FRESH + CLEAN
With health , safety and reducing the transmission of viruses and germs on everyone ’ s minds these days , there is one thing that most of us overlook and that is the air right in our own homes ! Your heating and air conditioning system is a very efficient mover of air and airborne viruses ! So what can you do to keep the air in your home as fresh as possible ?
Clean your furnace filter frequently . Dirty filters are a fire hazard and they can also reduce the quality of the air in your home .
Install a HEPA filter or air purification system to improve the air quality in your home and reduce particles including viruses .
Let in the fresh air ! Spring is here and the weather is beautiful . Opening windows and doors allows stale air to escape and fresh air to enter ! If safety and security are a concern when it comes to leaving your windows or doors open , Metalex offers a solution with their “ Safe T Screen .” Backed by a decade of research and testing , the screens can stand up to baseball bats , box cutters , sledge hammers and more . Simply install a “ Safe T Screen ” on any window , single hinged door , double French door and even sliding patio doors and you ’ ll be able to enjoy fresh air without worry . - Metalex , www . metalexdoors . com
DO I NEED TO WATERPROOF MY BASEMENT ?
Unsure if you need to waterproof the basement of your home ? If you ' ve recently purchased a home , there are some things you can look for that will determine if waterproofing is needed !
INTERIOR Look for stains , peeling paint , damp or cool areas , and separation or space between the walls and floor . Another indication would be signs that insects or animals have been inside .
EXTERIOR Inspect the exterior of your home , focused primarily on the space where the foundation and lawn meet . Look for accumulated ground water , wet or boggy areas and chips , holes or cracks in the foundation . Another consideration is openings into the foundation such as doors , air conditioning vents and windows .
WEATHER INSPECTIONS Small leaks and lingering dampness can lead to bigger problems down the line but can be hard to detect during nice weather . During and right after the first snow , ice and rain storms , check the interior and exterior of your space for puddles , icicles and dampness that may indicate the start of a water problem .
- Act Fast Waterproofing , www . actfastwaterproofing . ca
ROOFTOP PATIO GARDEN
This fourth floor patio offered an incredible view but had no protection from sun exposure and so was rarely used . As a designer , the homeowner was looking for a solution that would not only allow her to enjoy this space but would also blend well with the style of the home and natural surroundings . The slimline “ Capri ” model pergola was the perfect choice as it offered minimal obstruction of the view . Made from powder coated extruded aluminum , the pergola is very durable and basically maintenance-free .
This rooftop patio had a preexisting aluminum deck which meant the pergola could not be anchored to it as it did not have the structural integrity to withstand the pressure and the force that the wind and rain could potentially bear . Using a process similar to the one used on a hospital installation in North Carolina , the posts were set into four 28 ” tall fiberglass planters . Each planter was filled 3 / 4 with cement . Once dry , the remaining 1 / 4 was covered in topsoil so the planters could still be used for their originally intention .
Not only did the addition of the pergola allow for sun protection , but it also captured a constant gentle breeze that comes off Lake Ontario not realized before the pergola was installed . Comfortable outdoor seated and planters almost give this previously unused space the calming effects of a Zen Garden , resulting in a quiet , calm and cool retreat area ! - ShadeTree Cool Living LLC , www . shadetreecanopies . com
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