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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-10-19, Page 20MCDONALD'S COMPLETE LINE OF • Building Materials • Paint • Flooring (Laminate, carpet & hardwood) • Plumbing supplies • Windows & doors • Kitchens • Installation Home Hardware Building Centre Phone: 519-887-6277 Toll Free: 1-800-881-0030 Brussels We've Got Your Lumber SAVE up to $244 Keep yourself warm this winter with a high efficiency Regency fireplace - you will think of them as furnaces with a view! Purchase your Regency wood or gas fireplace, stove or insert until November 9th, 2006 to receive a FREE accessory. See in store for promotion details. www.comfortcentre.com CA\'T BEAR A\OTHER WI\TER? REGENCY www.regency-fire.com Wingham and Port Elgin 1-888-357-4301 Sec GiJ ate v omit de.oft.aa„ , • Plumbing & Heating • Electrical • Beautitone Paints for interior & exterior • Rustcoat Paints • Woodshield & Weathershield Stains * Glass & Screen Repairs • Sump Pumps & Generators • Carpet Cleaner Rental • Purified Bottled Water Refill Station • BBQs & Bicycles SILLS Home Hardware Main St., Seaforth 519-527-1620 C9 BRIAN BUFF1NGA • Agricultural • Residential • Commercial • Home Security Systems • Pole Line Services FREE ESTIMATES 519-233-3340 RR 1 BRUCEFIELD 24 hr. service PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2006. HOME VEMENT Precautionary steps to protect your home (MS) — When you buy a house, you envision all of the ways you can make the dwelling your home. These include the decorative embellishments, improvements and even construction changes that bring a personal touch to the building. Few people think about what can go wrong with their home the first time they put the key in the door ... or even years later. Those who want to ensure their home is safe and sound understand that things can — and often do — go wrong in even a seemingly perfect home. That is why homeowner's insurance is important and mandatory. While some problems, like damage from freak weather occurrences, cannot be foreseen, there are some basic precautions you can take to safeguard your home against common trouble and sidestep the costly repairs associated with damage. • French drains/sump pumps: Flooding is a top problem for many homeowners. A survey on your home was likely conducted, and it may indicate whether you are located in a flood zone. If so, separate flood insurance is often necessary because traditional homeowner's policies will not cover flood damage. Even if you're not in a flood-prone area, heavy downpours, bursting pipes or other incidents can cause water damage. Water can also infiltrate the home from snow runoff and condensation. For those with a basement or crawlspace, belongings, appliances and more can be destroyed merely from a few inches of water. That is why drainage solutions are an important precaution to take. French drains provide a good drainage option to owners of existing homes or those building a new home. A French drain is a small, sloping trench filled with gravel and sand that draws water away from the foundation of the home and eliminates the potential for mildew and mold. Drains can be used in conjunction with a sump pump — an electric pump, usually installed in the basement to prevent water from ertering the basement area. It emnties water from a "well or pit" where it is collected and pumps it to the outside of a home. These safety methods are just a few of the many steps you can take to keep basements dry. • Lightning-protection system: There's no denying the awe and power of lightning. While these flashes of electric energy are beautiful in the sky, they can cause significant damage when they reach the earth. Lightning striking a home can knock out electrical power, ignite fires, char exterior and interior areas, and damage any appliances that are plugged in. Lightning-protection systems are professionally installed to channel harmful lightning strikes down a safe path to dissipate in the ground, saving your home from considerable damage. • Tree removal: As much as it may be disheartening to remove a beautiful tree from your property, doing so just may safeguard your home. Trees that are too close to your foundation could wreak havoc. Their roots may infiltrate the base of your home, getting tangled in utility lines, plumbing and more. • Additionally, it's often difficult for an amateur to determine if a tree is healthy. Should its stability be compromised by insect infestation even a moderate storm may knock down the tree into your home, or onto your vehicle. Have a professional tree service come out and inspect the trees on your property to determine if there is a risk and remove trees that pose problems. • Attic ventilation: There are a number of reasons for ventilating your attic space. In warmer climates, venting hot air that accumulates in the eaves of attics can help reduce energy costs necessary for cooling the home. Additionally, venting prevents moist air that has gathered in an attic from deteriorating construction materials and insulation used in the attic space. Others find that it has benefits to the roof and shingles, prolonging their life span. In cold climates where snow and ice are prevalent, attic venting can help keep a uniform temperature across the roof, helping to eliminate cold or hot spots that may contribute to ice dams — where snow melts and refreezes, ultimately finding its way under roofing shingles.