We here in Saskatchewan endure long winters and rainy springs all for the purpose of enjoying our beautiful summer! We can’t wait to get outside and relax, and there is no better way than enjoying time on your deck. www.trustedsaskatoon.com  is so pleased to have Dexteriors as part of our Trusted community of businesses. Dexteriors specializes in custom built decks and exteriors….so if you can dream it, they can build it! Check out their Facebook Page here

John and Craig have established an incredible reputation in and around Saskatoon by providing families (and businesses!) with quality work on exteriors, decks, balconies and more. Here are some of the comments about Dexteriors from their very happy clients:

“I recommended Dexteriors to a personal friend of mine who was unhappy with the work another contractor had done for him…. Everything was completed as promised. John does great work, and I recommend him quite frequently.”

“I have been working with John for at least 4 years now, and as a business person in the housing industry we use Dexteriors for all of our vinyl decks and railings. He is a good contractor and a good person, and I have always been more than satisfied with the work done. Also, anything that might be an issue is taken care of. I recommend Dexterios to both colleagues and friends.”

 “Not only is John a very skilled tradesman with a great reputation, his phone works both ways – incoming and outgoing…. The guys at Dexteriors are just great guys, and I feel very comfortable recommending them.”

Dexteriors knows that in our busy lifestyles, home owners should be offered maintenance free exterior products that do not require painting and staining to protect the product from rigors of Mother Nature. That is why they offer products made of Vinyl or Aluminum in addition to tradional lumber. Both vinyl and aluminum have their own unique features that will provide an aesthetically pleasing finish that will not require any coatings or other coverings to protect the surface. The Vinyl products have color fastness that will resist ultra violet attack from harmful rays from the sun. The aluminum products are powder coated which offers a wide variety of color and a long lasting color finish of 20 to 25 years. Imagine! All of the comfort and function without the work!

Dexteriors also offers a wide selection of Vinyl Casement, Slider, Bay and other custom fit, Low E Argon filled windows, as well as vinyl siding, so however large your project is, they can work with you to complete your vision. If a beautiful outdoor living space is on your wish list, give Dexteriors a call and discover just how pleasant your own backyard can be!

See their banner ad on the home page of www.trustedsaskatoon.com or go to their Facebook page here

Energy Efficiency 

Looking for Ways to Save Energy?

More and more consumers are switching to energy efficient electricity. They want to make smart decisions when it comes to installing their home with appropriate energy saving devices. By making the switch you not only save yourself money, but you help save the environment from toxic fossil fuel pollution and help to create a more secure energy future for America. It can be a challenge to determine the best steps to take in order to yield the greatest benefit in your home. 

Lighting Dimmers and Timers

Conservation is good for everyone. 

Power Consumption Meters:

A Power consumption meter measures how much energy each appliance consumes to help you find ways to cut back. 

Wireless Lighting Controls:

Reduce unnecessary energy consumption by controlling your lights with dimmers, programmable light switches, automatic lights, sensors and timers. 

Solar Energy Systems:

Reduce your overall home energy costs, qualify for state and federal incentives, and become more environmentally friendly by installing a solar energy system in your home. 

TOP FIVE REASONS TO CONSERVE:

1.Reduce your heating and electrical bills.

2.Reduce water, air and soil pollution. This will not only help the environment, but protect your children and your grandchildren from chemical pollution and disease.

3.Reduce green house gas emissions. This will help reduce the effects of global warming on our environment.

4.Decrease North America’s energy dependence.

5.Decrease need for fossil fuel, oil, coal, propane, and natural gas. With less of a demand for these types of energy we will be on our way to cleaner more responsible energy use.

J & S Picture Frame Warehouse- Saskatoon Framers simply offers the best selection of materials to preserve your treasures, keepsakes and works of art in Saskatoon . Quality is paramount at J & S - all work is completed with superb craftsmanship, expert advice and friendly service. Nationally acclaimed local artists trust J & S with their original artworks...why trust your memories to anyone else? J & S Are your Trusted SASKATOON FRAMING EXPERTS

Here they share their first Trusted Tip

Why use matting in custom framing?

What is matting?

The mat or matting is the border you often see around a picture underneath the glass. In gallery settings, white mats are often used in framing in galleries, but in framing that you might see in someone's home, the matting is often coloured or textured to compliment the image. Matting is not solely used for aesthetic reasons in picture framing, it also has a practical and important function. Mats help to keep the artwork "healthy". It lifts the glass off the artwork. This allows the artwork to "breathe" as we say, and helps prevent any buildup of condensation that may lead to the development of mold or mildew.

Having the glass lifted away slightly also prevents the glass from adhering to the artwork. This is especially important with items such as photographs. The surface of photographs contains a gelatin like substance. Over time and with fluctuations in temperature and humidity, this gelatin surface begins to soften and becomes glued to the glass. Often these photos are one of a kind and are difficult to replace and costly to restore. Paintings (oils, acrylic, spray paint art, etc.)should never have glass sitting directly on them as a similar problem is likely to result; the glass will damage the surface of the painting and the glass will stick to the artwork. Works such as pastels and charcoal drawings should also have a mat as the dust from these mediums will continue to shed.

Needleworks will give off-gas, and a haze of the image will appear on the glass. It is also important for these carefully crafted items to breathe to prevent the wools and threads from rotting, allowing them to be treasured by the next generation.

In this instance - pictured below , Letraset transfers were used on the name on this certificate. This item was framed by another company (without matting) about 15 to 17 years ago. When the glass was removed to reframe it, part of the name lifted off the certificate, ruining this official document.

Find J & S Picture Frame Warehouse in Sutherland on Jessop, Fan them on Facebook Here for great Framing tips and updates.

You can find them on the Saskatoon Directory in the Trusted Photographers and Framing Category - they are your Trusted Saskatoon Framers!

TRUSTED SASKATOON RENOVATION EXPERTS and are waiting to help you with all your home renovation projects.

Building Fences: Helping You Decide to 'Do It Yourself' ... or not!

Question: What if I'm undecided between building a fence myself or hiring a professional?

If you're undecided between building a fence yourself or having a professional installation, be aware that it is not an all-or-nothing proposition....

Answer: You can also mix and match between building a fence the do-it-yourself way and hiring professionals to help you. The most difficult part of building a fence is setting the posts in the ground properly. But you could have the posts erected by a professional, then finish off the project yourself. Prefabricated units can be purchased at home improvement centers. These units are then trimmed to width and secured between the posts. In some cases, brackets are used that make installing the prefabricated units even easier. This compromise between building fences yourself and opting for complete professional installation saves you money. It saves you aggravation, too, since you're having the pros handle the most aggravating part of fence building (erecting the posts).

Question: What's the big deal about setting fence posts?

Sounds easy enough. Anyone who has ever tried setting fence posts in the ground properly can appreciate the challenge involved. We need to take a closer look at how to do the job properly....

Answer: Setting fence posts so that they're plumb and evenly spaced is part of the challenge. But surprisingly, even digging holes and filling them with concrete is fraught with difficulties. The problem begins with the shape our holes normally take. The top of the average hole that you dig is bound to be wider than the bottom, since you have easier access to the top portion. The result is a V-shaped hole. Novices anticipate no problem in setting fence posts in such holes, then filling the holes up with concrete. But when you fill those V-shaped holes with concrete, you end up with V-shaped hunks of concrete. And in areas subject to frost heaves, this can be an invitation to trouble down the road. The trouble begins when frost starts to heave your concrete upwards, using the tops of those V-shaped concrete footings to grip them (since the tops form a lip). Dirt then slips in beneath the concrete. Your fencing is raised as a result.

The process is then repeated next winter, raising your fencing a bit further. And so on. Eventually, your concrete footings will be significantly elevated beyond where they should be, resulting in instability. Of course, such movement will never occur evenly along the whole course of your fencing, resulting in yet another problem: your fencing will no longer be level.

If you're still intent on setting fence posts yourself, rather than having a professional do it, the key is in filling the hole only halfway up with concrete. Even though it seems this would result in less stability, this is not the case. Instead, you're depriving Jack Frost of a lip he can use to get a tighter grip on the concrete footing. After the concrete sets, fill up the rest of your hole with your excavated soil (or gravel in damp areas), and tamp it down firmly. Another alternative is to buy one of those cylindrical concrete forms, available at home improvement stores. [Source: Lawrence Winterburn (GardenStructure.com).]

A incorrectly set fence post lifted and warped by Frost!

Find great deck builders on the Saskatoon Directory- they are Trusted Saskatoon Renovation & Design Experts!

Affordable Dental Care is available...you just have to have Connections!

Don't delay much needed dental treatment due to cost concerns. It is unfortunate that people all over the world are avoiding medical and dental care right now, because they cannot afford it. We have taken the time to research and identify leading providers of dental and orthodontic care in multiple locations so you can access more affordable choices for your dental care. An affordable solution to high dental bills is available. Dental tourism is gaining popularity as more and more people discover that exceptional care is available at a fraction of the cost. If you require dental treatment and find that you need to explore options to save money on your dental bills, join the increasing numbers of clients that are combining dental care with a vacation abroad. We offer top quality dental veneers, snap on smiles, crowns, bridges, implants, and restorative work for a fraction of what you would pay in Canada or the US. Our clients have combined dental treatments with their vacations and the savings alone have paid for the trip!

Dental Procedures

■ Dental Crowns

■Dentures

■Dental Bridge

■Dental Fillings

■Dental Implants

■Laser Whitening

■Dental Veneers

■Root Canal

Restore your smile and your confidence!

check out listings here in the Saskatoon Health & Wellness Category on THE Saskatoon directory of excellence.