Caution must always prevail when working with asbestos

Question: I’ve been asked to demolish a building with some two-foot by eight-foot asbestos siding.What do I need to know about such removal? Thank you, Larry.   Answer: Limiting damage to the older siding when removing it may minimize most of the health concerns related . . .

Posted: 2021-04-03

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Envelope your home in energy efficiency

QUESTION: I came across your great website and articles while doing some research on the Internet. My house is a four-level split built in 1980. Currently, it has cedar-wood siding, which I will be replacing with stucco. I plan to . . .

Posted: 2011-10-08

Higher office

Home office now a necessity but a little creativity makes a big difference

Having a home office is a must these days. Even if you don't work from home you still need a place to keep your computer and paperwork in order to pay bills, do your banking online and so on. Finding . . .

Posted: 2008-09-21

Home renovation 'a labour of love'

Older home as good as new, and low-maintenance

OFTENTIMES, when a home is put up for sale, it's marketed as being "extensively renovated." Now, that renovation might cover (perhaps) a kitchen and bathroom, one of those two key areas, or maybe a master bedroom makeover (with any luck, the . . .

Posted: 2009-11-28

Treat your home to the wow factor

Designer's touch can transform ordinary into extraordinary

IS there a better illustration of a natural miracle than a well designed and executed home renovation? If you look at the before and after photos that accompany this article, you might even conclude the miracle was inspired by the . . .

Posted: 2012-12-22

Should worries be flushed down the drain?

QUESTION: I am wondering if it's a good idea to have both a main back-flow valve, under the basement floor, and a backup valve in the basement drain. Please excuse me if this is a little long-winded, but I will . . .

Posted: 2012-03-12

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Crawl-space issue uncovers bigger problem

QUESTION: I have a question about my home and hope you can provide some advice or at least relieve my troubled mind. Last November I purchased and moved into a small "slab" house in the Crescentwood area of Winnipeg, a wartime . . .

Posted: 2010-08-21

Design discussions net breathtaking result

Creating a ceiling 'you would see in a château in France'

The merging of building techniques often can produce spectacular and unique results. There is always a way to achieve the "goal, " despite constraints that arise, monetary or otherwise. It is very important to discuss at length with my clients an . . .

Posted: 2017-11-25

Get creative with small office space

Having a home office is a must these days for the majority of us. Even if you don't work from home, you still need a place to keep your computer and paperwork in order to pay bills, do your banking . . .

Posted: 2014-09-06

Kitchen enhancements add style and make sense

During the preliminary site visit to assess project parameters, one glaring issue sometimes jumps out and becomes the focus. At a recent kitchen facelift, that issue was the existing placement of the sink – tucked in the corner of . . .

Posted: 2022-10-15