Although a daunting prospect, home, car and business insurer RSA, has provided the following checklist to follow when closing the cottage, to protect your property during the winter months.

Close Up the Cottage Checklist

Kitchen

• Clean the kitchen from top to bottom (including appliances) to avoid mildew and rodent infestations. Bring all perishable foods home.

• Unplug and switch off the electrical source to the fridge and freezer and prop the doors open for proper ventilation.

• Unplug other appliances such as coffee makers, toasters and microwaves (leave your microwave door slightly open).

Bathroom

• Clean the bathrooms from top to bottom including the sink, toilet and bath/shower stall.

• Empty the waste bins.

Living room and bedrooms

• Store linens, blankets, pillows and bed spreads away in sealed plastic bags or bins.

• Leave inside doors open to allow air circulation throughout the cottage.

• Ensure you close the flue in your fireplace and if possible seal off with a metal cap.

Outside

• Cover windows with plywood or thin sheet metal. By numbering each window and labeling the wood or metal cover that fits properly with the corresponding number, you can make this job much more efficient in the years to come.

• Shut off the water and drain the pipes by running the taps until the water stops flowing.

• Remove all fire hazards from your property, such as paper, newspaper, old rags, and chemicals.

• Clean off your outdoor furniture and bring it inside.

• Drain small boats of any water and store them away with the motor.

• Forward your mail to your permanent address.

In addition to these tips, ensure that your cottage is properly insured for the winter. Winter storms and burst water pipes can wreak havoc on your property, so it’s always best to be prepared for the worst. Learn more about what you can do to protect your cottage over the winter months from your insurance broker or online at www.rsagroup.ca.

www.newscanada.com

Cat Scratching Post Supply List:

4×4 lumber, or two 2×4 pieces attached together
2×6 lumber, or something equally strong and heavy, for the base
wood screws
staples or tacks to attach the carpet
tools - hammer, saw, screwdriver, and staple gun if you’re using staples; utility knife to cut the carpet
scrap of carpet, indoor-outdoor carpet, sisal rope, or another suitable scratching surface
Caution: Wear work gloves and protective eyewear to make this woodworking project.

Cat Scratching Post Instructions:

1. Cut the lumber that you are using for the scratching post to the desired height. Keep in mind that the post must be stable, as your cat is unlikely to use it again if it tips over even once. The scratching post shown here is 28″ tall, with a base of about 18″ by 12″. At minimum, the post needs to be the length of your cat plus enough extra length to allow the cat to stretch out nicely.

2. The base on this model has two layers. The first layer is made by setting 3-12″ sections of 2×6 side by side. Cut 2 sections of 2×6 to match the width of the first layer (about 16.5″ as 2×6 lumber is, in truth, only 1.5″ by 5.5″). Place these 2 sections of the second layer on top of and parallel to the first layer. Attach the top layer to the bottom with wood screws. This makes for a heavy and stable base.

3. Cover the base with your choice of scratch material, which could be as simple as an old piece of carpet or AstroTurf. Natural rope like sisal is also nice, but takes a while to wrap tightly. Attach the material with a staple gun, or a hammer and flat tacks.

4. Place the scratching post in the center of the base. Attach it to the base by using one screw on each face of the post. Cover the post with your scratch material, and attach as described for the base.

5. Secure a dangling cat toy to the new scratching post to entice your cat to try it out. If your cat likes cat nip, rub a little of that into the scratch material or attach a cat nip toy. Try placing the scratching post near where your cat sleeps, as many cats enjoy a leisurely scratch upon awakening.

How-to Article is based upon the WikiHow page How to Make a Cat Scratching Post, released under Creative Commons license.

By Kathy Wilson

Spring is a sign of renewal in many areas of our lives, and our homes are no different! There is something energizing and refreshing about bringing that bright, airy feeling of spring into your home. Here are the 10 best ways to spruce up and revitalize your rooms on a dime!

1. Add white! White with your present color scheme will both cool and brighten, adding the freshness that only white can! If your room colors tend toward the warm side, such as yellows, browns, or reds…then choose creamier white such as ecru or ivory. If you have cooler colors in your room, such as greens and blues, go with the brighter, cleaner whites.

2. Try painting your focal wall, (that is, the one most seen) in a sunnier, brighter, or lighter shade of your current wall color. It will add lightness to the room without drastically changing the whole scheme. Don’t worry, you can always go back to that rich red in the fall, but how about a little petal pink, or sky blue? Remember, its only paint, its cheap!

3. Add a floral print fabric to your room. Using the primary colors already in your room, visit your fabric store and pick out a floral fabric you love with at least one of those primary colors in it. (The more, the better, but don’t feel you must have every color in the room also in the fabric!) Use that floral fabric to make table scarves, placemats, pillow covers, and simple seat cushion covers. Pair it with a solid fabric color already in the room, and you have a custom coordinated look, for just a few dollars and some simple straight sewing!

4. Pick up some pretty colored glassware from the dollar shop, and display it where the sun will light it up! You could even use clear glassware, and fill it with colored water to coordinate with the room. Use your glassware as vases, pencil holders, or candy dishes, but make sure it is seen! Glass sparkles and adds a bit of sunshine to a room.

5. Take down your curtains, and just leave your mini blinds underneath. Don’t leave it bare, though, we don’t want boring! Swag some dried or silk flowers over the top of the blinds, or use some muslin to twist around a curtain rod for an informal but airy valance. (No sew!)

6. Keep your windows sparkling clean. Dirty windows cut down on a surprising amount of light, and make a room look dull. As a bonus, clean windows mean more sparkling glass, and that makes room feel larger and brighter!

7. Pot up some pansies from the garden center and use them indoors as houseplants. They are cheap, easy, and add flowers to a room without the cost of replacing floral arrangements every week! You can even coordinate the flower color to the color scheme of the room. Don’t match the colors, just pick something complementary.

8. Clear most of the artwork and accessories out of your room, and just keep a few larger, simpler pieces. It declutters the room, and helps to put the focus on the freshness of a room. Consider picking up a white lattice from the garden center, and hang it on the wall as a focal point. Place a potted plant in front of it, or hang small framed garden catalog prints from it. Let it be a reminder of the outdoors all season long!

9. Use a stencil or a stamp to add floral and nature motifs to your room for very little money. Stencil vines around windows and doors, hand paint seasonal sayings over doorways with a paint pen, or stamp a floral bouquet on the front of cupboard doors. You can always paint over those small areas with touch up paint in the fall. (Or you might love them so much, they stay year round!)

10. Finally, don’t forget your entry area when you are creating that spring glow all around your home. Remember, your entries are a visitors first impression of your home! Add a pot of pansies on the porch, paint your entry a fresh spring color, and hang a handmade wreath or a basket of flowers on the front door.

All these ideas take very little time, little or no money, and do wonders for your spirit and the spirit of those who you love. Take a little time to brighten your lives!

About the Author: If you would like hundreds more great budget decorating ideas, visit http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com.

Most of us have seen wooden pallets stacked outside a store or warehouse with a big, enticing FREE sign attached to them. Millions of wooden pallets are used around the world for storage in factories, warehouses, and retail outlets and, of course, to transport goods between these facilities. At some point, many of these pallets become redundant or unusable for their original purpose - thus the need for someone to come take them away and reuse or recycle them.

Here are some great make and do ideas for recycling those cast-off wooden pallets …

Wooden Pallet Bench

Make a Wooden Pallet Bench
Readymade Magazine issued a Curbside Pallet Challenge, and you can read the story behind the winning entry of an Industrial Pallet Bench submitted by San Francisco chef Mike Yakura.

DIY instructions to make your own version are included on the page.

Make a Wooden Pallet Fence
Keep out critters and prying eyes when you Make Your Own Wooden Pallet Fence, with instructions from Clay Sawyer for Backwoods Home Magazine.

Rustic Pallet Planter

Make A Rustic Pallet Planter or Country-Style Pallet Deck
Also for the gardening enthusiast are these appealing plans and instructions from esprit cabane to make a Rustic Pallet Planter or, for the truly ambitious recycler with access to lots of pallets, a Rustic Wooden Pallet Deck.

Wooden Pallet Coffee Table

Make a Wooden Pallet Coffee Table
Available on the same great site are DIY instructions to Make a Wooden Pallet Coffee Table. This clever design uses mortar to fill gaps between slats; you can leave the mortar as is, or paint it for a more dramatic contrast with the wood grain.

Make Money from Recycled Pallet Birdhouses
Entrepreneurs should read this article on Backwoods Magazine which discusses how to make Wooden Pallet Bird Houses that are suitable for sale at local retail outlets such as hardware stores, feed stores, garden centers or craft stores.

Wooden Pallet Computer Desk

Build a Wooden Pallet Computer Desk
Starving students can expand their horizons beyond plank-and-brick bookshelves with these detailed instructions by Tom Riley, for Woodware Designs, showing How to Make a Computer Desk from Wooden Pallets.

Rustic Pallet Side Table

Rustic Pallet Side Table

For a straightforward, objective view on recycling pallets, including the pitfalls and benefits of working with this source of wood stock, check out Palatable Woodworking.

This site includes personal experience plans and photos, together with explanations on how the author made such impressive projects as the Rustic Pallet Table, shown at left.

Build It With Pallets
You’ll get the same “rough” plans that the author used, plus major construction tips to inspire your own resourceful creativity with wooden pallets.

In Build It! With Pallets, available from Amazon, author Joe Jacobs describes how to break down pallets into timber and refashion them into useful objects. The book includes over 20 plans for tables, fences, chairs, planters and other items of indoor and outdoor furniture. chairs, tables, fences, gates, chicken arks, planters, sheds, decking, cladding and many other items.

The author suggests notching the ends of eight pallet planks, as shown at left, to build a free-standing raised garden bed, or a run for a pet guinea pig or rabbit.

Raised Garden made from Pallets

Dismantling Wooden Pallets and Skids
One problem with reclaiming wooden pallets is the difficulty in prying them apart. But there are many shortcuts, hints and tips from the creative people commenting on this Instructables page, offering Plans for a Planter from Pallets using a No-Nail Pull Method. You could also check out How to Dismantle a Pallet.

Wooden Pallet Compost Bin

Raised Gardens from Pallets
Over at eHow.com, you’ll find DIY instructions for Raised Garden Beds Made From Pallets.

EHow also has two separate projects showing How to Make a Compost Bin from Wooden Skids or Make a Compost Bin from Free Wooden Pallets.

Finally, see what you can do with 80 reclaimed wooden pallets plus a few other reclaimed materials - Make a Pallet Playhouse. The author provides tons of photos and great advice, but you’ll learn a great deal from the commentary as well.

Wooden Pallet Playhouse

How to Make a Recycled Tote Bag or Purse

Many stores now have a “bring your own bag” policy to encourage the use of reusable shopping bags. While this is great for the environment, it usually means you end up buying some form of cheap fabric bag, printed with the store name, to carry your purchases home.

Here are some stylish shopping bag or alternatives - made mostly from recycled materials, it is true, but oh-so-much-better than turning yourself into a walking billboard for the local foodland.

Make a Purse from a Placemat

T-Shirt Purse

Lorain Blanken, the talented About.com guide for DIY Fashion, has easy step-by-step instructions to make a handy Placemat Purse; perfect for personal shopping or carrying smaller items.

Your local thrift store likely has lots of pretty placemats - pick out a nice one, and look for a set of purse handles (or make fabric handles in coordinating fabric). This project doesn’t even require a sewing machine; just hand sew the two side seams and fasten on the handle, and you’re done.

T-Shirt Grocery Bag

Recycled T-shirt Purses or Totes

I also like the project Lorain has for a casual T-Shirt Purse, made from two recycled tees, cleverly fashioned from two triangles of t-shirt fabric. Lorain provides how-to’s for hand sewing the triangles together; again, no sewing machine required.

You get a sense for how creative this designer is when you see the T-Shirt Grocery Tote that she made one night from two large t-shirts. Read her directions to make your own.

Doggie Bag Tote

Doggie Bag Tote

Pet lovers finally have a use for all those extra large (and extra strong) bags of dog food with recycling instructions from Beverly Watkins to make a Doggie Bag Tote.

Cat lovers, of course, can recycle larger bags of cat food for a feline-themed version. Apparently, the pet food aroma can be washed out, either by hand, or on a gentle cycle in the washing machine, followed by line drying.

Knit a Tote from Plastic Shopping Bags

Tote Knitted from Plastic Bags

No matter how hard you try, you’ll likely still collect a stash of plastic shopping bags on your travels. Knitters can put those to good use with this free pattern for a roomy and colorful Recycled Plastic Shopping Bag Tote.

Crochet a Plarn Bag

Recycled Plastic Bag Backpack

Over at MyRecycledBags.com, check out this stylish Recycled Plarn Backpack Pattern - as well as this free crocheted bag pattern, you’ll find detailed instructions on how to make yarn from plastic bags (plarn) and how to line a bag made from plarn.

Fuse Plastic Bags to Make a Tote

In the LeisureArts.com craft project Library, you’ll find great instructions showing how to make a Fused Recycled Bag Tote.

Fused Recycled Bag Tote

Essentially, this involves ironing a stack of plastic bags under parchment paper to fuse them into single pieces. The fused sections are then sewn together with simple exterior seams to form a tote bag. Love it!

RaisingSpaces.com had some interesting Upcycled Pendant Lamps to share for Earth Day, including instructions to make this Scooped Pendant Lamp (shown at right). Did you guess that it is made from recycled laundry scoops?

The Flare Pendant Light, (pictured at left), is a tassel-styled cluster lamp made from recycled glass bud vases. Thrift stores usually have tons of these glass vases on display for very reasonable prices.

This piece is called FLARE, and is part of the VESSEL lighting series at RaisingSpaces, a variant made using trumpet-shaped clear glass bud vases arranged in a bouquet. How-to’s are provided if you’d like to make a similar DIY chandelier.

Although glass baby-food jars have been partly replaced by plastic containers these days, you’ll probably find a sizeable stash somewhere near the bud vases in the thrift store. If so, consider making this Baby Food Jar Candle Chandelier from Natural Home.

You’ll need lots of baby food jars and tea lights, plus some barrel hoops, a length of rusty chain and a few other bits and pieces; a complete materials and tools list is included on the page, as well as detailed directions to make your own.

If you happen to have one or two wire planters hanging around, recycle them into an Outdoor Pendant Lamp like this one (at right), perfect for al fresco dining on the patio.

Finally, check out How to Make a Teacup Chandelier which, as you might expect from the name, is a cluster chandelier made from a teapot, tea cups and saucers.

Commercial or brand name floor cleaners or carpet cleaners usually contain harsh chemicals that may, or may not, be identified on the label. A better, less expensive alternative is to make your own cleaners - that you way, you know what goes into them is safer for children, pets, and you!

Homemade Floor Cleaners

Easy Wood Floor Cleaner (good for other floors too!)

1/4 cup vinegar
2 gallons hot water
10 drops orange essential oil (optional)
5 drops lemon essential oil (optional)

Mix together in a bucket and mop. No need to rinse.

For dirtier floors, increase the amount of vinegar to 1 cup per bucket and add 2 tbsp natural liquid soap, then rinse to remove any soap residue.

Floor Disinfectant Cleaner

Put half a cup of borax in the bottom of your cleaning bucket then add two gallons of hot water. Apply to the floor with a mop. No need to rinse.

Linoleum Cleaner

Place 1 tablespoon of liquid soap and a quarter cup of washing soda in your cleaning bucket. Add 1/4 cup of vinegar and two gallons of hot water. Use to clean linoleum (non-wax) floors.

Homemade Carpet Cleaners

Vacuuming
The vacuum is your first line of defense against dirty carpets. Vacuum regularly, and go over the carpet in several directions as you work.

Not all vacuums are equal; check Consumer Reports for test results. Ideally, you want a vacuum that traps even the smallest particles rather than redistributing dust via the exhaust.

Natural Rug Cleaner

Rub cornmeal into a rug and vacuum out all the dirt, hair and grime with it.

Natural Carpet Deodorizer

Sprinkle baking soda all over the carpet and let sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming to absorb and elminate most carpet odors.

Natural Carpet Stain Remover

1/4 cup vinegar
1 cup water
1 tsp natural liquid dish soap

Thoroughly mix and put into spray bottle. Shake, spray, and blot.

Pet-Safe Carpet Freshener

2 cups baking soda
15 drops lavender essential oil

Combine thoroughly with a whisk. Sprinkle onto carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum thoroughly.

Pet Messes on Carpets

Blot the area throroughly. Wet a cloth with club soda and continue blotting untill dry. If smell is a problem, simply spray with a vinegar/water mixture.

If you liked this article, you might also like to see our recipes for Homemade Surface Cleaners or Homemade Kitchen and Bathroom Cleaners.

Try a few of these natural homemade cleaners and you may re-think inviting Mr. Clean into your home.

Note: Borax is usually sold in boxes, near the laundry detergents or fabric softeners in the grocery store.

For more homemade cleaners, please see our article and recipes to make Homemade Surface Cleaners.

Non-Toxic Kitchen and Bathroom Floor Cleaner
1/2 cup vinegar
2 gallons water
2 tbsp natural liquid soap
1/4 cup baking soda
15 drops lavender essential oil
Combine the ingredients in a mop bucket, and mix. Mop your floor, then give a once over mopping of clean water.

Natural Grease-Fighting Cleaner
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
1 gallon hot water
1 tsp natural liquid soap
5 drops orange or lemon essential oil (alternatively use lemon juice)
Mix ingredients in a bucket and clean any greasy surface.

Gentle Sink and Tub Cleaner
1/3 cup borax
1/3 cup baking soda
10 drops lavender essential oil
1 tsp natural liquid soap (optional)
Combine in bowl. Use as you would scouring powder. Rinse thoroughly. Great for porcelain and enamel.

Appliance Polish
Try rubbing club soda onto your appliances and sinks; it cleans and polishes at the same time!

Natural Mold and Mildew cleaner
1 cup borax
2 cups water
1/2 tsp tea tree oil
Combine the ingredients. Apply to affected areas, and let sit for at least two hours. Rinse. Note: It is much easier to prevent mold and mildew than to clean it. Fungi like dark and moist areas, so let in the light and fresh air! Make sure you have good ventilation, and keep things clean so nothing icky has a chance to grow.

Toilet Cleaner
1 cup borax
1/4 cup lemon juice
Mix together. Pour into toilet and let sit (overnight is best). If toilet rings are a problem, take out some toilet water and scrub rings with a borax/lemon paste. Alternatively, scrub gently with steel wool or pumice.

Grout Cleaner
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup baking soda
Combine together. The mixture should be a thick paste. Scrub the grout with a toothbrush and rinse.

Non Toxic Oven Cleaner
Spray the oven with water and sprinkle with baking soda. Leave it overnight, and scrub with steel wool in the morning.

Drain Cleaner
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup sea salt
1/2 cup baking soda
Pour all ingredients down the drain . Wait half an hour, than follow with a kettle of boiling water (taking care not to scald yourself with the steam). This works best if done often to prevent accumulation. Always remember to see if a plunger will do the trick first, and never pour grease down the sink. Strainers are great for preventing clogged drains in the first place.

Homemade Dishwasher Cleaner
1 tbsp borax
3 tbsp baking soda
2 drops of a citrus essential oil
Combine ingredients and use in dishwasher. Remember to rinse dishes first! Tip: Vinegar makes crystal and fine china sparkle!

Combatting Dried or Baked on Food on Pots and Pans
If you have a pot or pan that you know is going to use up your elbow grease, put some water and dish soap in it and simmer for about 15 minutes before washing. Alternatively, sprinkle the culprit with water and baking soda and tackle it in the morning.

Automatic Coffeemaker
Put one cup of vinegar through the coffee maker just like you were making coffee. Follow with at least two full pots of water. This should break down the build up of coffee and mineral stains, and make your coffee taste better.

Natural Kettle Cleaner
Equal parts water and vinegar
3 tbsp salt
Put ingredients into kettle and simmer for 20 min. Leave overnight, and rinse well in the morining.

Easy Blender Cleaner
Fill the blender half-way with hot water and add a touch of vinegar. Puree away.

Refreshing Fridge Cleaner
1/2 cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed if you have it)
2 cups water
1 tbsp baking soda

Cutting Board Deodorizer
Rub the surface of your cutting or bread board with lemon to remove unwanted odours. Or, you can try a baking soda paste.

Also see: Homemade Floor and Carpet Cleaners, and Homemade Surface Cleaners for more like this.

Yard Sale Etiquette

What’s the right way to barter at a yard sale? Is it fair for “Early Birds” to get the bargains? And what’s the right way to price items? Here’s the basics of yard sale etiquette.

Just call me the Miss Manners of garage sales.

You see, I believe there’s a certain moral and ethical code governing the sacred act of selling and buying secondhand stuff. Contrary to popular belief, a yard sale is not an anything-goes, no-etiquette-needed free-for-all. As in any social situation, there are certain things you do or avoid doing in order to be polite.

Being avid yard sale shoppers, my husband, Michael and I often run across examples of bad manners, both by shoppers and by sellers. Here are a few of the faux pas we’ve seen that could have been easily avoided by the simple practice of good yard sale etiquette.

Buyers’ Blunders

Being an “Early Bird”
If the paper says the sale starts at 7a.m., don’t show up at 6 or don’t drive by the night before in hopes beating the other shoppers to the bargains. Yard sale shoppers who peer in garage windows with flashlights or knock on doors at 5:30 a.m. give the rest of us shoppers a bad name.

Not Respecting the Seller’s Property
Walking unnecessarily through the yard, stepping in flowerbeds, and blocking neighbors’ driveways are definitely in poor taste. If your children accompany you to a yard sale or garage sale, see to it that they respect the seller’s property as well.

Carrying Only Large Bills
While it is the seller’s responsibility to have adequate change, producing a $20 bill for a 25-cent purchase is extremely inconsiderate. Save small bills and change throughout the week for your Saturday yard sale trip.

Loud or Obnoxious Behavior
Just because the seller is up early doesn’t mean his neighbors are. Driving a noisy vehicle or speaking and laughing loudly will not endear you to the seller. Aggressive haggling or obnoxious negotiating tactics aren’t welcome, either.

Not Respecting Other Buyers
If you want to buy a large item or more items than you can carry, ask the proprietor to mark the item or start a “pile” for you in an out-of-the-way place. It is rude to claim items as yours while you continue shopping if you haven’t made any effort to let the proprietor and other shoppers know you intend to purchase them.

Sellers’ Slips

Not Pricing Items Clearly
I don’t know which is worse: not pricing items in a way that is easily understandable or not pricing items at all. Buyers shouldn’t have to work at figuring out the prices. If your pricing system is too confusing, some shoppers will get frustrated and leave without making purchases.

Accommodating Early Birds
Allowing early shoppers to get the bargains is unfair to the shoppers who respect your wishes. When sellers accommodate early birds, they only provide positive reinforcement to this inconsiderate behavior. Politely but firmly tell early birds that the sale is not open for business yet.

Trying to Sell Used Stuff at “New” Prices
If your stuff means that much to you, take it to a consignment store or sell it through a classified ad or on eBay. Yard sale shoppers are looking for bargains, not prices barely below what you’d find at a discount store.

Being Careless with Yard Sale Preparations
For the buyer who thinks she has found the item of her dreams, there is nothing worse than hearing, “That’s not for sale!” Remove things you do not want to sell from the sale area (lawnmowers, bicycles, wagons, etc.). If that is not possible, cover them with an old sheet or dropcloth, or use masking tape to rope off areas that are not part of the sale.

Not Taking Down Old Signs
After the yard sale is over, your yard sale signs are litter that should be disposed of just like any other garbage. Carelessly leaving old signs up ad infinitum is extremely inconsiderate to both shoppers and neighbors who must look at your weather-beaten signs for months to come.

If you have ever violated any of these social graces (as either a seller or buyer), take heart. Yard sale fanatics are a forgiving bunch. Just make a silent vow that in the future, you will always be on your best bargaining behavior.

About the Author: Nancy Twigg is the editor of Counting the Cost, a free twice-a-month e-zine devoted about simple, frugal and abundant living. She is also a popular conference and retreat speaker as well as the author of two books. To learn more about Nancy’s work, visit CountingtheCost.com

Additional Garage Sale Information:

Garage Sale Checklist
Use our garage sale check list to make your next garage sale successful and profitable.

Microsoft Office Templates for printable garage sale signs, garage sale flyers and postcards.

CBS News: Having a Successful Garage Sale
Information on what to sell, how to organize a garage sale, and pricing garage sale items.

When the dust settle (it does, eventually, on everything), you’ll want your home renovation project to meet not only your own expectations but those of the building inspector as well. That means maintaining control (and your sense of humor) as the job progresses from conception to completion. It also means throwing routine out the window along with the construction debris. But, if you can keep the contractor on time and the kids off the jungle gym of ladders and scaffolding, you’re halfway to your dream home.

Whether you’re planning a professional addition or a DIY makeover, accept the fact you’ll be under siege for the duration: dodging mountains of rubble, dealing with power and water disruptions (which always last longer than anyone predicts) and breathing not only dust but paint, solvent and adhesive fumes as well.

If you can’t face the mess, and will be hiring someone to do the work, consider timing a major remodel to coincide with your family vacation, preferably in early spring when more contractors and sub-trades are available. “Working around a family slows the whole process down,” says Ray Orser, a Kitchener, Ontario contractor. “It’s best to actually leave the house if possible. Alternatively, you may want to move on to one floor and leave the other the builders.”

Consolidating your living space - for instance, asking the kids to share one bedgroom and converting the other into a living room - makes sense, particularly if you’ll need to move or protect the living room furniture anyway. The builders will function more efficiently when they don’t have to mind your prized collection of crystal stemware, and you’ll be more comfortable knowing it’s safe. Ask tradespeople to confine tools and materials to the designated work space and, in return, keep toys, pets and family members out of their way. Assigning bathroom facilities, or renting a portable toilet, helps the work crew feel less intrusive and safe-guards your really special hand-embroidered bath towels.

Since home renovation affects everyone in the family, it’s important to discuss what home conveniences will be disrupted and for how long, and to agree on coping strategies.

If you’re doing a kitchen renovation, says Orser, you may be without sink, stove, fridge, cupboards and counter for one to two weeks, longer if you’re doing the work yourself. Let everyone choose a favorite restaurant for the days you’ll be eating out. Otherewise, view the experience as an escape from kitchen drudgery. Paper plates and plastic cutlery can eliminate dishwashing, while a microwave oven, toaster oven and electric kettle, plus boxes and tins of convenience foods, will produce edible, if not gourmet, meals with a minimum of fuss.

A bathroom replacement, especially if it’s your only full bathroom, inevitably means sponge baths (brrrrr….) while the tub and shower are off limits. And it’s not easy to keep damp feet clean while the floor is littered with sawdust and shavings. Buy everyone an inexpensive pair of flip-flop sandals to prevent splinters and avoid tracking debris throughout the house. Use old towels as a substitute for fluffy bath mats and pack away your fabric shower curtain, toilet cover and best linen until it’s time for the finishing touches.

Is home renovation worth the hassle? Rural Ontario resident Dee Greenhough believes it is. Over the past 10 years she and her husband, Dennis, have improved upon their basic three-bedroom raised bungalow by adding an attached double garage, a recreation room with fireplace, and a two-storey entrance foyer which incorporates storage space in an upper loft. A winterized sunroom with twin skylights and an attached raised deck was completed last year, as was a kitchen and bathroom facelift.

The result is comfortable, efficient, modern home packed with custom-designed features which add significantly to its resale value. Not that the owners want to sell. “We’ve pretty much got the place looking and feeling the way we want it,” says Dennis. But Dee adds that renovation is an ongoing process. “There’s a sense of satisfaction when you see the end result of a project you conceived. You start to look around and think, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if….’”

The Greenhoughs’ did much of the work themselves, learning the pitfalls of framing, drywalling and painting the hard way. Major jobs such as brick-laying and final electrical connections were left to professionals. Both agree that the worst part of any renovation is the dust and dirt. “Plaster dust is insidious stuff,” says Dee. “No matter how tightly you seal up door openings or clothes closets it settles, like dandruff, everywhere.”

Prepare for the indoor snowstorm by closing heat registers and return air vents and covering “every single thing you can think of,” advises Orser. Dust from old plaster and new drywall is lime-based and will eventually eat through fine fabric and upholstery. And, Orser warns, you don’t even want to find out what happens if it seeps into the back of your televison, computer or other electronics. Remain in blissful ignorance by protecting them with plastic covers until you’re certain all the dust has settled. Plastic sheeting will also protect appliances, furniture and carpets.

Renovation can be fun if you’re the adventurous type willing to pick up a hammer and let the dust fall where it may. But if, like most of us, you’re not such a free spirit, take heart: with careful forethought and adequate survival techniques even you can endure a renovation and live to boast about it.

First published in Highlights Lifestyles Magazine
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