Re: Window Treatments?
 

Actually having visited my husband's home outside of Ottawa, my stepson's home in Halifax, my in-laws home in LaChine and Kanhawake and they, like myself here in New York, all use a combination of both on our windows. Blinds with curtains, drapery or just valances. The blinds are for privacy something that curtains do not allow and also, believe it or not, helps in cutting down on the loss of heat in the winter and cool in the summer when using a/c or stopping heat during the summer when the sun hits the windows.

Re: Window Treatments?
 

I looked at the red, blue and yellow polling bar chart and thought it was a general election poll :)

Window treatments is far more interesting eh!

Looks like it could be a hung parliament though :D :D

Drumroll....cymbal.............groan :p

Re: Window Treatments?
 

Funny that it is a neck and neck race for top place ;-)

Guess people don't like other forms of treatment ... now what would be "other"??? Beads, stainglass, plants, shades, shutters, etc.?

Re: Window Treatments?
 

People in North America also do not like carpet in the bathroom, which out of Europe as a whole only the British believe in for some unknown reason ;)

Re: Window Treatments?
 

I personally like blinds as they tend to look much better. I just find them a nightmare to clean. Any suggestions?

Re: Window Treatments?
 

Feather duster? Wet-wipes?

Re: Window Treatments?
 

Wet wipes are great for some many little misshaps around the home! that's given me an idea!

Re: Window Treatments?
 

He does a few for people who can't pay. Part 2 of one of those is tonight. Family with a handicapped child who built a wheelchair accessible addition that was such crap he is having to practically rebuild the entire thing (hence a 2 parter). He did mention in the first show that everything (time and materials) was donated because the family had no money left after getting a 2nd mortgage to pay the original contractor. I suspect this is just a special case though.

Re: Window Treatments?
 

Good PR.

Nice idea on the part of the TV company. To make a show that is largely paid for by the people it is featuring.

Re: Window Treatments?
 

Every times I watch Mike Holmes it astounds me how these crooks keep on getting away with what they do. After all, most of those homes the people spent thousands on getting a crap job.

I guess there are plenty of people who don't care whose lives they ruin.

Re: Window Treatments?
 

There certainly are! The one they concluded last night was a $70,000 addition that took $125,000 to fix. He said everything after the first shovel full of dirt they dug for it was wrong.

It makes you scared to even think about getting any work done on your house just seeing how many crooked and/or inept contractors are out there. Holmes does have a list on his website of the people he has used on the show, so you could hope that would be a safe group!

Re: Window Treatments?
 

It is frightening! We had problems with one of our houses in particular (brand new), less than one year after moving in, we had to replace the septic system, due to a really crap job. Cost us $15,000. It is very much a buyer beware society here, and the worst cases seem to be the big ticket items like houses and cars (used ones when it comes to cars, though).

One thing we've learned is, buying a brand new house (or indeed, having it built) does not neccessarily guarantee you no problems, or that it will be built to code. Building inspections are not worth the paper they're written on, just money for old rope in our experience, as is the 10 year home warranty (pretty much like the UK, really...lol) You just have to use common sense and hope for some luck thrown in ;)

Just wish I could find the "Mike Holmes" of Calgary :D

Re: Window Treatments?
 

Having just viewed about 15 homes in 2 days it struck me the variation in build quality there was. I'm lucky to know a bit about what to look for
eg:Patched up roof shingles = new roof needed soon.
Now I'm thinhking of project managing our own housebuild or buying a house with a heafty warranty. The R2000 homes seem to have a good standard and quality which of course you pay for.

Re: Window Treatments?
 

Check the windows too. There is probably a date stamp on them (on the side, between the panes). Anything over 10 years old will be iffy. Ditto hot water heaters, furnaces and AC units.

Re: Window Treatments?
 

Nice one! I'll remember that.

Also look for excessive condensation off windows (mildew and water stains on the bottom edges) telling you of poor ventilation or poor double glazing.

I noticed a lot of houses for sale at around 15 years old. I wondered if this is because the lack of maintainace has started to build up :confused: Or am I just too cynical?