Take care with pressure-treated wood

New arsenic-free types can still cause problems if used incorrectly

OTTAWA -- Arsenic isn't an element that enjoys a good public relations image. That's why the American and Canadian lumber industries voluntarily halted consumer sales of all pressure-treated wood containing arsenic-bearing chemicals four years ago. Trouble is, the new, arsenic-free, pressure-treated . . .

Posted: 2008-05-04

Greening your house

Take steps towards better environmental practices at home

CALGARY -- One of the biggest problems we face in the quest to go greener at home is not the lack of options, it's the lack of space. "Houses ... are not built to be green, " says Sarah Franklin, co-owner . . .

Posted: 2008-05-18

SOLUTIONS: Beautiful bamboo floors easy to maintain

QUESTION: We have new bamboo floors in our home. What should we use on the floor to clean it? Different people with lots of different ideas have advised us, but no one has the right solution. Thank you in advance. Gordon, . . .

Posted: 2010-05-01

CONNIE OLIVER: Elegant features coming back into vogue

I'VE stated many times that I am partial to older homes. I take for granted the ceiling trim detail, crown moulding, wide baseboards and beefy door frames in my home. I'd miss those details if I had to move to . . .

Posted: 2010-01-23

Knowledge blossoms

Study group learns about tomatoes, peppers from a fearless experimenter

When a group of gardeners get together to talk about growing vegetables, it leads to some interesting dynamics. Curious gardeners ask many questions because they know that to be a successful food gardener, learning from one another is key. Networking . . .

Posted: 2020-08-22

Don't let good wood go to waste

Make better use of leftover material before tossing it in a bin

Houston, we have a problem. I wish this was fake news, but it’s not. I am gobsmacked by the amount of good wood we are hauling to landfill sites... and burying. Today’s focus is on new-home construction. Allow me to preface my non-covert . . .

Posted: 2019-06-15

Quartz countertops popular and practical

Spruce up your kitchen with endless styles and colours

Over the past few years of interior renovations, a dozen or so kitchen renovations have been completed. Although only half were quite extensive, which involved fully gutting the space to introduce new cupboards in a newly designed kitchen layout, . . .

Posted: 2023-08-05

Demolition discoveries

Home renos can turn up fascinating artifacts

The first few weeks of any major lower-level renovation and remodel will likely entail a whole lot of demolition, due to the reorganization room configurations as well as removal of old esthetic sheathing on walls and ceilings. As such, . . .

Posted: 2026-03-14

Colourful options for Manitoba tree planting

The vast majority of trees do not have serious problems, but they need to be properly maintained. Timely watering and fertilizing is important to ensure their health is sustained. Fall is a great season to plant trees and shrubs. Indigenous species . . .

Posted: 2012-10-06

Remade masterpiece

Big, 1980s-era Linden Woods home totally revamped

These days, there are resale homes on the market that have been extensively updated. Then, there are those that, well, haven't changed one iota since they were built. Fortunately, that's not the case with 81 Shorecrest Dr., said Re/Max Professionals' David . . .

Posted: 2014-05-10