The Canadian population is aging. In the coming decades, seniors (people age 65 and older) will comprise an increasingly larger share of the population, growing from 12% in 2005 to 19% by 2021. As people age, ability and mobility often becomes an issue. At present, 200,000 Canadians are confined to a wheelchair. We can no longer ignore the statistics; we need to start incorporating barrier-free and universal design into the construction of new buildings and homes. …

How to make the most of your money

Until recently, contractors, homeowners, and the general public in the U.S. had little knowledge of the dangers around them as they worked on older buildings. Many historic restorationists who focused on buildings from the 19th and early 20th century knew that the lead commonly used as a binder and colorant in old paint could poison them. In 1971, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency (HUD) enacted laws to reduce lead in house dust in federally-assisted housing. It wasn’t until 1978 that the US outlawed the manufacture and application of lead-based paint. Most European countries had done so decades before.

Hand-held power tools have become an indispensable part of the modern handyman’s and contractors’ toolbox. Power drills are the most commonly purchased hand-held power tool. You can spend from $30 – $400 for a tool that meets your needs. With that dollar range in mind, you may want to ask yourself a few simple questions before you go shopping. These same questions will also apply to most power tool purchases.