Skirting an issue brings new concerns

Question: I have a 40-year-old cottage that was skirted, is a three-season-use dwelling, and has no problems to complain about. When we visit in the winter we just bring in water, I heat the main drain pipe for the toilet, . . .

Posted: 2021-04-10

Digging in

Planting vegetable garden needs proper preparation

Donna Balzer and Steven Biggs's book No Guff Vegetable Gardening (No Guff Press, 2011) hit bookstores last month, but they're offering excerpts to get you started.   Donna says: I get a charge out of the garden-centre bags of "topsoil, " which . . .

Posted: 2011-05-28

White vinegar and water best for blinds

QUESTION: I love green pea soup. I haven’t been able to find it in stores for a few years now, so I suspect manufacturers have stopped making it. I have tried various recipes that I have found, but none of . . .

Posted: 2019-04-13

SOLUTIONS: Bandage 'ouchies'? Use water, olive oil, blow dryer

QUESTION: I have a three-year-old boy who constantly falls and scrapes his knees. He loves to wear animated bandages and immediately stops crying when I put them on him. But when it's time for the bandage to be taken off, . . .

Posted: 2013-02-02

Electric water heater has advantages over gas-fired units

Question: We had a gas high-efficiency furnace installed in our 1991 built, one-storey house, about eight years ago. Seven years ago, our gas water heater was changed, with no modifications made to the chimney. I heard that a chimney liner . . .

Posted: 2022-03-19

Half-baked, homeowner-designed rarely the way to go

Question: I read an article you wrote back in 2012 in the Winnipeg Free Press regarding heat recovery ventilation units (HRV). I live near Aberdeen, Sask. We live in a SIPS (structural insulated panels) house built about six years ago. . . .

Posted: 2018-04-07

New-home warranty law a win-win-win

On November 22, Minister Jim Rondeau announced the introduction of a New Home Warranty Act for Manitoba. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that all new homes built for sale are covered by a warranty against defects in materials . . .

Posted: 2012-12-01

Removal and replacement of rusty ceiling grids required

Question: I made a big mistake, after finishing our basement, with not hooking up the bathroom ceiling fan. Now we have rust on most of the metal ceiling grids. Short of replacing all the grids, is there anything than can . . .

Posted: 2021-05-01

Heating ducts in concrete may present unique challenge

Question: I am hoping you can tell me how a repair can be made to the heat vents which are laid into the cement slab. I think this winter my house shifted in such a way as to crack a . . .

Posted: 2022-05-14

Stop and smell the roses

Recent breeding developments improve disease-resistance and continuous or repeat flowering

Is it time to fall in love with roses again? Today’s gardener can feel more confident than ever about growing roses thanks to breeding developments that emphasize greater disease-resistance and continuous or repeat flowering. New roses developed for the northern garden . . .

Posted: 2018-10-20