The project can be specially tailored to conform to the space and topography you have in your yard. First of all, don’t forget to work with local building officials to ensure your planned deck meets building code requirements for safety in your municipality.

You’ll want to have detailed plan drawings to help organize and direct the project. Overhead plan and elevation drawings will be required.

Before building, it’s important to know the key building blocks of your deck — posts, beams, ledgers and joists. Pressure-treated lumber (required by most building codes these days) is recommended for its durability and economy.

The other parts of a deck include the decking, facing, railings and stairway. Redwood or cedar are possibilities for these sections of the project.

Concrete footings with post anchors (galvanized steel are suggested to resist corrosion) are required to hold the deck posts in place. In cold climates, footings must be deeper than the solid frost line.

The posts will transfer the weight of the deck to where it should be — on the footings, while the beams provide structural support. Joists support the decking and can be adorned with redwood or cedar for enhanced appearance.

The structure will need to accommodate load weights comparable to the maximum number of people and deck furnishings you expect to have at any one time. The size of the deck and spacing of its structural members will help to determine what lumber to use. You will also want to consider the type of soil that will support the concrete footings, whether it be clay, gravel or sand. Check with your local utilities for the location of underground electrical, telephone or water lines.

Buy decking boards that are sufficient length to span the width of the deck. If you wish, there are a few new alternatives to wood on the market. They may initially be a bit more expensive but composite materials blending wood fibres, and recycled plastic carry lifetime warranties, and they can be quite a bit cheaper in the long run.

If your plans meet code, you will be issued a building permit, which usually involves a small fee.  Field inspections may be required at specific stage of construction, so make sure to be up to speed on these requirements.

If the project is beyond your comfort level, an expert ACCL carpenter can offer his skills to make your dream backyard a reality. Visit us at www.acclgroup.com. Or call us 416-759-7407, 1-866-701-8484.

By the way, check us out on Facebook.com.

Foundations may leak for many different reasons — from mould buildup or perhaps a congested weeping tile system, where the weeping tile can no longer flow due to a blockage of fragments, soil and/or tree roots.

Before you embark on any particular waterproofing journey, though, it’s a good idea to find out what the source of your problem is, so that you’ll know how to best attack the issue.

Here are some helpful tips:

▫ Damp walls, the buildup of mildew and mould, dripping pipes and rusty hardware are all signs of condensation. This can be the result of excess humidity inside or major differences between the temperature inside and that of the wall.

Possible solutions include installing a dehumidifier, improving ventilation or insulating the foundation walls.

▫ Dampness on or near the floor is generally indicative of seepage. In that case it means that surface water is forcing itself up through the foundation or an expansion joint. The culprit could be poor roof drainage, a window well or a clogged drain tile.

The answer in a case such as this is to improve surface drainage. An interior sealer might work if the leak is only minor, but if not, waterproofing the foundation from the outside may be necessary.

▫  If a leak is the source of your problem, it is going to manifest itself in the form of localized wetness, oozing or perhaps the trickling of water from a foundation wall or floor. The problem may have started from such things as cracks coming from normal settling, defective roof drainage, a grade that slopes towards the wall or a clogged drain tile.

It may be possible to plug a single leak from the inside. If not, the answer is to dig down deep and work from the outside.  In this case, you would waterproof  the entire foundation wall, install drain tile and slope the grade away from the wall.

▫  Subterranean water will sometimes leave behind a thin film of water on the floor. To test and see,  just lay down a sheet of polyethylene for a few days and check to see if moisture is penetrating and dampening the concrete underneath. A high water table could very well be the guilty party, forcing water up under high pressure from beneath and, in effect, turning your basement into a well. This problem commonly manifests during rainy periods.

A sump pump may be the only solution. If you’re lucky, you may be able to simply install drain tiles around the perimeter of the foundation or the floor, but that generally will only work if connected at a lower depth or to a storm sewer.

ACCL can fix anything from a small leak to a more seriously flooded basement. Cracks in the foundation allow water to enter into the basement.

Waterproofing will prevent the foundation from leaking and moisture from getting through, allowing the structure to deteriorate.

Waterproofing can either seal your foundation from the outside or from inside. Sealing basement walls from the outside is always preferable, because you don’t have to move your furniture out or host any of our equipment. The most efficient and the least intrusive method is weeping tile installation around basement walls.

We offer you the highest standard in basement waterproofing expertise, methods and materials for your interior and exterior waterproofing, as well as concrete injection-sealing applications.

ACCL’s services include:

• Basement waterproofing
• Waterproofing a leaky basement
• Waterproofing exterior and interior walls
• Weeping tile installation
• Foundation waterproofing

Please contact us about receiving a free quote.

Check us out on Facebook.com .

The protective granular surface of shingles wears off as the asphalt, into which the granules are embedded, begins to harden over time. Bare spots are often accompanied by fine fissures on the shingles’ surface and by the accumulation of granules in the gutters.

The upward curling of shingle tabs makes them highly susceptible to wind and ice damage.

Damage can be caused by extreme wind conditions. Since shingles are supposed to shed water, broken, torn or missing tabs become entry points for water, especially on low slope roofs where run-off is slower and at the peaks of the roof where shingles are most vulnerable to high winds.

Clawing is the curling under of the shingle tab’s bottom edge and is part of the normal aging process of shingles. The bulge created is susceptible to substantial damage by wind, hail and ice.

Many problems occur at the flashings around vents and chimneys, and along walls and valleys. Problems in these areas are normally not visible to the untrained eye, but they are always likely candidates if you have a leak.

If you need a roof replacement or you just want to find out what condition your roof is in, give us a call. Our roofing specialists will be glad to help you.

ACCL can offer various forms of shingles — asphalt and designer shingles, cedar shakes, and pine shake conversions.

If you’re looking for a professional roof replacement contractor, then please give us a call today at (416) 759-8567 or complete our online request form.

First of all, it should be noted that not all waterproofing companies are what they say they are.

A sure sign that you are dealing with a water control system company, and not a “waterproofing” company, is that they will insist that all homeowners be present for the appointment. The company will not even send a representative to your home unless both spouses, or all owners, commit to listen to the pitch. When an appointment is scheduled under this condition, you can count on a presentation that relies on scare tactics and high pressure to achieve a one-call close.

Salespersons of a water control system tend to have very little technical knowledge. They are, however, very persuasive at delivering a canned presentation. Some will utilize fictitious customer testimonials and job portfolios to appear as a reputable company.

But be aware, these salesmen are trained to sell one system, and to sell at an inflated price. They may see 20 customers a week, with 20 different problems, yet they are delivering the same presentation every time. The salesman is not able to offer alternatives.

He is unable to offer less-costly options. He is required to always sell that one system, or stand-alone method. One sales tactic is if the salesperson is unsuccessful in convincing you to sign a contract, he will come up with an idea that can save you a lot of money. Inflated prices, drastically reduced present discount opportunities to achieve a “one-sit close.”

However, the only way you can take advantage of this terrific savings, is if you sign the contract now. The only customers who are not offered this special deal are the ones who agree to sign the contract at the opening price.

Finally, the water control system salesman may attempt to discourage you from receiving other estimates. This should always be a red flag to the customer. If they were confident in their product, and their company, they would encourage you to shop and compare.

Water control system salesmen are taught to exaggerate your problem. Using words such as major or critical, the purpose of the inspection is to create fear and a sense of urgency. The actual cause of the problem is unimportant to these companies, because the solution they will present is the same for everyone.

The inspection offers the salesman an opportunity to begin the scare tactics that ultimately sell a lot of waterproofing and mould remediation. Here you will be asked questions about your health. Do you have allergies, or respiratory problems? This is an opportunity to use unreliable and easily manipulated devices such as poor air quality, moisture or mould detectors.

That’s why these tests are offered FREE of charge by some mould remediation companies. Due to a conflict of interest between mould remediators and mould inspectors, any thoughtful homeowner should be weary if a mould remediator is offering mould testing and mould inspection services other than a visual inspection to estimate the cost of removal.

Certainly a dishonest remediator/inspector will want you to believe that you have severe hidden mould infestation, so that they can remove it. If there is visible mould growth present, an honest certified mould remediator and master waterproofer will inspect your basement to pinpoint the source of your mould problem first, in order to offer a problem-solving approach, instead of a one-size-fits-all solution.

If hidden mould is suspected, an honest mould remediation and waterproofing specialist will recommend contacting an independent inspector, whose report will determine the extent of remediation required, if any.

Many complaints result from customers not receiving what the salesman promised. Regardless of what the salesman tells you, if it is not specifically spelled out in the contract, you will not get it.

Water control system companies keep their contracts vague for a reason. A red flag should go up if you hear anything like: that it “will be up to the foreman”, or “we won’t be able to determine if this is needed until the job begins.”

Read all guarantees carefully. Many cover wall seepage only; others just floor seepage. Some even guarantee against water penetrating the subsoil walls and floor by installing a pressure relief foundation drainage system alone.

Drainage without foundation waterproofing will not prevent water from penetrating wall cracks, it will only prevent water from rising beneath the floor into the basement. You may have contracted with a company, because you were concerned about cracking, and damp spots on the wall.

A salesman may steer you to a system that does not address your problem, and, in fact, may make the problem worse. Nowhere in the guarantee does it state that cracking is covered. If your basement leaks, they will service it. If your wall bows, you are on your own.

Most water control system companies rely on a stand-alone interior drainage system and a sump pump to control the water. They may call it something different, but pipe placed under the floor that leads to a pump is a water control system.

Drainage is not waterproofing and should not be confused with waterproofing, or called waterproofing. Many companies that install interior drainage systems often refer to themselves as “waterproofing” companies, but, in fact, they don’t provide any type of waterproofing services at all. In order to gain a competitive advantage they combine the interior system with something else, usually some sort of outside work.

The outside work generally benefits the customer very little, and allows the company to drive up their price and appear different from the competition. Some companies, in order to eliminate the competition, actually price different methods as if they do them. They will price exterior waterproofing ridiculously high, the interior drainage method extremely low, and their other methods somewhere in the middle. If you ask for one of the methods they don’t use, you will be told they won’t do it because it will not work for you.

Other water control system companies have come up with different interior methods, on top of the footer or above the floor products. Although marketed extremely well, these systems fail in comparison to traditional drainage systems. If there is a leak, they will service it. If your wall bows, you are on your own.

Water control system companies tend to underpay their installers. This results in high turnover, and unhappy crews. They also apply a great deal of pressure requiring their crews to work fast.

When you have inexperienced crews cutting corners to bring jobs in on time, and not using the proper materials, is it any wonder that this industry disappoints their customers so often?

In the home improvement industry, and particularly in the basement waterproofing and mould removal business, coupons are generally added to the cost, prior to the homeowner receiving a price. Besides tracking advertising, one of the purposes of asking you where you heard about the company, is to determine if you are going to present a coupon, so the price can be adjusted accordingly.

Notice that the same companies offering a winter discount, will offer spring savings, summer specials, and fall bargains. As for discounts, ACCL Waterproofing Systems believes in offering our best price up front and all the time. We will not offer an “if you buy now discount” or a “Special $500 off coupon”.

The difference between us and other companies starts with our installers and ends with the materials we utilize. ACCL Waterproofing Systems has attracted the best of the best. We put experience into every job. When you have good people who care about their customers, as well as their company, it shows. At ACCL Waterproofing Systems, our focus is on quality, not quantity, outcome, not income …it’s that simple. When you do things right each and every time, you are usually rewarded for it.

When you hire ACCL Waterproofing Systems, you receive the highest level of business excellence, the correct solution, a fair price, and superior quality installation.

Here are a few basic things to keep in mind:

It’s a good idea to insulate floors over basements, porches, garages, or other unheated zones.

In a case where the joists are covered (for example, a finished garage ceiling), be sure to use loose-fill blown insulation. An open joist situation requires batts, blankets, or rigid points.

Blankets or batts can be employed if the spaces between the joists aren’t chopped up with lots of pipes, wiring, ducts or bridging. Rigid planks allow you to drop below obstacles, but be careful to check local building codes first.

You’ll need to give special attention to achieving good coverage at joists and headers near the floor’s edges.

Cold slab floors are a particular challenge, because you can’t get material under them where it really helps the most.

For the do-it-yourselfer, a utility knife, hammer and saw are essentials on this project.

By the way, check us out on Facebook.com .

Stick to basic appliances. Instead of a lot of appliances and gadgets, you may consider having a commercial quality gas range. This will also lessen the unnecessary clutter in the kitchen.

Use quality materials for durability and lesser maintenance.

Install an island that works.  This will help increase the efficiency of the activities in the kitchen. 

 Limit new materials. Buying new flooring, cabinets, etc. can be expensive. If you can reuse existing kitchen appliances and fixtures, do so.

 Use proper colour and lighting to increase the aesthetics of your kitchen.

Change the look of your cabinets. You may open them up by removing the doors or changing the colour of the cabinets.

Always remember, a kitchen renovation can increase the value of your home. Be sure to have proper planning before starting any major kitchen makeover.  Have a vision, talk to an expert, then decide on your next steps. Good luck!

Solid - A solid constructed wood floor can be milled from a single piece of timber. Solid wood has many limitations due to the natural characteristics of wood. Expansion and contraction of wood from moisture and temperature fluctuation puts many dimensional restrictions on solid wood floors. However, if well-maintained, solid wood floors will retain their value better than engineered woods.

Types of Solid Wood Floors:

Strip Flooring – Defined by thickness and width of the wood planks. It usually has the width set but the thickness can vary.
Plank Flooring – Plank flooring only comes in two thicknesses, but unlike strip flooring, the widths can vary.
Parquet Flooring – Pieces of wood floor form into a pattern or design, most often geometric in nature.

Engineered – Wood Flooring products constructed in various layers, with grain alternating in opposite directions. Engineered flooring is produced by adhering layers of plastic laminate veneer with real wood. It should not be confused with laminated wood flooring,  because laminated floors don’t contain any actual wood.  This has become very popular due to it’s low cost.

Acrylic Impregnated – These are wood floor products in which the wood grain has been injected with sealant and colour throughout the thickness of the wood, making it hard and durable. This is commonly used in commercial areas.  It is usually very hard and highly resistant to moisture and scratches.

There you have it. You are now aware of the types of hardwood flooring. Always remember, when choosing a hardwood flooring for your home, consider your budget, style of the room and room use.  This way you’ll be able to decide what hardwood floor is best for you.

Measurements – Be sure you get the right measurements for your window before you purchase. This will eliminate all the hassle of replacements and refitting to get the right measurement. If improperly fitted, your new windows will leak and water can penetrate the seals, causing them to rot. Unnecessary adjustments will entail additional costs.

Window Type & Style -  In choosing the window type and style, think of the versatility, durability and aesthetics it can add to your home. Replacement windows are a major investment and will be very crucial if you have plans to sell your home in the future. With a wide range and variety of vinyl to wood-finished windows from which to choose, it’s wise to select  a window type/style that will suit your needs. For example, if you want privacy, you may use a frosted window. If you want a window that will prevent heat from coming in, you can use double-glazed window.

Energy efficiency – To be energy-efficient, your window should be well-sealed and thermal. It should provide ultraviolet protection.  There are heat-absorbing glasses on the market that absorb heat emitted by the sun’s rays. You can also ask your contractor to lay down a reflective film coating to help reflect some of the sunlight. Controlling incoming heat can help save energy during summer and maintain coolness in your home during the cold season.

Security – You need to have a sturdy locking system to provide safety in your home.   You can ask your contractor for different safety locks or mechanisms that you can put in place. If you have children at home, you may also want to consider windows that are suitable for kids, such as those that will only open to a certain distance.

Easy maintenance – Choose a window style and type that is easy to clean. For example, a quality double-hung window should have a tilt feature that allows the homeowner easy access to cleaning the outside of the window.

Always remember that replacement windows are investments.  So in addition to the factors we discussed, you also need to make sure that the contractor you hire has a good track record. Do your proper research before meeting with them. This way you will know if they can meet your expectations. Consider the reputation and experience of the installation company you will hire.  Good luck with your window shopping!

Are they licenced and insured?

Are they covered for liability? Are you covered? Are they legally allowed to do the work? Do they have a health and safety policy?

How long have they been in the business?

What particular expertise do they practice?

Do they have references? Are you encouraged to visit or contact previous clients?

What are the results of their previous projects?

How many people will become part of the house renovation crew?

What about insurance coverage as stated on the contract?

Will your contractor get the building permits?

What are their work ethics? What will it be like to have them working at your home?

Do they give estimates or quotes? How long does it take for them to give an estimate?

What are the timeframes to complete the project?

What is your contractor’s billing policy?What are the terms for deposits and final payment?

Does your contractor take credit or debit cards as payment?

Does your contractor use subs?

Is there a warranty or guarantee on all contractor supplied work and materials? For how long? One year?

Ask them to talk about Construction best practices. Are they current on industry trends and environmental issues?

Does your contractor clean up each night? What is their cleanup policy?

Will your contractor put the project scope in writing?

Take your time as you choose the right contractor for your renovation. Consider the contractors reputation, experience, expertise, licenses and insurance, references and the price.  Be sure to look into several contractors first before finalizing your decision.

Why are you remodelling your bathroom? Be sure you renovate for the right reasons. Who knows at the end of the day if your current bathroom still suits your needs?

What is your budget? You may want to have a very luxurious bathroom, but that will all depend on your budget. Your budget will dictate the type of materials you will buy for your bathroom. So be sure to have a good vision of what you want your bathroom to be.

Will you hire a contractor or do it yourself? There are times when you have a good vision of your new bathroom. However, that vision needs to be translated to reality. A contractor has more experience and expertise in ensuring your bathroom meets the requirements you set and also works as expected (plumbing, electrical, etc).

What is the scope of your remodeling? Is it an overhaul or just minor changes?

Who will be using this bathroom? Is it for the whole family or just a spare bathroom for visiting friends? Will there be children who will use the bathroom?

Will you need storage cabinets for towels and linens?

Do you want to reuse or keep any existing fixtures?

What furniture do you need? It will all depend on the size of your bathroom.

Do you want shower only or shower with tub or toilet and bath?

What kind of lighting do you prefer?

Usually the main objective of undergoing a bathroom renovation is to increase its function and its beauty. Keep these questions in mind,  so that your renovation process will go smoothly.