Sweat-equity opportunity

Rent-to-own arrangement suits single mom just fine

SHANNON had dreamed of being a homeowner since her daughter was born. Previously a renter, the single mom wanted a place that she and her daughter could really call home -- a house with a yard, lots of space to . . .

Posted: 2010-04-24

CONNIE OLIVER: Versatile wallpaper making big comeback

The wallpaper craze of the '90s tapered off in the early part of this century but wallpaper is making a comeback as a popular and easy way to update your decor. We're definitely in the midst of a wallpaper revival. According . . .

Posted: 2013-02-09

Home renovation 'a labour of love'

Older home as good as new, and low-maintenance

OFTENTIMES, when a home is put up for sale, it's marketed as being "extensively renovated." Now, that renovation might cover (perhaps) a kitchen and bathroom, one of those two key areas, or maybe a master bedroom makeover (with any luck, the . . .

Posted: 2009-11-28

Be smart with basement ceilings

Of all the lower-level and basement full-gut and remodels achieved throughout the years, only a handful have been finished with drywalled ceilings — and there’s a good reason for that. In most homes, services mapped throughout the structure originate from . . .

Posted: 2026-03-21

Building a new home a good investment

For those of you who visited a number of show homes during the Spring Parade of Homes, you may have noticed some brochures highlighting the top reasons to build a new home. We don't have enough space to go through . . .

Posted: 2015-04-11

Build yourself a shower in the sun

Soak up those rays for free hot water

A BLACK garden hose, a ring of piping and an adjustable nozzle are the building blocks for a basic outdoor shower. Best of all, the hot water is free. What a waste of hot water. For years, I was using a . . .

Posted: 2008-08-17

Builders want return to 30-year mortgage

Canadians have been extremely diligent in paying off their mortgages as quickly as possible, generally in about two-thirds of the original intended time period. In a recent report by the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP) for mortgages completed from . . .

Posted: 2013-07-13

Bathroom fan moisture a source of worry

Keep ducting well sealed and insulated

Question -- I have a question that hopefully you can answer, or at the very least, offer up some recommendations. I have a 1960s bungalow and recently had the bathroom renovated, which included the installation of a new bathroom fan. . . .

Posted: 2009-01-24

Flying feathers have her feeling down

Question: I purchased a down-filled jacket. The feathers are leaving an embarrassing trail behind me wherever I go. Feathers fly out every time I remove my jacket. What should I do? — Candy Answer: Expensive and inexpensive down-filled jackets alike tend to . . .

Posted: 2018-01-13

Navigating your way through window shopping

There's a lot to knowabout your home's glass and its sound-dampening capabilities...

When I have insomnia, I hear every car and conversation that passes outside my house. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that when I hear every car and conversation outside my house, I get insomnia. Either way, . . .

Posted: 2018-12-15