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WHnTB FREE P¶PES%, .WEDNESýAY(,.APRIL 17,,1991, PAGS121 I~ a vi mg . ycLu r d riveway This article ia prouided by local realtors and t/w Qntario Real Estate Association (OREA) for t/w benefit of consumera in t/w real estate market. When you pull Into your driveway, do you feel like. you're on an obstacle course, dodging holes, bumps sud heaving craks Has your driveway become so drab with age sud neglect that it'sà an e esore? If you answered yes to theetwo questions, you niay want to perk up your drive by resurfacing or replacing it a1together. Youll flnd that a revamped driveway can do wonders for the overail appearance sud value of your home. There are a number of attractive options to choose from, when considering paving, including asphalt, concrete, loose fil sud brick. Turf blocks (hollow cernent blocks containing grass) cari also be used to create a lawn-like effect.* Msuy homeowners are now installing interlocIng brick to give their driveway a distinctive, stately look that offers more colour and texture than some of the more traditional paving. When revamping or reéplacing your driveway, keep iun mind that the> larger your driveway is, the more it wiil cost you to'maintain it. Also try ta avoid putting uew sections too close toeisting trees sud shrubs. Pavement should be lightly sloped as well, to, make sure that waterruns off. There should also be a siope acrss the width, so that water does not pond. This cari be achieved by raising the centre a bit so the water rolîs off both ides. A"phaIt. The. most common and popular material used for driveways is asphalt. If properby installed sud maintained, this black surface can give you many years of reliable service. ut keep in mmid that it radiates a lot of heat in the summertime. Damage can occur from frost and ail leaks. It may also became gouged easiby from sbarp abjects ike bicycle kickstands and ladders. A pooir installation job will resù1t in fairly quick deterioratian and fading. Make sur your hire» professionals ta do the job. A sturdy - rave1 sub-base must be iustalled or new asphsalt driveways or those that are being replaced. Any future cracks sud hales in asplt cari be fixed with speciaÙl drivewaysealer sud patchiunt material sobd at your local hardware store. It is reconimended that a sealer be applied about every two ta tbree years, ta corupensate for wear sud tear. LOO"e fa 1Loose fIl is another type of paving sud consista of gravel iusaly crushed lime atone), or pebbles. It is generally not as expensive as ailier paving, but may be harder ta, keep clear cf weeds sud yard debris. A gravel or pebble drive may abobe more diffcultto maintain in witer montha because the atones have a tendency ta get nixed with snow sud became displaced as the driveway is being shovelled. Stones or p5ebbles can also become disbadged by y aur car tires as you pull in sud out cf your driveway every day. However, a loose fill driveway can provide an attractive contrast ta adjacent lawns sud flowerbeds. It car i aso provide a very gaad base for a future sspbalt or concrete driveway. Concrete. is, another, paving opin. It cari be more expensive tano therdrvwy atras but can wvthstand a lot of weight, is extremely durable sud doesn't altof upkeep. a rea. dotuIP of cernent, Wgt and water, concrete is a good substane for a' driveway containing curves sud corners.- Installation of a concrete driveway isiflot su easy task'sud should should be left to professionals. A solid subi-surace must be i place before the concrete can be added. Ifyou' to resurface an old patch any craks or holesbeMre applying the new material. Brick 1Brick, psrticularly the interlockcing varietyl, is a popUlar option to more traditional paving. Bricks cari be laid in a number of interesting patterns, snd many colours are available. Although bricks are more expensive than traditional pav ng, many homeowners ernjoy the appearance of a brick driveway sud the numerous patterns that cari be used to create a distinctive look. As wilth other types of paving, a good sub-base is necessary before the bricks can be laid. Pîttilis of renovation FROM PAGE 19 says Harvey Kirsh, a lawyer in the construction department of Cassela, Brock -sud Blackwell, Toronto. 'We see -a lot of litigation between ccntractors sud home- owuers rei 'ulting from the fact that the conditions of the contract Weren't clear.7 Among other things, the contract shoubd specify how long the project will take sud address how the parties will negotiate further time sud price of something unforeseen is discovered during the work. Keep 10 per cent of the contrsctor's final pay as holdback, sud don't rebease it until 45 days after completion of the project, sud you hàve searhed title on your own house ta, ensure there were no liens pbaced against it. This protecta you from the contractor'. subtrades (plumbers, drywallers) coining back ta, you for wages the contractor should have paid. Make sure your contractor bas iability insurauce ($1-million minimum ia standard) ta cover any irnjury or damage that results from negigence on bis part, says Grieve. Grieve suggests you doclare the work areasa off-site ta kidds sud doge while the job is underway. "Besides having a good helping of patience, fsuiby memiberas hould goabout their business mindful of ruringsaftybazards."i Wellington Insurance offers the following guidelines ta inimize the risk of awecidentL. Benovationm safety tipo eDeclare job-site off imita ta, alI faniily members, whether or not work is in progress.. e Dont lift heavy objecta or help the tradespeople iu other ways. e Check with the contractor for hazardous rnaterials such as cleaners and make sure they are stred safely. s Be aware of sirborne p articles such as drywall dust and solvent vaUrS veesignate a specific spot for iscarding used materials. Do.it-yourself safety ips e Unplug ail power tools from the wall socket when not in use sud when changing accessories, such as bits and blades.' ,p Wear OSA-approved protective eye- sud footwear. e Keep the work area clear of debris te prevent falîs. e Store týools on a high shelf, or locloed away, out of the reach of cbildren. e When in doubt, consult a professional,- particularly when the job involves electrical wiring or plumbing. Grieve suggests contacting your insurance company or broker for names of contractors who have a proven track record of being reliable sud coat-corupetitive. ENE.RGY CONSUNMTI CONSERVATION TIIP - Standard double-glazed win- dows cari account for up to 25 per cent of the total heat los in a conventionally-built home. Windows are often the ingle-largest source of heat bs in energyr-efllcient homes. The use of "high-performsuce" windows, such as low-E and argon-fllled units, will reduce heat boss. Vour own house is likely to be the greatest investment you willI make. in your lifetime. However, your house is more than an invýestment, it Is a home. It Is a place where you cook, do dishes, laundry,-homework, etc. It is also a haven to relax and play. Your home represents-your lifestyle and states it to others. These are many needs for a home ta fuît ill. John Brouwer Garden Centre would like to §uggest that through exterior decorating you can meet manyof tý ese needs. We can help you enhance your outdoor living space -for 'tihe warm months ahead. John Brouwer Garden Centre has been helping the familles of the Ajax-Pickering-Whitby-Oshawa area for many years to personalize their homes with landscape design. We carry a fulll une of quality nursery stock, as well as Unlock interlocking brick for your walkways and patios. John Brouwer's landscape design service will help you create planters using the new Unilock retaining walls or tell you how to instaîl Unilock pavers into free-shaped walkways and patios. With your exterior decorating completed your family can relax and enjoy their free time together. Your investment will increase the value of your home and enhance your lifestyle. John Brouwer and his staff will do more thani just supply the material, they will help you with suggestions for design and installation. On Saturday, May 4 at 10 a.m. and 1 pam. Unilock will conduct a do-it-yourself seminar. We will show you how easy it is ta instaîl Unilock pavers and retaining walls . Installation of pavers for driveways, walkways and the building of retaining walls, steps and planters will be demonstrated. Ali factory direct orders placed on that weekend will qualify for a 10% discount. If you prefer prof essional installation, John Brouwer would be happy to give you an estimate. John Brouwer Garden Centre would be happy 10 assist you with ail your exterior decorating needs. Don't miss Chrîstine tram RX Fertilizers who will *advlse yau'on teedlng your shrubs andI trees. Buy one 450 gr. RX product and get anather RX 450 gr. product at hait price. OPEN. SUNDAYS, I JOHN BROUWER GARDEN AND LANDSCAPING CENTRE- 650 Lakerldge Road South AJAX, ONTARIO Li S 4S7 686-1545 e 686-1680 EXTENDED HOURS: Mon. thru Fri. 8 arn - to 8 pmn Saturday 8 arn - 6 pmn Sunday 9 arn -5 pm Hiqhway #2 >Hy. 401 cc 01