Dusyk & Barlow is a 100% locally owned Regina Insurance Brokerage providing honest, reliable, and personalized service to all their clients. Their long standing reputation in the community remains strong through maintaining high standards of excellence and ensuring that their clients insurance needs are met.

They are you Trusted Regina insurance experts !

Dusyk & Barlow is reminding homeowners to protect their homes against damage caused by ice dams.

“Ice dams can cause considerable property damage. If an ice dam forms and water enters the attic, it can damage the roof, ceilings, walls and contents of your home,” said Andrew Cartmell, President and CEO of SGI CANADA. “That's why it's so important to take steps to prevent an ice dam from forming in the first place.”

Preventative measures to protect your home from damage caused by ice dams include:

• Keep the amount of snow on your roof to a minimum. Use a roof rake or hire a professional to clear the snow away - for safety reasons, don't go up on the roof yourself.
• Keep gutters and downspouts free of snow, ice buildup and icicles so there's a ready path for melting snow and ice to drain.
• Ensure your attic is properly insulated and ventilated to prevent heat from inside your home from leaking into the attic and causing snow on the roof to melt. A roofing contractor can provide assistance if needed.
• In the fall, clean leaves and debris from your home's gutters and downspouts to allow melting snow to flow as intended.

Maintaining your wood products

Natural wood products can be found throughout your new home.  From basic construction materials to beautiful wood finishes, it is important to understand wood’s natural characteristics and how to best care for it.

Natural wood products are the oldest material used by humans for construction after stone and ideal green building material, providing sustainability, design versatility, low environmental impact, carbon sequestration and energy-efficient.  It does, however, have some drawbacks.

The number one drawback to using natural wood products is their reaction to moisture.  Wood is hygroscopic in that it picks up or gives off moisture to equalize with the relative humidity and temperature in the atmosphere.  In doing so, it can change in strength, shrink or swell.  There is no practical way to prevent moisture changes in wood, therefore, vapour barriers, adequate ventilation, exclusion of water from wood, or preservative treatments are absolutely essential.

The finishes and protective coatings found on wood products such as flooring and cabinets, help to counter wood’s natural tendencies to swell or shrink.  Proper care and maintenance is also vital component to preservation.

Cleaning Cabinets

• Use a soft cloth dampened with warm water; if more thorough cleaning is required, use a fresh solution of mild liquid dish soap and warm water.
• Never use an abrasive cloth or the kitchen dishcloth which may have traces of grease or harsh detergents
• Never use harsh detergents, bleach, solvent or petroleum-based products, strong soap, ammonia, or wax polishes
• After cleaning, wipe all surfaces with another clean, soft cloth
• Always clean spills up and any standing water immediately.  Pay special attention to the areas around your sink, range, dishwasher, tow spaces and baseboards

Prolonged exposure to spills can cause permanent discoloration and damage such as delamination and crack to your cabinet’s finish

• Use a clean, soft, lint-free cloth for regular dusting
• Never use pre-packaged dusting sheets (damp or dry) and do not apply aerosol dusting products, which soften the finish or cause a buildup of film
• To avoid moisture damage, never drape damp clothes or dishtowels over cabinet doors.  Moisture will cause permanent damage to the finish
• Remove the doors and drawers of all cabinets adjacent to and above the oven during the cleaning cycle of self-cleaning appliances.  The cleaning cycle generates heat that could affect the finish and surface of the cabinets.
• When cleaning cabinets with glass doors or mirrors, use a glass cleaner applied directly to the cleaning towel
• Never spray directly on the glass area since drips and overspray may reach and harm the wood surfaces of the door and/or surrounding cabinets

Maintaining your hardwood floors

• All hardwood floors should be cleaned regularly to remove dirt and grit from between the floorboards
• Avoid using a wet mop which can dull the finish.  Instead, sweep with either a dust mop or broom that features exploded tips, or vacuum the floors using a vacuum with special hardwood floor attachments or one with the beater bar turned off
• Wipe up any spills immediately, using a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth
• Allowing spills to remain on hardwood floors could damage the finish as well as the wood
• Avoid walking on hardwood floors with sports cleats or high heel shoes which can scratch the finish or even dent the floor
• Place felt pads on the bottom of furniture legs to minimize dents and scratches
• Use rugs at all entrances to help minimize scratches from stones and debris.
• Choose rugs wisely, some rugs have rubber backings that can discolor wood floors.  Special rugs can be purchased to protect from discoloration
• Know what type of flooring you have as different hardwoods have different kinds of care considerations
• Be familiar with the manufacturer’s recommendations for care and maintenance of your specific flooring
• Only used wood-approved cleaning products and if you are unsure, contact the supplier or manufacturer for more details.
• Never use wax or petroleum-based products on a surface finished floor, they will damage the finish and the wood

Proper care and maintenance is instrumental in the preservation of your home’s wood finishes. 

Dust N Shine Cleaning Services is a TRUSTED REGINA MAID AND CLEANING SERVICE.

General household cleaning tips!

2. When dishes come out of the dishwasher with residue, run an empty load with 1/2 cup of white vinegar in the detergent cup. Alternately, use several tablespoons of Tang, lemon-flavoured Kool-Aid or powdered laundry detergent for the same effect.

3. To combat grease buildup and maintain cleanliness, grind a handful of ice cubes in the garbage disposal every few weeks. Add the peels from lemons or limes to help eliminate odours. 

4. The anti-static component in dryer sheets helps break down the bond between food and pots and pans, so put a sheet in a dirty pot filled with water, soak it overnight, and easily scrub the pot clean the following day.

5. Keep shower doors clean by using a glass cleaner to initially remove streaks, and use a Magic Eraser to navigate the crevices of textured glass. Razor blades can scrape off the more challenging buildup. Dry the door, and then use a water-repellent product, such as Rain-X or Aquapel, to cause water to bead up and wash away from the glass. Wipe the repellent with a microfiber cloth, and repeat the process every six months.

 

Contact Dust N Shine for your free estimate today!

Dust N Shine Cleaning Services is a TRUSTED REGINA MAID AND CLEANING SERVICE.

Furnace Maintenance Tips

If you haven’t had your furnace looked at in the past year or two you may be at risk for a cold home. Always hire qualified heating contractor when it comes to your gas-fired appliances.

All furnaces burn some type of fuel to create heat. Cracks and leaks around the combustion area could compromise your family’s safety, as a furnace can leak poisonous gas, like Carbon Monoxide, into the home. 

Having  your furnace heat exchange checked for cracks, your gas burner assembly cleaned and gas valve calibrated is vital for your family’s safety.

• Change your furnace filter at least every three months
• Check your chimney for obstructions. 
• Check venting on high efficient furnaces for snow build-up, nests and debris.
• Make sure your condensate line is clear of debris or sludge to prevent premature inducer motor failure.
• Remove blower and clean blower wheel. Lubricate moving parts if applicable.

These are only a few but probably the most important things that should be checked annually on your furnace.

It’s an exciting time – the old house is sold, the new one is ready, and all that’s left is the move…..oh wait – not quite yet! There’s all that legal “stuff” to deal with now….signatures….titles to be given…and pages and pages of documents that need to be signed before the key is in your hand!!! And to top it all off – who really knows a good real estate lawyer?

MacKay & McLean provides the professional services of a large Regina law firm, with the intimate attention of a small firm. The legal process can be daunting and overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. MacKay & McLean is with you every step of the way.

MacKay &  McLean are TRUSTED REGINA LAWYERS

Title fraud is approximately a C$1.5 billion dollar a year industry and growing. This has given rise to new products being made available to you to help protect yourself. One such product is title insurance.

Initially, title insurance was used in Saskatchewan only when a surveyor's certificate was not available. This is because it insures against any defects that would have been revealed if a surveyor's certificate or real property report had been obtained. People opted for title insurance because it cost less than a new survey. However, title insurance protects you against much more and it is especially good for people buying used residential real estate, rental properties or commercial real estate.

Like other insurance products, you pay a premium to the insurer. Usually, this is a one time fee. Different insurers structure their pricing differently and there are policies for owners and policies for lenders, so rates vary. The premiums for condominiums are usually less. The fees for commercial transactions are typically greater.

For the one time premium you get protection for as long as you own the property and it protects your estate in the event of death. The amount of protection is up to twice the fair market value of your property, at the time the insurance was obtained.

Lawyers will usually charge an administration fee of $75 to $150 to provide the appropriate data and information to the insurer.Typically, title insurance is obtained through your lawyer's office when you buy a property.  "Existing Home Owner's" insurance is also available at any time.  Some insurers in Saskatchewan, like Co-Operator's, are now providing the product.

It is important to remember that lawyers do not receive any compensation from the title insurance companies for recommending or assisting you with obtaining title insurance, i.e. we are not sales people for the title insurers and we do not receive trailer fees or commissions from the insurers.

In fact, a lawyer's failure to discuss title insurance with you may constitute professional negligence and that lawyer may be liable to you if you suffer damages from something that title insurance would have protected you against. In other provinces, for example, Ontario, lawyers are obligated by their professional code of conduct to thoroughly discuss title insurance with you.

I recommend title insurance because I believe that most times it is in your best interests to have it. At the very least, you should have the opportunity to make an informed decision.

The four main title insurance companies in Canada are: (1) First Canadian Title Insurance, (2) Stewart Title Guarantee Company, (3) Title Plus, and (4) Chicago Title Insurance Company. For more information on title insurance, its cost and benefits, visit the following websites: First Canadian Title; Stewart Title Guarantee Company; Title Plus; and, Chicago Title.

Some things are better to have and not need, than need and not have. Title insurance is one those things.

*Always check with the insurer to see what they cover and what they do not. Make an informed decision.

For advice, Robert MacKay's team provides professional, personalized service and with their assistance, you can rest assured that your real estate transactions will be handled with the utmost consideration and care.

They  provide a full range of legal services including:

• Real Estate & Mortgages
• Wills & Estates
• Family Law & Divorce
• Commercial & Corporate Law
• Litigation & Personal Injury