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The best way to protect your deck is to make sure you clean the surface prior to applying a water repellant product. Using a deck cleaner on the surface is key to removing oxidation, dirt, mould, mildew and dead wood fibers. Cleaners with brighteners in them can also restore the natural colour of cedar. Some believe that using a pressure washer by itself will clean the surface. Although a great tool in the right application it does not remove all the mould or mildew and can damage the wood surface by removing wood fibers.

Once the deck has been cleaned and has had time to dry you will want to protect against water damage and ultra violet rays. You may also like to add a little colour back into the wood. With the improvement of new products these days, you can clean your deck in the morning and protect it later in the day, say the research and development team at Thompson’s. Here are a few ways to do this effortlessly: Clean the surface with their brand line called Thompson’s WaterSeal Deck Wash, or with the Heavy Duty Cleaner. Protect it with their formula WaterSeal Advanced. It will protect your deck for years to come.

Ralph Swan is a wood care expert offering services to homeowners.

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A recent poll conducted by Leger Marketing for the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) showed that only one in four Canadians could easily locate their vital documents, so let’s make 2013 the year that we all get organized to lessen anxiety when the unexpected happens. Here are some suggestions to get on the right track:

Step 1: Collect all of your financial records such as insurance policies, bank account and safety deposit box information, investment statements and more.

Step 2: Collect your personal data such as wills, powers of attorney, social insurance numbers, passport numbers, health records, computer passwords, etc.

Step 3: Once you have all your records gathered together, set up a filing system to organize the information. The Virtual Shoebox, located at www.clhia.ca, is a free online tool that can help you save important personal and financial information in one place so that family members can easily locate them in an emergency.

Step 4: Make sure you store this information in a safe place such as a secured folder on your computer, a safety-deposit box, or in a locked fireproof box.

Step 5: Finally, be sure to tell key family members or friends or your lawyer where this information is stored so they can find it easily and quickly.

“It’s so easy not to think about it now, but taking a few minutes to organize important documents can be such a relief, especially when disaster strikes. Not only does it make our lives easier, but it can make a world of difference to a loved one who has to locate this information,” says Wendy Hope, the vice president of external relations for CLHIA. “Organizing key information can help save time and money, and lessen anxiety for all concerned.”

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But the study, released Tuesday, also found that price expectations vary widely, depending on where the home buyer lives in.

Click here to read more about First-Time Home Buyers in Canada.

Buying a home can also be a solid investment and provide tax benefits.

In Canada, you are not taxed on any investment gains made on the sale of your primary residence. So, for example, if you buy your home for $200,000 and sell it 5 years later for $250,000, you do not have to pay income tax on the $50,000 you earned from the sale.

Another advantage is each time you make a mortgage payment, you are putting a portion towards the principal balance of your mortgage, which builds equity in your home. This is a better use of your money than giving rent to a landlord and is a good long-term investment.

Owning a home also means that you can make your own decisions on decorating, home improvements, location, etc. In a recent survey conducted by Genworth Canada, 91 per cent of first-time homebuyers said that homeownership may mean more work but the effort is well worth it.

When it makes financial sense, buying a home is often a wise, secure and emotionally satisfying move to make.

For more information on buying a home visit Genworth.ca

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Whether you’re planning on cleaning a little bit every day or dedicating a weekend to cleaning, here are some quick and easy tips that will save time and energy and ensure that you’re not just thinking about cleaning, but actually getting it done:

Tackle one task at a time. It’s easy to get distracted when cleaning and organizing multiple rooms in the house at the same time, so stick to one. This will give you a more immediate sense of satisfaction and get you closer to the end goal.

Clean from top to bottom, literally. To prevent messing up areas that have already been cleaned, clean from the top working your way down. This ensures that all of the dust and dirt that may have fallen on the floor will get cleaned up.

Set up bins for declutteringand label them: Keep, Garbage, Donate. Having a visual representation of what you’re keeping can help you assess the space you need to house the items. If you haven’t used an item in the past year, chances are you can do without it.

Get into those hard to reach spaces. Rely on the help from ingenious little tools. A Swiffer Duster will easily clean behind cabinets, between blinds, and will reach the tiny nooks and crannies around your entertainment unit.

Pay attention to details. Another nifty tool called Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Select-A-Size will get rid of the toughest soils like scuffs, crayon or finger prints from walls. It’s the little details that will make the overall clean look really come together.

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1. Vacuum blinds often with the brush attachment. Vacuum across the slats, not up and down.

2. Use a lamb’s-wool duster, again working across the slats and starting at the top. Do not use plastic dusters.

3. When dusting or vacuuming vertical blinds, brush downward only, as the slats often become unhooked if you brush upward.

4. Use a rubber sponge, also known as a dry sponge (found at hardware and paint stores), to remove dust and residue from both fabric and vinyl blinds. Simply wipe the dry sponge firmly across the blinds.

5. For spot cleaning, spray an all-purpose cleaner onto a clean dry cloth and wipe the soiled area of the blind. Never spray the cleaner directly onto the blind.

6. You can wet wooden blinds when cleaning, but don’t soak them. Clean them in place instead of removing them as you would for other types of blinds.

7. If fabric blinds become very dirty, take them to a dry cleaner.

8. Do not try cleaning blinds by spraying them with a car-wash hose, dunking them in the tub or one slat at a time.

9. To clean metal and vinyl blinds, follow this method: Take the blinds outside to your patio or driveway and lay them on a small rug or piece of carpet. Put a few drops of dishwashing soap in a bucket of water. Wet a car-washing brush and brush the blinds from side to side, and then turn them over and brush the other side. Rinse the blinds gently with a garden hose while tilting them so that the water runs off. To prevent water spots from forming, quickly run your finger down the slats a couple of times to remove excess water. When done, drape the blinds over a fence or a couch to dry.

• Update your attic insulation. This will help to save on energy consumption and will keep your house cooler in the summer months. Popular is a product called Roxul RockFill. It is quick to apply and this one step will reduce the work (and energy bills) of your air conditioning unit during the dog days of summer.

• Clean out your gutters. During the fall, your home’s gutters may have been clogged with falling leaves. With spring showers in the forecast, this is a good time to clean them out and install gutter guards.

• Prep your deck for entertaining. A good clean will ensure that your deck space is inviting for summer entertaining and by tackling this task early you’ll have your feet up in no time. Also, pull out your patio furniture and give it a quick wash as it may have collected dust and dirt during the off season.

• Plan your gardens. Begin researching plants and consider planting perennials that will return each year. Fresh herbs and vegetables are also good choices to fill spaces in the garden and be a tasty addition to any dish.

Scott McGillivray is a full-time real estate investor, contractor, television host, writer, and educator.

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In the home, pollutants and airborne allergens can penetrate even the smallest of gaps and combined with airborne moisture, the potential for breathing problems is high.

Canadians typically spend around 90% of their time indoors, so improving indoor air quality is an investment in lifestyle comfort and well-being.

One smart solution for homeowners is spray foam insulation since it helps minimize the potential of respiratory distress. The air-sealing qualities of spray foam insulation (like that available from Icynene), helps reduce the infiltration of pollutants, airborne allergens, and airborne moisture. The materials work to insulate and air seal a home by expanding up to 100 times its size within seconds to fill any gaps and cracks within the building envelope. It is these qualities that work to mitigate the potential of airborne irritants from entering the home. In addition to helping alleviate respiratory distress, spray foam insulation works to provide constant indoor comfort and protection as well as the opportunity to noticeably reduce energy bills. More information can be found online at www.icynene.com.

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“The trick is to bring home a few tester cans in various shades of the same colour to see how it looks in your space,” says blogger Jennifer Flores of Rambling Renovators. “The paint may look great in the store, but in your own home with the mix of natural and electric light the colour may be completely different.” Flores cites PARA Paints’ various shades of white from the bright white of Coconut Sugar (PF60) to the warmer White Chocolate (PF27) to cool, crisp Princess Cut (PF57) as each bringing a different energy to a room. Wall paint will also look different when it’s wet and will often dry to a lighter shade so having a test patch that dries completely is the best way to be sure.

Tips for Paint Perfection

• Flat or matte finish will absorb light and hide imperfections

- Best used in bedrooms, dining or living rooms

• Semi-gloss or high-gloss reflects light and is best used on perfectly smooth surfaces

- Best used on trim and doors, and is not recommended for walls

• Bring tester cans home and test patches of each on wall

• Natural and electric light can impact colour so be sure you see your paint test with both

• Talk to an expert at your local independent paint dealer

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Creating the Illusion of Space
One of the key issues with hallways is the lack of space. There are many techniques that can help to create the illusion of a larger area. A basic solution to this is to get creative with mirrors. Try to keep the mirrors a reasonable size with a frame that doesn’t protrude too far off of the wall. Another more creative solution is to consider the art of “trompe d’oeil”. This creative mural painting is designed to turn a flat space into a three-dimensional image which automatically gives the feeling of depth. While hiring a professional painter can be expensive, consider exploring your local art colleges for eager students to help. You can also “widen” your hall by deliberately painting the longer walls a lighter shade than the narrower ends.

Play with Paint
Creative painting can turn a bland hallway into a decorative space and it is something you can explore yourself. Create a faux-marble floor, or use one of many techniques such as feathering, sponging and more to make the walls more playful. Add your own art stencils or decals. Regardless of the decorative technique, keep in mind that you want to keep your colors light and bright to open up the space. Neutral tones work well to help blend into other areas of your home. Add a connected feeling by using a tone that is the same (or a shade lighter) as one of your main connecting rooms. This alone will make a difference.

Click here to read more great decor tips!