Top-shelf idea leads to great little pantry

There is never enough space for anything — especially when it comes to storage in older homes. Other than the larger closet in the foyer of my main floor, there are only two other closets in my house. They’re smaller closets . . .

Posted: 2017-11-10

ARI MARANTZ: Removing chimney a vexing situation

QUESTION: I live in a house that we built on top of the foundation of a house we tore down. The original house and foundation were built in the 1940s. In the new house we put in a high-efficiency furnace . . .

Posted: 2011-04-09

SOLUTIONS: This solution sprays pesky plant flies away

QUESTION: I read your column regularly and find it very helpful. Some time ago, you gave a solution to get rid of the little flies that seem to take up residence in house plants. Was it 2 tbsp. per litre . . .

Posted: 2012-03-24

Joy in a Labour Day maple

I’m no stranger to planting trees. And anyone who knows me well recognizes my love of the process. On my property, over 3, 000 trees have been planted throughout the years, a good chunk of which have recently begun . . .

Posted: 2024-09-14

Finished basement now a great space

Improving lower level can be a daunting project

The unfinished, or partially finished, basement is a common residential attribute for many homeowners. At at tender age, I recall helping my dad frame what would eventually become my very own bedroom in the basement of my childhood home. Many of . . .

Posted: 2018-02-03

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Seepage may date back to foundation error

QUESTION: I would like your opinion on a situation with the basement in our home. We have a Logix Styrofoam/concrete basement in a six-year-old home. We had some water leakage into the basement a couple of years after the home . . .

Posted: 2013-01-19

Smoke free policies make for tenable tenants

Question: I have a peculiar problem in my semi-detached house. My neighbour next door is a tenant. She smokes marijuana and the smell I suspect comes through an electrical outlet and my fireplace when my air conditioning is on. . . .

Posted: 2023-07-22

Cleaning right between the lines

Question: Suggestions on how to remove mould from grout. Our shower tile is only two years old and we thought we were cleaning properly, but we just noticed the start of mould. — Charlene Answer: Purchase a handy little piece of pumice . . .

Posted: 2017-08-12

Handled with care

Template a must when mounting new cabinet handles

Some of the most anxious moments can occur while doing tasks that take the least amount of time. That’s why it is so very important to ensure the proper measurements are taken, and a reliable process is undertaken. For instance, adding . . .

Posted: 2021-03-13

Green -- one step at a time

Small changes add up to big savings

YOU'VE heard it all before: Recycle your bottles and cans. Change your furnace filter regularly. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Chances are, you've made some of those small changes in your home. Why? Because small is not . . .

Posted: 2009-05-03