Steps to prep outdoor plants for a long prairie winter

Each fall I get a number of inquiries from readers and clients about how to prepare their trees and shrubs for winter. There are now signs of leaves turning yellow. Did you know that trees and shrubs go through a . . .

Posted: 2014-09-13

MIKE HOLMES: Building permits an absolute essential

You've heard me rant for a few years now about why you need a building permit for work you're having done at your house. But from the mail I'm still getting, it looks as though the message isn't getting through. Many . . .

Posted: 2011-03-05

DEBBIE TRAVIS: Splurge on quality furniture for teen's room

Dear Debbie: We are decorating our daughter's bedroom with input from her. The challenge is that Tracy changes her mind about every six months. She is 11 and we would like to come up with a look that can keep up . . .

Posted: 2010-04-10

SOLUTIONS: Like popcorn? Grow some

QUESTION: I have taken on a new hobby, which is growing popcorn in my garden! What is the best way to store popcorn so it stays fresh? Biannce, Morden ANSWER: Popcorn is a great year-around treat. One of the advantages of . . .

Posted: 2010-04-03

Tear through that to-do list this summer

Many of us are suffering from overexposure to our own homes. We’ve had more time to contemplate and less motivation to tackle the out-of-whack elements in our houses and apartments — the minor repairs that have seemingly taken up permanent . . .

Posted: 2021-07-03

Retrofit renovations can lead down unknown path

Replacing window with door requires some additional planning

With any renovation project, it is often the retrofit which presents the greater challenge. When building new, materials are ordered to specifications based on the design plans, and the tasks are completed systematically with few, if any, surprises. A renovation, however, . . .

Posted: 2018-06-23

There is more than one way to insulate between joists

QUESTION: I know the use of extruded foam insulation on interior basement walls must be covered, but what about the header areas? If you seal them with extruded foam, too, must those areas be covered? Doug ANSWER: You have identified an . . .

Posted: 2013-06-22

Get your house in shape for the new year

It’s that time of year in which we resolve to make our lives better. From eating healthier to getting more sleep, now is when we declare our intent to step it up a notch.Would it surprise you then, to hear . . .

Posted: 2017-01-07

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Open up crawlspace to fight moisture

QUESTION: Our house is a 700-square-foot bungalow built in 1973 in St. Vital on a number of concrete pillars. A crawlspace surrounds an approximately 7x7-foot "partial basement" with concrete block walls that rise about four to five feet high. The . . .

Posted: 2012-08-25

It's the finishing touches that make the home

Millwork customizes a room, can hide imperfections

Tim Schauerte considers the greatest compliment he can get when he finishes a job is when his clients tell him it looked like he was never there. Schauerte's skill is in the area of finishing carpentry, also known as millwork. His work . . .

Posted: 2009-10-18