fall home improvements

4
home improvement Mag RuffMan Special to QMI Agency Have you ever become emotional when pulling off masking tape on a fresh new paint or caulk job, only to see feathery little tracks where the paint somehow crept under the edges of the tape in spite of the fact that you pressed it into place with anal preci- sion? Tape can blister your soul with its foibles, especially masking tape, because it’s the single product most likely to attack your decorating pride. Other types of tape don’t carry nearly the anxiety potential. Duct tape, for example, takes a minor toll on your psy- che because you’re usually fix- ing something that’s already busted and you’re aiming for a result somewhere between butt ugly and egregious. Packing tape rarely causes emotional emergencies, although almost no human trusts the stuff, as you can tell whenever you get a par- cel wrapped up in six layers of packing tape that makes get- ting into the package a sweaty nightmare unless you have a personal ballistics advisor. But when cosmetic per- formance is critical, and when you’re going to put hours or days of work into the project, you want masking tape that sticks well enough to prevent feathering, but doesn’t stick so desperately that you have to do the Scrape of Shame, picking off the ossified tape with a utility knife after the painting is done. Because of the ego-dash- ing potential of masking tape, when a new player enters the masking tape market, the decorators and improvers of the world perk up and eye the newcomer with curiosity and even suspicion. We ask ourselves nervously, “Could this tape possibly be better than the last tape that pulled off 18 square inches of well-cured paint when I removed it?” is week I tested FrogTape, a new masking tape technol- ogy that’s now available in Canada. It is just plain unbe- lievable, and if you’re a tape skeptic, you’ll want to under- stand how this stuff works because the manufacturer has created a game changer in the tape world. FrogTape is the only paint- er’s tape that is treated with a super-absorbent polymer, which reacts with water- based paint and latex caulk and instantly gels to form a micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape, preventing paint-bleed and feathering. When you remove the tape (immediately after caulking or painting), the lines are unbe- lievably solid and clean . The tape makes fantas- tic contact with the wall after burnishing it with either a finger, a putty knife or 5-in-1 tool. I have to admit, the strong adhesion made me nervous because last time I carefully rubbed conventional paint- er’s tape onto walls and base- board, lots of the paint peeled off when I removed the tape. I was hugely irritated at the time, and figured that perhaps the high humidity was what had caused the paint to fail. It took me an hour to fix all the bald patches and it’s never looked right since. But even though it was a soggily humid day (94% relative humidity) when I removed the FrogTape after caulking the backsplash in the kitchen, all of the paint remained intact and the caulking lines were drop dead gorgeous. TIPS When latex paint begins to dry, it becomes rubbery and has a tendency to pull, so this is why you need to remove tape immediately after paint- ing. Always remove the tape slowly and pull at a 90-degree angle. If the new paint does begin to tear, gently score the edges with a razor blade. If the tape begins to tear the wallboard or paint layer when it is being removed, this likely means that you have masked on a poorly bonded surface. Try softening the tape’s adhe- sive with a blow dryer. There are two strengths of FrogTape available. Multi- Surface will remove cleanly from most surfaces for up to 21 days (or seven if the sur- face is in direct sunlight). Delicate Surface is a low- adhesion version of Frog- Tape designed for use on freshly painted surfaces (24 hours old), faux finishes, and primed walls. FrogTape Del- icate Surface will remove cleanly from most surfaces for up to 60 days Because the polymer on FrogTape is so reactive and needs to stay that way until used, the tape comes in a plastic canister that protects the edges of the tape from get- ting hacked up in your tool- box or absorbing moisture. So don’t be throwing out the container. FrogTape is available in several widths (24mm, 36mm and 48mm) at The Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart and Canadian Tire. For more information, visit www.frog- tape.com. — Mag Ruffman appears weekdays on “Real Life,” on CTS. Tape it or leave it The benefits of tape snobbery when painting Supplied phoTo Multi-surface FrogTape can make all the difference in your painting projects B8 Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune Tuesday, September 6, 2011 * Offer good from June 1 to September 30, 2011, on select new models of Terex Compact Equipment. Model and payment shown is based on a 60 month term with down payment. The pre-configured machine** represents financing through TFS and does include taxes, freight, set-up, delivery and a standard dirt bucket. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without prior notice. OWN A NEW TEREX SKID STEER LOADER FOR AS LOW AS $437.90/mo. CAD** Lease options also available With Terex Compact Equipment, you get the best performances and reliability, every time. TFS offers rebates on select new models or 0% for 36 months OAC*

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All you need to know for your fall home improvements projects.

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Page 1: Fall Home Improvements

8 Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune • Tuesday, September 6, 2011

home improvement

Mag RuffManSpecial to QMI Agency

Have you ever become emotional when pulling off masking tape on a fresh new paint or caulk job, only to see feathery little tracks where the paint somehow crept under the edges of the tape in spite of the fact that you pressed it into place with anal preci-sion?

Tape can blister your soul with its foibles, especially masking tape, because it’s the single product most likely to attack your decorating pride.

Other types of tape don’t car r y nearly the anx iety potential.

Duct tape, for example, takes a minor toll on your psy-che because you’re usually fix-ing something that’s already busted and you’re aiming for a result somewhere between butt ugly and egregious.

Packing tape rarely causes emotiona l e me rg e nc ies, although almost no human trusts the stuff, as you can tell whenever you get a par-cel wrapped up in six layers of packing tape that makes get-ting into the package a sweaty nightmare unless you have a personal ballistics advisor.

But when cosmetic per-formance is critical, and when you’re going to put hours or days of work into the project, you want masking tape that sticks well enough to prevent feathering, but doesn’t stick so desperately that you have to do the Scrape of Shame, picking off the ossified tape

with a utility knife after the painting is done.

Because of the ego-dash-ing potential of masking tape, when a new player enters the masking tape market, the decorators and improvers of the world perk up and eye the newcomer with curiosity and even suspicion.

We ask ourselves nervously, “Could this tape possibly be better than the last tape that pulled off 18 square inches of well-cured paint when I removed it?”

This week I tested FrogTape, a new masking tape technol-ogy that’s now available in Canada. It is just plain unbe-lievable, and if you’re a tape skeptic, you’ll want to under-stand how this stuff works because the manufacturer has created a game changer in the tape world.

FrogTape is the only paint-er’s tape that is treated with a super-absorbent polymer, which reacts with water-based paint and latex caulk and instantly gels to form a micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape, preventing paint-bleed and feathering.

When you remove the tape (immediately after caulking or painting), the lines are unbe-lievably solid and clean .

The tape makes fantas-tic contact with the wall after burnishing it with either a finger, a putty knife or 5-in-1 tool.

I have to admit, the strong adhesion made me nervous because last time I carefully rubbed conventional paint-

er’s tape onto walls and base-board, lots of the paint peeled off when I removed the tape.

I was hugely irritated at the time, and figured that perhaps the high humidity was what had caused the paint to fail. It took me an hour to fix all the bald patches and it’s never

looked right since.But even though it was

a soggily humid day (94% relative humidity) when I removed the FrogTape after caulking the backsplash in the kitchen, all of the paint remained intact and the caulking lines were drop dead

gorgeous.

TIPSWhen latex paint begins to

dry, it becomes rubbery and has a tendency to pull, so this is why you need to remove tape immediately after paint-ing.

Always remove the tape slowly and pull at a 90-degree angle.

If the new paint does begin to tear, gently score the edges with a razor blade.

If the tape begins to tear the wallboard or paint layer when it is being removed, this likely means that you have masked on a poorly bonded surface. Try softening the tape’s adhe-sive with a blow dryer.

There are two strengths of FrogTape available. Multi-Surface will remove cleanly from most surfaces for up to 21 days (or seven if the sur-face is in direct sunlight).

Delicate Surface is a low-adhesion version of Frog-Tape designed for use on freshly painted surfaces (24 hours old), faux finishes, and primed walls. FrogTape Del-icate Surface will remove cleanly from most surfaces for up to 60 days

Because the polymer on FrogTape is so reactive and needs to stay that way until used, the tape comes in a plastic canister that protects the edges of the tape from get-ting hacked up in your tool-box or absorbing moisture. So don’t be throwing out the container.

FrogTape is available in several widths (24mm, 36mm and 48mm) at The Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart and Canadian Tire. For more information, visit www.frog-tape.com.

— Mag Ruffman appears weekdays on “Real Life,” on CTS.

Tape it or leave itThe benefits of tape snobbery when painting

Supplied phoTo

Multi-surface FrogTape can make all the difference in your painting projects

B8 Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune • Tuesday, September 6, 2011

* Offer good from June 1 to September 30, 2011, on select new models of Terex Compact Equipment. Model and payment shown is based on a 60 month term with down payment. The pre-configured machine** represents financing through TFS and does include taxes,freight, set-up, delivery and a standard dirt bucket. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without prior notice.

OWN A NEW TEREX SKID STEER LOADER FOR AS LOW AS$437.90/mo. CAD** Lease options also availableWith Terex Compact Equipment, you get the best performances and reliability,every time. TFS offers rebates on select new models or 0% for 36 months OAC*

Page 2: Fall Home Improvements

Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune • Tuesday, September 6, 2011 9

home improvement

JILL ELLISSpecial to QMI Agency

Jim Car uk is one of t he original contractor gurus on reality TV. On his last show, Real Renos, he got down and dirty with the nitty-gritty of big and small jobs. Soon he’ll be entertaining and inform-ing on a new show on HGTV: Builder Boss, coming in Jan-uary.

Caruk shares his years of experience as a homeowner himself and Canada’s top renovator to help you get your home ready for winter:

Check your sump pump. New homes and homes with new addit ions have sump pumps, and, according to Caruk, you’ll be happy next spring i f yours is in good work i ng order w hen t he rains come and the ground is still frozen, as there is greater potential for � ooding.

Clean out eavestroughs and resecure t hem to t he house if they’ve become loose over the summer. When they are heavy with snow or ice, gutters could break away.

Take off the downspouts a n d s t o r e l o n g r u n s i n t he ga rage over t he w i n-ter to ensure that they don’t become clogged with ice and break off. Caruk cautions that you need to remember to put them back on next spring to ensure that water drains away from the house once more.

Take a look in the attic and ensure that it’s adequately insulated.

“ Yo u c a n n e v e r h a v e too much insu lat ion,” he advises.

Have your yearly furnace check done if you haven’t yet. Change the furnace filters. Caruk adds that this should be done both in spring and summer (especially for fur-naces with built-in AC).

� ose with wood-burning � replaces should have chim-neys cleaned before light-ing a f ire on that f irst cold night. Gas fireplaces should be serviced yearly – probably when you have the furnace done.

Turn off and blow out the outdoor irrigation system.

This may be something you want to leave to profession-als, as it takes special equip-ment.

Shut off water to outside hoses.

“Make sure your hose bibs are a l l drained and leave them open. � e excess water drips out and won’t freeze,” says Caruk. Store your hoses until spring to prevent them from freezing and cracking.

Make sure exterior lights are all working and change light bulbs.

“That way you won’t have to do it during the winter,” says Caruk. Putting up your holiday lights before the � rst snowstorm is adv isable – saving you trips up and down a slippery ladder – but you don’t have to plug them in or turn them on until the sea-son actually begins.

Caulk your windows using a good quality product.

“ I t s h o u l d b e f l e x i b l e enough last for a couple of years,” he adds. Paying a lit-tle more for the product will save you time and money in the long run.

Devil’s in the detailsTen ways to get your home ready for winter and avoid homeowner purgatory

SUPPLIED PHOTO

Busy contractor Jim Caruk launches a new series - Builder Boss - and a new industry magazine, Renovation Contractor.

Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune • Tuesday, September 6, 2011 B9

Page 3: Fall Home Improvements

10 Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune • Tuesday, September 6, 2011

home improvement

JOANNE RICHARDSpecial to QMI Agency

Brush up on the trendiest hues, or go with what’s right for you?

Go with your gut, chorus hue gurus.

“The newest trends are always fun to incorporate into your home, but only if they ‘speak’ to you. Trends should never be followed so slavishly that they become more impor-tant than your comfort level,” says colour expert Leatrice Eiseman.

Colour is the catalyst to cre-ating interior moods.

“It is the very first thing you notice when you enter and the final message that you take away when you leave – it’s a powerful presence in your life.”

The more you learn about it, the more you will be able to enhance your own sense of comfort and well-being, adds Eiseman, of colorexpert.com

Colour is a power tool, agrees Leigh-Ann Allaire Per-rault.

“Homeowners, now more than ever, seem to under-stand the importance of col-our in their living spaces, and because of that, most agonize over making the ‘perfect’ col-our choice.”

So before running out for paint chips, Perrault, a colour and design specialist at Ben-jamin Moore, suggests coming up with adjectives to describe how you want a space to feel. Dramatic, luxurious, playful or

enveloping? “Once you establish a mood,

you can then search for a col-our scheme that will exude that feeling.

“If a colour looks and feels perfect to you, then it is!” she adds.

Colour has no rules or boundaries – it’s all about your style, taste, and experiences, says Misty Walker, colour spe-cialist at Olympic.

“Adding colour to your house makes it your home, creating the perfect environ-ment tailored to you and your family.”

Colour allows you to create, re-create and share experi-ences. Painting is also the least expensive change, yet has the biggest impact for your home, adds Walker.

According to Perrault, colour should be carefully selected to complement to purpose and function of each room in your

home. A lively palette of excit-ing warm hues, such as red or orange, work well in spaces where you entertain.

In a place of rest and relax-ation like the bedroom, con-sider a soothing colour scheme of blue or green.

No paint job is required annually, says Perrault, but inexpensive changes such as new accent cushions, accesso-ries, and even the introduction of an accent wall in a trendy colour will keep your home looking fresh and current.

Cloud White leads the charge as Benjamin Moore’s best known colour. And Wil-low continues to be a staple for both interior and exterior use because of its elegant fusion of chocolate brown and veiled gray, she adds.

Meanwhile, the versatile beige called Pony Tail is the Olympic favourite with paint-ers, adds Walker.

Hot hues Paint colour combos that sizzle during the fizzle of autumn months

Top colour trends for fall from

benjaminmoore.com

Royal hue: Purple has been a staple in 2011 for both fashion and home décor. Now it’s switched to a deeper, more luxurious neutral; check out Vintage Wine.

Layered Neutrals: Khaki, camel, and sand tones are being paired with natural materials and heavily textured fabrics to create a rustic, yet sophisticate look; Hush, Paper Mache, Etiquette and Pashmina.

New Gold Standard: Brush up on rustic artisanal tones like Millington Gold, Splendor and Wasabi.

Pair Warm and Cool Hues: Combine cool gray with a palette of warm organic ochres and deep russets such as Amulet, Etruscan, Warmed Cognac, Storm and Kendall Charcoal.

Hue-tral Backdrops: Tonal neutrals get infused with subtle hues such as putty green, smoky blue or rich brown; check out Gray Mirage, Smoke, Silhouette and Glacial Till.

Fall for top Olympic paint colours

(www.olympic.com)

Blues: Clean, clear blues like Brilliant Blue and playful Frivolous.

Greens: Serene greens like Green Gloss.

Pinks: Happy, optimistic pinks like Panama Rose.

Red: Bold with an orange undertone like Sunset Skyline.

Yellows: Bright clean yellows like Forsythia Blossom.

Oranges: Clean oranges like Autumn Harvest.

Courtesy of Misty Walker, of Olympic Paint

Paint once and get it right

Prep: Properly preparing your surface before painting provides superior results and adds to the longevity of your finish. Fill nail holes, sand and clean surfaces, and apply a coat of primer if needed.

Use proper application tools: There a big difference between a paint brush and a roller from the dollar store and a quality one from your local paint store.

Choose tools that compliment the type of product you are using and the type of surface you are painting.

Pick the right product: Where and what you paint will determine which product you should use. If you’re painting a bathroom, moisture may be a concern. Painting a stucco ceiling for the first time will require a certain product. Choose carefully for the best results.

Courtesy of Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault, of Benjamin Moore

SupplIED pHOtO

Create a calming master bedroom with the help of some colour – Gold Buff (B14-3) on the walls is a rich yellow, Olympic, olympic.com.

B10 Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune • Tuesday, September 6, 2011

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Page 4: Fall Home Improvements

Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune • Tuesday, September 6, 2011 11

home improvement

Jill EllisSpecial to QMI Agency

B u y i n g n e w s w e a t e r s, putting away sandals, hauling out coats - this is all part of get-ting over summer and warm-ing up to winter. Just as you get your wardrobe ready to face the cold months, you also need to prepare your home to be a welcoming cocoon – your haven away from blustery winds and chilling frosts.

Changing the whole décor isn’t practical, but adding tex-ture to warm up the environ-ment is easy and can be inex-pensive.

Floor coverings“ Take away those sisal

rugs and add ones that have warmer textures and colours,” says Glenn Dixon, whose show Take This House And Sell It aired on W Network for six years and who now has a talk

show on cable TV in Toronto.Area rugs made of wool in

rich hues can not only warm up the space visually and physically, but also can help define rooms in today’s open concept homes.

Wall coveringsTommy Smythe, who works

with Sarah Richardson on Sarah’s House and Sarah 101 on HGT V Canada, thinks that textured wallpaper and paper-backed fabrics on walls are great ways to ensure your room is toasty.

“Grass cloth wall cover-ing makes your outer layer warmer and softer,” he says. “Some grass cloths are finer and others courser.”

You can find one that will enhance your interior space.

He also recently used soft, grey paper-backed fabric in a client’s powder room to make the petite space a more wel-

coming environment. “You can also use it in a

dressing room or small hall-way,” Smythe explains. “It enhances small spaces.”

You can also warm up the walls with tapestries, accord-ing to Dixon.

“Hanging a homemade quilt on the wall is a great idea, as well as a big trend for 2012. Handmade stuff and qual-ity pieces from artisans, espe-cially those made in Canada, are going to be a big look.”

He says that these add earthiness to contemporary décor, creating a natural ten-sion between design ele-ments.

Drapes“Ready-made drapes aren’t

going to cost you an arm and a leg,” says Dixon, “to make a room more cocoony.”

He advises choosing drapes in deep, rich patterns, like

a paisley print, or in greens, golds or reds for a great fall/winter effect.

“Green is still a strong col-our for 2012,” Dixon says, “but it’s more of a grass green or the green of real limes, not the light lime or neon green we’ve been seeing.”

AccessoriesChanging out your lamp-

shades and throw pillows is a great way to make your space more sensuous, according to Smythe.

“Custom lampshades in a textured fabric can add an inexpensive custom detail to your room. For under $200, you can have a pair of interest-ing custom lampshades,” he says. Ready-made ones from local retailers in woven straw, linen or raw silk fabric would be a great alternative as well, adds Smythe.

Throw pillows made of

wool, tweed or velvet in deep, vibrant tones lend warmth and richness to living spaces and bedrooms.

BeddingFinally, cozying up your

most personal space can’t be forgotten.

“Lose the white set from summer and bring out the duvet. Get a duvet cover in a rich colour or a great pattern,” advises Dixon.

Touchable textures Cozy up your living spaces for fall

suppliEd phoTo

“Take away those sisal rugs and add ones that have warmer textures and colours,” says interior designer Glenn Dixon. Area rugs made of wool in rich hues can warm up the space visually and physically. Dariah Handmade Wool Rug, from $199.99, Sears, sears.ca.

Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune • Tuesday, September 6, 2011 B11

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