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How to Keep Water Out of Your Basement

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Is flooding one of the issues your basement often faces? Many homeowners struggle with basements consistently having water leakage problems. In the face of these problems, here are different methods that will help you protect your basement from flooding.

  1. Diagnose the Main Source of Water Problem

The first thing to do in keeping water out of your basement is to figure out the source. There are two possible sources of water and moisture in your basements. It could be because of indoor humidity, which condenses on cold surfaces.

Another source is water vapor or water coming from outside. It happens when groundwater, snow melting or rainwater saturates the soil around the foundation then leaking in. This water leaks through cracks in the foundation or it penetrates masonry or concrete walls as water vapor.

To know whether the cause for water in your basement is either of the two, all you need to do is tape aluminum foil to the basement. Leave is for a few days then inspect after. If there is moisture on the outside, then there is high indoor humidity. If moisture is behind the foil, moisture is through the walls.  If you are having trouble finding the source of the leak, you may want to bring in a basement waterproofing contractor to find it.  They use moisture meters and can find the source quickly.

  1. Remove Excess Humidity to Dry Out Basement

The next step of the process is eliminating the excess humidity. Get rid of all sources of humidity in order to dry your basement. To do this, use foil tape to seal all your leaky dryer vents preventing unwanted humid from entering the basement.

Make sure to use foil tape and not duct tape, as the latter will eventually fall off. In addition to that, make sure that your basement windows remain closed when the weather is humid. You can also dehumidifier to reduce indoor humidity if you are still getting condensation.

  1. Repair Gutter System That Isn’t Working

You need properly working gutters for proper drainage system and a cause for moisture in your basement. If the gutter system isn’t working, it forces water to run directly off your roof. Since water does not have anywhere to go, eventually it will pool around the foundation down to the basement.

The way to prevent water from pooling around the foundation to the basement is by minimizing water coming in contact in this area. You should also install an effective drainage system that will direct roof water to the most suitable location.

  1. Waterproof the Interior of Your Basement

If your problem were small, intermittent leaks, an effective method to keep water out would be waterproofing the interior of your basement. Aside from being quick, this is also a relatively easy method to ensure water and moisture is out of your basement.

You can apply waterproofing solutions on the walls and other places where future leaks might erupt. For this method, you have three options for waterproofing. Choose from concrete waterproof coating, waterproofing paint and silicate-based concrete sealers for the best material for your basement wall.

The silicate-based sealer is ideal for walls that haven’t been painted or sealed before. As for waterproofing paint, applying it is quite similar to when applying regular wall paint. With concrete waterproof coating, better use it for concrete and masonry walls.

  1. Repairs Cracks in Walls and Foundation

Cracks in foundation and basement walls are a major cause of problem for leaks. Thus, it is a great practice for keeping water out of your basement to check regularly for cracks. If you find any, first call a specialist or structural engineer for an inspection.

If you let cracks it can create more trouble than its worth. It can compromise the integrity of your house and lead not just flooding into your basement. With that, if you ever notice cracks in your basement you have to make sure to address it before moving forward.

Following these simple tips or methods to keep water out of your basement, you can ensure no water will enter and bring damage to your home.

Family

How music aids in child development

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All of the world’s cultures feature music and singing as it’s an important part of everyday life. Wherever you turn you’ll find music as it’s common in movies, on television, in theatre and on the radio. It’s also featured in everyday events such as ceremonies, parades, celebrations, holidays and places of worship etc. Music is used as a way to express emotions and as a soothing and calming influence on children, with things such as lullabies and nursery rhymes.

As children grow, we find music can positively impact their development by helping improve their social and learning skills. For example, a study at the University of Southern California found that music can accelerate a child’s brain development, especially when it comes to the areas of language, mathematical, and reading skills.

We have been taking our child for music lessons for several years now and have seen the benefits first hand.  She takes guitar lessons and is now addicted to buying guitars from The Arts Music Store, an online music store in Canada.  Learning to play music has so many more benefits that surfing the internet or playing video games.

In fact, music can also help a child’s emotional and social development along with their academic skills and sees the mind and body work together as one. There are numerous positive aspects to listening to and playing music along with simply having it provide us with joy and happiness. Children can express themselves by playing music as they relate to the sounds of it at an early age. You’ll often see youngsters swaying, moving and trying to dance and sing along to music before they can even walk and talk.

When children need to be soothed or stimulated it’s often achieved through different types of music. They also become familiar with the repetition of words and often memorize them while learning their meaning. For instance, all kids quickly learn how to sing ‘Happy Birthday to You’ and various nursery rhymes and memorize the words at an early age. In addition, youngsters aren’t inhibited or self-conscious when it comes to singing along with others as it comes naturally to them. They become familiar with the lyrics, harmonies, melodies, beats, and rhythms and are eager to participate.

Since children are so receptive to music it’s an ideal way for them to learn the meaning of words as well as skills such as spelling, counting, and memorizing a specific sequence of events. As they grow older their appreciation for different types of music usually develops and progresses, but they never forget the original songs they learned as infants. As children quickly become teenagers they usually have their favourite types of music and often form friendships with peers who share the same likes and dislikes.

Many youngsters become so attached to their musical surroundings that they decide to pursue it further by taking singing or music lessons. This allows them to express themselves even further artistically as they grow in self-confidence and discipline. There are virtually no negatives at all associated with music as it’s something we’ve become so accustomed to throughout all aspects of life. There’s no better way to develop a child’s vocabulary, memory, emotions, cognitive skills, motor skills and form of self-expression than music.

And we shouldn’t forget the parents’ role in all of this as they have the opportunity to introduce their children to musical sounds as early as they choose. They can use music and lyrics as a teaching tool and enable their children to develop their minds and bodies in a positive, joyous environment. A stronger bond can also be created between them through a shared love of music which will often last a lifetime.

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The Best ROI For Your Home Renovation Projects

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Thinking of starting a new home renovation project but want to know which projects will let you recoup the most money when you sell?

Read on.

All homeowners have a list of renovation projects they would love to do for their home.  The problem is that if you plan on moving in the future, it’s nice to know you will be able to recoup some or all of the project costs when it comes time to sell.

Certain home renovation projects are great investments as well.  Other home reno projects will provide little ROI for your investment, though they may increase the enjoyment of your home while you are living in it.

So what projects should you choose?

If you plan on selling your home within the next 5 years or so, it makes sense to choose renovation projects that will allow you to recoup some or all of your money.

If you plan on living in your home forever, then ROI may not be your first thought.  Your main concern is how this renovation project will increase the enjoyment of living in your home.

As far as rooms in your home, remodeling your kitchen is always a good investment as it’s the cornerstone of your home and one of the most important rooms in the house.  The costs to remodel a kitchen can vary, based on finishing, size, and appliances you use.

Adding an extra bedroom in your home is also a great ROI project.  Extra living space is always needed, so turning your attic or basement into a legal sleeping space can add value to your home as people will pay more for a 4 bedroom home than a 3 bedroom home.

Adding extra living space such as a sunroom can also increase the square footage of the home and allow you to sell your home for more when the time comes.  It should be a 4 season (or at least 3) to get the most resale value out of the project.

Adding additional garage space will also be appealing for families that have lots of toys, like boats and motorbikes.  An upscale garage can get you extra money when you sell if you are selling to the right family.

So when you plan out your next home renovation project, be sure to take into consideration the costs involved in the project as well as the expected returns you may see when it comes time to sell your home.

 

Top Home Renovation Projects

Home

Are Electric Fireplaces Better Than Gas?

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Dimplex-Electric-Fireplaces-Toronto-1024x250

I recently purchased an electric fireplace for my condo here in Toronto and I wanted to share my experiences.

First off, when you mentioned electric fireplace to me, my first thought was some kind of orange paper wiggling around behind glass that resembled a kid’s puppet show.  St least that was my first though since that’s how I remembered them as a kid.

Wow was I wrong.

I can’t believe how awesome and realistic the new electric fireplaces look.  The flames look realistic, unless you have your face against the glass, and the look and feel just feels modern, which I like.

We purchased a wall mounted electric fireplace that sat below our well mounted tv in our family room.

Setup was snap, we mounted it on the wall, as opposed to a flush mount, so we just needed to use the mounting brackets and hook up the standard electric line to an outlet.  We opted to pay an electrician to hard wire it so we didn’t have to see the cord, but you can do either.

Below is a neat infographic that talks about the benefits of an electric fireplace.  If you live in Toronto, this store a great for finding a wall mounted electric fireplace.

So are electric fireplaces better than gas?  Yes!

Electric Fireplaces

Health

Benefits of a Swim Spa

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Wellness Spa

Since Michael Phelps walked away with a boatload of Olympic gold this month, many people have been interested in not only swimming but a product that Michael supports and promotes, swim spas.

He used them for training and leisure and swim spas have been gaining ground and representing a; larger and larger portion of total hot tub sales in North America.

So what are swim spas?  They are basically oversized hot tubs with propulsion devices that allow you to turn it into a swim lane and swim without having to have a swimming pool.  It’s like a treadmill for swimming.

They can also double as a giant hot tub, great for parties and larger families.  Due to their portable nature and smaller footprint over a traditional swimming pool, they make a great addition to a small backyard and can even be placed indoors.

I purchased my Coast swim spa last year, we use it every day and have found we get much longer use it during the year than a regular swimming pool.  The heated water allows us to go far into the fall and start earlier in the spring over a regular pool.  We are even thinking about bringing it indoors so we can use it year round.

While I still love my weekly massage at the best day spa in Charlotte, I can now relax and rejuvenate from the comfort of my own backyard.  It’s a wonderful feeling being able to just walk outside and feel like I am in my own personal spa.

The infographic below shows some great info about hot tubs and swim spas, hopefully, it’ll give you the info you are looking for to help make your decision.

 

Benefits of a Swim Spa