Creative touches set mood

Sage Creek two-storey is both luxurious and livable, by design

It can take a deft touch to balance creativity and practicality when it comes to home design. That’s why it’s so important for a home builder to think critically about how to infuse a residence with creative design touches without . . .

Posted: 2025-12-20

Bang for your buck

Instead of a full kitchen overhaul, why not try a new backsplash?

So, you want to remodel your kitchen?Well, be prepared to gasp: a full kitchen remodel can set you back $20, 000 — and that’s before the cost of new appliances. And if busting down walls for an open-concept design interests . . .

Posted: 2016-12-10

Best solution always the one that works

Wrong trusses weren't a problem in the end

For larger construction projects, it can take several weeks of pre-planning to properly co-ordinate the job and despite the best efforts, sometimes things don’t always go as planned. When an obstacle does present itself, quick thinking and compromise are both key . . .

Posted: 2021-05-01

Classic charmer

Norwood home nice blend of old and new

IT’S one of the first features that catches your attention when you look at a home. That feature? A home’s square footage. And when a home measures in at 1, 420 square feet, the initial impression is space might be . . .

Posted: 2016-02-13

Cracked concrete likely due to defect in workmanship

Question: I have a bungalow built about two years ago next to the Red River in Grand Forks, N.D. Last fall I started noticing cracking in my basement and garage walls and ceilings. The problem continued until mid-November and resulted in . . .

Posted: 2020-03-07

CONDOS: Flex space, the final frontier

Rip the doors off and de-clutter: expert

It's the space that's supposed to be a bonus in condominiums: the one marked "flex" or "storage" or even "multi-purpose" on the floor plans. The problem is, the space is often so small it hardly serves any purpose at all. Designer . . .

Posted: 2011-06-11

Leave furnace repairs to the pros

Explosions, leaks, carbon monoxide poisoning are a few reasons not to DIY gas-line projects

Question: We installed a new high-efficiency furnace three years ago. When it gets really cold outside, the fresh-air intake collects frost on the inside of the PVC pipe, so the furnace does not have enough air and will not operate . . .

Posted: 2019-04-06

Natural stone, quartz head up favourites for kitchens and baths

Question: We are selecting new countertops for our kitchen and bathroom. I definitely want granite in the kitchen, but I'm thinking of a less costly option for the bathrooms (our master bath, a powder room and an upstairs full bathroom . . .

Posted: 2015-01-17

Furnace ‘reboot’

Chilling for a week without forced-air heat

In high school when I had spare time, I customized a 1952 Chevy half-ton truck. For vehicles of that era, most mechanical issues that arose could be addressed with a wrench and a screwdriver. Nowadays, the technological advancements that heighten . . .

Posted: 2026-02-14

Pack insulation against a stone foundation

Question: We have a 100-year old-house in Wolseley and I am planning to insulate my interior basement walls. I have lived here for 15 years and have never had any water or moisture enter the basement through the walls or . . .

Posted: 2012-07-21