Smart-home technology takes off

OTTAWA -- The evening's colder than a polar bear's toenails as you pull into the driveway, and your home's been empty all day. Yet the entrance lights glow, the house is warm, and your music playlist is already working its . . .

Posted: 2011-05-21

Stainless steel, white not only options

Dear Debbie: Our kitchen cupboards and appliances are almond in colour. It is time to replace the appliances. We cannot decide whether to go with stainless steel or white. I don't like the fact stainless steel shows marks. Is there . . .

Posted: 2013-09-07

Retro bathroom gets facelift

Renovation reveals grand transformation

Repeat clients and their referrals have been the bread and butter of my business. Any contractor knows the benefits of repeat business — the familiarity of clients and the job site can easily reduce anxiety caused by an impending renovation. However, . . .

Posted: 2018-03-24

MIKE HOLMES: Seeing the light

LEDs save money in long run

Canadians use more energy per capita than any other nation in the world. It's expensive, both in cost to the environment and to your family's budget, and we need to find ways to cut back our usage. We've been making the . . .

Posted: 2009-05-10

Treat scale with dormant oil in winter

Insects will suffocate in their shells

11 ANSWER -- I know I have answered this question in the past, but I seem to be getting many questions about this problem again so I thought we should readdress the issue. Scale is an insect that really does not . . .

Posted: 2008-10-05

Suspended ceiling likely best bet for basement

Question: My wife and I bought a new home last year from a major builder. Boy, have thing changed since my last new home about 30 years ago! The Building Code is vastly different, as are the modern materials . . .

Posted: 2023-02-25

Sealing off garage attic aids in fire protection

Current building code requires dividing barrier to extend up to roof

QUESTION: My home was built in 2005 and I just noticed that the attic in the attached garage is open to the attic in the home. Is this a problem in terms of fire protection and heat loss? The attic . . .

Posted: 2019-01-19

What the deck are you doing?

Deck building requires care and expertise

Planning a deck project can be overwhelming. Beyond the various decking materials, styles and colours available, the deck design possibilities itself are virtually limitless. In my experience, the best decks will cater to very specific purposes for each individual . . .

Posted: 2024-05-18

Growing panes

Basement window treatment easy on the eyes

In older homes it isn’t uncommon to discover ugly and forgotten window cavities in the basement. If the lower level was left unfinished at the time the house was built, the window jamb depth likely meets flush with the concrete . . .

Posted: 2020-02-29

MIKE HOLMES: Buyer beware of toxic drywall

Only fix is to replace it

You might have heard recently about toxic drywall that was distributed in North America and used in thousands of homes. This drywall was made in China, and it emits toxic hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide and other gases. Humidity in the . . .

Posted: 2009-07-19