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21 · Friday, March 19, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com (NC)--With the downturn in the economy and a slowdown in home sales many homeowners are going to be living where they are for longer than they expected. Home improvements will not only make staying in the same home more palatable but will increase the home's value. Many homeowners have found it's time for a home beauty makeover. They are selecting concrete pavers to add that beauty. Whether it is a new driveway, front walk or patio homeowners are finding out that concrete pavers are the best material for the job. Concrete pavers: · Are beautiful. Rustic stone-like pavers are available and come in many shapes, colours and sizes. Light coloured pavers can offer a cooler surface around patios and pool decks. · Are strong. Their uniform size and high quality concrete allows them to fit tightly together and form a strong interlocking surface. · Don't crack like asphalt or Spring Home and Garden Home beauty makeover Keep fire safety in mind poured-in-place concrete. Paver joints allow for a small amount of movement without cracking. They also do well in a freeze-thaw environment. · Are easy to repair. You can remove and reinstate the same pavers with no ugly patches after repairs to the base or underground utilities. · Resist oil and antifreeze that leak from cars, making the pavers particularly good for driveways. · Can accommodate lighting fixtures that fit right into the paver pattern. These low voltage systems include wiring and a transformer that plug into a standard 110-volt outdoor receptacle. The lighting defines patios, walkways and driveways at night, increasing safety and adding a bit of mystique to your home. For driveways and larger areas it is a good idea to hire a professional contractor. These contractors can complete a high-quality job quickly and safely because they have the right equipment and materials. (NC)--Spring cleaning in all its forms will be on the minds of many Canadians at this time of year. But have you ever really stopped to ask yourself what you can do along the way to ensure that your action items are also making improvements in your home's fire safety for the year ahead? Tidying up on the home front, disposing of, or recycling clothes, furniture and other unused items, cleaning up areas like the garage, garden and patio - are all obvious ---and practical starting points for any spring-cleaning campaign. But don't ignore the improvements you can make in the area of home fire safety as you launch into your annual clean-up. One task to include is searching across the house and in the garage or storage areas for any empty or unused containers that could actually pose a fire or toxic hazard, including containers of paint, solvents, bleach and household cleaners. If your home has a fireplace, what will you do with any unused firewood now that spring is here? Moving wood from inside the house out to the garage or a storage area makes good sense to enhance home fire safety. Two more fire safety 'action items' to remember are replacing the batteries in your home smoke alarms, and if your smoke alarm is more than ten years old, replace it. Interestingly, a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted earlier this year on behalf of Duracell showed that Canadians clearly have room for improvement when it comes to considering fire safety as part of their spring cleanups. Among the usual spring-cleaning chores performed by many Canadians, the two that most directly impact home fire safety received the lowest response in the survey. "Installing fresh batteries doubles your odds of escaping a fire," says Carol Heller, a home safety specialist with Kidde Canada, the country's largest manufacturer of fire safety products. "Also remember to replace old alarms by following the 10/7 Replacement Rule: Smoke alarms must be replaced every 10 years and carbon monoxide alarms every 5-7 years, as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association." Only about one in four (26%) Canadians polled said they will be removing potential fire hazards from their home, such as unused paints or solvents, as well as unused fire wood. And just over one in three (37%) said they will replace smoke alarm batteries in their home as part of their annual spring cleaning campaign this year. The poll was conducted Jan. 15 to 20, 2010 on behalf of Duracell and is based on a national sample of 1,011 adults from Ipsos' Canadian online panel who were interviewed online. More information on keeping your home tidy and as safe as possible is available online at www.duracellfiresafety.com or www.safeathome.ca. Their Signature Plus Series Signature Plus features: · Planks up to 8 foot lengths · A titanium enhanced finish · Sunshield protection · Antimicrobial protection · An ultra clear finish · A 35 year wear warranty Introduces You Just Couldn't Buy Better! Now through April 30th Come see why a Signature Plus floor looks so much better! Offer Available at: Signature Plus Flooring. 59 Bramalea Rd., Brampton Savein-stock % 10 on all 905-450-6268 1-866-450-6268 bramptonhardwood.com