A short daily for homeowners in the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario: one renovation question answered, new rebates and benefits with their deadlines, product recalls and weather alerts that matter at home.
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Question of the Day
I am on a MacBook with no mouse. How do I move the plan around?
Slide two fingers on the trackpad and the plan moves with them, sideways as well as up and down; pinch to zoom. The gesture nobody forgets afterwards is space bar + drag — hold the space bar, drag anywhere on the plan, and it pans like the hand tool in a photo editor. That one works with a mouse, a trackpad, a trackball or a pen. A middle-button drag still pans if you do have a wheel mouse. All three gestures work the same way in the elevation and on the countertop drawing — one set to learn, not three. A wheel mouse keeps zooming on a plain scroll, exactly as before — the designer tells the two devices apart. If it ever guesses wrong, set it by hand in ⚙ 2D Settings → Plan View → Pan & Zoom Input: Auto, Mouse or Trackpad.
Mississauga: up to $3,000 back for flood-proofing a home that has flooded before
DeadlineNo end date posted
Registered owners of detached, semi-detached, duplex or townhouse homes in Mississauga that flooded in an intense rainfall on or after July 8, 2013 can get back 50 per cent of the cost of flood-proofing upgrades, up to $3,000. Eligible work includes water-resilient floors and walls, moisture alarms and regrading next to the house. Materials, labour by a valid contractor and tax all count. Apply online or by mail with your tax bill, proof of flooding, invoices and installation photos. Rebates are paid until funding runs out or the application period ends.
Markham designated heritage properties: 30% off municipal and education taxes
DeadlineNo end date posted
Markham's Heritage Property Tax Reduction Program gives designated heritage properties an annual property tax refund to help cover the extra cost of maintaining heritage features. The municipal and education portions of the tax can be reduced by 30%. The application form and brochure are on the City's heritage services page. No deadline is listed. Email heritage@markham.ca to ask about timing.
Brantford: up to $2,000 to replace an old private sewer lateral
DeadlineNo end date posted
City of Brantford property owners can get 50% of the cost, up to $2,000, to replace or reline an old sanitary sewer lateral on their property, to help reduce sewer blockages. The application must be approved before any work starts. Property taxes must be paid in full when applying, and the home cannot be under a new construction warranty. Work must be done by a licensed contractor, with itemized quotes. Approvals are valid for six months. Grants are first come, first served and depend on available funding.
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