A Autumn’s cool mornings are another reminder that summer’s free heat won’t last much longer. We’ll soon be working or paying to keep our homes comfortable, warm and cosy. Keeping winter’s chill at bay is full-time work for many folks. A little help and advice from some of these experts can help you feel the heat all winter long. PHOTOGRAPHY BY WALTER FRANCZYK HEAT Brendan Rasmussen Sales Manager, The Muskoka Stone & Hearth Co. SPECIALTY: Fireplace and stone sales. “We are a full-service wood and gas fireplace store as well as a retail stone yard. This allows us to provide a wide selection of fireplaces, stoves and inserts and many different varieties of stone to accent the installation.” THE BEST WAY TO WARM UP IN THE FALL: Good company and good food around a roaring fire. UNIQUE SERVICES: Start-to-finish fireplace projects, complete with a variety of local or imported stone. TRENDS: Contemporary gas fireplaces and thin-cut natural stone. FAVOURITE PRODUCT: Traeger barbecues. “I love cooking with flavoured wood pellets.” Continued on page 66 FEEL THE www.muskokaballustradesinc.com We have recently acquired 180 year old cedar which will be manufactured into solid reclaimed doors, door frames and v-joints for closet walls etc. (705) 645-2144 [email protected]721 Manitoba St • Bracebridge, Ontario www.themuskokastoneco.com Our focus is Design/Build Construction from Concept to Completion HILTON DESIGN BUILD has been servicing our Toronto clients in Muskoka for 10 years Services include only the finest Natural Stone, Carpentry, Pool, and Planting Installations Please view our portfolio online 905.706.6836 [email protected]www.hiltondesignbuild.ca 64 ourhomes fall 2011 people
Transcript
AAutumn’s cool mornings are another reminder that summer’s free heat won’t last much longer. We’ll soon be working or paying to keep our homes comfortable, warm and cosy. Keeping winter’s chill at bay is full-time work for many folks. A little help and advice from some of these experts can help you feel the heat all winter long. PHOTOGRAPHY BY WALTER FRANCZYK
HEAT
Brendan Rasmussen Sales Manager, The Muskoka Stone & Hearth Co. S P EC I A LT Y: Fireplace and stone sales. “We are a full-service wood and gas fireplace store as well as a retail stone yard. This allows us to provide a wide selection of fireplaces, stoves and inserts and many different varieties of stone to accent the installation.” T H E
B EST WAY TO WA R M U P I N T H E
FA L L : Good company and good food around a roaring fire.U N I Q U E S E RV I C ES : Start-to-finish fireplace projects, complete with a variety of local or imported stone. T R E N DS : Contemporary gas fireplaces and thin-cut natural stone. FAVO U R I T E P R O D U CT: Traeger barbecues. “I love cooking with flavoured wood pellets.” Continued on page 66
FEEL THE
www.muskokaballustradesinc.com
We have recently acquired 180 year old cedar which will be manufactured into solid reclaimed doors,
Richard and Doreen Clement Owners, Thermo Seal Insulation Systems S P EC I A LT Y: Customer service and insulationT H E B EST WAY TO WA R M U P I N
T H E FA L L : “With a home insulated by Thermo Seal Insulation Systems. Our Blow-In Blanket System provides a seamless blanket of insulation that will keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. We can help you save up to 50 per cent on your heating and cooling bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” U N I Q U E S E RV I C ES : Professional installation, warranty and 22 years of experience.T R E N DS : The building code is movingtoward more energy efficient requirements, including increased insulation. FAVO U R I T E P R O D U CT: Blow-In Blanket System Insulation and Polyurethane Soya Spray Foam.
John Tait Owner, JT & Son Masonry Stonekraft
S P EC I A LT Y: Stonework, block and concrete work, footings and walls. “We are
fireplace and chimney specialists.” Tait also builds insulated concrete forms (ICF)
for floors and walls. T H E B EST WAY TO WA R M U P I N
T H E FA L L : “Light a fire in a stone fireplace and enjoy a hot cup of tea.”
U N I Q U E S E RV I C ES : “I supply, install and build masonry fireplaces and hand-built
fire boxes, Rumford-style fireplaces, a style of firebox originally built in the 1800s.” T R E N DS : Large, open-style fireboxes,
“the real McCoy, the old Muskoka type of fireplace.” Also, zero clearance fireplaces with cultured stone or Muskoka granite on
the face are getting popular. FAVO U R I T E P R O D U CT: Insulated
concrete forms. “There’s a demand for them. They’re nice to work with and they’re
really efficient in terms of heat retention or cooling.” Temp-Cast 2000 masonry
heaters are also a favourite.Continued on page 68
Randy Nickason Owner, The Fireplace King S P EC I A LT Y: Energy efficient heating – everything from wood stoves, fireplaces and geothermal heat to forced air systems and hydronic heating. Sales, installation and service. T H E B EST WAY TO WA R M U P I N T H E
FA L L : “Snuggle up in front of the fireplace.” U N I Q U E S E RV I C ES : “We’re licensed in every aspect of what we do – wood, gas, geothermal and air conditioning.” The Fireplace King can accommodate water access job sites and will do sales calls on weekends. T R E N DS : “People are educating themselves. With rising utility costs, they’re always looking for options to become more efficient.” FAVO U R I T E P R O D U CT: “We’ve got lots of favourites. I like everything we install. A lot of things we do are unique to the customer, especially on the heat side of things. There are many options.”
Jay and Shelley Wallace
Owners, Fireplace & Leisure CentreS P EC I A LT Y: Taking care of customers and educating them on most anything “hearth”
T H E B EST WAY TO WA R M U P I N T H E
FA L L : “Throw some wood on the fire, grab a mug of hot cocoa and snuggle up
with your favourite girl, guy or book.”U N I Q U E S E RV I C ES : Some customers have unique requests. “We do our best
to turn those requests into reality, but in a safe and functional manner.”
T R E N DS : “We have two trends running neck and neck right now, eco-awareness
and, secondly, a traditional feel with a contemporary look.”
FAVO U R I T E P R O D U CT: Shelley’s summertime favourite is a Hatteras
hammock in the sun. In winter it’s the Renaissance Rumford fireplace. Jay’s summer favourite is the Twin Eagles
outdoor kitchen and grill (ultimate man cave). In winter, the Beachcomber hot tub.
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p e o p l e
Jack Larocque Market Manager, Muskoka/Barrie Superior Propane
S P EC I A LT Y: We’re Canada’s only national provider of portable fuels, equipment and service delivered to
residential, commercial and industrial customers in over 180 communities – coast to coast for 60 years.
T H E B EST WAY TO WA R M U P I N T H E FA L L :
Propane-powered space heating units are the compact miracles of the heating world. Quiet, clean
and economical, these modern dynamos make every litre of propane go the distance.
U N I Q U E S E RV I C ES : Convenient service plans, inspection, cleaning and tune-up.
T R E N DS : The latest generation of propane-powered furnaces make the most of a good thing. Ultra-high
efficiency components and long-life materials ensure energy cost savings of up to one-third or more over
conventionally fired systems. FAVO U R I T E P R O D U CT: We are committed to a
leading health, safety and environmental management system called Guardian. Employees are thoroughly
trained in specialized safety techniques and safe handling procedures and hold all necessary licences.
Christine Kittl Owner, The Fire Within S P EC I A LT Y: “We focus on all aspects of sales/installation/service and finishing of fireplaces and stoves, whether they run on wood, gas, propane, pellets or electricity.” The Fire Within also provides complete fireplace finishings in a variety of stone and tile. Muskoka granite is still the most popular. THE BEST WAY TO WARM UP IN THE FALL: Get in front of a wood fire in a high-efficiency wood fireplace or stove. “Nothing will heat you to the core like a wood fire.” U N I Q U E S E RV I C ES : Home pressure testing and evaluation for people who have problem fireplaces or issues such as back drafting or smoke spillage.T R E N DS : Expanded and central heating options with high-efficiency fireplaces. Outdoor fireplaces and pits. FAVO U R I T E P R O D U CT: Renewable solid fuel fireplaces. “They are a very efficient, bullet-proof type of product that puts out a ton of heat for the little wood it consumes, plus it’s Canadian made.” OH
Christine and Mike Kittl in their Bracebridge showroom.
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