Tips and advice on maintaining your home.

May is BBQ Month, and with promise, the weather will return to sunny, favourable conditions soon. Now is the perfect time to get your patio or deck ready for sun and grilling with family and friends!

Here's some quick tips for cleaning your patio:

For Wood Patios:

  • Clean off debris from your deck
  • Inspect for damages: loose boards, nails or rough spots
  • Replace boards if necessary
  • Replace or fix protruding nails
  • Smooth/sand out any rough spots (may need to repaint or restain these spots)
  • Use a deck cleaner (available at hardware stores, ask about the best type for your material)
  • Wear protection when using the cleaner, and hose off patio with water after 20 minutes

For Concrete Patios:

  • Check for weeds that tend to…

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It's patio season—that time of year when your backyard becomes another living space. A lot of people will be building decks this over the next few months, so here are some helpful tips we came across to help you pick the right materials for the job.

Whether you plan to do it yourself or hire a pro, the key to success is factoring in all the critical design issues, picking the right material for your budget, climate, and lifestyle, and building a structure that will stand the test of time. [This Old House]


CHOOSING THE WOOD 

  • Cedar resists moisture, rot and insect infestations.
  • Douglas fir is very strong, and handles to power tools well. It is also decay, mold and insect repellant.
  • Redwood is easy to work with, naturally…

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The temperatures in Calgary are (slowly) dropping, and Fall is the time to really take on your fireplace maintenance, so that you're ready for the winter weather when it arrives. Regular maintenance on your fireplace each year will ensure it's always working properly, and save you money from future repairs.

Wood Burning

  • Clean the chimney, creosote and ash can be fire hazards when you go to light it.
  • Replace any broken or deteriorated lining. 

Gas Burning

  • Have the appliance serviced by a qualified technician, this will prevent permanent damages from occurring so it's worth the cost. 
  • The airways of both the pilot and main burners should be regularly cleaned.
“The seal that goes around this glass door is your only defense…

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Colder temperatures can mean big changes for your home, so this time of year is perfect to tackle some of those home maintenance chores early. We came across a great checklist in Better Homes and Gardens recently, and there were some great tips in there like this one: 

Your roof's drainage system annually diverts thousands of gallons of water from your house's exterior and foundation walls. That's why it is so important to keep this system flowing smoothly. Clogged gutters can lead to damaged exterior surfaces and to water in your basement. They are also more prone to rust and corrosion. Before the leaves fly this fall, have your gutters cleaned, then covered with mesh guards to keep debris from returning.

If you don't have time to read the full…

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No matter where you live, diligence when it comes to your security should be on your top priority. Here are a few tips to make your home more secure:

Change all the locks when you move to a new home

For you to avoid someone you don’t know from having access to your home, you should change all of the exterior locks whenever you move into a new home or if you lose your keys.

Install locks on all exterior entrances

Choose deadbolts with the highest quality to ensure the highest standards for your security. There are many quality deadbolts available in the market. Quality deadbolts should be installed on all exterior doors. Also keep in mind to look windows. Statistics show that 33.2% of home robbery are not forced entries meaning over 154,000…

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It's almost that time of year again, when your backyard becomes another living space. A lot of people will be building decks this over the next few months, so here are some helpful tips we came across to help you pick the right materials for the job.

CHOOSING THE WOOD

Cedar resists moisture, rot and insect infestations. 

Douglas fir is very strong, and handles to power tools well. It is also decay, mold and insect repellant.

Redwood is easy to work with, naturally decay-resistant and should avoid warping and splitting.

Exotic wood choices are the most durable but also more expensive. Most exotic options are environmentally-friendly as well.

CHOOSING THE FINISH

Clear water sealer  is a transparent finish that provides dampness protection…

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mold in house

Yes, spring is finally here! But, we should not forget that with the anticipation of warmer weather this season, we will always be met with a lot of precipitation too.

With rain, hail or even snow (as much as we hate to admit it), comes moisture and moisture is never good for your home. When excess moisture goes unnoticed in your home, mold can form. To understand mold a bit more, let’s go back to the basics.

Where does house mold come from?

The reproduction of mold occurs through tiny spores, that are present in outdoor and indoor air. The growth of mold indoors occurs when mold spores land on wet surfaces. 

What does mold look like?

Mold can look like spots. It can be many different colors, and it can smell musty. If you see or smell…

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The nationwide Royal LePage agent rankings were released earlier this week, and Kirby Cox and Associates is proud to have been named number one in Calgary, number one in Western Canada and number four in Canada.

Kirby Cox is one of Calgary's top producing REALTORS® and has been working in the industry for nearly 30 years, selling over 300 Northwest Calgary homes for sale each year. Our team has now held a spot in the national top ten list for Royal LePage for six years!

This is Kirby Cox and Associates' fourth consecutive year as number one for Royal LePage in Calgary, and actually an increase from our seventh place spot in Canada last year.

We want to share our gratitude with our valued clients and fellow agents, especially at this time of year.…

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