Manitoba Hydro Power Smart

Sooo, for all those whom are not aware, you can apply ( in the centre) for a Manitoba Hydro Power Smart Loan. The loan covers the following upgrades:

• windows and doors;
• residential space heating equipment;
• insulation;
• air leakage sealing;
• ventilation;
• residential water heating equipment.

Loan Details

• Borrow up to $7,500 per residence. Up to $5,500 of that may be put toward the purchase of a high efficiency natural gas furnace.
• The maximum term is 5 years for all energy efficiency upgrades and 15 years for the purchase of a high efficiency natural gas furnace.
• Annual interest rate is fixed at 3.9 per cent (O.A.C.) for the first 5 years.
• Monthly installments will be included on your energy bill.
• Applicant must be a Manitoba Hydro customer and the owner of the home in which energy improvements are to take place. ( for at least 1 year)
• Upgrades must be made to levels recommended by Manitoba Hydro. NOT ALL WINDOWS WILL MEET THE STANDARDS FOR A HYDRO LOAN
• The loan does not apply to central air conditioning (see The Energy Finance Plan (EFP)).

Here is some info and tips on how to go about applying with very little hick ups

In the centre we will help you to fill out the loan application, below is the info that we will need to submit the application

The quote and or pricing for all product and labour


Credit Information  such as - Anual Income (for both home owners if applicable)
                                               Loans and other obligations
                                               Name of Home Insurance company, amount of insurance
                                              Manitoba Hydro account #

We will than submit the paper work, once the loan is approved, you will than come back into the centre to place the order. When the job is complete ( to your satisfaction) you will than come back into the centre to sign the finalizing paper work that will allow Manitoba Hydro  to release the funds for your loan to the centre


If you have any other questions, please either contact the centre or comment on this post and I will reply back

Ceramic Tile wear and tear 101

The Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) has a scale that was created to determine the resistance of an enameled surface in relation to the traffic and wear the surface will endure. Once assigned a rating, tiles can be evaluated to better determine which tile to use for a given application. The PEI Rating of ceramic tile is one factor to help determine it's appropriateness in a project.

The Porcelain Enamel Institute was founded in 1930 and has three primary objectives aimed at advancing porcelain enameling manufacturers and suppliers thereof:

1. To promote manufacturer's new products and their process improvements to manufacturing operations.


2. To provide general promotion of porcelain products.


3. To advance and protect the porcelain industry.

PEI achieves these objectives through representation from all segments of the porcelain industry, who work together to offer various programs and services to industry executives.
The PEI Scale, or PEI Rating, is a vital tool when deciding which tile is best for you because it classifies the ceramic surface in terms of how much wear the tile can bear without damaging its appearance.

CLASS 0 - Tiles technically unsuitable for floors.
CLASS 1 - Residential and commercial wall and bare foot traffic.
CLASS 2 - Wall and residential bath floor, and soft soled traffic.
CLASS 3 - All residential floors and light commercial floors.
CLASS 4 - Medium commercial, light industrial and institutional, moderate soiling.
CLASS 5 - Extra heavy traffic, abrasive dirt, chemically more resistant.


While it is true that the higher the PEI rating, the greater the resistance of the enamel, the PEI floor rating is not the only factor that should be evaluated when choosing a tile.
  Other factors to consider when choosing porcelain tile include:

• shape and dimension


• visual inspection


• coefficient of friction (how easily an object moves across the surface of the tile); water absorption


• bond strength


• breaking strength


• abrasive hardness, chemical resistance


• crazing (resistance to cracking)


• freeze/thaw resistance


• impact resistance


• MOHS scale scratch test (how easily the tile scratches)


• acid resistance


• water penetration through glaze


• cleanability


• marking resistance to metals

Of these factors, the three considered the most important are the PEI rating, the water absorption, and the glaze hardness (MOHS scratch test).

In addition to these structural characteristics, the tile's aesthetic qualities are very important to consider. Ask yourself if the edges are square or warped, is the surface texture consistent, are the tiles are the same size and is the coloring consistent. High quality tiling translates to a high quality floor. The grout lines will be uniform, the colors will be consistent, the floor will have a consistent height, your project will go much faster, and you'll be more satisfied with your new floor.
Largely due to the Porcelain Enamel Institute, ceramic floors are becoming more popular with consumers today. The PEI has helped to improve the strength and durability of tile, as well as the design, color, and other visual aspects of tile. With the assistance of the Institute and the PEI scale, look for continued improvements by the tile manufacturers and continued expansion in tile selection for consumers.

Flooring( in general )101

The different types of flooring we sell at DirectBuy are

Hardwood

Laminate
Tile -Ceramic, Porcelain, Quarry, Saltillo, Mosaic, Terracotta Stone
       - Granite, Marble, Limestone and Slate
Carpeting
Bamboo
Cork
Vinyl
Linoleum

Each type of flooring is different and has pros and cons about it durability and cost effectiveness. I will be providing you with a general description of what each type of flooring.

Wood – Solid wood or engineered planks.

Pros

– Beautiful, warm, soft on the feet, fairly durable, long-lasting if properly sealed and

maintained, can be refinished, many wood types and hues to choose from, can be painted or

stained for more color options, helps tie kitchen to other rooms in an open floor plan. Although

hardwood can initially cost more than some other flooring options, it's an investment that pays

off, increasing the value of your home.

Cons

– Susceptible to water damage, darkens with age, expensive to very expensive, softer

woods can dent easily, harder to keep clean than vinyl or laminate – water and spills need to be

cleaned immediately. Dust everywhere with refinishing or new installation of unsealed wood.

Tip - Material must acclimate for 48 hours before installation.

Stone – Granite, Marble, Limestone, Slate

Pros

– Beautiful and durable, with many color and pattern choices. Nearly indestructible.

Tumbled or honed finishes give good traction. Granite is the strongest.

Cons

– Cold and hard on the feet. Very expensive. Slate is more affordable, but can be rough

and can peel. Glossy finishes are slippery when wet and must be polished regularly. Tumbled or

honed stone must be sealed regularly. Stone is heavy and may need a stronger subfloor. Marble

will be damaged by chlorine and can absorb dirt. Limestone and Slate collect dirt.

Tile – Ceramic, Porcelain, Quarry, Terra Cotta

Pros

– Huge selection of mixable colors, shapes, sizes and patterns. Durable if well made.

Glazed tiles are moisture and stain-resistant. Most are easy to maintain. Mosaic tile can be laid

on uneven surfaces. Can be very affordable. Easy for do-it-yourselfers.

Cons

– Cold and hard on the feet. Can be very expensive depending upon what you choose. Can

crack or chip and is difficult to repair. Glossy finishes are slippery when wet. Grout can discolor

and is hard to maintain.

Laminate – Imitation Wood, Tile or Stone

Pros

– Durable, easy to maintain, scratch-resistant, wide range of colors and designs, can be

installed over old flooring, can be affordable, quiet when used with underlayment, good choice

for damp areas and below grade, easy installation – good choice for do-it-yourselfers, has

color/grain uniformity, many click together styles require no glue.

Cons

– Cannot be refinished if damaged. Some can be expensive – as much as wood.

Tip - Material must acclimate for 48 hours before installation.

Vinyl Flooring

Pros

– Inexpensive, durable, easy on the feet, quiet, water and stain resistant, and low

maintenance. It's easy to install – especially tiles. 12-foot wide sheets mean seamless floors in

small rooms. You can create patterns with tiles.

Cons

– Prone to dents and tears. Moisture can get into seams leading to mildew and lifting.

Glossy finishes are slippery when wet, and can dull easily unless waxed regularly.

Carpet

Pros

– Warm, easy on the feet, quiet, lots of colors and styles to choose from, choice of wall to

wall or area rugs, slip-resistant, can be affordable.

Cons

– More appropriate for drier climates. Collects dirt and moisture – which can turn into

mildew. Wall to wall carpeting is not a good choice for people with dust allergies. It's hard to

clean. Polypropylene or washable area rugs best choice.

Cork

Pros

– Cork is soft and warm, wide array of colors and patterns, great texture, easy to install,

can be affordable. Option of unfinished or polyurethane-sealed.

Cons

– Must be sealed. Not as durable or easy to clean as vinyl. May not be a good choice for

"rough" families.

Linoleum

(Made from linseed oil, wood flour and/or cork dust and sometimes

pine rosin, jute and limestone.)

Pros

– Comes in wide range of colors, quiet, durable, biodegradable, environmentally friendly,

hygienic and anti-static.

Modern linoleum doesn't wear down like the old type from the '50's. The glue is better, so it

shouldn't pucker up over time.

Cons

- Porous, it may need to be waxed or polished from time to time. Strong overall, but

difficult to repair if there is a problem.

Bamboo Flooring

Pros

- Environmentally friendly & renewable, durable, hard and stable.

Cons

- Renewability - The first being bamboos rapid renewability has some manufacturers harvesting it

before it is mature therefore not producing quality, hard floor planks. Flooring that is made before the

bamboo is at least 4 years old is soft and may easily warp and dent, Low quality production and

warranty - make sure you take a look at the manufacturer's warranties. A quality manufacturer will likely

warranty their bamboo flooring for at least 10 years structurally and 25 years on pre-finishing.

Deadbolts, Levers and Knobs 101

It seems more often than not I have members standing in front of me, holding a lock set manufacturers catalogue with a lost and confused look on their face. Now, this blog may not help you to understand the catalogue 100% but it may help you to understand the different terms and basics of ordering lock sets, etc.

When ordering handsets for your front and/or back door, you must not only choose the exterior handle set but you must also choose the interior lever or knob when placing orders. They are priced separate in all catalogue price lists but must be ordered as one singular line item

Double cylinder deadbolts

will not pass fire inspection in Canada, so if you are building or renovating and will need to pass an inspection, you will not. Because of the key being needed for both sides, a double cylinder can be a hazard if there was a fire.
Single cylinder is the way to go!!



When choosing interior levers always remember, if it has a lock on it you will need to determine the handing ( this is also needed with entry sets). If it is a knob this is not necessary. Easy rule of thumb whatever side the hinges are on is the handing

Left Hinge =  Left handing  
Right Hinge = Right handing   


Keyed alike - Pretty much all our suppliers will key all the locks alike if requested when the order is placed and will even key to existing locks if you are willing to send a key in with the order!!


A mortise lock is one that requires a pocket—the mortise—to be cut into the door or piece of furniture into which the lock is to be fitted. They are widely used on all ages of domestic properties in Europe.
Although the installation of a mortise lock actually weakens the structure of the typical timber door, it is stronger and more versatile than a bored cylindrical lock, both in external trim, and functionality.





A bored cylindrical lock is one in which two holes are bored, perpendicular to one another, into the door. A large hole is bored into the door face and a smaller cross bore hole is bored into the door edge, as opposed to a mortise lock prep cut into the edge of the door. Typically, the face hole is sized from 1.5 inches to 2.125 inches (3.8 to 5.4 cm) and is centered at 2.375 inches or 2.75 inches (6.0 cm or 7.0 cm) from the leading edge of the door, this distance is referred to as the back set. Other, less popular, back sets are at 3.75 and 5 inches (9.5 and 12.7 cm). Residential doors are normally prepared for a 2.375 inch (6.0 cm) back set and commercial doors at a 2.75 inch (7 cm) back set..






BACK SET

Back set is the distance from center edge of door to center of the

2-1/8" (54mm) diameter hole, 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" in most cases

Range Hoods 101

If you can, having your rangehood vent outside, this is the best option for your kitchen. A vented range hood is more effective for removing harmful chemicals and sticky grease from the air. It does need a duct connecting the hood to an exterior vent, so it will be more expensive to install, however. If you consider how often you fry using oil or brown food that smokes, you may find this option worth while.

Also, make sure your ceiling height will allow for your range hood. Not all units will work with any height ceiling.


Always check the CFM, building codes will very depending on where you live. Ex. Winnipegers can use a 500 CFM range hood while if you live in Brandon 400 CFM is the limit.
Also, if you have a fire place in an open concept home this may also decrease the CFM rating you can use.

The wonderful world of sectionals

Sectionals can be made so many ways now it can be very confusing here are some tips

If the items is a LAF or RAF,
 this means when you are "facing" the sofa peice, that is the side the arm is on, ex. LAF = Left arm facing, RAF = Right arm facing

Some company's will do it the other way they will write LAS or RAS,
this means when you are "sitting" on the sofa peice, that is the side the arm is on. Ex. LAS = Left arm sitting, RAS = Right arm sitting

Wedge vs corner.
A wedge will usually be more like a triangle or visualize a cheese wedge and that is what you get



A corner pice will be more square



From the image you can see you still have the extra seat but with a wedge you have the leg room

101 on ordering beds

OK, for most beds ( and I mean the bed itself not the mattress) you will need a standard mattress and box spring.
Most beds are broken down into 3 components, headboard, foot board and rails ( they are always a pair not separate)

If it is a platform bed the rails will usually be part of the foot board frame and the headboard separate.

Remember to always check with us if you only want a headboard, not all companies will make their headboards compatible with standard bedframs

For platform beds a box spring is not required, only if it has rails and slats.

Always remember that mattress are much thicker than they used to be, 12" to 14".

Usually and a standard box springs will be 9" high ( a low profile box spring will be 5").
So when ordering a bed take into account how high the headboard is and how thick the mattress and box spring will be.
I have had members who now only can see 3"of the top of their headboard because they did not check height.

3 Tips for ordering online

These are 3 tips I tell members when they are in the centre for online ordering

1) always good to use the manufacturers website when purchasing sets ( such as beds, sectionals,etc) the website will not always group all components to make a full peice on our site. If you know what model #'s you need it makes things much easier and quicker as you can just search using the model #

2) Our website is not yet set up to accept transhipment orders,
ex. I order a bed in Winnipeg but want it shipped to Calgary. For these orders you will need to come into the centre to order, or ( for those out of town members) email Pat or myself to place the order for you

3) Orders will not process if the name on the credit card and billing address do not match exactly to the member name and address. I have had initials and full middle names screw everything up,lol. So make sure all is correct before hand to avoid the frustration.

This should help eleviate some issues and remember, our website is still in its infancy, not every product and manufacturer we carry is online so don't panick if you saw it is the showroom but can not find it online, just check with Pat or myself and we can help you out : )

Faucets 101

When it comes to plumbing things can get confusing, here are some rules of thumb

1) Kitchen and lavatory faucets will usually come with all the rough in material

2) Shower, Tub/Shower and Roman Bath faucets will usually have a separate rough in from the "trim"

Most plumbers will only require the rough in at first so they can close the wall. Once this is complete you will either have your tub/shower installed with walls or you will tile. The "trim" is the last to go on.


Pressure Balance valve's  job is to ensure that the volume of water that leaves the pressure balance valve is a constant mix of these two sources, even if the delivery pressure of the two sources changes. This is very important to keep the temperature of your shower constant even when the supply is not.

Most manufacturers will ship the rough in separate (if they are in stock) if requested when trims are on back order

A good faucet will have brass inlay and a ceramic cartridge. They are more expensive than just a metal inlay with plastic cartridge but they will last much longer.
Plastic cartridges over time will wear down from the minerals in the water and start to leak, ceramic will not .

ALWAYS REMEMBER, you can just ask me if you have any concerns or are confused and I will help you : )

Bedroom and Dining ,not necessarily in that one section

Unless you have had the time to peruse through the different sections of our showroom you may not know this helpful hint. There are many of our accent furniture suppliers that will also make bedroom and dining furniture. These manufacturers do tend to run more in the ornate and decorative style; always good to have something for everyone : )

Order desk closes and hour before the showroom

Although during the week the showroom closes at 9pm, we close the order desk at 8pm to allow our services staff to complete all tasks necesary to complete our day. On saturdays it is the same, the showroom closes at 5pm so the order desk closes at 4pm. Happy shopping!!!

Directions magazine deadline

FYI - Although the directions magazine says it ends on the 31st, most manufacturer's want the order by the 31st. Some will give some leeway but most will not. It is always a good idea to have your orders in at least 5 working days before the end of the quarter to assure that you will get your product at directions pricing