Devil in the details

Caring, commitment key elements to a successful reno

Details make the difference between a first-rate renovation and a disastrous one.Two obvious details that speak to the overall excellence of a reno are joinery and paint.Bevel joints for baseboards and mitre joints for window and door frames should fit . . .

Posted: 2015-06-13

Heating ducts in concrete may present unique challenge

Question: I am hoping you can tell me how a repair can be made to the heat vents which are laid into the cement slab. I think this winter my house shifted in such a way as to crack a . . .

Posted: 2022-05-14

Cut lettuce with a clean, sharp knife for freshness

Question: Does it matter if you tear lettuce versus cutting it with a knife? Carrie Answer: Many cooks believe that when lettuce touches metal, it will react and prematurely turn brown. While this isn’t completely a myth, it really doesn’t make a . . .

Posted: 2021-01-23

MIKE HOLMES: Wood gives rise to sustainable products

IF you drive around any new subdivision being built in North America, I'm sure you'll see a lot of wood. Most of our houses are framed, structured and sheathed with wood. And it shows up in windows and doors, exterior . . .

Posted: 2011-06-18

Finally, time to do a job of my own

When a window of opportunity opens, I have to take advantage

My fellow contractors will agree — it’s next to impossible to set aside adequate time to start, let alone complete, renovations at our own homes, because most our time is spent completing renovations for hire elsewhere.This has been the running . . .

Posted: 2016-12-24

Weekend transformation

Out with gym, in with playroom

My plan was ambitious. In just two days, while my husband was out of town, I would transform his gym into a playroom for our two daughters. Operating on the theory that it's better to beg forgiveness than ask . . .

Posted: 2008-11-23

Breaker battle heats up during winter's worst

Sure wasn't the best time for a furnace to falter, but we got it fixed up quick

Last week was a tough one. With sustained temperatures at -40 C and wind chills near -50 C, household ventilation systems were put to the test. And if you reside in a rural area where natural gas isn’t available, an . . .

Posted: 2019-02-16

Scissor lift a godsend for second-storey job

Certain unforeseen challenges arise once a major renovation gets underway. During the construction of the two-storey addition on my house, the biggest challenge had been lingering in the back of my mind for a while — how to tackle the . . .

Posted: 2017-10-14

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Forced-air heat needs good ventilation

QUESTION: This is a question on furnaces. Do we need a cold air intake to the furnace with forced air electric heat? Most of the questions you receive pertain to gas furnaces. Thank you, Doreen Backer I am currently building a 1, . . .

Posted: 2010-01-09

MIKE HOLMES: Minimize the VOCs in your home

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are in a lot of the products we put in our homes. Everything from carpeting, cabinets and furniture to the paint on our walls and caulking around our tubs, showers and toilets contain VOCs. Some materials . . .

Posted: 2014-02-15