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

Repairing garage floor likely not worth the effort

Question: I read an article online you wrote regarding water seepage into a garage. This exactly covers my questions regarding how to fix the problem. In my case with a garage older than 50 years, that is not feasible. It . . .

Posted: 2021-02-06

The writing's on the wall this season

Papering your home is the in thing to do

Wallpaper has exploded back into our lives. We are using it in every room in the home. Often just on a focal wall, but I have seen these exciting new patterns used on everything from furnishings to ceilings. There are . . .

Posted: 2008-04-06

When mom moves in

There are a number of financial, tax and estate issues to consider

While it can be a great joy, taking in an elderly parent will have emotional, physical and financial ramifications for a family. It is a tough time no matter what the circumstances when an elderly relative, perhaps a parent, is no . . .

Posted: 2010-08-07

Creative fix allows for bathroom transformation

Self-levelling concrete contributes to successful project

Using self-levelling concrete is an economical way to achieve a level floor — in most situations. It is important to remember, however, that the existing subfloor and perimeter must first be properly sealed. Otherwise, some of the levelling compound may . . .

Posted: 2019-06-22

Close that ugly gap

deckALL skirting a cut above that's not limited to decks

SO you've just built a deck and have discovered that you've got something of an esthetic dilemma. Because your new deck is raised several feet above the terra firma below, a gap between the deck and ground has been formed. Upon . . .

Posted: 2011-08-27