Renovator, beware: The challenges of finished basements

(NC)—Canadians love to renovate and one of the most popular projects is to finish the basement — otherwise known as the wreck room, the kid's playroom or the man-cave.

Some do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) may consider this type of renovation to be fairly straightforward and easy, but the truth is that it requires careful planning and coordination with your insurance company.

“A basement renovation could involve adding new features into your home — like electrical, plumbing and insulation — so obtaining a proper building permit is very important,” says Tara Lessard-Webb, an underwriter with Desjardins Insurance. “Getting the right advice from the beginningmight mean some additional costs upfront, but it could avoid bigger expenses in the future.”

Here are some other points to remember:

• Whether doing the basement renovation yourself or hiring a contractor, it's a good idea to keep your insurance company informed to ensure that your policy is updated accordingly and that you remain fully covered throughout the project and after it's complete.

• If you're making structural changes or installing new wiring or plumbing, it's a good idea to find a reliable and bonded contractor to ensure everything is safe and done to code. Make sure the contractor's liability insurance is adequate and current.

• If you have water leakage problems in your basement, be sure to fix the problems before you install the drywall, flooring, expensive furniture and electronics. If not, the mould or other moisture-related problems could come back. This may mean that you could end up spending more money to start all over.

Jennifer Kolah, also with Desjardins Insurance's underwriting group, says that potential water damage is probably the biggest and costliest concern with finished basements. All it takes is a heavy rain in short period of time, a snap thaw after a snowy winter, or a prolonged wet period to cause basement water damage. She advises practical protective measures such as installing a backwater value on the sewage pipe from the house and a sump pump drainage system.

“The backwater valve will stop water from flowing back into the house in the event that the sewer system gets overloaded,” she says. “The sump pump will help keep the area under the house dry by pumping water away, protecting the basement from possible seepage.”

Kolah also recommends that homeowners repair any cracks in their foundations and ensure they have good drainage around the house by building up and sloping the ground away from the exterior walls, extending downspouts and keeping eavestroughs clear. Speak to your insurance provider for more tips about finished basements. Or visit Desjardins Insurance at www.desjardinsgeneralinsurance.com for immediate answers.

www.newscanada.com

Find out how home renovations affect your insurance

(NC)—Homeowners renovate for a variety of reasons. Some build additions to accommodate their growing families. Some replace outdated systems, making their house more energy-efficient and eco-friendly. Still others want to increase the aesthetic appeal and market value of their homes.

Whatever the reason you decide to undertake a renovation project, it's important for you to know that you are contractually obligated to report additions and other significant renovations to your insurance carrier. That's because renovations typically increase the value of your home; if you don't update your policy, you may fall short on coverage.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada recommends that you insure your home based on its replacement cost, the amount it would cost to rebuild the house if it were destroyed. (This dollar figure differs from the market value and the tax assessment value of your house.) If you raise the value of your home by renovating, the replacement cost will rise as well.

“If you remodel but don't report that activity to your insurance carrier, then you might not have enough coverage to pay any claims that arise,” explains Jeff Burke, president and CEO of Western Financial Group. “For example, if you remodel your kitchen but then a fire destroys much of it, your insurance isn't likely to pay all of the costs of restoring the kitchen unless you have updated your policy to reflect the new granite countertops, high-tech appliances, flooring, and the rest.”

It's important to get your insurance company involved as your renovation project is taking place so that you are covered in the event of accidents that may occur during the project, harming you or workers who may be involved. Also talk with your insurance representative about these three items: whether you are required to remain in your home while the work is being done, since some policies will not cover claims for accidents that happen while the house is vacated; whether your renovation is extensive enough to change the classification of your building while work is being done (to that of a “building under construction”); and what impact unknown challenges (such as uncovering hazardous materials) could have on your insurance coverage.

www.newscanada.com

How to freshen your home with a touch of style and glamour

The delight is in the details. Drawer and cabinet pulls are from the Amerock 

Abernathy Collection, each one a precious crystal jewel.

(NC)—Each time you open a kitchen cabinet or reach for a towel in the bathroom you'll give yourself a nice surprise. It's all so simple – and not at all expensive – saying goodbye to old cabinet hardware and indulging yourself in new shapes, new styles, new colours.

With major makeovers and renovations put on hold, homeowners are focusing on decorative hardware for the small, low-cost, changes that mean so much. And manufacturers are responding, with new shapes, new styles, and especially new colours.

Take Amerock, for example. A familiar name, over 80 years in business, but still with its finger on the pulse and developing complete answers to homeowners' needs. Fall in love with a style, and you'll find it's available in all the shapes, sizes and colours you need – even hard-to-find oversize items.

Abernathy Collection pulls are offered in Antique Silver (shown), Oil-Rubbed
Bronze and Satin Nickel. Low cost glamour for your home!

Looking for glamour? Reach for Abernathy – combining jewel-like clear crystal with a choice of metallic finishes –antique silver, oil-rubbed bronze and satinnickel. How could a simple knob be quite so elegant? And how could such an elegant accessory cost so little?

New from Amerock are two gorgeous finishes, both variations on the increasingly-popular theme of bronze.

The company's designers describe the new caramel bronze as a “decadent” finish. It has a glow all its own, rich and coppery. It's available in the sleek and modern Candler Collection of pulls and knobs, and in the even sleeker Extensity Collection.

The other new finish –brushed bronze – plays up the silver and gold tones, and can be seen at its most elegant in the Essential'Z cabinet collection and the Arroni bath collection.

You can browse the complete offering online at amerock.com. Local sources include Home Depot, Home Hardware and Rona.

www.newscanada.com

Tips for a seamless transition from outdoor to indoor entertaining

(NC)—As heartbreaking as it may be to store away the patio furniture and citronella candles for the winter, there's a lot to be excited about when it comes to moving entertaining indoors. Take this opportunity to breathe new life into the spaces you've neglected during the summer months. You can make a successful transition from outdoor living to embracing and reviving your indoor spaces with these simple tips:

Create stunning and simple centrepieces using late-blooming fall flowers like mums, sunflowers, and black-eyed susans for an elegant, vibrant touch that takes no time, and very little money.

If your budget allows, consider replacing your dining room table. “Because it's often the biggest piece of furniture in a dining space, replacing your dining room table can immediately change the whole look and feel of the room,” says Meredith Heron, interior designer and blogger at meredithheron.com. “A table that can be extended to fit a larger crowd is a great investment and you won't regret it once you're hosting the entire family for Thanksgiving dinner.”

A simple bowl of fruit is a quick way to add the drama of bright colour to any kitchen space. Lemons, limes, oranges, or any other colourful fruit will immediately inject some personality into the space. Even better, by using what's currently in season, you'll never have to commit to one particular hue, so you can change the accent colour in a snap.

Showcase your cocktail making skills while keeping out of the chef's way with a separate faucet from deltafaucet.ca, such as the Addison bar prep faucet with Touch2O Technology. Choosing a stylish faucet with a pull-down wand will add not only a touch of elegance to your kitchen, but will provide a quick update as well as added functionality, ideal when entertaining thirsty guests.

Blankets and throws not only pull the look of your room together, but are functional too. Consider taking them outside to snuggle up and gaze at the stars on those wonderful fall evenings when it's still comfortable enough to enjoy the great outdoors.

Renovating? Contact your insurance company

(NC)—If you're planning some major home renovations this year, you have some important insurance-related things to remember before you get started. We asked Tara Lessard-Webb, an underwriter with Desjardins General Insurance Group, to share her do's and don'ts about home insurance and renovations:

What's the first thing that homeowners should do?

Before starting any renovation project, the homeowners should notify their insurance company because some renovations could impact their insurance coverage. For example, if the homeowners vacated the house for more than 30 days while the work was being done and didn't inform their insurance company, it would be a violation of their policy. If the house was burglarized while it was empty, there's a good chance the claim wouldn't be covered.

What if they don't vacate the house?

Again, they still need to inform their insurance company to make sure they have coverage through the process and for when it is completed. This avoids unpleasant surprises such as the cancellation of coverage or denial of a claim.

Shouldn't the contractor have his own insurance?

Yes and the homeowners should make sure the contractor's liability insurance is adequate and current. Generally speaking, the contractor's insurance and the homeowners' insurance combined will provide good coverage through the renovation project.

Could the work cause their premiums to increase?

Actually, it depends, which is why it's important to have the conversation with the insurance provider. In some cases, improvements — like upgrading the electrical system or replacing a weathered roof — may help lower insurance premiums. However, if the renovation increases the replacement value of the home — for example, with a new addition, or the installation of high-end granite countertops or expensive appliances — the homeowners' premium may go up.

Doing-it-yourself is very popular these days. What if a homeowner prefers to do the work himself?

I understand the appeal — typically major renovations mean major expense. But even if you do your own work, you still need to contact your insurance company to ensure you remain covered through the project and that your policy is updated accordingly. It may mean a bit more premium, but it could protect you during the project and once it's completed.

What if the renovation is complete and the homeowners neglected to inform their insurance company? They should do so as soon as possible to ensure they are adequately protected. Otherwise, they may discover when they have a claim that it is not fully covered, which could prove very costly.

Where can homeowners find more information about renovations and their home insurance?

They should speak to their insurance provider. However, more immediate answers can be found on the Desjardins General Insurance website: www.desjardinsgeneralinsurance.com.

How to incorporate a big screen TV in your home

(NC)—When designing your living space, one of the crucial decisions is where to put your TV and what size to purchase. With the trend toward big screen televisions in the home, these decisions are even more important. According to a recent Angus Reid survey on Canadian television preferences, almost one quarter - 24 per cent - of Canadians say a bigger size is the most important feature they're looking for in a new TV. So how to incorporate and still have your room look great? Here are some tips to follow:

• Evaluate your space to choose the right size television. You don't need a large area for a big TV. Advances in technology mean pixels are less visible in a high definition television, so you can sit closer and enjoy an immersive experience. Experts recommend sitting 1.5 x the diagonal length of your TV away from the screen. For example, an 80-inch TV requires only 10 feet of viewing distance.

• Integrate your big screen into the décor. Make the wall you place it on a feature wall using high-impact paint colours and textures. Choose bold, statement furniture pieces that create balance in the room.

• Don't fight the black. Choose black accents and accessories that play up today's beautiful sleek screens, helping them to blend in with the room.

• Add a splash of colour. Some of the more progressive manufacturers put the focus on a bright, vibrant picture – Sharp's Quattron models add a yellow subpixel to produce more colours than ever seen before on a television.

• Make it multi-functional. Display your favourite photos in a high-impact slideshow on your TV instead of hiding them away.

• Exercise your creativity. Today's big LED backlit TVs are so sleek and light you can move them around easily, so you can change your décor when the mood strikes you.

So go ahead, bring that big screen TV home. He'll be happy with the big size, she'll be happy with the sleek look that fits right in with her decor, and collectively, you'll get the most out of your television viewing experience and your home.