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Easy home improvements for the new home renovator (NC)--If you're thinking about improving your home but have never taken on a renovation before, begin with simple projects. Home improvements don't have to be long, labourintensive tasks that create a huge dent in your budget. Instead, begin with small jobs that can be done over a weekend to give you enough time to complete a project, keeping your work week hassle-free. "A common mistake made among new home renovators is biting off more than they can chew," says David Flood, Insulation Expert, Owens Corning. "Rather than tackling a new kitchen installation or tearing down walls to build a new room, try something as easy as adding more insulation in your attic. It can help you save on your energy bills* and prepare you for larger, more challenging renovations down the road." Upgrade your insulation Upgrading your attic insulation sounds trickier than it actually is. All the materials you need can be found in your home or at your local building supplies store. There are three basic steps in upgrading the insulation in your attic: 1. Measure your existing insulation ­ How much attic insulation do you currently have? If you don't have at least 15 inches of batt insulation, it's time to top up on what you've already got to help prevent heat from escaping through your attic. 2. Calculate how much insulation you need ­ The amount of insulation required will depend on the size of your attic, so it's important to take the right measurements before heading out to the store. To help you with the calculations, visit the 'How much insulation?' section online at www.pinksavesenergy.ca. 3. Insulate and save ­ Insulate your attic using PINK FIBERGLAS Batt Insulation, starting at the outer edge of the attic and working towards the centre. PINK insulation is perfect for filling in the gaps along your attic floor, creating a thermal blanket that will help prevent your heating system from working overtime. When you help slow down heat from sneaking out of your home, you help cut your energy usage and see the savings on your monthly energy bills.* Upgrade your attic insulation up to 15 inches ­ a value of R-50 ­ and you may qualify for a government retrofit rebate of up to $600. Visit the Natural Resources Canada website to learn more at www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca. By insulating your attic to R-50 you also help reduce green house gases by a half ton+ per year! When your attic insulation upgrade is complete, think about other energy-efficient renovations that can help further reduce your energy costs. Stick to the simple stuff ­ caulking around windows and doors doesn't require any skilled training and replacing lights with energy-saving light bulbs is something any homeowner can do. Not only can these changes make a positive impact on the environment, they can help make an impact on your wallet, too. For more information on energy-saving home projects, visit www.owenscorning.ca. *Savings vary depending on the original amount of insulation in your home, climate, house size, air leaks, and personal energy use and living habits. + Based on an average attic size of 1700 square feet with existing R19 insulation, averaged over seven cities in Canada The colour PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning © 2009 Owens Corning. All Rights Reserved. 27 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, April 3, 2009 Save $20 Buy before April 15 Take Delivery before May 15 100% Money-Back Guarantee $139. Includes Delivery within zones Get a $5.00 refund on returned bag TK349 You call - we deliver, even if you're not home.TM Your kitchen renovation budget (NC)--After thumbing through endless ect in one phase rather than multiple stages. pages of magazines for ideas on your dream CIBC offers a secured line of credit to would-be kitchen, you finally stumble upon something renovators for the big endeavor. By using the you and your bank account can agree on. But equity in your home, you will be able to receive before you decide on whether your cabinets a lower interest rate and the flexibility to comshould be lacquered board or wood veneer, you plete your home renovation. should set a budget for your renovation. Like most major renovations, expenses can add up More information on this topic can be before you know it and usually exceed the found at your nearest CIBC branch, toll-free at amount originally planned. According to the 1-800-465-CIBC (2422) or online at Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation www.cibc.com/ca/loans. (CMHC), the average Canadian spent $11,270 on renovations in 2006. Here are ways to plan an effective and economic kitchen renovation. Know Your Budget Before you set the budget in stone, ask yourself "how long do I plan to stay in my home?" If your answer is more than five years, you should treat the renovation as an European Engineering Combined investment rather than an expense. With Traditional Workmanship According to the Appraisal Institute of Canada, a kitchen renovation produces one of the highest paybacks in terms of value. Consider a Loan A kitchen renovation can be one of the most expensive improvements "Building on the made to your home. One way to Brightest Ideas Around Glass" make it more affordable is to consider a loan. Not only will it improve your monthly cash flow, but it will also allow you to complete your proj- 905.849.0266