Tales from the Renovation Track: Tricks of the Trade That Make Home Repairs/Renos Much Easier and Complete

Collage: tools, construction, wheelbarrows, women

Credits: MS Office ClipArt - j0382973

More tricks of the trade that help a homeowner to improve DYI renovations.

Part 11b - Tidbits of Wisdom

During my work day I often run across a whole plethora of renovations completed by homeowners - some of which are done well or adequately. At the same time there are certain tricks of the trades that can make some of the repairs/renos much easier and complete.

Here are some of these tips:

3. Wheelbarrows. I once worked on a large concrete pour, that, because of the site specifics all of the concrete had to be delivered via wheelbarrow to the formwork. The men and I (the sole woman) went over to where all the wheelbarrows were kept and one by one got our wheelbarrows. I noticed at the time that the men were in a bit of a haste to get their wheelbarrows which puzzled me. I was the last one to get mine and I noticed that all the guys had left this one particularly smaller wheelbarrow. I was amused thinking that they had left the smaller one for me as I was a woman.

However, this was simply not the case. They were in a rush to pick out a wheelbarrow because certain wheelbarrow configurations are more superior to use than others. The wheelbarrow I ended up with was by far the worst configuration. Look at the front of the bucket of the wheelbarrow, and compare it to the placement of the front wheel. The more of the bucket that goes over the wheel the better, because then the wheel itself is carrying more weight. The best ones have the bucket extending past the front of the front wheel. The one I ended up with, had the front curled lip of the bucket edge, over the back part of the wheel, behind the wheel's axle which meant that your arms carried more of the weight, rather than the wheel.

If your wheelbarrow regularly carries 300 pounds or more, your arms will tell you the difference. Having the bucket placed ahead of the front wheel, also lets you direct your contents better, without pouring them onto the wheel itself when you tip it up.

4. Cutting a plastic pipe. Have you ever had to cut a large plastic round pipe to length, and it turned out crooked because you couldn't draw a straight line around it to follow with your saw? I figured out a good way to do this.

I measure from the 90 degree factory edge with three different marks or more around the circumference of the pipe. I then take my tape measure and place it printed side down onto the pipe because in the printed side down position the tape can curl around the pipe to connect the first two points. Then I use the tape as an edge for my pencil to draw my line between the first two points, rotating the pipe, placing my tape measure tape down again and using the edge to draw another line connecting the next two points, etc. etc. This works very well.

Happy Renovating!

Janice Bell
Bell Renovating

2009 © Janice Bell

Tales from the Renovation Track: One Woman’s Experiences of Being a Renovator
Part 1: All in All
Part 2: Weld on Fire
Part 3: They Were Nailed
Part 4: It Pays to Be Honest
Part 5: Rural Renos
Part 6: Messy Is Costly
Part 7: Door Hell
Part 8: Just Where Do I Stop?
Part 9: Dressing for the Trades
Part 10: Very Painterly
Part 11a: Tricks of the Trade: Recaulking bathtubs / Placing peel and stick tiles
Part 11b: Tricks of the Trade: Wheelbarrows / Cutting a plastic pipe

links:
lifestyle.yahoo.com: The right wheelbarrow
Easy2.com: Working with Plastic Piping Tutorial

Tales from the Renovation Track: Tricks of the Trade That Make Home Repairs/Renos Much Easier and Complete

Collage:caulking, home improvements, repairs, tools, women

Credits: MS Office ClipArt - J0426549

We continue our publishing of Janice Bell’s articles One Woman’s Experiences of Being a Renovator. Now - tricks of the trade that help a homeowner to improve DYI renovations.

Part 11a - Tidbits of Wisdom

During my work day I often run across a whole plethora of renovations completed by homeowners - some of which are done well or adequately. At the same time there are certain tricks of the trades that can make some of the repairs/renos much easier and complete.

Here are some of these tips:

1. Recaulking bathtubs. This is a very common task that plenty of homeowners take on. One trick to get a better result is to first fill the tub at least three quarters of the way with water. Why you should ask? Compare the tub to a plastic grocery bag. If you put a rock in it, the sides of the bag draw together and the bottom goes down from the weight of the rock pulled by the force of gravity. It’s the same thing with the tub with water in it. The sides pull in and the bottom sinks a bit. This forces the sides of the tub away from the wall, which maximizes the size of the gap to be caulked. When you fill the maximized gap, leave the water in overnight if possible until the caulk is set. When the tub is drained out, the gap closes a bit and this tightly seals the caulk in. Then when you use the tub, you don't strain the gap. Not filling the tub first always stretches the caulk when you use the bathtub, and causes premature failure.

2. Placing peel and stick tiles. This is a relatively easy chore for most people to accomplish. However, many don't realize that there is a primer that should first be used to seal the floor, especially if one is placing the tiles on plywood. Plywood floors are porous and not altogether perfectly smooth. This minimizes the amount of adhesive contact between the tile and the flooring, causing failure. I put on 3 coats, especially on plywood, which renders it as close to impervious as you can get.

Happy Renovating!

Janice Bell
Bell Renovating

2009 © Janice Bell

Tales from the Renovation Track: One Woman’s Experiences of Being a Renovator
Part 1: All in All
Part 2: Weld on Fire
Part 3: They Were Nailed
Part 4: It Pays to Be Honest
Part 5: Rural Renos
Part 6: Messy Is Costly
Part 7: Door Hell
Part 8: Just Where Do I Stop?
Part 9: Dressing for the Trades
Part 10: Very Painterly
Part 11a: Tricks of the Trade: Recaulking bathtubs / Placing peel and stick tiles

links:
ehow.com: How To Do Just About Everything: How to Recaulk a Bathtub
repair-place.com: Ask The Guru any Do It Yourself or Construction question!: Peel and Stick Tiles

Wo-Built Sound Bites: A Radio Dialog About Renovation and Design

Click on the image to hear the interview.
Collage: A renovation company‘s rites of passage –
our evolving missions and commitments
2009 @ wobuilt.com

Deborah's interview with Proud FM on July 8, 2009 talking about our favourite subject: Wo-Built. You can hear first hand of what makes us so different.

Many thanks to the Proud FM team for their great interview with us.

Wo-Built's interview on 103.9 Proud FM Morning Show link: http://wobuilt.com/interviews/Wo-Built.mp3

Going Green in the City: Building and Renovating with "Being Green" in Mind: Part 3

Collage: Going Green in the City:
Building and Renovating with "Being Green" in Mind:
Living Rooftops - An Environmental Alternative for "Green" Building
Credit: MS Office Clip Art: clouds + sun + green conservation

Green roofs:
New Green Roof Bylaw Passed By Council

On May 26, 2009 Toronto became the first City in North America to adopt a bylaw to require and govern the construction of green roofs on new development.

The bylaw will apply to all new building permit applications made after January 31, 2010 (residential, commercial and institutional) and January 31, 2011 for all new industrial development.

Credit: City of Toronto: Green Roofs

Part 3: Living Rooftops - An Environmental Alternative for "Green" Building

Green rooftops, also referred to as eco-roofs or living roofs have been popular in Europe for a while now, and in our global quest for building "green" the idea of a green rooftop seems to be catching on here in Toronto and other parts of Canada.

Aside from esthetics, there are many practical benefits of a green rooftop. Green rooftops are a source of economical insulation (cooling in the summer – the grass prevents the sun from heating the rooftop therefore keeping it cool in the summertime) and warming in the wintertime (as heat is prevented from escaping through the roof because of the layer of grass) which makes this an ideal way to keep energy costs down. Another redeeming quality is that because green roofs absorb a significant amount of noise (nature’s insulation) the resulting effect is a reduction of noise pollution both inside the home and out.

Green rooftops are also very ecologically friendly as they provide vegetation for a variety of beneficial insects and a resting ground for butterflies, migratory birds and other wildlife facing a shortage of natural habitat. In addition green rooftops retain a considerable amount of rainfall necessary to their survival therefore providing major relief on overburdened sewer systems. Recycling at its best!

A green rooftop normally consists of several layers that would include a waterproofing casing, insulation, a protective layer, a drainage layer, a filter mat, a soil layer, and the vegetation. The vegetation can range from grass to shrubs or even trees, depending on the weather conditions and the load-bearing capacity of the roof. If you are exploring the idea of a green rooftop, low cost, low maintenance and low weight are the key elements to look for.

In today’s pursuit for eco-friendly or "green" building and energy conservation, green rooftops are just one more alternative that seems to be catching on slowly but surely.

For more information on eco-roofs as well as eco-roof incentive programs, please go to http://www.toronto.ca/livegreen. This website promotes environmentally-friendly issues and energy conservation so you will find many other tips to help you on your way to "green" living!

Alternatively, give us a call at 416-402-2679 if you are in the Toronto or GTA area and are interested in building a green roof.

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

Screenshot: Xero Flor®: Canada’s Green Roof Company
40 Years Designing & Installing Beautiful Green Roofs
Credit: xeroflor.ca

Update:

Building a green roof? Starting April 30 #Toronto bylaw to require #construction of #green #roofs on new development toronto.ca/greenroofs/ove…

— Wo-Built Inc (@wobuilt) April 19, 2012

toronto.ca: Green Roof Bylaw
"Toronto is the first City in North America to have a bylaw to require and govern the construction of green roofs on new development. It was adopted by Toronto City Council in May 2009, under the authority of Section 108 of the City of Toronto Act.
The Bylaw applies to new building permit applications for residential, commercial and institutional development made after January 31, 2010 and will apply to new industrial development as of April 30, 2012."
Credit: toronto.ca/greenroofs

links:
Going Green in the City: Building and Renovating with "Being Green" in Mind:
Part 1 - Eco-Friendly Home Improvements
Part 2 - Going Green Is Becoming Mainstream
Part 3 - Living Rooftops - An Environmental Alternative for "Green" Building
Home Renovation Tip: Donate Reusable Items to Non-For-Profit Organizations
Wo-Built: Helping to Green our Province
Interesting Reading: Government Help for Going Green in Homes
Wo-Built: Help for Going Green at Work
toronto.ca: City of Toronto: Green Roofs
snapbloorwest: Going Green in Your Own Backyard
nrc-cnrc.gc.ca: NRC Institute for Research in Construction
lid-stormwater.net: Low Impact Development (LID) Urban Design Tools Website

Visit the New Updated About Us Page

Screenshot: Wo-Built's new updated About Us page

Check out the new About Us page here and learn more about our construction company.
You know we love feedback: Tell us what you think about this About Us page, or others. Thank you for visiting our site.

Wo-Built Is All About Making Dreams Come True!

Wo-Built Inc. is a design and build company with difference. We are a female-led renovation company located in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada and we present some compelling advantages over other renovation firms.

We offer complete design and build services for construction, renovation and remodelling projects with our unique program called "Your Dream House". It starts with a 90-minute assessment and questionnaire of the homeowner's vision for making their space into reality. Our extensive architectural background is instrumental in understanding the importance of how design has an impact on a particular renovation or remodelling project.

We also recognize the importance of your budget and will always make every effort to be cost-effective. Although our specialty is in front and rear extensions, 2nd floor additions and extensive interior remodelling, we are able to accommodate many other renovation projects that you might have in mind.

Due to popular demand our services have been expanded to include in-house kitchen designs and remodelling and a variety of home maintenance service plans to make your life easier. We also extended experience in commercial renovations and remodelling.

Our passion is energy conversation and "green" building and we strive to minimize the ecological footprint in all our projects.

We use the distinctive talents of women where possible and are committed to care and to bringing our unique ‘Woman’s Touch’ to every project.

Our name is synonymous with quality and style.

Wo-Built endeavours to meet or exceed our customer's expectations at every instant!

Interesting Reading: Women Who Build Homes

Screenshot: thestar.com: Homebuilding Industry: A few good women
by Barbara Silverstein, Special to the Star, Jul 18, 2009
Illustration by Raffi Anderian / Toronto Star
Credit: TheStar.com

thestar.com: News & Features: Homebuilding Industry: A few good women
There aren't many women who build homes, but those who do say they are perfectly suited to the task
Jul 18, 2009 04:30 AM
Barbara Silverstein
Special to the Star

For everyone who does not read the Toronto Star. We loved this article. It is great to see women succeed in the building industry.

As a young, women run construction company ourselves we have to agree that the home building industry is a great place for women. What we love about the industry that there are always exciting challenges in both small and large projects. We are design focused and welcome the opportunities to make spaces unique, customized and ecologically friendly for our clients.

We are committed to helping women succeed in the industry and it is great to have examples like Julie Di Lorenzo, Co-President of Diamante Development Corp., Mary Lawson, Vice-President and General Manager of Dalerose Country Homes, and Laurie Gordon, President of Berkshire Homes mentioned in the article.

Martina Ernst

links:
wobuilt.blogspot.com: We Were Mentioned in the Star
thestar.com: Building on women's skills: Etobicoke contracting firm encourages more to consider give their careers a finishing touch
by Donna Laporte, REAL ESTATE Reporter, The Toronto Star

technorati tags:
34 posts tagged home building industry
217 posts tagged construction company
900 posts tagged toronto star

Going Green in the City: Building and Renovating with "Being Green" in Mind: Part 2

Collage: Going Green in the City:
Building and Renovating with "Being Green" in Mind
Credit: MS Office

Part 2: Going Green Is Becoming Mainstream

Going green often starts with an idea during the design stage. From details such as low flow toilets to more drastic measures such as green roofs or use of geothermal energy "green" design has fundamental implications on the structure, layout and materials of a project. A "green" approach can consider a home’s position to the sun, the color of its roof as a way of conserving energy or just include heat recovery technology. The applications and options are ever increasing.

Although the costs of a "green" home are typically higher, a "green" home is more durable and the extra costs will pay for themselves in savings on water and power. What else can be done? Since people worldwide have become more aware about conservation there has been an explosion of information available on how to build green.

Energy efficient and "green" building renovations are becoming much more standard and economical as we become more progressive and take responsibility for "saving our planet". As most of us are worried about global warming, the environment and rising energy costs, "going green" is no longer considered an alternative lifestyle but is becoming mainstream. To go back to the old way of living would be a total setback and a step in the wrong direction.

We will over time post articles on our forum on "green building" as new innovations come up and as we implement them in our projects. Being green is an important element at Wo-Built and we try to incorporate energy and environmental solutions where feasible.

Please stay tuned.

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

links:
Going Green in the City: Building and Renovating with "Being Green" in Mind: Part 1 - Eco-Friendly Home Improvements
Home Renovation Tip: Donate Reusable Items to Non-For-Profit Organizations
Wo-Built: Helping to Green our Province
Interesting Reading: Government Help for Going Green in Homes
Wo-Built: Help for Going Green at Work
Wo-Built Goes Greener by Planting Trees!!!