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

Picture-perfect porch

Homeowners’ vision brought to live with new decking, aluminum railings

In the beginning of my career as a builder and renovator, my focus was to fill my calendar with work, period. The early years were primarily filled with back-to-back interior projects, allowing me to build decks on weekends. Nowadays, I’ve . . .

Posted: 2025-07-12

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

MIKE HOLMES: Renovations, new construction take different skill sets

As a contractor, I've built a few new houses and I've renovated many more. I can tell you there's a huge difference between building new and renovating -- and that is something you need to be aware of when you . . .

Posted: 2012-02-04

CONNIE OLIVER: Decor finds

Unused old objects can make unique accent items

When I come across a great decor idea, I like to share it with others. Not only are the following ideas fantastic, they inspire us to think outside the box when it comes to home decor. I can't take credit . . .

Posted: 2012-11-17