The Citizen, 2008-05-08, Page 25THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008. PAGE 25.
(MS) - Excessive, uncontrolled
moisture in your home could lead to
rot and serious damage. It is also
damaging to your health if mold
appears. Airborne mold spores are
often pegged for mild irritations and
allergies, and can cause more serious
respiratory illnesses in infants,
pregnant women and the elderly.
Here are a few of the key ways to
stop it:
· Check home humidity. Health
Canada recommends year-round
relative humidity levels of 30 per cent
to 55 per cent, depending on personal
requirements. It is often difficult
however, to maintain a humidity level
above 20 per cent before condensation
appears on the windows.
· Replace windows. New windows
should incorporate energy-efficient
features that help control
condensation.
· Build and renovate with concrete,
not wood. If your home is built with
traditional stick-framing methods,
mold growth is a considerable risk due
to the natural properties of wood.
But, the more eco-conscious
building suppliers have created pre-
assembled forms that are filled with
reinforced concrete for constructing
homes.
These Lego-like blocks deliver
double the insulation and also
eliminate gaps in walls where
moisture can collect causing mold.
· Control water use at home.
Excessive use of humidifiers, showers,
washing machines saturate the air.
· Quick Fix. As a temporary
solution, open a window in each room
for just a few minutes. This will allow
stale, humid air to escape, and fresh
dry air to enter, with minimal heat
loss.
Goodbye
to mold
Tips for planting trees on your property
(MS) - Whether doing it to be more
environmentally conscious or to make
your home’s landscape more
aesthetically appealing, planting a
tree or trees around your property can
be a great way to spend some time
outdoors while making a positive
impact on your surroundings.
But before heading to your local
nursery or out to the yard with your
shovel, there are some things to
consider when it comes to planting
trees around your property.
· What type of tree?Do you want
to plant an evergreen or a deciduous
tree? Each tree comes with its own
benefits. Evergreens won’t shed their
leaves in the colder months, meaning
they’ll provide shade year-round.
These trees can also be very
functional for those who live in areas
with particularly harsh winters, as
evergreens remain thick in the winter,
making them a good choice for
homeowners who want their trees to
function as barriers from wind or
noise.
Deciduous trees provide
functionality as well, but on the
opposite end of the spectrum.
Deciduous trees can provide shade in
the summertime and allow sunlight to
come through in the wintertime once
they’ve shed their leaves.
For homeowners with young
children who love to play in the yard,
deciduous trees can protect kids from
getting too hot in the warmer months
and too cold during winter.
· Where to plant your new tree?
Where to plant your tree should be of
the utmost importance. This involves
knowing what the tree will look like
down the road. You won’t want to
plant a tree that will get very big too
close to your home, as a storm or
other inclement weather could result
in the tree potentially damaging the
house.
Even if that does not happen, you
want to avoid having the tree removed
when it reaches maturity. If you feel
it’s gotten too big and you do want it
removed to avoid an accident, this can
be a costly expense.
Another thing to consider is
property lines. If the tree crosses the
property line when it reaches
maturity, it could cause trouble for
you with your neighbours. Also, you
don’t want the tree to be in a position
where it’s impeding sunlight from
reaching a neighbour’s home in
winter (or your own home for that
matter).
Before deciding on where to plant
your tree, know how big it is likely to
get, and make sure you don’t plant it
too close to your property line,
especially if it will be very large once
it reaches maturity.
· What is the tree history? Most
local nurseries won’t sell trees that
have proven problematic to residents
of the area in the past. Some trees
carry with them a susceptibility to
certain disease or insect infestations,
while others are known for having
weak wood that won’t stand up well
in areas where wind is a staple of the
weather.
Be sure that the nursery you choose
only sells trees that have a proven
track record of success in your area.
While it’s a nice idea to have an
exotic tree in your yard, it’s not nice
to have to pay to treat such trees when
they can’t handle the local weather or
insect population.
· What will the tree look like?
Looks are important, as no one wants
to plant an eyesore in their front yard.
Trees can be wonderful additions to a
landscape by complementing
surrounding flowers or shrubs and
even the colour of your home. Ask a
local nursery professional what a
specific tree will look like throughout
the seasons.
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