Ways to live a maintenance-free lifestyle

Bette Davis was spot on when she said growing old is not for sissies.

The legendary movie star was, of course, referring to the physical frailties we face as we age. How do we manage to maintain our independence and dignity as our body weakens? How do we look after ourselves and, by extension, the homes in which we live?

Reducing your home’s maintenance is a big trend that is slowly gaining traction as a large segment of Canada’s population ages. In 2012, about 21 per cent of Canadians were over the age of 60. By 2030, that number is projected to rise to about 28.5 per cent. By 2050, 31 per cent — or almost one third of all Canadians — will be seniors.

According to a Health Canada study, most Canadians over 65 live at home, either alone or with a spouse.

Even though our summers are relatively short in Canada, lawn and garden care can become all consuming and that’s why many are turning to artificial turf, the easy-care, non-growing lawn that looks and feels just like the real thing.

Imagine never cutting your grass again. Imagine also its impact on the environment as your water usage is reduced along with the gas emissions from lawn mowers.

Other ways to lower your home’s maintenance:

• Consider roofing your home in metal instead of the usual asphalt shingles. Steel roofs are highly durable, weather and sun resistant and can last as long as 50 years.
• Don’t install wood decks. Use wood composite materials that have the beauty of wood without all the splitting, cracking and rotting that typically goes along with the real deal.
• Laminate floors are much lower maintenance than their wood cousins. And cleaning is a breeze, just sweep or vacuum and wipe them up with water.
• Use quartz for your countertops. It’s stain and scratch resistant and very easy to maintain.
• Clad your home in vinyl siding, an inexpensive, low-maintenance substitute for traditional wood. The material is resistant to water and insects as well.
• While you’re at it, replace wood windows, which rot and warp, with fibreglass. Fibreglass windows are not affected by extreme temperatures and they hold paint really well, too.
• Install an automatic thermostat and automatic lighting. These steps are sure to minimize your work as light bulbs will burn out less thanks to sparing usage. Keeping your thermostat preset means less maintenance on your heating and cooling system.
• Using a timer for lawn and garden irrigation saves you money, time and effort.