HomeStars – News and Updates

Do you have an interesting renovation story?

If you’ve recently done a large project on your home, one of HomeStars team would like to interview you about your experience.

Your story could be funny, heartbreaking or fabulous.

With your permission we’ll take some photos if you’re in a city close to us (or you can email some snaps) and we’ll write up your learning. Things like what you love best about the new features added to your home or what you wish you had known before you started.

Reno Road Story

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. [Confucius]

We are hoping your  wisdom will make it easier for fellow homeowners.

Please send me a message here today.

Thanks! Nancy

Oh  - PS we have a nice gift for you to thank you for your time…

Thank you Gift

Posted by NancyP

This Seasons Best Decks

We receive a lot of reviews about decks and patios this time of year. Some reviewers describe great jobs and send in photos to match. Photos so good we wish weren’t sitting in an office looking at them.

So instead of stewing in our chairs about the perils of being indoors this time of year, we thought we’d take the opportunity to share some of the great outdoor spaces created by contractors and homeowners on our site.

This beautiful space was built off of Lillian in T.O.’s home by Master Deck and Contracting. Lillian says she had to wait awhile for Master Deck to have availability, but that it was totally worth the wait considering the fantastic results given her permit restrictions. They even built a privacy wall to make this a real sanctuary… and so she doesn’t have to look at her neighbors (heh heh). This looks like great spot for relaxing Lillian, hope you’ve had some time to really enjoy it.

Kevin in Toronto wrote in to sing the praises of his deck contractor Falco Landscape Design. We love a before and after shot and this one is no exception. They’ve really created a lot of privacy where there wasn’t much before and Kevin says the backyard now gets use everyday.

I love this space. I have a pear tree (whose fruit is inedible)  and a picnic table in my backyard, Halo in Laurelwood has a backyard that looks better than most provincial parks! This space was created by Roger at Pond’s & Patio’s. Roger installed a waterfall feature and also has been a great source of information for Halo’s koi ponds.

Dimo in Pickering had this inviting space added to the back of his house with a little help from The Franmac Group. Frank from Franmac went above and beyond, building a bench and gate for this project which Dimo was very pleased with. Loving this nighttime shot; hope you’ve enjoyed some great summer evenings with friends this summer Dimo!

There’s still time to update your deck or patio this season so be sure to check out our Patios & Decks category for your area. Lots of people build their own decks, or may try to, but professional jobs can really make a big difference to your outdoor living space. Check out more tips for finding the best decking company for your backyard here in Allen Britnell’s article in the Subury Star.

If you’ve hired someone already and have not yet written a review for them please do! And please add photos, it keeps us inspired (and a little jealous)!

Posted by Colleen

Focalpoint e-News for August

Focalpoint e-News August podcast are now available. Get inspired and pick up some great tips from professional home contractors and designers.

This months feature with Marjorie Harris‘ Life in the Garden, is all about bulb gardens; find out which bulbs are right for your garden and how to plan your garden for next spring.

Brian Baeumier shares some Fall Maintenance Tips for around the house in this months Ready. Set. Reno! feature; I know I know, who wants to think about the end of summer, but it’s just good practical advice. Check out his tips here.

Posted by Colleen

What to Look for When Hiring a Pool Contractor

In a recent issue of Pools, Spas, & Patios, John Petrocelli of Backyard Getaways Inc. wrote a great article titled What to Look for in a Pool Builder. John has over twenty years experience in the pool industry and offers a lot of insight to anyone who is looking to have a pool installed. Check out the list below for an overview of his points. I’m summarizing of course, so if any other pool contractors have something to add to the list please leave a comment!

1. Check Reviews and References – wink wink HomeStars.com! This is what the site was made for, so do your homework. Most companies will also have references from prior jobs as well, so there is no harm in speaking to someone who knows them. John mentions that it’s a good idea to check out their relationships with their suppliers and any organizations or associations they may be involved in. All off this information will give you a good idea of who you are dealing with.
2. Check out their showroom – It’s another good indication of who you are dealing with.  If they take pride in their showroom they’ll likely take pride in their work as well.
3. Find out how long they have been in business – John says 10 years or more is a good sign.
4. Don’t expect low costs or fast turn around times -  In his experience you  should expect about four to six weeks for a vinyl lined pool and up to six or more for a concrete pool. Expect to pay a 20% down payment and preferably to an incorporated company.
5. Get your documents in order – check licenses, permits, have any subcontractors listed in your final contract; an agreement that includes the documentation of any changes in expectations or materials as they come up is also recommended. John also reminds homeowners to get a lien waiver when the job is complete.
6. Other Agreements – Make it crystal clear about the specific location, access routes to the site, material unloading and storage areas. these type of agreements help outline your expectations and can help to avoid disagreements as the job progresses.
7. After Installation Care – Get an idea of what kind of after installation care is offered in terms of service and maintenance so you know what to expect.

Keep in mind these helpful list for anyone looking to have a pool installed. Big thanks to John for the great tips!

Posted by Colleen

Podcasts on veggie gardens & avoiding weeds at FOCALPOINT e-News

Every month there are 10 new podcasts from well known Canadian experts and writers in their field from decorating to nutrition.

Mark Cullen talks about controlling those pervasive lawn weeds that seem to spread very quickly. Here’s a quick pop quiz he added: What is the best defense against weeds in the lawn?

1. Herbicides
2. Thatch rake
3. Thick and healthy lawn
4. Propane torch

To find the answer listen to his short talk here.

Mark Cullen on Controlling Weeds

Adria Vasil, bestselling author of  Ecoholic Home, talks about planning a nontoxic veggie garden.

Why is it important to avoid peat moss?

1. Peat bogs are home to rare wildlife and plants that are disrupted when bogs are drained and dried.
2. Draining peat bogs unlocks and releases worrisome amounts of climate-changing carbon dioxide.
3. Reclaimed peat bogs (restored after bogs have been drained) are about as similar to natural bogs as tree farms are to natural forests.
4. All of the above.

Listen for the answer on her podcast here.

Adria Vasil on Planning a nontoxic veggie garden

Posted by NancyP

North Vancouver Home and Garden Expo – a recap.

This weekend HomeStars was at the Karen Magnussen Arena for the North Vancouver Home and Garden Expo. It was a small show but well attended, with folks from around North Vancouver, Lyn Valley, and surrounding Vancouver locales.

Our booth was right across from Best of 09 Vancouver Winner in the Floor Laying and Refinishing category Mr. Sandless – an expert in fixing your hardwood in a dustless clean method.

We were also soothed by the gentle sounds of the fountain put in by the well designed booth of Beneath Your Feet Landscaping. Rob and Sherilyn, the proprietors entertained us all and the other show attendees with good stories of landscape jobs and other interesting trivia.

Other show attendees, and HomeStars reviewed companies, included our show-neighbour Penfolds Roofing, Lawless and Associates Contracting, and Kerr Construction.

Posted by BrianS

It’s packed at the Hamilton Ideal Home Show this weekend!

The Ideal Home & Garden show had a fantastic first day  the aisles were buzzing with homeowners across the Hamilton area – they came from Oakville, Stoney Creek, Dundas, Flamborough, Ancaster, Brantford, Burlington and even people some from London and Stratford and Grimsby.

It’s now Saturday morning and the aisles are already full at the huge Careport Centre. I went around the aisles last night and met some really friendly exhibitors that have some great ideas to help us homeowners with various projects we have this year.

Mag Ruffman will be up on stage interviewing 4 top rated contractors (and exhibitors) today to share their tips and ideas:

Beverley Hills Home Improvement – Ben

CoreTemp Heating & Air Conditioning – Richard

Stonecote – Jerret

Lighting Innovation & Design – Brendan

Come check us out at 2pm on the main stage! Don’t forget to print your 50% off ticket coupon before  you arrive.

Posted by NancyP

Shovel Your Walk? – Finding a good snow removal company is tough!

It’s winter! And we’ve already had the first snowfall of the season. Just because there’s global warming doesn’t mean that there isn’t going to be lots of snow. This weekend in Vancouver we had a big dump  of snow and there’s more on the way. Here at the HomeStars HQ in Toronto we’ve had a small amount of snow, but there’s forecasted to be more in the next few weeks.

As a homeowner, it’s nice to wake up and not have to shovel the car out of the driveway. There are snow removal companies that can do this for you.

Finding a good snow removal company can be tough. Reading the reviews for many of these companies there seems to be a tendency to over-promise and under-deliver. Companies promise that within a certain number of hours after a snowfall they will come and remove the snow on your driveway, but, as happens in a snowstorm, circumstances can get the better of the situation and they end up late, or not showing up altogether – especially after the customer has paid for the service. Ontario Snow Removal’s reviews are a case in point.

Snow Removal We mailed them a cheque for the full amount, they came once to do have of the job and we never saw them again, I did the shoveling by myself and I called them hundreds of times and they never got back to me, they are absolutely the worse thieves ever, they used to call us twice aday before they got the money and then after they got the cheque, they never answer the phone.

Well reviewed Red Robin Home Solutions recently launched a snow removal listing, and given their positive reviews for their other services, one can expect them to be good. But dig down in the Toronto listings and you’ll see the category thin, with Cunha Snow removal leading with only a single review!

If you think the category is thin on reviews in Toronto,  Vancouver doesn’t yet have a single review. We’ve heard the Bur-Han Lawn Care provides the service in the winter, so if you’re looking in Vancouver, give them a call.

In Calgary take a look at GSR Professional Landscapers who also have a review, and also provide the service.

Some tips from the experts, and from the reviews:

1. Get clear expectionations of what to expect up front
2. Remember that Snow Removal companies get busy and things can get complicated during a storm, but they should show up in a reasonable amount of time
3. Don’t pay all your money up front – spread the payments over the course of the season

Have you had a snow removal company for the season? Write them a review and help other homeowners.

Posted by BrianS

Aquascape RainXchange: An Underground Cistern that captures rainwater

In our first home we took advantage of the Toronto’s downspout disconnection program and added a rainbarrel to our house. It captured all the rainwater from our roof and we used it regularly to water our plants. It filled quickly and we never ran out of water (mind you it was only for the plants, we didn’t use it for the lawn). The one drawback of the rainbarrel system I found was that it collected a lot of goop — brown sludgy stuff that was probably old leaves and other rotting vegetation. I suppose if I’d been a better gardiner and we’d stayed at that house, I would have had to figure out a way to clean out the rain barrel every few years.

Aquascape RainXchange diagram of how it works

A new-to-Canada underground rainwater collection system is the Aquascape RainXchange. Rainwater from your roof top, or even through permeable patio stones, is filtered and collected underground. A pump works to circulate the water and put it through a water feature above ground. Because the size of the cistern, it can be used for watering garden beds, and lawns if necessary. Seperate pumps are used to deliver water to the yard and hoses can be hooked up as you would to your municipal outdoor tap.

Some of the advantages of using rainwater versus municipal water:

• Rainwater isn’t treated and therefore better for your lawn, meaning less fertilizer is needed.
• Using rainwater means you aren’t limited to municipal watering restrictions in times of drought
• Water from downspouts (those detached from the city’s sewer system), doesn’t pool in one place
• Less municipal water use (decreases your water bill)
• Eases stress on city sewer system

Connie Cadotte of Garden Retreats has just finished installing one under her backyard. Placement of the system is determined by the location of your downspout. There are several sets of filters, an overflow tank in case there’s been a lot of rain, hose outlets and a water feature — in her case a bird bath that helps circulate the water.

Below are some pictures taken during and after the RainXchange in Connie’s backyard:

For more information on the RainXchange, see their website.

Excavation

Permeable Patio Liner

Reservoir Liner

Bird Bath (complete project)

Posted by CathyR

Late Summer, Early Fall Colour for your Garden and Urns

The weather has been beautiful of late, but my summer plants are starting to look on the seedy side. My garden urn in particular is looking less than spectacular.  When I go to the grocery store and browse through the nurseries I am uninspired by the purple cabbage and purple grasses that are on display. I like them, I just need a bit more colour for my taste.

I contacted Connie Cadotte of Garden Retreats and asked her to give me some suggestions for colour for this time of year — both for the garden and my urn.

Here are her suggestions:

Annuals: In addition to kale and flowering cabbage, she also recommends asters, blanket flower and  icicle pansies.

Perennials: Sedum autumn joy, some lavender varieties, Black-eyed Susans, Japanese Anemone, Russian Sage, Salvia, Hydrangea shrubs and  perennial grasses.

And, looking towards next spring, tulip, crocus, daffodil, narcissus, and grape hydrangea bulbs need to be planted in the fall.

Happy gardening!

Posted by CathyR