real estate

Water features add an enchanting and natural feel to any yard. Whether you are in the heart of a big city or on a secluded lot in the countryside, installing a fountain on your grounds will add value and pleasure to your how you experience your dwelling. However, prior to adding any kind of water feature, it is important to keep a few very important guidelines in mind to protect your dwelling against potential leaks and the problems that they can cause.
 
Plan
On of the most crucial steps in the process is planning the placement of your water feature properly. Choose a spot that is stable enough to support the weight of a pond. If you have plants or trees nearby, make sure that they will not be able to pierce the liner. If you want to include fish in your pond, then remember to place it in an area with direct sunlight. Make sure that it is sloping away from your home.
 
Depth
The depth of your water feature will depend on whether you want it to include plants or fish. If you do want fish, then it needs to be deep enough for the fish to hibernate in the winter.
 
Kits and Liners
If you have never installed a water feature before, then using a kit is probably your best bet. Kits come with clear instructions and will help you to follow the proper procedure for installing your pond or fountain with confidence. When it comes to liners, butyl rubber is best and the thicker the liner the more chances of it lasting your lifetime. An added tip is to first layout carpet padding to cover any pebbles, which in turn will protect your liner from getting punctured.
 
Oxygenation
If you are installing a fish pond, consider adding a waterfall to increase the amount of oxygen in the water and to ensure that no stagnation occurs. Water circulation prevents algae from forming and prevents mosquitoes from laying eggs.
 
Edging
The right pond edging will give your water feature a natural, always-there look and help it blend seamlessly into the scenery.
 
Whatever kind of water feature you choose to install, you can rest assured of enjoying it for as long as you love your home.

Sunshine is great for more than just tanning and warming yourself at the beach – it is also a terrific way to get the lighting and heating you need for garden projects at your Toronto home. Whether you are looking for an alternative way to heat your pool or want some low-maintenance ways to light up your garden after dark, using solar power is an easy, affordable and eco-friendly way of getting the energy you need.
 
Garden Ideas
Solar lanterns, fairy lights and deck flares are great lighting options to get that soft glow and party-like ambiance in your yard for evening parties. Although there are the regular plug-in versions of these lights, the more useful option includes the solar variety. Just plant them in an area with full sun and let the solar cells soak up the light during the day and then they will turn on automatically when dark. Solar lighting for your garden is an easy, low-maintenance way to get the lighting you want without having to remember to turn on/off lights switches, plug/unplug cables, etc…
 
Solar Blanket
Solar blankets are one of the most popular ways of heating outdoor pools. Although it does require a steady supply of uninterrupted sunshine, newer solar blanket models are highly efficient and are far more effective than older versions.
 
Safety lighting
Another great use for solar power is for emergency and/or safety lighting. Ideally for lighting up walkways, lanes or infrequently used outdoor areas of your property, they are a good option for always having light when it is needed.
 
Solar power is evolving and getting better every year. The options for its use are varied and perfect for applications where you want a small energy footprint and high efficiency.

Nothing beats a swimming pool in the summertime! If you are fortunate enough to have a swimming pool at your Toronto home, then you likely have had to consider the options when it came to heating sources. Although a warm summer can sufficiently heat a pool for maximum enjoyment, our weather rarely leaves room for more than a few weeks of summer heating. Instead, it is necessary to rely on alternate sources of heat to ensure a constant, pleasurable temperature for your pool.
 
There are a number of options when it comes to heating your pool. Although most people will install install an electric or gas-powered heater, those options will likely add hundreds of dollars to your energy costs and will also run you a few hundred dollars to install. There are several alternative heating options that some ingenious people have concocted to avoid those extra costs while still maintaining a comfortable water temperature even during the colder parts of the summer months.
 
Solar
Solar blankets for your pool are a great idea. Conventional solar blankets can be costly, but why-not build your own solar blanket for a fraction of what you would pay for a manufactured one? While there are a number of great ideas on Pinterest, one of the easiest and least expensive is using hula-hoops and polyurethane. All you need to do is buy a few hula-hoops, cover them in polyurethane and toss them into your pool and let the sun do the rest. Easy to build, easy to remove and easy to replace, they can raise your pool’s water temperature sufficiently to make it comfortable.
 
Another inexpensive solar option is to use black tubing, coiled in a snake formation that you place on your lawn or on you roof for maximum solar exposure. A pump pumps the water from your pool through this coil that is heated by the sun. While it won’t heat up your pool they way a conventional heater can, it will definitely take the chill away.
 
Wood
Another terrific and inexpensive option for heating the water in your pool is to harness the heat from your firepit or outdoor fireplace. Using a pump to pump the water from your pool into a coil of copper wire suspended in a barrel over or next to your fire pit can heat the water up beautifully – full instructions on how to build this very practical device can be found at any number of handy websites online.
 
Although we’ve only covered two options here for heating your pool, a quick search online will reveal a number of very useful links to great ideas for heating your pool while keeping your costs down.

Ever wondered whether your Toronto home has a porch or portico? You are not alone! While very similar, the two structures serve different purposes.
 
A porch is an extension of your home’s living space and usually runs the length of your facade. It is generally covered and used for sitting and relaxing or even entertaining. Porches have been around for centuries and still see plenty of use. The function of a porch has greatly evolved through the years and while they are still used regularly for enjoying a cool breeze at the end of the day, they have also become decorative and are used to enhance the overall look and curb appeal of a home.
 
The construction of porches varies greatly across structures. The flooring used also runs the gamut from place-to-place as does the covering as well.. They range from very casual structures to more formal ones. However, the one thing they all have in common is how functional and useful they are.
 
Porticos are strictly functional and are mainly meant to shelter your doorway and yourself from the elements while trying to enter or exit the house. They are also used to add plenty of drama to a structure. Usually reserved for grand homes and large buildings, porticos have also been successfully used on smaller residential properties.
 
Sometimes porticos are large enough to house a decorative table and set of chairs but they are rarely used for actual socializing due to their size and restrictiveness. However, they can still add plenty of drama and flare to an entranceway.
 
Regardless of whether you are thinking of adding a portico or a porch to your home, both options are great ways to enhance the overall look and curb appeal of your home.

The walkway leading to your front door is an integral part of your Toronto home’s curbside appeal. Without a decent-looking walkway your home will look incomplete and unfinished. The kind of look you want for your property will dictate the kind of material that you choose for your walkway. In fact, walkways can run the gamut from poured concrete to wood to mosaics. Each medium has its own beauty and level of difficulty in application.
 
Concrete
Concrete is probably the longest-lasting material you can use for your walkway. Whether you hire someone to do it or do it yourself, concrete will require the proper prepping of the walkway site and the proper mixing of the concrete itself. Once poured, you can get creative and add patterns and/or whimsical elements to add dimension and visual interest to the walkway. When concrete is poured, you have to make sure that is cures slowly and remains slightly damp so that it is evenly dry throughout. Once it is fully dry, you will need to seal it ensure it lasts for as long as possible.
 
Flagstones
Flagstones are a very popular when it comes to walkways. However, flagstones can also be quite expensive if you are using natural stones. Artificial or composite stones are less expensive but don’t always have that unique look that natural stones impart. Flagstones can be laid out in a similar way to regular interlocking bricks or they can be laid down in a less formal way with grass in-between each stone. The latter option is easier to install and requires fewer stones, but more maintenance.
 
Mosaics
For the more ambitious, creating a mosaic out of stones, rocks, glass or other materials is a great option for really making the pathways around your home unique and memorable. Although requiring a lot more work, they can last a lifetime and are truly an expression of your unique personality.
 
Wood and Gravel
Wood and gravel are other very viable options for walkways. They add a different kind of sensibility to a home. While wood is warm, earthy and more organic, gravel is more a casual, contemporary and clean option.

Sprucing up the front porch of your Toronto home to make it more welcoming is not very hard to do. In fact, depending on the start of repair of your front stoop, usually it doesn’t require much more than some well placed potted plants and/or a coat of paint to really take things up a notch. If your porch requires more extensive repair work before being presentable then, yes, it might cost more, but depending on the work that needs to be done, there are all kinds of interesting solutions for you.
 
The simple fix
If your front porch is already in good shape, then investing in some good pots and yearly blooms might be all you need to throw colour into your entrance way. A pair of matching pots with healthy flowers can go a long way toward livening up your front door. Planting perennials and shrubs around your front porch can also add interest and beauty to your home.
 
If you have a covered front porch, then the addition of a few comfy chairs a table or two and maybe even a throw rug can definitely beckon people to sit and relax. If your porch is made of wood, then refreshing the paint every couple of years will keep it looking its best and preserve the wood as well.
 
More complicated fixes
If your stoop is in need of major repair work, then finding a good contractor is of essence. A poured concrete porch is the longest lasting option available as long as it is done well and cured properly. However, it is also often the most expensive option. Although you can certainly opt to repair damaged concrete, unless it is done well, it won’t adhere to the existing work.
 
Another option is to cover your existing concrete using stone tiles. When glued down properly they look just as good as poured concrete and add another dimension to a setting.
 
Regardless of the work that needs to be done on your porch, it is worth the investment. The entrance to your home is the first thing people see and is what makes or breaks curb-appeal. If it is done well, then the value of your home will increase immediately. Done poorly, regardless of how well maintained and updated the rest of your home is, the unappealing exterior is all people will remember.

Converting an attic into a room or loft in your Toronto home is a terrific way to gain space without the threat of zoning restrictions to hamper your construction. The useable space in an attic is the ideal way to increase your home’s living space without extensively adding to its foundation or footprint. There are certain things that you will have to take into consideration before launching into your attic conversion including building codes, support structures, electrical and plumbing systems and access.
 
Building codes
You will have to check to see whether an attic bedroom is permitted in your dwelling. Although they might seem unnecessary, building codes are actually there for your protection. As a rule, ceiling height should be at least 7’6” for at least 70 square feet. You should check with an architect or structural engineer to find out whether your attic’s floor joists are strong enough to support the additional weight of a remodel. Lastly, you need at least two exits – a door and usually a window.
 
You will likely have to shore up the framing and structures of your attic so that you have a good-sized space in your finished attic.
 
Electricity/Plumbing
You will have to extend your electricity to your attic – for which you will need the services of a certified electrician to ensure that it is feasible and that it is done properly. If you choose to build any sort of ensuite in the attic that will also require you to hire a plumber to help you get the proper plumbing in place.
 
Access to the attic
Access to the attic requires a proper staircase, but since that would take up a lot of place on the floor underneath you could consider converting a closet into a staircase in order to minimize it’s impact.
 
Although converting an attic into usable space isn’t highest on the list of renovations that add value to a home, it does rate very high on the Joy Score – coming in at 9.4 on a scale of 10 in the amount of enjoyment it brings a homeowner. The Joy Score is a poll taken by the National Association of Realtors to measure the impact of renovations on a homeowner’s satisfaction level.

Basement flooring used to be limited due to the high moisture content found in below-grade rooms. However, times are changing and there is now a nice selection of materials from which to choose when redoing your basement floor. Just keep in mind that a concrete slab is a porous material is prone to moisture. So, the material you choose will have to be moisture resistant or have a water-resistant core. There are a number of excellent flooring options from which to choose with the exception of hardwoods and laminates with a fiberboard core.
 
Among the number of options available for basement flooring is engineered hardwood, ceramic tiles and laminates with a water-resistant plywood core. Here we will take a look at the different options and why they work well in certain rooms.
 
Engineered Hardwoods
Engineered Hardwoods are as good looking as solid hardwoods. The difference is with engineered Hardwoods their core is water resistant making them ideally suited for basements and condo complexes. not only do they come in a large variety of colors, styles and stains, they can also be resanded when they have been scuffed-up or scratched. They tend to be a warmer option and give a basement a more formal look and feel.
 
Laminates
Laminates or made to look like either wood or stone but they are made from a kind of melamine resin that is extremely resistant to usage, scuffs and wear. Laminates used to be very popular four flooring throughout a house but lost its appeal in recent years. However the higher quality laminate available today have again made them a popular choice in flooring especially for basements. Laminates tend to give the same kind of warm as hardwoods but are far more durable.
 
Ceramics
Ceramics are the flooring of choice in warmer climates where a cool floor is a coveted feature by homeowners. Ceramics or stone can include everything from porcelain tiles to marble to granite. however in colder climates it would be necessary to include a heating element under the floor in order to keep it comfortable even during the winter months. Ceramics are a cooler option but just as durable as laminates.
 
Regardless of the flooring you choose for your basement make sure that your selection is water resistant to prevent any warping that would necessitate changing the floor too quickly after installation.