Gail Fabiani

One of the most important tips when painting is to purchase good quality paint. Cheaper paints require more coats, they don't stand up as well and touchups can be obvious. In the long run, a cheaper paint will cost you more. Two good paints are Glidden and Benjamin Moore. Buy top of the line or one price point down but never the cheapest. Look for sales or ask to see the miss tints. They are very inexpensive and they may have the colour you are looking for.

If using TSP to remove grease or dull the paint, make sure that you rinse it off thoroughly. Paint will not adhere if not rinsed completely. When you are using TSP outside, make sure that any runoff is diluted to protect the environment.

Do not paint if it is too hot and humid. The paint will not adhere and dry properly.

When painting outdoors, try to paint areas that are shaded. If the sun is too hot the surface of the paint will dry too quickly and crack immediately.

To remove wallpaper, pull off the outer paper. Mix hot water and a small amount of dish soap and spray on with a spray bottle or roll on with a roller. Completely soak the paper and backing and let sit for a minute or so and it should scrape off quite easily. You don't need to purchase expensive chemicals to remove the paper. Rinse thoroughly after stripping the paper to remove any glue that has been left on the wall. Be sure you protect the floors and electrical outlets from dripping water.

Glidden https://www.glidden.com/products/InteriorCalculator.jsp

Benjamin Moore http://www.benjaminmoore.com/?lang=en_CA.

For more information call Gail Fabiani at 905-577-0220, Right at Home Realty, Inc. Brokerage

The Canadian government is offering tax rebates for home renovations. Listed below is a list of what is allowed and what is not. Also information on how it works.

What types of products, services and expenses will be eligible?

Eligible

• Renovating a kitchen, bathroom or basement
• New carpet or hardwood floors
• Building an addition, garage, deck, garden/storage shed, fence
• Re-shingling a roof
• A new furnace, woodstove, boiler, fireplace, water softener or water heater
• A new driveway or resurfacing a driveway
• Painting of interior or exterior of a house
• Window coverings directly attached to the window frame and whose removal would alter the nature of the dwelling
• Laying new sod
• Swimming Pools (Permanent - in ground and above ground)
• Fixtures - lights, fans, etc.
• Associated costs such as permits, professional services, equipment rentals and incidental expenses

Ineligible

• Furniture, appliances, and audio and visual electronics
• Curtains and draperies
• Purchasing of tools
• Cleaning carpets
• House cleaning
• Maintenance contracts (e.g. furnace cleaning, snow removal, lawn care, and pool cleaning)

You can get a 15% tax credit for expenditures between $1,000 and $10,000. Go online to the govenment website to find out more about this rebate.

The Headon Forest community is located in north Burlington between Guelph and Walker's Lines and Dundas Street and Upper Middle Road. It has close access to the 407 highway and a short drive to the QEW.

Construction in the community started in the early 1980's and is mainly detached homes with townhomes located close to Walker's Line. Price ranges of the detached homes are from low $300,000 to a high of approximately $450,000.

There is a good choice of grocery stores with Longos at Walker's and Dundas, Price Choppers at Walkers and Upper Middle Rd, Food Basics and Fortinos at Upper Middle Rd and Guelph Line, and No Frills at Dundas and Guelph Line.

MM Robinson High School is at Upper Middle and Guelph Line, however, some students attend Nelson or Lester B Pearson secondary schools. The elementary schools for the area are Clarksdale, CH Norton, Florence Meares and Rolling Meadows. Check with the school board to see which school your child wood attend or go online to Halton School Board.

For Roman Catholic schools, Notre Dame High School is located on Headon Forest close to Dundas and St Timothy is at 2141 Deer Run. Again, check with the school board to make sure where your child would attend school. Check online at the Halton Roman Catholic School Board.

For further information about the Headon Forest Community, call Gail Fabiani at 905-577-0220 or email at gfabiani@cogeco.ca.