February can be a long and sometimes depressing month for some people.  It can be quite a grim month where as in March, we finally get a glimpse of milder weather and temperature.  Thank God February has only 29 days this year!

Using one’s creativity has long been proven to be a method that is helpful in chasing away the blues.  And speaking of  creativity, why not start that remodelling project you’ve been thinking of for so long?  Or why not start looking at colors you may want to change in your home?

This exercise can be very beneficial and healthy.  It is even said to be healing.  Here is what Cricket Demarais states in an article written about “Letting Color heal you“:

Lack of Color Causes Depression

How we “feel” about color is more than psychological. The last decade has proven that lack of color, or more specifically, light, causes millions to suffer each winter from a mild depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Because of the complex way in which exposure to various colors acts via the brain upon the autonomic nervous system, exposure to a specific color can even alter physiological measurements such as blood pressure, electrical skin resistance and glandular functions in your body. And they most certainly can affect how you feel on a day-to-day basis. Learning about color’s qualities and putting it to use can enhance your spirit, improve your health, and quite ultimately, expand your consciousness.

 You may also get a glimpse on the different meanings and symbolisms of colours.  Here is relatively good web site that talks about it: http://www.squidoo.com/colorexpert.

 Finally, another handy way to sweep away the winter blues is to surf the net in search of ideas and inspiration for remodelling projects, ideas and tips.  Here are  just a few I found:

www.hgtv.com/hgtv/remodeling
www.getdecorating.com/
www.homefixpro.com/home_remodeling_and_renovating_article.php?artID=19
www.superkitchens.com

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It’s really amazing how every winter is different.  Some years we have truck loads of snow and some years like last year, we hardly had any snow left for family sugar shacks in March!

I’ve recently heard many people discussing the amount of snow on their roof tops and the complications related to removing some of it by necessity.  Is it really necessary to remove it?  Well apparently in some cases it may be recommended, but how to go about it? Well, while surfing different web sites I met with the Roof Rake which seems to be quite the tool to do the job.  I found the following quite interesting for people eager to remove excess snow on their roof tops!  Here’s what they had to say;

If you live in an area where you get a lot of snow, you probably give a great deal of thought to getting rid of the snow that accumulates on your sidewalks and in your driveway. But that’s a relatively easy task – get out the old shovel or snow blower and have at it.

But a simple task as shoveling one’s sidewalk is not always as easy as its cracked up to be. Snow is very heavy, and if you go at the process of its removal too enthusiastically with a shovel you can get a back-ache or blisters on your hands. And at least a handful of people a year lose a finger to a snow blower blade because they reach in with their hand to clear a jam, rather than using a long-handled broom handle.

Sidewalks are flat – there’s no way to get around shoveling them after a heavy snowfall. But what about your roof? Most houses in areas that get a lot of snow have inclined roofs so that the snow just slides off. However, there are occasions when snow accumulate on your roof, and because snow is so heavy it simply must be removed before it does serious damage to that roof. Even if you know that your roof was built to withstand all that weight – there’s another reason why it should be removed. Melting snow can cause icedams in your gutters…so that as more snow melts the water has nowhere to go except into your ceilings.

Don’t Climb On Your Roof

Even if you’re able to get out onto your roof during the middle of winter – it would be best if you didn’t do it. Climbing around a dry roof is hard enough – trying to walk up and down a sloping roof covered with snow – which might be obscuring the ice below it – is the height of folly…and falling.

The solution is a roof rake, which you operate from the ground.

Safety first

Whatever roof rake you use – do not use it near power lines. Let me repeat that – do not use it anywhere near power lines. Even if you’re a dozen feet away from a power line, if you lose control of the rake for any reason, it’s length is such that it could quite easily tilt over those dozen feet, hit the power line, and give the operator quite an unpleasant shock, to say the least.

Various Models

There are quite a few snow rakes on the market. The Minnesnowta Roof Razor is one design that is built and sold out of the state of Minnesota – and what native Minnesotans don’t know about protecting their homes from snow isn’t worth knowing.

The RoofRake enables the operator to reach up over 26 feet, which should be more than enough to get most of the snow off one’s roof.

Like the other designs, the Philips Snowcutter cuts through ice and snow, but protects the roof shingles by not allowing the rake to actually touch the roof itself. Philips claims that their snowcutter can clear a roof in half the time it takes a roof rake.

So check out the web, check out your local stores, and then get yourself a tool well-suited to ensuring that your roof and house suffer no damage during the next winter storm.

Though pretty funny, seems to me like a good alternative to other costly solutions… Here’s a web site that sells the tool in the US and in Canada, www.roofrake.com   I even saw one for sale on  amazon.com!

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You’re about to build the home of your dreams?    Take advantage and give it a touch of blue to improve your comfort and quality of life.

Known for its comfort and effectiveness, natural gas is present in more than 200 residential projects in Quebec.  The advantages are numerous:

Wall to wall comfort

Not only is it energy, it is the peak of comfort and peace of mind you dream of.  The blue flame enlivens your home and adds a plus in each room: more heat, more pleasure, less work.

A reliable resource

Natural gas is delivered to you by continuous subterranean lines; you’ll never have to worry about the whims of Mother Nature for your deliveries.  And, in case of power failure, many appliances can still function.  Practical and reassuring, isn’t it?

Gaz Métro has different offers available to facilitate integration of the blue in your home.  Here is a glance of financial aid granted:

• $1750 for the purchase and installation of a hot air high-efficiency heating unit (Energy Star rated) and a water heater;
• $100 per outlet for each natural gas appliance, such as a range, dryer, fireplace, barbecue, pool warmer
• $30 for a programmable thermostat.

A friendly word of advice

The integration of natural gas into your new home should be done as soon as your choice of architectural plans is made.  From the beginning of your project, you should have a representative for new construction from Gaz Métro involved.  The consultant can guide you through the steps as your project advances.

Good to know

In order to integrate natural gas into your home, it is of utmost importance to choose a central heating system.  As you draw up your home plans, plan openings for heating and the location of the mechanical room in the basement.

Here is a glance of steps to follow for a blue home:

1. Access to gas lines:  The first step consists in ensuring that natural gas lines pass at less than 30 meters of your future home.  Contact Gaz Métro customer service at 1 800 567-1313 for more information.

2. Implicate Gaz Métro :  Your representative for new construction at Gaz Métro can refer you to a heating professional who is a Certified Gaz Métro Partner.  These professionals are independent contractors, members of the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec, and are subject to most rigorous quality controls.

3. Connecting your home:  Construction is coming along well, your heating system is installed and connection of gas lines to your appliances is complete (water heater, range, dryer, fireplace, barbecue, pool heater)  Expect about 6 weeks for Gaz Métro to proceed with connection of your home to the main gas lines.  Once this is completed, gas will be brought into your home by your Gaz Métro Authorized Partner jointly with a Gaz Métro technician.

All that is left to do is take advantage of the soft comfort provided by natural gas.  For more information, visit www.gazmetro.com

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As with music and films, house plans are protected by the Canadian Copyright Law, as specified in a section reserved for this at http://www.drummonddesigns.com/copyrights.html  Not many people are aware of this fact and this is why I wanted to make this the subject of my first communiqué.

To sum up, when you make the purchase of a home plan you cannot photocopy or resell it.  A construction contractor cannot build more than one home from a home plan and he cannot modify it without first obtaining a licence authorizing such modifications.  Moreover, no one can consult a designer, architectural technician or architect with a photo or an image of one of Drummond Designs’ models to have it reproduced or have a similar model drawn up, even with slight modifications.  I invite you to consult the PDF document included in the Copyrights section via this link.

Through our blog, I wish to address construction contractors as well as designers, architectural technicians and residential architects, who are numerous in visiting our Internet site; how can our firm enforce respect of its copyrights and allow you to legally serve your customers?  As you know, plagiarism is an immense grey zone in our line of work and copyrights are not well known in this industry.  Some will say that misreading copyright laws suits certain businesses, but we make it our duty to educate our customers on this subject.

I invite you to send me your comments and propose ideas which will make life easier for all parties involved who want to work honestly at improving our architectural heritage.  We have excellent lawyers who presently have several plagiarism pursuits in hand, but we are more inclined towards finding practical solutions with our eventual customers rather than to pursue each offender.

Thank you for your attention and I am eager to hear from you !

Yves Carignan
President and General Manager
Drummond Designs Inc.

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Homeowners with hardwood floors are often concerned about damaging their floors during the winter season. Without proper care, winter’s harsh elements? slush, snow and salt? can dull the varnish of hardwood floors and even cause warping and gapping. Most movement or shifting that occurs in wood flooring is due to moisture and will realistically happen with all wood floors.

Trying to avoid winter elements is almost impossible. After all, what would the season be without building a snow man or sledding until you’re soaked? Rather than missing out on winter fun, here are a couple of simple steps you can take to prevent and protect your floors this winter.

Install floor mats.

Catching slush and snow at the door is the best way to avoid damage. It is important to keep these mats as clean and dry as possible – you may even consider investing in an additional mat that you can alternate while drying the other. If your kids enjoy playing outside, encourage them to remove their wet snow apparel as soon as they come back inside to avoid trekking snow all over the house.

Get creative with everyday, household materials.

Placing a dish-drainer tray mat by the door with a towel underneath can be a nice place for shoes and boots to dry off. Kindly ask your guests to remove their shoes as they enter. Buy inexpensive or disposable slippers to make your guests feel more comfortable.

Train your pets. Pets are the number one offender of tracking snow and slush into the house. Train your pets to patiently wait by the door while you dry their paws with a towel, and then reward them with a treat. Consider placing a bowl of treats by the door as a reminder.

Be Prepared.

Always keep soft towels or a wet/dry vacuum on hand in case you need to get rid of water right away. While towels can clean up most of the mess, it’s best to invest in a quality floor care kit.

Check the Warranty.

Some companies offer warranties, should snow or other harmful elements damage your floors. Make sure to find out before you purchase your hardwood floors what type of product warranties the company offers.
While winter can be a difficult time for hardwood floors, there is one benefit to this season: It’s one of the best times to install hardwood flooring, according to Sullivan, because indoor moisture levels are at their lowest which helps to prevent gapping.

So enjoy winter this year, and have fun taking care of your floors.

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The Canadian Council of Environment Ministers has planned for 2005 a national ban of the sale of non-certified wood-burning appliances for their weak particle emissions.  Specialists and consumers alike have been demanding a ban since 1990.  But there is a snag :  the ministries’ lawyers discovered too late that the present laws do not give this power to the legislator.  << We will propose an amendment to the Protection of the Environment law from now to the end of the year, but it could take four or five years before it comes into effect >> Alain Gosselin, team leader for Atmospheric Stakes for Québec at Environment Canada.  << I’m a bit discouraged when I talk about it. >>  In 1990, the United States imposed certified EPA 1990 wood stoves and fireplaces, which emit only 2 to 4 grams of particles per hour compared to 30-40 gr. /hr for conventional models.  These appliances cost around $300 more but their more complete combustion reduces the amount of wood burned.  British Columbia is the only province to do the same, by imposing an equivalent Canadian norm, CSA B415.

 In 2000, a committee of experts recommended Environnement Québec follow suit, but changing the law keeps being delayed.  << It is always a priority and we will attempt to act more rapidly (than Ottawa) while harmonizing with the Federal, >> says the chief of service of Atmospheric Quality at Environnement Québec, Raynald Brulotte.  << We must satisfy the new Canadian standard for fine particles, which will be applicable in 2010>>.

But, for the assistant deputy-minister of the same ministry, this is not a high priority. << This would not have such a conclusive effect on the environment >>, said Pierre Baril in a telephone interview.  << The regulatory approach is not always the method which has the most impact.  We prefer a combination of education and economic incentives.>>  Decision which was denounced by Dr. Louis Drouin, responsible for environmental health at Montréal-Center Public Health Center.  << I am surprised and deceived that Québec doesn’t act more rapidly, taking into account that we surpass the Canadian standards for breathable particles in the air about 15% of the time in winter.  For us Montrealers, this is a priority.>>

Effects on Health

As well as emitting cancer-causing pollutants in exterior air and often also in homes, according to Environment Canada, residential heating with wood generates half the fine particles coming from human activities, even more than all transport sectors.  As they penetrate deeply into the lungs, this invisible dust can provoque asthma attacks, cardiac problems and depress the immune system.

<< We do not encourage combustion with wood and we downright discourage it in urban and suburban centers as houses there are closer together >>, explains Alain Gosselin.

He wishes that people will heat in a more responsible manner, for example by burning only very dry wood.  Moreover, he hopes that all elected council officials imitate their American colleagues, who impose casting out old wood-burning stoves when a house is sold, or those of certain cities in British Columbia who forbid use of a non-certified appliance during smoggy winter days.

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