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

There are many causes for excessive moisture in the home

Question: My house has drain tiles coming to the basement floor drain above the trap. My continuously running furnace pulls moist air from the drain in spite of a five-inch exterior air intake. Are there solutions to block this humid . . .

Posted: 2016-06-18

You've got questions -- he's got answers

Question: Where do your questions come from and what topics will you respond to? Answer: It may seem a little odd for me to be answering this self-posed question after more than two decades of weekly columns, but it should still . . .

Posted: 2021-09-25

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

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

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

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