Due to the ongoing safety concerns around dining out these days, the humble backyard grill ? already a fixture for many during the summer months ? has newfound appeal.
If you?re new to the grilling game or your current barbecue has seen better days, it might be time to go shopping. However, there are some key points to consider before you buy.
?One of the first things to address is fuel type,? said Garnett Tubman, sales associate with Barbecues Galore ? Calgary North.
Most new homes in Calgary ...
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posted in home tips
at Tue, 28 Jul 2020 15:00:59 +0000
Are You Ready For Storm Season?
As spring has turned to summer, more and more focus is shifting to outdoor activities and enjoying the wonderful summer weather. Unfortunately, not all of the weather is going to be so wonderful. Depending on where you live, you may face several severe storms during the summer as well as the usual summer storms and rain. Now is the time to prepare for storm season to make sure that you aren?t taken by surprise when bad weather hits.
Clean Your GuttersOne big ...
posted in home tips
at Sun, 26 Jul 2020 17:22:49 +0000
Tucked away just five minutes north of Airdrie and less than half an hour away from Calgary, the hamlet of Crossfield offers the best of small-town living, plus quick and easy access to the rich amenities of two vibrant cities.
It?s a fact that wasn?t lost on Creation Communities, a developer and homebuilder with a knack for identifying small, well-located towns that offer a connected, vibrant and affordable lifestyle.
?Crossfield is really safe. It?s a nice town to raise your kids in,? said ...
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Concrete has been used as a building material for thousands of years?the Romans used it as the Colosseum?s foundation, and a form of cement was also used to build the Great Wall of China. While concrete has been a foundation for modern-day buildings, bridges, roads, and dams for centuries, it was 20th-century architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier who brought the use of concrete to the forefront of design.
In recent years, the use of concrete has moved into homes through ...
posted in home tips
at Thu, 23 Jul 2020 21:19:49 +0000
Nelson, British Columbia is a vibrant and engaged counterculture community of more than 10,000 residents. With palatable winters ranging from -5 C to 5 C, Nelson instills instant meteorological envy across Canada.
Known as the ?Queen City,? Nelson is a breath of fresh air. Located in B.C?s southern interior, on the extreme West Arm of Kootenay Lake (one of the largest lakes in the province). Vancouver and Calgary are both a one-hour flight from the nearby Castlegar Airport.
The restored ...
Atop the bluffs overlooking Lake Huron sits the port town of Goderich, Ontario. Known nationwide since Victorian times and hailed as the ?prettiest town in Canada,? Goderich is rich with impressive architecture, stunning views, and combines small-town charm with world-class amenities.
Goderich has plenty to offer whether you?re moving to the area or just visiting?from Instagram-worthy beaches and an abundance of accessible parklands to heritage and culture, shopping, and great-tasting ...
In June, city council approved the revised Stage 1 alignment for the Green Line LRT project in a 14-1 vote. The future of the $5.5-billion infrastructure project, the largest in Calgary?s history, had been in doubt as recently as a couple weeks ago, when a handful of councillors started to walk back their support for the north-south LRT. However, after this week?s near-unanimous vote in council, construction could start as early as next spring and Stage 1 of the new line could be open as early ...
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As COVID-19 restrictions have been scaled back gradually during Alberta?s relaunch, many Calgarians have likely started thinking about their summer vacation plans. While travel to any far-flung destination, or even the United States, is looking inadvisable at best and actively dangerous at worst, a holiday within the province is firmly within reach. From last year, here is a roundup of popular Alberta vacation communities:
During the summer months, it?s always nice to be able to get away from ...
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A devastating hailstorm ripped through parts of Calgary on Saturday, shredding siding, breaking windows, pummeling vehicles and flooding streets.
The full extent of the damages caused by the storm remains uncertain, but Mayor Naheed Nenshi speculated the Calgary total could be as high as $1 billion ? a massive figure for a natural disaster that lasted for only 15-20 minutes. For reference, the estimated damages across Alberta from the 2013 floods totalled roughly $5 billion.
Based on the scale ...
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posted in home tips
at Sun, 12 Jul 2020 21:27:32 +0000
After an unusual spring spent mostly cooped up inside, summer?s onset promises brighter days.
Summer is also a great time to notice the areas around the home that are especially in need of a refresh. This is where Alykhan Velji, principal at Alykhan Velji Designs, is focused for summer 2020.
?The spaces that we tend to forget about but once you put the focus on them, you can really get the full benefit of using them,? he said.
?It is all about keeping it light, fresh and working with what you ...
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posted in home tips
at Sat, 11 Jul 2020 20:11:24 +0000
Despite the gradual reopening of businesses and other public spaces as part of Alberta?s relaunch strategy, COVID-19 still loom large in our daily lives several months into the pandemic. As a result, the humble backyard might be where many Calgarians spend much of their time outdoors this summer ? whether they?re seeking sanctuary or a place for small, physically distanced gatherings with friends and family.
So, there?s no time like the present to make the most of that space. Here are six easy ...
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The communities of Upper and Lower Mount Royal have long been home to an eclectic mix of everything Calgary?s real estate scene has to offer.
Promoted in Calgary?s early days as an exclusive neighbourhood by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), Mount Royal was originally known as American Hill, due to the large number of Americans who settled in the area. Its current name is an homage to the Montreal community that was home to CPR president William Cornelius Van Horne.
The community was annexed ...
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A new survey shows some Canadians believe they are forever renters, but Alberta builders point to growing list of affordable options.
Alberta?s new home builders are weighing on a recent survey finding a significant number of Canadians believe they may never be able to own a home.
The survey by the personal finance site Finder.com found about one in 10 surveyed believe they will be forever renters.
Yet builders interviewed by the Calgary Herald note the industry offers a wide selection of new ...
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When the end came, it was just like Tom and Mary had imagined. Supply chains started to crumble. Millions of Americans lost their jobs. Grocery stores ran out of food. The nearly retired couple wasn?t going to wait for society to collapse. They hopped in their camper van and drove 19 hours to South Dakota. ?To come here and experience it in person is like walking the Grand Canyon for the first time,? Tom says. But it?s not the Grand Canyon. It?s a doomsday bunker.
Tom and Mary are living at ...
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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many Calgarians have lost their jobs, been furloughed (i.e., temporarily laid off) or seen their working hours reduced. If this has happened to you and you own a home, the loss of income could, understandably, make it difficult to keep up with mortgage payments.
If you are in a situation where you?re having trouble making payments or know you cannot pay your mortgage, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) recommends exploring a variety of ...
posted in home tips
at Sun, 05 Jul 2020 17:06:08 +0000
Put away those down-filled parkas and stash the winter boots?spring has arrived! With longer days and warmer temperatures, it?s time to make the most of this season by rejuvenating your homes? curb appeal.
If there?s one thing I tend to put off every year, it?s refreshing the exterior of my house. By the time I think I?m ready to put in the effort, it?s August. Why bother, right?
The truth is tackling your home?s curb appeal is not hard or even expensive. With all of us staying home to put an ...
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posted in home tips
at Fri, 03 Jul 2020 14:50:50 +0000
The City of Brampton, Ontario recently launched Canada?s first city-wide backyard garden program, designed to help alleviate food insecurity in the area due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative encourages citizens to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruit outdoors and donate their harvest to local food banks. The Brampton Backyard Garden Program supports residents with free soil and seeds, along with tutorials and gardening tips.
?Gardening has the potential to build communities,? ...