Clinton News-Record, 1984-04-25, Page 65Paget 21
The do's and don'ts oft home renovation work
can be crticial i,f any difficulties occur dur- renovations, additions or new heating an
lag the renovation. plumbing systems. Don't dismiss this as
Be absolutely certain that you and the just red tape. It's meant to help you in Plan-
/
contractor have the same things in mind ning safe and sensible renovating meth*
and that the contract you sign reflects your and in ensuring that your insurance and
intentions clearly and precisely. Verbal con- mortgage agreements remain valid.
tracts are not binding so get your basic Building inspectors can often answer many
agreement inwriting. Your contract should of your questions, especially those regar-
include the completion date and the terms of ding health and safety provisions.
payment. Hold back 10 percent as a protec- Trying to save money on the job by pur-
tion against any liens placed on your proper- chasing cheap materials or using inex-
ty by suppliers or workers not paid. by the perienced workers can. cost you in the long
contractor. - run. Buy only top-quality supplies because
If you hopeto- apply for financial you won't save any money by scrimping
i
assstance under a provincial or federal pro- now if it means you have to redo the job
===,A
.
gram, look into the qualification re- later.
quirements before you commit yourself — If you are an accomplished "do -it -
and your money. yourselfer", you may want to take charge of
Think about including energy -conserving the entire renovation. If your experience
measures in your plans. Find out whether and skills aren't quite equal to a job of that
the contractor is familiar with the new scale, one 'alternative is to act as your own
techniques required for energy-efficient general contractor, organizing the work and
renovation and don't hesitate to spell out ex- co-ordinating the services of various
actly what you want done. tradesmen or sub-contractori. This involves
Even if you're hiring professionals for the preparing contracts for them. Each con -
entire job, do some research so you knOw tract should be clear and complete, listing
' what questions to ask and how to "-Check the the responsibilities of both parties, the pro -
work. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and posed date of completion and the terms of
/lousing has produced a series of free payment. For more information on con -
publications on renovation and energy con- trads, get in touch with your local Con -
The old adage that "a job worth doing is - servation; these are one of the resources sumer Information Centre (operated by the
worth doing well" is never more true than you can turn to for guidance. Ministry of Consumer and -Commercial
when you're renovating. Mistakes can cost You'll need a building permit for major Relations). .
you time and money.
Youedii steer Clear of many of the pitfalls
by thinking out exactly what needs to be
done beforehand. A schedule is essential.
Begin by deciding what. major jobs you
should do and then • estimate what they'll
cost and how long they'll take. Planning
may .prevent unnecessary expenses and
delays, such as starting to tear down a wall,
only to discover that it's full of plumbing,ar,
worse .still, is holding up the ceiling.
Remember that there' is always a logical.
order m which to do ,the work,. For hislance,._
• it's best to insulate before you replace your
heatin"g system or you may end up with an
oversized and -inefficient furnace.
Figure out whether you should use the ser-
vices of an architect, a contractor or both
and at what stages. It's often a good idea to
consult an expert on your renovation plans.
If you're hiring a contractor, choose one
who comes well recommended by people
you trust and get more than one estimate
before you make a final .decision. In par
ticular, check references to find out whether
the contractor you're considering usually
finishes jobs on time and stays within the
price quoted. Ask also whether he or she is
• co-operative and pleasant to deal with; this
Suddenly It's Spring:!,
Come in today for all
your lawn and garden
needs...
Call us for full service on
ALUMINUM
CANOPIES
Winillti you should realize that
renovating may temporarily disrupt your
household — and your life. If you_ know what
to exped., you can avoid a lot of the frustra-
tions. But no matter how well organized you
are, it's always a good idea to leave yourself
a margin of time and money.
To learn more about planning home
renovations, write for the free Energy Con-
servation and Renovation Kit, Ministry of
Municipal Affairs and Housing, 777 Bay St.,
2nd Floor, Toronto, Ontario MG 2E5.
Roof replacement
If you haven't taken a look at your roof
lately, now might be a good time to do so.
Every roof has to be replaced eventually.
If it is old and worn-out, a patch job simp-'
ly won''do because roofs tend to wear
uniformly and even the best eventually
wear out becau,se of weathering.
Climatic variations, the sun, wind, and
snow all take their toll. Some signs of
badly -weathered roof include cracked, curl-
ed or missing shingles.
Determine age
The best way to discover if your roof
needs replacing is to determine its age, A
Turn to page 22
We can custom -make all these
aluminum coverings, in our own
shop. We can match the colour
=
scheme of your home - or add a
decorator toucht
OUTDOOR
INSTANT PATCH
QUALITY PAINTS FOR
INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR
Won't shrink, sag or run. Dries to lough,
leathery met.
CHAINSAWS
We'll measure - WINDOWS:
for proper fit - then custom make
to the specifications of your home.
DELIVERY
PARKING
AVAILABLE
*Snapper Riders and '
push mowers
*Gilson push mowers
• Snapper & Gilson Tillers
"in stock"
Gas Pumps open at:
7 am Monday -Friday
8 am Saturday & Sunday
Replace your old rusted eavestrough
with new 3" ALUMINUM
SEALLESS EAVESTROUGHING
Our new machine custom -makes your
eavestrough In continuous lengths -
whatever lengths you need. r
Colours: white. brown, cream, green,
black. CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE!
fuIM SerWice on all small engines
ROYAL MAINTENANCE
Huron Power Products
89 Albert St. Clinton 482-9600
mirror and aluminum products
24 Princess St. Wed, CLINTON482-332