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Wednesday, December 29, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER D3 Oakville Beaver - Real Estate Keeping the home fire burning safely and efficiently B u y in g a h o m e d u r in g the h o lid ay s e a s o n hopping throughout the holidays can be trying at times, with the crowds and congested parking lots, the out-of-stock items, and the ridiculous prices. But, if you are shopping for a home dur ing the Christm as season, you'll be delighted to know that this shopping experience is just the opposite! It's a wonderful time o f the year to drive around, when the neighbourhoods are lit up with all tjiat sparkles and glitters. It's also a marvelous time of the year to look at homes, because those you see are usu ally done up in festive wrap, decked out for the holi days in all their finery, sharing the joy of the season with all those who choose to enter. Chances are you'll have the house to yourselves, (the vendors are proba bly out shopping with the rest o f the crowd at the mall) and you'll be able to really enjoy all the beauty the house has to offer. If you're seriously shopping for a home, it's one experience during the holidays you're gonna love! As this is also a busy time o f the year for you, you may want to do a little homework before you actually invest the time it takes to go out looking at homes -- narrow down the choices, so you aren't wasting any of your own valuable time. For those who want to live here in Oakville, you can begin your home search on your own personal computer, and at your own leisure, any time of the day or night. Through the use o f the computer program, REIlink+, you can log onto the Oakville, Milton & District Real Estate Board and search all the active listings in the area of your choice. This can be accomplished very, very quickly, espe- W ood burning fireplaces may no longer be the only source o f heat ing in homes, but there's still noth ing much nicer than a warm hearth on a cold winter night. To keep this part of a home working safe ly and efficiently year after year, however, takes good design and maintenance. There's nothing more distressing than a fireplace that `draws' poorly, sending smoke throughout a room, setting off the fire detectors and leav ing surfaces dusty and dirty. For any fireplace to work properly, it needs to have been well-designed in the first place. This means it must have: · A firebox (area above the hearth where fire is built) large enough to contain a fire · Draw sufficient air for combustion · Have a smoke shelf to prevent downdrafts from pushing smoke back into a room · A damper to close off outside air when not in use · A chimney that ideally rises at least three feet above the roof and is at least two feet higher than anything within 10 feet of it · The chimney should be relatively straight and smooth with a cap to avoid downdrafts Curing a sm oky fireplace ensure there are no significant structural problems. The fall is a good time to do an annual chimney and fireplace cleaning. You can hire a professional chimney sweep or do it yourself. Do-it-yourself chimney cleaning means having the right equipment (you can purchase basic kits from building and fireplace supply stores) and working from the roof down. Consider the messiness involved and your own safety before doing the job yourself. During the burning season, clean the fire place and hearth at least once a week. Remove ashes first, then wipe down the hearth. H elpful hints · Always place ashes in a metal container since embers can smolder for days in an ash pile · Never place ashes in a paper bag or set near the house · Place ashes in a metal garbage can for disposal · Fireplace ashes can enhance garden soil. But check your soil's alkalinity first. Hardwood ashes are already highly alkaline · Never store any paper, wood or other combustible materials directly in front of your fireplace S CHERYL SMITH · Use a fireproof throw-rug in front of the A fireplace can meet all the design and installation requirements and still not `draw' fireplace to protect carpeting or other flooring properly. The problem can still be cured with from sparks · Never saturate wood with a flammable a bit of detective work. · Check if there are surrounding hills or liquid to start or rekindle a fire · Never pour water over a fire. If you are trees nearby which can cause downdrafts that bring smoke into a room. Installing a metal called away suddenly, smother the flames chimney cap - stationary or rotating - may be with baking soda, sand, dirt or plain kitty lit ter all that's needed · Never leave a burning fire unattended. · Smoke from a fireplace can be `pulled' into a room by forced air fur naces, kitchen fans 326 LAKESHORE RD. or doors located opposite the fire place opening. 251 NO R TH SERVICE RD. Turning fans off, keeping the door closed and/or * Sales Representative ** Associate Broker installing a draft Royal L e P ag e Real Estate Services Ltd., Broker inducer in the fire place (fan that draws hot air up and out the flue) are all possible solutions · A smoky fire can also result from bird nest building activities in spring, summer THURSDAY, DEC. 30TH SUNDAY, JAN. 2 beehives or drift 1:00 PM · 3:00 PM 11:00 AM 1:00 PM ing autumn leaves. Mulled cider will be served at 4276 HENDERSON In Central Oakville, this one won't last. Come visit Check for these ROAD! Come to see this quaint 6 bedrooms coun 373 WENTWORTH STREET. Lots of updates, obstructions by try home, only 2 minutes to Oakville on 2.2 acres. gas fireplace, updated roof, windows, furnace, lowering a light on Take Hwy 25, go west on the 2nd road north of kitchen, oversized lot. It's immaculate! Highway 5. Only $339,900! an extension cord Sales Representative down the chim ney. After remov EM A IL: ing any obstruc sdalton@idlrect.com tion, install a chimney cap to It' s a lot o f work but the rewards await you. If you are thinking prevent reoc i about a move in the new year, I would be pleased to meet with you curences d a ily if you already know what type o f home you want, l where you want it, and how m uch you can afford to spend. You can quickly narrow the list down, and select only Buyer's those homes that .appeal to Advocate you. You then have the option to print the listing details of each home chosen, including the address, and take a drive through the neighbourhood. This is another great way to help narrow down the search, because it allows you to make some very important personal choices, without any outside interference. It's also a wonderful time of year to take a family drive, provided the weather agrees with the day. By driving through the neighbourhood, you can enjoy all that Christmas has to offer, with each home having it's own twinkling spirit of the season on display. W hen you've found a few hom es you'd like to see more of, have your realtor set up a `Christmas Tour' for you. D on't worry about the crowds, there won't be any! Nor will you have any trouble finding parking spaces! Even the prices are more reasonable at this time o f year! You can look forward to a wonderful afternoon, and a delightful experience. Cheryl Smith is a representative with Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., who specializes in offering Home Buyers' services. The information con tained herein is presented in the belief that it is both useful and accurate, however, it is strictly an opinion of the writer. For assistance with your Christmas Tour, or to obtain a free copy o f the REIlink+ computer pro gram, contact Cheryl Smith at (905) 845-4267. royal Le p a g e 845-4267 338-3737 www.oakvilleroYallepage.com * V iA c £ O c c t 'T te c v * Z O ed < U C e! K e w 'l Y e a r 's GREETINGS time A rts come to wish you much happiness and success in this exciting new yeat D appreciate ifout patronage and send mif test wishes jo t a successful 2000! V SANDY DALTON 8 4 5 -4 2 6 7 MOVING IS DELIGHTFUL! SUE TOMPKINS Sales Representative Dealing with cre osote Creosote is a tarry substance which is a by product of wood combustion. It col lects most heavily in the cooler parts of the flue near the top of the chim ney. If layers are allowed to build up in the flue lin ing, the draft will be restricted. Creosote is also highly flammable. If not removed regularly, a chim ney fire may be the result. Metal chimneys are less prone to creosote buildup than masonry ones. To avoid excess creosote · Bum only seasoned wood · Use soft woods, such as pine, only to aug ment seasoned hardwoods like oak and hickory · Inspect your chimney and con necting pipes at least twice a year during the burning season and clean as needed · Clean the flue at least once a year - more often if you use the fireplace regularly Good mainte nance If you have recently purchased a home with a fire place, inspect it thoroughly to and discuss the possibilities. I 've got some major great ideas, lots o f good listings, and the enthusiasm to accompany the concept! Happy New Year... Let's make 2000 an exciting year together! 8454267 V & ] TOP 10% ROYAL LEPAGE IN CANADA D ire ct: O ffice : 825-5063 338-3737 % 5 N a tio n a lly E-m ail:BRADSHOME@aol.com Top WEDGEWOOD CREEK Great location for this 4 bedroom home with an open concept floor plan. Upgrades include kitchen with built-ins & lots of hardwood. Pool sized lot. Call Brad to view this fine property. Four bedroom home with lots o f hardwood. Sitting room off master. Great layout. Call BRAD now to see this home! GLEN ABBEY Loads of potential for this split level home on a large treed lot. In-law suite with beautiful family room. Call BRAD for details. Well maintained spacious home close to everything. Fully finished basement. New windows throughout. · M EM BER O F TH E OA KVILLE & TORON TO REAL ESTATE BOARD · « 4