360renos - Home Improvement & Decor

How to make your home stand out when selling

We can help your house sell quickly and at a good price -- even in a slow market.

It takes a lot more than sparkling windows, scented candles and chocolate-chip cookies to sell a home in today's market.

Improvements should be made so that the property shows well, is consistent with the neighborhood and does not involve capital investments.

Beyond any doubt, the best investment you can make is new paint. Painting can make a room or an exterior façade look brand-new, and totally transform the look and feel of a room or the entire residence. It is always wise to be somewhat restrained when choosing colors for a home-staging paint project. Avoid choosing colors that are too individual or flashy and favor neutral colors and schemes. This does not mean painting everything white, however.

Use subtle color schemes to accentuate the home's strengths and minimize weaknesses. Dark colors, for example, tend to make a room feel smaller, while lighter colors and pastels can make a room feel bigger.

There is another benefit to painting as well: the process of preparing the interior or exterior surfaces of a home for painting automatically allows us to go over the entire area receiving paint in great detail, and this can often expose items or areas requiring repair. It seems you always discover where the caulking has let go, where the wall is dinged.

It is always preferable that we discover and deal with these items before the real estate agent (or worse, the prospective buyer) points them out to you!

Dave - 360renos




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Monday, January 25, 2010

Doors & More

A home where the customer needed a little more storage in their Master Bedroom. So we gave them a window bench that allowed for storage and once the new cushions arrive it will be a great seat for dressing.


New baseboards and 1/4 round were installed as well as new door casings.

Original wood louvered closet doors where through out the home, so we replaced them with custom cut 6 panel bi-fold closet doors.

and replaced all the flat slab doors with 6 panel doors as well as new stainless steel hinges and door knobs

Dave - 360renos

Sunday, January 17, 2010

1950s Closets and Desk Dressed Up

Two 1950's era built-in wardrobe closets that were built from 3/4" plywood and were in dire need of a face lift. An original well built desk was custom designed between the closets and works very well as an office space for the homeowner.
The old closet and desk hardware was removed and the existing holes patched and primed.
The doors of the wardrobe closets had 3/4" mullions installed to give the existing flat doors some punch.

New interior shelving and closet rods installed to add some storage space inside.
New pulls and handles from Lee Valley were installed on the desk and closet.

Then all was completed in a fabulous coats of C2 Flax Seed which complemented the existing P&L Scarlet Maple Leaf. The ceiling was finished in C2 Cotton which added an additional touch of warmth.


Dave - 360renos





Saturday, January 9, 2010

HST on Renovations starts May 1st

Figuring homeowners will rush to get projects in under the deadline and avoid the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), the government has also added a May 1 deadline clause. Essentially, any project that involves permanently installed goods ordered by May 1, but not completed by July 1, is subject to the whole 13% tax.

But if the work is completed before July 1 it will be taxed at the current 5% GST.

The new HST tax will add 8% to a renovation bill. Currently, homeowners pay only 5% GST for services, which includes labour. But with the HST, labour will be subject to the new tax, bumping the overall invoice tax to 13%.

Imagine you order an Interior Painting project to be completed and the job costs out at $6,000. Pre-HST, your total would be $6,300 (cost plus GST). After the HST, though, your total is now $6,780 (13% HST)!

That new painting project will cost 8% more as of July 1, so if home owners have projects they want done, they'll be planning to have it done before the new tax takes effect.

If your planning on a project in the near future please contact me at 360renos

Don't delay if you are requiring a free quote for your next project or if you need more information about the services 360renos can offer you

For more information on the HST, visit Ontario Ministry of Revenue.
Article portions National Post


Dave - 360renos

How to Find a Good Interior Home Painter

Ok, now you have come to the conclusion to hire a painting contractor or at least to get a couple of quotes for your painting project. The cost of house painting can besubstantial and a quality job even more. Get the most out of your paint job by choosing your painter correctly.

In order to help you find that perfect painter I have put together some ideas. Starting with your personal sources and ending with the internet sources. An on-line contractor referral network offer free price quotes on a variety of construction services.

Trusted Sources

The best place to start is with your friends, family and co-workers. This is how we, 360renos, acquire most of our customers. Word of mouth advertising always starts with satisfied customers.

Therefore, start asking questions;

1. Are you happy with the quality provided by the painting contractor?

Everybody has their own ideas of quality, so you should take a look at their house and judge for yourself. Pay attention to cut-in areas around doors, windows and trim. Are the lines straight and was caulking applied. Interior or exterior doesn’t matter; proper surface preparation always leads to better, more pleasing results.

2. Did the painting contractor protect non painted surfaces or areas?

For exteriors this includes concrete, roofing and plantings. For interiors moving and protecting furniture is a major concern but don't forget about the flooring.

3. Were they courteous and pleasant?

This is a very important consideration. The entire experience, from beginning to end, needs to be as stress free as possible. Plus if the house painter enjoys their job, the quality and attention to details will be better. The customers attitude can and will affect the entire paint job.

4. Did the painting company start and finish in a timely fashion?

Arriving at a reasonable time every morning reinforces a schedule. Remember, with an exterior the weather always dictates the schedule.

If asking friends, family or co-workers doesn’t produce any leads there are other avenues that can help.

Local Paint Store

First and foremost is your local paint store, not the home improvement center. Most professional painters purchase their products from a local supplier, a paint store and we buy ours from Randall's Paint here in Orleans.

Here they have built a reputation, either good or bad, based on the quality of products purchased over time and timely payment if a store credit account is used.

· Purchasing products of the highest quality indicates a true concern for the well being of your home.

· If a painting contractor primarily purchases from a single source, for years, a reputation has been built with this supplier.

· On time payment is always a good indicator of paint jobs finished and customers that have paid for the service.

Talk to the person behind the countertop and ask some questions. Describe your project and ask for any recommendations. Chances are they will know someone that is trustworthy.

On Line

Internet sourcing is becoming more popular every year. A free Contractor Network such as Bid My Reno allows you to enter your job details and select the services you require. Now you can easily select painting contractors and view their profiles for more information. Contacting contractors is also very easy, a simple click of the button.

Now all that you need to do is schedule a time to meet and get a price quote. This type of sourcing is very easy and can help you find qualified local painting contractors.


Dave - 360renos

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

5 Easy Updates Eligible for the HRTC

The Home Renovation Tax Credit Ends soon so here are 5 easy updates to revitalize your home and 360renos can help

1 Freshen a room with new paint colors
2 Update your Bathroom

3 Refreshen your Kitchen with a new Faucet
4 Update your Light Switches and Outlets

5 Install a Light Fixture



Contact us today at 360renos

Dave


Monday, January 4, 2010

Do What You Can

Do What You Can

Paints colour our world. Petroleum products keep things moving.
Batteries power the devices we use to remain connected, informed and entertained.

We all have used these products around our homes for decades and we know that when it comes time to dispose of left-over or unwanted materials, special care is needed.

Now the companies that make and market these items are working with municipalities and leading retailers to enhance recovery of potentially hazardous or special wastes by making the process much more convenient.

This website is designed to introduce you to the “Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste” (MHSW) Program and to help you locate places in and near your community where you can take the MHSW materials.

Browse the information to find out what MHSW materials are accepted and search for a municipal location. All we ask is that you "Do What You Can."


Dave - 360renos

Interior Caulking Adds a Finishing Touch

Interior caulking involves filling all cracks and gaps in the trim and walls. This will add dramatic improvements to the final appearance of any painted surface.

The objective is to fill every crack in the trim and every gap between the walls and the trim. Most painted trim I deal with is painted white or off-white, and dark cracks show up easily. Filling these cracks will produce a very desirable, finished look.

Siliconized acrylic caulk and elasomeric caulk work great. These two types of caulking is easy to tool, dries quickly, readily accepts paint and clean up involves only warm water. Plus high quality sealants only cost a few dollars per tube at most. Carefully read the product label to be sure it is paintable and will be suitable for your needs.

Using a Caulking Gun is Very Simple

Cut the plastic tip to the desired size with a razor knife, at a 45-degree angle. At first, use the smallest size hole possible. No need to waste the caulk and create a mess. 1/8 of an inch hole usually works best. Don’t start with a large hole. Cutting more of the plastic tip can increase the thickness of the bead.

If the tube has an inner foil seal, puncture with a thin piece of wire several times.

Applying Caulk to a Crack or Gap.

Many cracks and gaps will need filling. The best approach is to use a fluid motion with the least amount of pressure on the trigger.

Hold the gun with the tip flat against the crack and pull towards you. Remember to use the smallest pressure on the trigger necessary to lay down a uniform bead. With practice this will become easier.

Hold the caulking gun at an angle.

Now run your finger the length of the bead to press the sealant into the crack and smooth the transition between the trim pieces.

This method works great if the right amount is applied. If too much caulk is applied, you will have to work quickly to remove the excess and smooth the bead.

Most sealants dry to quickly forcing you to work at a brisk speed. After just 2-3 minutes the thin edges of caulk will have dried and will be very difficult to smooth.

Where to Apply

Many gaps and cracks can be caulked. Providing a more pleasing finish.

Stained Trim - Here we fill the gap between a wall and stained oak base. Previous painters were very sloppy while cutting in with a brush and left very thick and heavy edges on the trim. Use a damp rag to remove any excessive caulk and give it a smooth appearance. A paintable clear caulking can also be used after the walls are painted to seal this gap.

Painted Trim- Baseboards, door casing and windows need to be checked for gaps. Pay special attention to gaps where the trim meets a frame, door or window. Remove any obstructions, such as hinges or locking mechanisms, for a cleaner look.

Cracks in Walls - Small cracks in the wallboard can be filled, this is usually done with cracked corners. Caulking is good for small non-structural cracks. Large cracks will need the proper repair.

Dave - 360renos