ASK THE INSPECTOR: Central fans work, but duct and fan sizes crucial

QUESTION: We have a 2, 000-square-foot cab-over home with central exhaust in two bathrooms and one vent in the main living area. The central exhaust in the large ensuite off the cab-over bedroom does not clear the moisture as well . . .

Posted: 2010-06-26

GARDENING: Incredible edibles

Ditch the lawn for plants you can eat

Medieval roots Incorporating edibles into the landscape is a growing trend but one that has its practical roots in gardens dating back to the Middle Ages, when monastic gardens grew culinary herbs alongside flowers. Raised beds made their debut . . .

Posted: 2012-05-05

ASK THE INSPECTOR: HRV settings key to homeowner's woes

QUESTION: I have a new home and have found that my furnace was running almost continuously last winter trying to keep our house temperature at 20 degrees. I also found that the temperature variations within our home fluctuate three to . . .

Posted: 2012-11-17

Living large in a not so big house

Creative design has bungalow punching way above its weight class

Tell a friend you've just purchased a new 1, 400-square-foot bungalow, and they might give you a funny look. Then they come out with the punch line: "Kinda small, don't you think?" On the contrary, a 1, 400-square-foot bungalow -- if designed . . .

Posted: 2009-02-14

Show-stopper

Massive loft the crown on a home fit for a king

It isn't often that a room on the same floor as a master suite steals the show, but that's the case on the upper level of 39 Stan Bailie Drive, a.k.a. The Kingswood. Look to the left of a striking, wrap-around . . .

Posted: 2014-03-15

Seek advice from family and neighbours when purchasing new windows

Question: Hello, we are looking at replacing windows in our mid-'80s bungalow and are seeking some advice on the best type of windows to purchase: PVC, vinyl etc. The present windows are all wood frame and some are no longer . . .

Posted: 2016-01-30

Hardware cloth a good way to keep rodents at bay

Question: What type of screening would you recommend for a screened porch, with no glass, to keep out squirrels? This is for a cottage at the lake where the squirrels chewed a hole in the metal screen and then proceeded . . .

Posted: 2021-06-12

Wax on, wax off: use a brown paper bag

QUESTION -- Help! I have red candle wax on a light-coloured carpet. How can I remove this? Need your help. Thank you so much. Lorraine, Winnipeg ANSWER -- What you need to do is place a single-layered brown paper bag over . . .

Posted: 2012-06-09

A merge made in paradise

Composite top-decking and treated lumber together are a thing of beauty

Although composite has become a popular top-decking alternative in recent years, the structural support of a composite deck is generally built in much the same manner as a traditionally constructed and thoroughly wooden deck; joists set atop beams, supported by . . .

Posted: 2018-06-16

Flooring install in unheated cottage all about prep

A reader asked recently whether it is normal for vinyl flooring to lift after a few years inside a cottage that is not heated in winter. In my experience, the answer is no. We had vinyl flooring in the kitchen and . . .

Posted: 2015-07-18