The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

26 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday March 21, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Tips to make your home stand out from the rest Caring for the exterior of your house increases value and makes it stand out from the rest. If you are selling your house, curb appeal can make the difference between a drive-by and a sale. A smart looking exterior sends the message that the house is cared for with time being spent to keep it maintained. Consider the following suggestions from to increase your home's curb appeal: Power clean. Make a noticeable improvement to the exterior of the home with a power wash. Don't forget to give the fences, deck, walkways and driveway a good clean. Give the windows a good scrub both inside and out. If the home still looks dull after the cleaning, give it a fresh coat of paint. Jazz-up the landscaping. "Architectural landscaping is an immediate way to add colour, beauty and personality," says Dan Blair, seasonal expert at The Home Depot Canada. "Adding potted plants around a home's doorway or porch, placing shrubs alongside the driveway and keeping the grass neatly cut helps showcase a well kept home." Complete the landscaping project by installing a water feature. They are aesthetically pleasing, emit soothing sounds and are easy to maintain. Make the entryway inviting. Start with the sidewalk and ensure there are no weeds peeking through the cracks. Next, work on the driveway to remove or minimize oil spots and give it a fresh coat of asphalt sealer. Come on in. A new door makes a smart visual statement to all that enter your home. If your door is only in need of a new coat of paint, choose a colour that complements the house and neighbourhood. Next, dress up the door by installing hardware, like handles, kick plates and knockers. After the door is updated, don't forget to look down. A doormat is a warm way to welcome the guests. Lighting upgrades. Replacing the dated exterior porch lights is a quick and easy way to give the house a new look. Consider also adding solar lights to illuminate the walkways and gardens at night. Regular maintenance. Once all the hard work is done, make it a habit to maintain the exterior appearance of the home. Doing so keeps the house looking pristine while helping avoid serious problems in the future. - News Canada Colourful blooms for spring and summer Now that warmer weather is almost here, it is time to focus attention on the garden. Before you plant, think about the type of soil found in your garden, how much sun exposure your garden gets and how much time you have for garden maintenance. These three factors will help determine the type of flowers that work best for your lifestyle. Now, get your "green thumb" ready and consider the following Spring flower recommendations to add blooming variety all season long: Perennial power. Perennial plants are the backbone of the flower garden because they last throughout the seasons. Some plants are short-lived, but old favourites like daylilies, hostas and peonies can thrive for decades and keep the garden looking lively. Balmy blooms. Bee balm flowers come in fuzzy clusters on two to four feet high plants in red, pink, white or lavender. This flower flourishes in moist, well-drained soil, in mostly sunny conditions. Golden flower. Black-eyed Susans come in several varieties and can radiate bright golden blooms all season long. This low maintenance flower can survive in average soil conditions and is tolerant of drought. Crisp Croci. Crocus is a plant that is popular in most bulb gardens across Canada. There are both Spring and Fall blooming crocus varieties that can enhance gardens when other plants are long gone. This plant likes well drained soil and is most often found in the sunny locations. Purple haze. Purple coneflowers feature pinkish droopy petals that surround domelike centres. Since the flower can stand to heights of five feet tall, it is recommended to tuck this perennial behind lower growing plants. Sunflower tower. Summer and sunflowers go hand-in-hand. Sunflowers require rich soil and are valuable for forming a background screen, capable of reaching heights of eight to 12 feet high. When planting this flower, bear in mind their rapid growth could infringe on other garden plants. Garden maintenance. Gardening doesn't end with planting. Now that your blooms are in place, get on top of the weeding early on. Weeds are easier to pull out while their roots are still shallow in the Spring. Next, consider an all natural fertilizer to help promote vigorous garden and flower bed growth all season long and remember to water. - News Canada Hardwood myths and maintenance tips How much do you really know about taking care of your hardwood floor? Whether you already have hardwood in your home or you're thinking about replacing that old, worn out carpet, proper care and maintenance is critical in ensuring the life of your hardwood. Here are the most common myths along with the proper maintenance tips about hardwood flooring. I can wash my floor with water. Wrong. Water and wood don't mix ­ NEVER wash your hardwood floors with water. Do not use a scrubbing machine, soap, or strong detergent. Oil treated mops should not be used as they will eventually discolour the wood. Always use the hardwood flooring cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. My floors are scratch-proof. There is no such thing as a scratch-proof floor. The finish applied by many manufacturers is scratch resistant. Felt pads should be applied under all furniture and chair legs and be sure to protect your floor whenever you decide to re-arrange your furniture. It's also a good idea to use mats at doorways and in heavy traffic areas. Always remember to vacuum or sweep your floors daily to keep away dirt and debris that can lead to an unwanted scratch. There are colour variations in my floor - I must have a bad batch of wood. Not true. Wood is graded and milled accordingly and most manufacturers. Most experienced installers will work from several boxes at a time to ensure that any variations are scattered and blended properly. I don't need to acclimatize my hardwood before I install it, OR, my cupped floor is a defect. Because hardwood floorng is a living material, it will expand and contract with the changes in its environment's moisture conditions. Wood floors will expand during the hot, humid summer months, so the use of a dehumidifier is recommended. A humidifier should be used during the dry, winter season, as flooring is likely to contract. With that said, according to the National Wood Flooring Association, acclimatization is critical prior to installation so the wood's moisture content can adjust to its surroundings. Depending on the floor itself and where it's being installed, proper acclimatization may take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. If acclimatization does not occur, an imbalance of moisture equilibrium will cause cupped boards. If you're installing the hardwood yourself, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions very carefully. If someone is installing it for you, make sure you do a background check on the installer. Don't be scared to ask for references. Longer length boards mean better quality. The truth? Longer lengths have a tendency to be more unstable than shorter ones. The longer the board, the more prone it is to bowing. Those trim pieces I ordered are supposed to match my floor. The colour of the stain is reflective of the hue and grain pattern of the wood itself. Wood from different regions and varying grain patterns will show the stain differently. - News Canada Hiring a home renovator? Here's a handy guide to phrases a home renovator may use that should make you suspicious: "Just make the cheque out to CASH" The home renovator must provide the business' name and contact information in the contract. "I need the deposit to cover my cost of materials" Your deposits should be around 10 - 20% ­ the more money up-front, the greater the risk. "My secretary needs to make a photocopy first, I'll mail you the originals later" By law, you must be provided with a copy of the contract you have entered into with the home renovator, so make sure you do receive it. "The price is guaranteed for 1 day only and only for my very SPECIAL customers" You shouldn't feel pressured during the sales pitch. "You've got the best, why check with the rest?" Good home renovators are not defensive when you say you need time to shop around. "You don't need my address because I'm never at home! I'll give you my pager/cell number instead where you can reach me 24/7" Cells and pagers can easily be disconnected ­ by law, a home renovator must give you a business address in the contract. "I'm doing you a favour by coming out here for an estimate ­ do you know how busy I am?" Good home renovators won't make you feel bad if you don't sign a contract on the spot. "You don't need to read it, we've covered everything so far, just sign here" It's amazing how many people don't bother reading their contracts. Be on the alert too, for exaggerated claims of what the home renovator can do for you. When hiring, the wisdom of the old adage rings true: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! For more information about hiring a home renovator or your rights under Ontario's consumer protection legislation, go to www.ontario.ca/consumerprotection or call toll-free 1 866-3515655. - News Canada