Toronto Renovation Stories & Expert Advice
The latest in counter tops
In our first house we installed a very practical, reasonably priced laminate countertop. I was happy with it because it because I liked the cobalt blue colour and its durability. It turns out though, that it's not as scratch resistant as I would have liked...we found out the hard way when my husband decided that cutting a piece of cardboard on it with an Exacto knife would be okay. It wasn't, and there was a 10 inch legacy left reminding me everyday that even Laminates have their limits!
Our current house has luxurious and oh-so-high-maintenance marble countertops. I love the look, but since I'm not very good at remembering to seal them on a regular basis, they've taken quite a beating in the last year. An architect friend of mine suggested that to keep them looking new, I get them professionally finished and sealed annually. Fortunately, in HomeStars'
countertops category we have plenty of resurfacing companies to choose from. For anyone thinking of getting marble countertops a word of advice: marble does NOT like lemon juice!
Below are three lower maintenance, and yet still elegant looking, countertop materials and the stores in Toronto that carry them.
Concrete Elegance: Concrete counter tops have long been popular in Europe, but just seem to be on the rise in Canada. They can provide an industrial, sleek modern or a classic look that blends well with traditional cabinetry. Concrete is a versatile product and can be used for countertops, sinks, fireplace mantels or floors. While concrete can chip just like a natural stone, it does have the advantage of its being sanded out and repaired.
Lattitude carries a product called "Silestone" a quartz based product that is resistant to stains, including soy sauce and red wine. The advantage with the
Silestone is that it is virtually maintenance free. It is scratch, chip and stain resistant (quartz is the fourth hardest substance on earth). Available in a variety of colours from more neutral to bright reds, greens and blues, visit the website for more information.
PaperStone: A product recommended for countertops, widowsills and thresholds, and furniture (tables), PaperStone is made from post consumer waste, recycled paper -- yes, paper -- and non-petroleum based phenolic resins. It is durable and stain resistant, and available in a variety of colours. The cost of the product is similar to that of granite or other stone, however, as it says on the website:
As a result of the ease of workmanship and finish of PaperStone, the
installed prices are often lower.
Labels: Concrete counter tops, countertops, quartz counter tops, Silestone
Posted by Cathy
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Free Home Solar Panel Tour tomorrow in Cedarvale
As people become more conscious of the electricity they use and their ever rising hydro and gas bills, alternative forms of electricity and heat generation are being explored not just by treehuggers but also by regular Torontonians. Naturally, many people have concerns about the expense and effectiveness of solar panels, particularly in our dark and snowy climate.
In an effort to convince Torontonians that Solar panels -- the kind that generate electricity (photovoltaic) and hotwater (solar thermal) -- really work, The Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative (TREC) is offering a tour tomorrow (Saturday June 14th) of four homes in Cedarvale with solar panels in action.
This year at the Strawberries and Asparagus Festival, the Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative is launching the first ever free and guided residential solar tour. This exciting new initiative will commence at 11am on the grounds of the festival where participants will proceed by Hydrogen Bus to visit four residential
destinations. Participants will have the chance to view the featured
photovoltaic or solar thermal installations and an opportunity to speak with
homeowners about their solar experience. The bus trips in between also
offer a chance for an ongoing solar power question/answer period.
Refreshments will be provided at the Pinewood stop of the tour. (TREC)
It promises to be very informative and gives interested homeowners the opportunity to ask questions about the effectiveness, expense, practicality, etc. of solar panels already in use. If you're interested in finding out more about the tour, or the use of renewable energy in general, contact
TREC.
::
The Globe and Mailhttp://www.cedarvalepark.com/2008/04/11/strawberries-and-asparagus-june-14th-2008/http://trec.on.ca/Labels: Solar Panels, Toronto
Posted by Cathy
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Toronto Hydro's Peaksaver Program
When the weather decides to turn hot and humid, it really decides to turn! Thursday I was wearing a jacket and jeans and thinking Environment Canada's forecasting equipment was broken when they predicted 32 Celsius plus humidity for Friday. Sure enough they were right and we sweltered our way through three days of heat and humidity.
We've turned our air conditioning on for the first time this year, still early in the year, but in comparison to the last 5 years, not too bad. We will still get a shock though, when we get our hydro bill. In order to keep costs down, do our part to contribute less smog to the GTA and generally lighten our family's carbon footprint, I signed us up for the
Peaksaver program this year. The way it works is when Toronto Hydro needs your electricity during peak hours, it sends a signal to your central air conditioner, pool pump or electric water heater to cycle off for 15 of every 30 minutes. Houses and townhouses are eligible at this time, but not apartments or condos. While you may not see any direct benefit from participating, you are helping to reduce the cost of electricity and pollution over all. Toronto Hydro needs to import less, future generators can be smaller, and less smog will be produced than without the program.
For more information on the peaksaver program, reducing your electricity consumption, and rebates and refunds on energy efficient appliances, etc., click on the links below:
https://www.peaksaver.com/peaksaver_THESL.htmlhttp://www.everykilowattcounts.com/residential/http://www.toronto.ca/livegreen/home_energy_rebates.htmlLabels: energy efficiency, Toronto
Posted by Cathy
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