When it comes to your home, a musty smell of dampness is definitely undesirable. Dampness can produce mold on hard surfaces, mildew on soft surfaces, and potentially even lead to health or safety issues. But before dampness in your home can put a damper on your spirit, here’s the 411 to help you detect it, deal with it, and avoid it in the future.

Identifying dampness
The geographical region of where you live could be a predictor for dampness in your home. Check with your Realtor or local public library for information on the humidity and rainfall in your area. Damp homes are often caused by an influx of water from the outside or by increased humidity from showering, drying clothes, and cooking. If water is entering your home from the outside, you may be able to determine where by looking for water tides on painted walls or white salt deposits (called efflorescence) on brick.

Dealing with dampness
If your home is showing signs of dampness, it is important to address these issues as quickly as possible to mitigate any significant damage or health issues. The first thing to do is locate the source of the problem. Check for obvious causes such as blocked gutters, missing tiles, objects stacked against an external wall, leaking pipes, or damage to your roof or foundation. If you cannot find the source, hire an expert to help. Once you have identified the problem, it is time to seal the deal. Depending on the complexity and severity of the problem, there may be some solutions you can take care of yourself (e.g. caulking a window to keep moisture out), whereas others may be better suited for a professional (e.g. fixing leaks to pipes or addressing foundation problems).

Avoiding dampness
Prevention is key. Here are some steps you can take to keep dampness away from your home:
-Limit moisture during humid weather by keeping windows and doors closed.
-Use an air conditioner and/or dehumidifier to keep humidity below 60%.
-Ensure all vent fans are clear and connected directly outdoors and not to the attic.
-Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms to control humidity.
-When possible, consider limiting the boiling time of water, covering saucepans when cooking, and discontinuing use of portable gas heaters.
-Position the downspout runoff so it’s directed away from the foundation of your home.
-Increasing or improving the insulation of your home and around pipes.

Contact me if I can be of any assistance, and check out my website (www.kathleensturba.ca) for more helpful information.

It's summer, and for many homeowners, the lawn battle is on. We weed it, we mow it, and we blast it with chemicals. All to get that perfect green carpet that looks so great on the golf course but is so tough to achieve at home.
Stop fighting your lawn and start enjoying it. Here are some useful tips that can help you kick the chemical habit, and get a great-looking lawn... naturally.
Start with the soil.
Check the quality by taking a handful and squeezing it. If it crumbles, add some nutrient-rich compost in spring and fall. If it's sandy, add some humus to help it hold water. Check the pH too. Most garden centres offer this service. If it's less than 6 or 7, add some lime.

Use the right grass.
Clover and fescue are good for dry summers, and bluegrass and ryegrass are ideal for areas that get lots of sun. For shady spots, try fescue or a groundcover like periwinkle or pachysandra.

Feed it.
Fertilize every spring and fall, and when you mow, leave clippings where they fall for added nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. Water deeply but infrequently to encourage deeper root growth. Set up the sprinkler and let it do the watering for you every four to seven days.

Just a little off the top, please.
Weeds can't grow in the shade of tall grass. Setting your mower blade to about 3" is an easy way to keep your lawn dense and healthy.

Give it some air.
To improve drainage and help oxygen get into the soil, aerate by walking around in golf shoes. A spiked roller or aerator works too.

Free the soil.
Your lawn gets clogged by tangled dry grass, roots and dead leaves that get between the soil and the living grass. Cut through it every fall with an inexpensive dethatching rake so your lawn gets the nutrients it needs.

Think beyond the blade.
Add some clover next time you seed, and you'll get a thicker, more richly textured lawn. Plus, if you get a few larger-leafed weeds growing, they won't be as noticeable.

Not the DIY type?
Check the yellow pages. Many lawn services now offer natural and/or organic lawn care that's not much more expensive than chemical services.

No room for Grass?
Fill a few pots on your balcony or patio with decorative grasses, flowers or herbs. It's easy to take care of them naturally; use quality soil, water deeply every fourth day, and take advantage of the growing number of natural and organic products available at your local garden centre.

Whether you want a nice lawn, a pretty garden or some attractive landscaping, a great-looking exterior helps you enjoy your home and boost its value. Contact me to learn how exterior improvements can increase your resale value.

It takes half your life before you discover life is a do-it-yourself project.
Napoleon Hill

Give the world the best that you have, and the best will come back to you.
Madeline Bridges

Those who travel unworn paths find the rarest flowers.
Hind u Proverb

Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.
Author Unknown

If you don't know what you want, you end up with a lot you don't.
Chuck Palahniuk

We look too much to museums. The sun coming up in the morning is enough.
Romare Bearden