s energy use for greater savings. It also helps make your home greener by taking a step towards becoming a Passive Home. The idea is to have less reliance on unrenewable energy and lower the amount of energy used daily.

Customer-orientated

Choosing new windows and doors is a major investment and one that will last for years. At Creative Home Elements, that decision is never taken lightly. Every customer and their needs are uniquely taken care of to ensure the best fit. From careful attention to detail and a seamless installation process, peace of mind is a guarantee. Their wide range of products, materials, and styles are suitable for any style and type of home. This makes each home unique with the only similarity being the guarantee of sustainable, long-lasting, and striking windows and doors. No wall opening is too large or too small to fit in our custom manufactured windows and doors.

Luxury addition guaranteed

With years of experience and research spent specializing in high-quality and custom products, Creative Home Elements offers luxury. Windows and doors play just a big a role in curb appeal as they do for overall home value. The right look can greatly improve your home’s appeal, just as the wrong style can take away from it. With Creative Home Elements, they’ll help you choose the best options to match your lifestyle. By purchasing their products from only the best manufacturers, it guarantees the best materials and craftsmanship.

Windows in Cochrane and Doors in Cochrane

Creative Home Elements began in 2010, but they bring many more years of experience and skill from before their start. Providing innovative, sustainable, and attractive products are what they proudly provide. From start to finish, they handle every step with the same care, customer focus, and guaranteed quality, no matter the job.

Contact Creative Home Elements Ltd. today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Asphalt roofs can easily last upwards of 20 years, given the right care and maintenance. If not, premature wear and unnoticed damage can lead to them failing early. Besides professional help, knowing what DIY care to do will keep your roof in top condition.

Leon’s Roofing and Renovation in Edmonton is a professional roofing company. They share some tips when it comes to maintaining your asphalt roof:

Repair minor damage now 

If you notice signs of damage or algae growing on the roof, don’t wait to repair the problem. That not only risks the issue worsening, but it increases future repair costs. Loose shingles, broken sealants, or just dirty shingles must be repaired quickly by a professional like Leon’s Roofing. Always leave the work to a professional when it comes to roofing. Not only can it be dangerous without experience, but a professional guarantees longer-lasting quality. It’ll also help prevent any damage to the roof, which can happen when DIYing.  

Keep the gutters clear

Gutters and roofs go hand-in-hand and should always be taken care of together. Gutters that become clogged or damaged can’t redirect water safely away from the roof. If that happens, water can get underneath the roof shingles and damage the roof and interior of your home. They can also overflow and cause pooling around the foundation. Eventually, the pooling can lead to moisture in the basement. To prevent this, take the time to clear any debris or clogs from the gutters. Then, check that the gutters are still secure and sound. If not, have a professional come in for the repairs.

Trim nearby trees

Tree branches can cause a lot of damage to a roof and especially have a higher risk during storms. Branches that break can knock shingles loose or cause costly damage. Even leaves can be an issue if they stay on the roof and trap moisture beneath them. That can lead to rot or algae growing and affecting the integrity of the shingles. Branch trimming can either be DIYed or left to a professional if the work is too complicated or dangerous.

Get a professional inspection

Yearly roof inspections are the best way to catch and prevent major damage and roofing problems. While DIY inspections from the ground are a good way to catch obvious issues, don’t skip out on a professional. They can find and repair any damages by climbing onto the roof for up-close inspections. Professional inspections also help keep roof warranties and home insurance valid over the roof’s lifespan. If your roof is failing and is beyond repair, a roofer will make the recommendation for a roof replacement. Protect your roof and your home by keeping up on roof maintenance, repairs, and replace it when the time comes.

Roofers in Edmonton 

With skilled and professional roofers, Leon’s Roofing and Renovation guarantee quality roofing services. They can help with 24/7 repairs, as well as installation, reroofing, and more. Whether exterior roofing work or interior renovations, they are ready to help no matter your home’s needs.

Contact Leon’s Roofing and Renovation today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Winter Home Improvement with an Efficient December Home Checklist

With winter approaching, the cold weather doesn’t mean all your projects and future improvements need to ground to a halt or wait until next year. The winter is a great time to schedule or begin planning for your next home improvement. Winter home improvements can range from installing new flooring, installing new cabinets, or to more winter-related tasks such as home insulation and replacing furnaces. Here are our handymen’s recommendations for your winter home improvement checklist.

Improvements:

Winter doesn’t stop your home from receiving winter home improvement projects. The winter is a great time to install new flooring, paint the living room, change out the countertop or get new kitchen cabinets all in time for the holiday. The holidays put an importance on your home’s kitchen, dining room, and living room where your family will spend lots of time together. Don’t let the cold weather hold you back—get started on these examples of winter home improvement in order to finish them by the holiday.

Winter Maintenance:

Every winter there is a checklist of things to do around the home to help save energy and to be comfortable throughout the winter. As fall comes to an end, it is important to make sure your furnace and water heater is up to date. Next, take care of any drafts you have in your home with either window wraps or a weather strip by outside doors. It is important to make sure your home is properly insulated to keep the warmth in and the cold air out during the winter. If not, research your local handyman companies to see whose rates and services best fit your needs.

With these maintenance and winter home improvement tips, you will be ready to enjoy and improve your home during this holiday season. Take advantage of the time spent at home to improve the environment you live in and make it one step closer to the home of your dreams.

Contact Handyman Connection

Handyman Connection is here to complete your next at home project, installation, repair, or update. If you are in need of our professional services, contact Handyman Connection today.

The post A December Home Checklist: Winter Home Improvement appeared first on Handyman Connection.

We all know painting is a cost-effective way to change the overall look and feel of your home’s interior. But painting kitchen cabinets is an even better value! In your kitchen, you can refinish your cabinets plus paint the walls to completely transform the room. If you’re thinking about cabinet refinishing, consider changing the cabinet hardware at the same time to complete the look. Other upgrades to consider would be a new countertop and backsplash. That would completely update the space so you end up with the kitchen of your dreams.

Can Do More Painting in Calgary is a professional cabinet refinishing and painting company. They will share some design tips when balancing cabinet refinishing and wall colours.

Focus on the cabinets first

Cabinets take up the most wall space in a kitchen, so focus on them first. With cabinet refinishing, you have plenty of options to consider: Do you want a paint finish like semi-gloss to protect against stains and damage? Or would you like a rich stain finish? Do you want to consider upgrading the hardware?  Once you settle on the perfect cabinet look, it’ll be easier to find a complementary wall paint colour.

Stain or repaint?

If your cabinets are solid wood cabinets, it means you have the option to paint or stain them. Both offer great benefits but can look very different and affect the overall feel and design. Stains help accentuate the natural patterns and grains of the wood. Both light and dark stains can be used which gives you more options and range for your design. Staining is the better option for a more traditional-styled kitchen or to feature natural wood accents. Some clients opt for painted outer cabinets and a rich stained island. The Cabinet Experts at Can Do More Painting can help you determine the best approach during a FREE consultation.

Painting opens up more colour ranges from light pastels to dark striking tones. It also offers a fresh new look if you really want to transform the cabinets’ old look. Paint can give a modern or contemporary feel, depending on what colours you choose. Just keep in mind that wall colours will be a bigger factor with painted cabinets. You either want a complementary shade or an attractive contrast.

Tying it all Together

When it comes to painting the walls, keep the rest of the kitchen’s colour scheme in mind. Between countertops, cabinetry, and appliances, there is already a lot of colour present. Throwing in a whole new colour for the walls can work if the goal is a feature wall. Otherwise, too many colours can cause the kitchen to look too loud and chaotic.

Start by deciding if you want light or dark walls, and base that decision on the cabinets. Light walls will keep the focus on dark cabinets, while a dark wall can help make light cabinets stand out. Some clients prefer a very modern kitchen with light cabinets and light walls. Dark walls and dark cabinets, however, make a room feel closed in so that should only be reserved for very large spaces. To help with colour selection, draw inspiration from the floor, countertops, and backsplash. Steel appliances pair well with dark greys and white, while natural wood tones pair better with earthy colours

Cabinet Refinishing in Calgary and Painters in Calgary

At Can Do More Painting, they believe in ensuring every project and customer gets the highest level of quality. They also strive to ensure absolute peace of mind and a stress-free experience for every job. Their professionals can help with all types of interior painting along with start-to-finish cabinet refinishing. In addition, they can help pull everything together with new countertops and backsplash, plus update the flooring for a total transformation.

Contact Can Do More Painting today!

Click to Find >>> Cabinet Refinishing in Calgary.

Click to Find >>> Painters in Calgary.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com