DIY Paint Repairs!

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Easy Do-It-Yourself Paint Repairs

PAINT

Paint is considered to be the clothes of your house.  Although paint problems may look ugly and major, you can actually be saved from the obligation of calling a professional painter and spending huge amounts of money on them. You yourself can be your very own Picasso in doing paint  re touches of your house.

Break Down

sanding

All kinds of paint, whatever brand it may be, can only last for a specified number of years on your wall, before the break down process starts showing. When you are experiencing paint break down, it basically means that the first or primary layer on the surface is weakening.

This problem is commonly experienced in old houses that have several paint layers. When the break down process starts, paint will start cracking and peeling from your wall or your wood surface. Because of this, your wood or drywall will be exposed.

To fix this, try scraping or pressure washing your surface. After that, fill any holes using putty if it is wood or filler if it is a wall surface. After filling in, get a sand paper and fine sand the surface.

When you’re done, wipe of the dust and let it completely dry. Basically, when you pressure wash or when it is raining, 24 hours should be allotted for the surface to dry. Once you’re sure that it is dry, and then you can start painting.

Moisture Build-Up

Another cause of paint cracking is moisture build-up, leak or excessive condensation.

Most probably, you can find mildew and mold along with this problem. This kind of problem is often experienced in the bathroom. However, it can also
occur in other parts of the house because of leaky roofs and close outdoor shrubs. Your paint can sag down due to the moisture. But in this case, you won’t
see any chipping debris.

If moisture build-up is the cause of your pain cracking, then you would have to do another remedy.  Since you will be targeting on the mildew, and if it is an interior surface that you are fixing then you can make use of a solution that consists of three
parts water and one part bleach. If it is an exterior surface, you can wash it off using an exterior solution intended for pressure washers.

Both of these can be bought at your local shop. You can also try renting a pressure washer from some stores that provide services like these during the
weekend.

Fading Color

The last most experienced paint problem would be fading color. This is usually experienced with surfaces on the exteriors of the house. However, it can also occur indoors when specific colors were used for the walls. Basically, paint color fades when it
exposed too much to the sun.

To avoid this kind of problem, most people would try no to use bright and bold colors such as deep red. If you have an affinity for deep colors, but don’t like the fading ones, then try to look for hues which have a ruddy or golden tone with them.

You can try consulting a paint associate about this.  Try to find out how much red oxide or yellow oxide colorant was mixed for the specific color that you want. Basically, if the paint associate says that each colorant has about 1 ounce or so in the tint base to
create the color, then you have spotted a color that can resist fading for a very good period of time.

Black and White Ideas for Decorating your Home

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When people think about making changes to their home, either one or two rooms or the entire space, most often they imagine color. Generally people choose colors they are fond of or those which correspond with pieces of furniture. When searching for ideas for decorating a home, one idea which is perhaps overlooked is decorating with the two basic colors – black and white. black and white

Black and white, used in decorating, creates drama and pizzazz. It is said that every room can benefit by using a touch of black. Black is a color which anchors and grounds a room. Adding sophistication, black is definitely a color that demands attention.  Ideas for decorating a home using black may include accessories such as light fixtures, trim or furniture. Black serves to add definition to focal points of a room. Black is just one color that stands out or makes a statement.

black and white 3

Using black and white when decorating a home, provides a clean, fresh, elegant atmosphere. This combination can be added to any room in a home making it a sophisticated space. Black and white are often used in contemporary home decorating and often used to accent other colors in French Country design. It may be hard to visualize but there are many ideas for decorating a home using only these two basic colors. The floor is a great place to start in decorating a space. Black and white vinyl tiles laid alternately makes a beautiful checkerboard pattern and looks clean and elegant. Black marble used on the floor, accented by wide white baseboards, another beautiful idea for decorating a home. White ceramic tiles with a black border or simply paint the floor black or white and use stencils of the opposite color for decoration. These are great ideas for decorating a home.

black and white floor     black white floor

White walls, is there anything more perfect? Painting the walls white or even an off-white, would make a perfect background for accessories such as artwork framed in black. That you can imagine. Elegant black window treatments or black shutter against a clean, crisp white wall would definitely create an aura of sophistication. Perhaps a glass-top table with black iron trim and black chairs, these are terrific ideas for decorating a home using black and white.

black window treatments

A bedroom decorated using black and white would be lovely. An iron bed-frame in black or white, covered with a striped black and white comforter. For the pillow shames, you could use either all black or all white and could add throw cushions in the opposite color. A nice leather black or white chair in the corner would be certainly accent the room. Then the white walls with an elegant piece of artwork, framed in black hanging on it, this would surely add to the contemporary feel.

black and white bedroom2black and white bedroom

Ideas for decorating a home, there’s tons out there for you. Finding one that suits you and those that live in your home is important.  It’s nice to do something radical and off-the-wall but remember you must be able to live with it for awhile.

Hope you Enjoyed!

Lilly Cordeiro

Sunlight Heritage Homes

Packing 101

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While your dream home is being built you should start thinking about packing up your things from your old home.  Follow these steps for a stress free move!

moving

1. A Couple Weeks before Moving- start packing up non essential items.  Such as extra dishes that wont be used, linens etc.  Starting early will give you time to go through everything and throw out what you no longer need.

The week Before you move you will want to stop buying food as well.  You wouldn’t want to be moving with lots of perishable foods to lug around.

2. Days Before Moving- Set aside any clothing and food you will need to get you up until your move in date.  Anything else should get all packed up.

Anything you don’t want to bring can get sold or donated, no need to being extra loads with you.

3. The Night Before- Create an ‘ Open Me First’ Box for easy access to things on move in day.  Pack in here things such as phone charges, any mediations etc.

Make sure you are labelling each box with a marker so that you know where to bring the boxes once you are at your new home.

These tips Should help make your move easy breezy.  Packing and Moving doesn’t have to be stressful as long as you have a plan in place.

Have you gathered any packing tips? If so share them with us!!

Spice Up Your Decor with Pattern!

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Whether you’re a neutral lover or love a good scheme of color blocking.  A well-chosen pattern is a great way to tie together a color scheme. Here are some ways to bring pattern into your décor.

Some may say this room is very busy and overwhelming, a different black and white pattern on every side chair? How?? This works because the scale of the print is the same throughout.  Adding some solids throughout help balance everything and end result= a gorgeous space!

Repeating a motif in different colors and sizes, is a great way to tie in pattern into a space without it looking too overwhelming.  This contrasting palette picks up the print and keeps this space from looking too matchy-mathcy.

Loving this Bold look! Simply Choose a color from the wallpaper and run with it.  This Olive green and fuchsia color are complementary, which is why they work so well together here. Whenever in doubt always refer back to the color wheel 🙂
Where can you use this pattern, Everywhere! Wallpaper, draperies, bedding, pillows and upholstery.  A stripe that pulls out a less-obvious color in the floral pattern — that way the room will look less “decorated or matchy”.  This is one of my favorite color schemes.
Hope you enjoyed these inspirations.
Lilly Cordeiro
Sunlight Heritage Homes

Bathroom Backsplashes

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Have you ever thought of adding a backsplash to your bathroom sink? Backsplashes help to protect the wall from water damage, all of the different materials and colors that backsplash comes in these days this can create a beautiful feature and transform the feel of your washroom.

You can either extend the backsplash over an entire wall or create a linear column directly behind the sink and mirrored area.  Here is a perfect chance for you to incorporate color into your washroom.  Perhaps choosing the same type of tiles used throughout just changing the color from white for example to a blue like below with a contrasting unexpected colored grout.
A few more photos of backsplashes …
Traditional Bathroom by Cambridge Architects & Building DesignersFrank Shirley Architects

Top 10 Kitchen Upgrades!

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Over the years we have gathered what most people are wanting to incudes in their future home Kitchens.  Here’s our Top 10 Upgrades to include in your Kitchen. 1.  Extended/Raised Breakfast Bar– This adds some Character to your Kitchen along with a space for yourself of Kids to have a quick breakfast or casual lunch/dinner.

2. Pot & Pan Drawers- What better way to get all of your pots and pans in one area and to keep them organized!
3. 36″ Upper Cabinets- with our standard being 30″ this is a great and simple upgrade to help you get that grand look in your kitchen.  Although this photo shows the upper cabinets with soffit and detailed crown molding.  You can still see the difference in the actual cabinet height.
4. Crown Molding – Finish off those extended 36″ Upper cabinets with a sleek crown molding.
5. Microwave Upper Shelf- Usually our Kitchens dont come with a shelf to include a microwave if you are not getting it as a Over The Range Unit.  This is a great space saver and a unique touch to your kitchen.
6. Corner Pantry – Maximize your Storage Space with this built in Corner Pantry.
7. Deep Cabinet Over Fridge- This will frame your fridge nicely and allow you to get better access to the cabinet above as it will be flush with your fridge and not so far back.
8. Quartz Counters- Selecting Quartz over granite will allow you to get a more consistent pattern in your stone.
9. Soft Close System-  Soft–close door hinges and drawers glides are a must have.  This allows you to shut doors and drawers with one push and no slamming.
10.  Light Valence & Under Cabinet Lighting- This will add that extra light and brightness into your kitchen.  Highlighting backsplash, the light valence finishes off the look of your cabinetry and hides your under cabinet lights.
This list is also printed off in our design centre kitchen for you.  We hope you enjoyed our must haves for kitchen upgrades!
Lilly Cordeiro- Sunlight Heritage Homes

Incorporating Pastels into your Home

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Lilac, baby pinks and baby blue’s aren’t just for children anymore. These soft and gentle hues can make such an impact in any room.  Incorporating them as an accent or a bright statement piece. While searching www.houzz.com I found some pretty interesting pieced available for purchase in their shop.

1. Distressed wood plank wall paper.  This would create a fantastic accent wall in a nursery or home office!

2. Touch of color, Storage and Functionality.  This piece would work great as a bench in a mudroom paired with a few pillows.  Or a coffee table in your living room!
3. Color with lighting? Genius, I love the fact that lighting these days are so versatile and come in various colors.

4. Another type of lighting, the light wood with hombre pastel. Very modern look.

5. This steel stackable chair we actually have in our head office in a brushed nickel color.  I have seen them before in a bold red, who knew they came in all sorts of soft pastels!

6. This is a whole other take on wall mount lighting.  Can you say unique?  Have this installed over a reading chair or a corner with your chez lounge.
7. This light wooden framed chair features a zig-zag of linear angled wood, which creates a durable and solid frame.  Both the seat and the back cushions are made with medium density foam, which makes them extremely comfortable.
Some fantastic ideas on how to incorporate pastels into your home décor.  I hope this has inspired you to think outside the box when it comes to finishing your home.
Lilly Cordeiro
Sunlight Heritage Homes

Outdoor Looks

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The weather is finally warming up and with that our outdoor patio looks are staring to come together.  Today I share some of my favorite backyard patio looks with you.

outdoor1

This is such a simple look, by just adding a pop of color with a few outdoor pillows.  Comfort and Style!

outdoor2

Simple Neutral and Rustic, you cant go wrong there.  I love the use of the wine barrels  as end tables.

outdoor3

Of course the very much On-Trend Black and white.  Mixing it with greens and neutrals creates a nice outdoor balance.

outdoor4

Bright and Colorful, Mixing different accent pieces along with different prints and colors from all over the color wheel.

outdoor5

Love the curtains this helps create a very relaxing atmosphere, the calming blues and greens brighten up the space perfectly. Creating that serene backyard getaway look.

We hope this gets you a little more excited for the warmer months ahead!

Lilly Cordeiro

Sunlight Heritage Homes

How High Should Your TV Be?

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Mounting A Television

Ever wonder how high you should be mounting your TV?

Well, if you haven’t you really should consider taking a look and seeing if your TV is mounted correctly.  If your television is mounted to high you might end up with regrets and literally a pain in your neck!

So when you‘re considering only the ideal height to place your TV.  You should include the height of the typical viewer and the size of the television itself.

You can measure your television and do the math yourself.  However the typical viewer seated on a sofa would typically be 42″ off the floor.  If the television will only be used for viewing seated on a sofa, that is 12ft away from the television.  Either a 55″ or 60 ” would work in that space.  However larger television have also been used.

Let’s say you select a 60-inch television. A 60-inch television is about 32 inches high, meaning the center of the screen will be at 16 inches from the bottom of the television. Most sofa seating heights are close to 18 inches above the floor, and eye level for an adult seated in a relaxed manner is about 24 inches above the seat.

That puts the center-of-television height for a typical seated viewer at 42 inches (18 inches + 24 inches). So that 60-inch television should be installed with the bottom of the screen at 26 inches above the floor.

Hope this post has helped you achieve a more comfortable atmosphere for relaxing and watching TV.
Lilly Cordeiro
Sunlight Heritage Homes
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

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Have some questions for us? This weeks blog post we answer all of your questions and more.  Enjoy!

Q:  What makes Sunlight Heritage Homes Limited different from other homebuilders?

A:   Customer Focus – commitment and service, Reliability, Product and Design, Value

Q:  How many years has Sunlight Heritage Homes been in business?

A:  Sunlight Heritage homes was established in 1988. However, Manuel Ribeiro, our president has been in the industry for over 30 years.

Q:  What other communities has Sunlight Heritage Homes built?

A:  Completed or communities currently in progress are:

  • Cedar Hollow, Fox Field and Westbury International in London
  • Phase 2 in Drayton
  • Grasslands and Huron Village in Kitchener
  • Laurentian Village in Kitchener
  • Clair Hills in Waterloo
  • Custom homes in Cambridge, Waterloo, St. George, Scotland, New Hamburg, North Dumfries, Castlewood Place, Clair Meadows, Devil’s Creek Country Club Estates

Q:  Is Sunlight Heritage Homes registered with the Tarion Warranty Corporation?

A:  Sunlight Heritage Homes is a registered builder with the Tarion Warranty Corporation. Among our many achievements, we have maintained the highest rating of excellence since our inception.

Q:  What kind of houses does Sunlight Heritage Homes build?

A:  We build a variety of homes to suit our homeowners’ needs and have a large supply of plans that include bungalows, split levels, two-storey, back splits and walkouts. You name it – we can build it!

Q:  What type of warranty is offered by Sunlight Heritage Homes?

A:  By carefully selecting premium products and professionals, Sunlight Heritage Homes provides you with the assurance that your home is built with the quality you expect. For every home we build, we include the following warranties:

  • Sunlight Heritage Homes Limited One Year Warranty on defects for workmanship and materials.
  • Sunlight Heritage Homes Limited Two Year Warranty on water penetration above or below grade and defects in materials or workmanship of the electrical, plumbing and heating delivery and distribution systems.
  • Tarion Seven Year Warranty (Purchaser paid) on major structural defects and septic systems.

Q:  What is included in a Sunlight Heritage Home?

A:  As each home is different and tastes vary, it is best to refer to your Agreement of Purchase and Sale to determine what is included in a Sunlight Heritage Home.

Q:  Is GST included in the price of a Sunlight Heritage home?

A:  Home prices include the GST and take into consideration potential rebates. When referring to our price list, please keep this in mind; not all builders include the GST in their list prices. Please also note that rebates are based on specific criteria outlined by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.

Q:  What is an Agreement of Purchase and Sale?

A:  An Agreement of Purchase and Sale is a Legal contract between you, as the Purchaser, and Sunlight Heritage Homes Limited as the Builder/Vendor. It sets out in writing the details of the home Sunlight Heritage Homes Limited will be building for you. It will also have attached to it a number of schedules dealing with several aspects included with the purchase of your new home. These schedules form a part of the agreement and will include, but are not limited to, any conditions of the agreement (i.e. financing, approval of the plans by a third party, solicitor approval etc.,) the payment structure of the agreement and any restrictions that run with the land that you should be aware of. (i.e. limitations on clotheslines, commercial or non-operable vehicles on the lot, alterations to the grading etc.). Your Sales Associate will be happy to review these documents with you and answer any questions you may have. However this is not meant as a substitute for Purchasers discussing the agreement with their solicitor.

Q:  Can my solicitor review the Agreement of Purchase and Sale before we sign?

A:  Sunlight Heritage Homes Limited is happy to forward our agreements to your solicitor prior to a purchaser signing them. In addition to this, the main body of our agreements contains a clause making all our agreements conditional upon the Purchasers solicitor’s approval. In this way should a purchaser wish to sign the agreement first, because of time constraints they may have, such as being in from out of town and have to get back, they can rest comfortably knowing that they still have the added protection of their agreement not becoming firm and binding until approved by their solicitor.

Q:  What is a Developer’s responsibility?

A:  The developer is responsible for the services to your home, for example, sewers, water mains, roads, street lighting. The developer enters into an agreement with the municipality to deliver such items to the new subdivision.

Q:  What is the price range of the community?

A:  Prices vary with each community. Our Sales Associate will be pleased to review our price ranges with you. Please keep in mind that changes made to a home may increase the price of a home. We will guide you through this process, so you are comfortable with your selections and your budget.

Q:  What are the lot sizes?

A:  Lot sizes vary with each community. Our Sales Associate will be pleased to review our lot sizes with you.

Q:  Are there lot premiums?

A:  Depending on the community, lot premiums may apply. Our Sales Associate will be pleased to review lot premiums with you.

Q:  We have our own lot. Can Sunlight Heritage Homes build on it?

A:  Absolutely! In addition to our development sites Sunlight Heritage Homes is proud to offer our customers our full range Custom Home Building Services.

Q:  We want to buy a Sunlight Heritage home but we need to sell our current home before we can fully commit to purchasing a Sunlight Heritage Home. What course of action should we take?

A:  We recommend that you discuss your options with our Sales Associate. In such an instance, Sunlight Heritage Homes may enter into an agreement with you that is conditional upon the sale of your current home. We do not proceed with construction until the waiving (or removal) of all conditions contained in your Agreement of Purchase and Sale and the contract becomes firm.

Q:  Can we reserve a lot? Is there a cost to reserve a lot?

A:  If you are interested in reserving a particular lot, we encourage you to do so. Without a reservation, another interested party may choose the lot you are considering. The reservation amount is dependent on the community. Please note that this amount is applied to your first deposit upon the signing of a purchase and sale agreement.

Q:  Can financing be arranged?

A:  Sunlight Heritage Homes is proud of its working relationship with a number of financial institutions and will be happy to assist you with your financing if requested. In addition often the institutions we work with offer Sunlight Heritage Homes’ customers preferred rates with prolonged commitment periods to accommodate construction time frames. Please ask your Sales Associate for details.

Q:  Are plans pre-determined or can they be modified to suit my needs?

A:  While we have chosen plans that we think will suit the community we are building, all can be modified to suit your needs. Each neighborhood will be distinguished for its character. To accomplish this, we avoid repetition in elevation designs and try to prevent side-by-side or across the street replication. Please check with our Sales Associates to determine if the lot you are considering has any pre-selections or limitations.

Q:  Is there a pre-determined exterior colour selection package?

A:  We consider streetscape to be very important. Generally, we do not provide pre-determined colour schemes. Exterior colours will be selected and reviewed in consultation with our Designer to prevent side-by-side or across the street replication. Please check with our Sales Associates to determine if the lot you are considering has any pre-selections or limitations.

Q:  Is there a model home available for a tour? Is a tour of a home under construction permitted?

A:  Depending upon the community you are considering a model home may be available for you to view. From time to time as we progress through our New Home Sites or as we move from a completed site to a new one a model home may not be available for viewing. Please contact our Sales Associate to determine if this is the case as you prepare to make your decisions. In addition we may be able to offer you an opportunity to view a home already under construction. However, due to insurance and Health and Safety Regulations we must insist that you are accompanied by a Sunlight Heritage Homes representative and that all Health and Safety requirements are adhered to.

Q:  Can we visit the site at any time or are pre-scheduled visits preferred?

A:  Due to Insurance and Health and Safety Regulations all site visits must be pre-arranged with a Sunlight Heritage Homes representative. Green tab Steel toed work boots and Hard Hat must be worn at all times. In addition to this being for your safety we are also available to answer any questions as they arise.

Q:  Can we take pictures of our new home’s construction?

A:  By all means feel free to take photos either from the street or when visiting the site accompanied by your Sunlight Heritage Homes Representative.

Q:  Can Sunlight Heritage Homes build in the winter?

A:  By taking the appropriate measures, we can most certainly build in the winter.

Q:  How and when do we make colour and product choices? Is there someone to assist in colour selections?

A:  You will choose exterior/interior colours and materials from our samples. Our samples are available for viewing in our Sales Centre. If there is something in particular you like that we do not have, if it is within our means and your budget, every effort will be made to obtain it for you.

Q:  What kinds of floor coverings are best for me?

A:  The old saying different strokes for different folks” was never more appropriate than when it comes to picking out floor coverings for you home. You should let your lifestyle and the make up of your family determine the types of floor coverings that will be used in different locations in the home. For instance, active families, with small children and pets, should look to the most durable floor coverings, especially in high traffic areas.

Q:  Should I consider upgrading the carpet in my home?

A:  Carpet is one of the most frequently upgraded items in new homes, and for good reason. At the time of initial purchase, the buyer has the best ever deal on upgraded carpet as most builder’s will credit the cost of the standard carpeting toward the cost of the upgraded flooring.

Q:  What should I consider in choosing colors for my home?

A:  Neutral colors are strongly recommended as they will match the furnishings you have now …and those you may choose in the future. Moreover, neutral colors may be a big help in facilitating the rapid sale of your home when it comes time to move up. Many a home sale has been nixed by an overbearing color that won’t go with the prospective purchaser’s furnishings. Additionally, lighter colors make rooms feel larger.

Q:  How should I prioritize spending my upgrade budget?

A:  It is a good idea to start with a list of all the things you want in your new home and then prioritize them before you begin the task of reconciling with the total amount you want to spend.

Q:  What is the construction time frame?

A:  When building a home, we take into account such things as special order requirements, materials and trade availability. As such, we set your closing date accordingly.

Q:  Will we be notified of delays?

A:  We recognize the importance of your closing date. Sunlight Heritage Homes makes every effort to foresee potential delays in order to rectify them before they occur. We intend to continue this practice, but if for any reason there is a delay you will be notified as soon as we become aware of it.

Q:  When is the landscaping completed? The driveway paved?

A:  In some locations these items are included in your agreement of purchase and sale while in others they are not. Please consult with your Sales Associate to determine which is applicable for the location you have chosen. For those locations where they are included these items are usually dealt with in spring or early fall.

Q:  Can we construct a pool, a fence or a deck?

A:  A homeowner may install a pool, a fence or deck as long as the Developer has given written approval and/or as long as it is in accordance with the Municipality’s by-laws and the proper permits are obtained. However, if you intend to do any of the above in future, it is best to check with us, as there may be restrictive covenants in your Purchase and Sale agreement.

Q:  What are your After-Sales service procedures?

A:  We are committed to our homeowners. In fact, we have a special section in our Homeowner guide to deal with this issue. For more details, our Sales Associate will be pleased to review our procedures.

Q:  What “other” costs should we be aware of?

A:  While this list is certainly not exhaustive, here are some of the costs you may incur:

  • Modifications and Upgrade charges
  • Interim Financing Costs
  • Legal Costs (usually includes solicitor and administration fees, land survey, title charges, etc.)
  • Ontario Land Transfer Tax
  • Tarion Warranty Corporation Fee
  • Realty Taxes
  • Telephone and Utility company hook-up and account set-up fees
  • Moving company charges

Q:  What is a supplementary tax bill?