ASK THE INSPECTOR: Colour match a problem with concrete patch

QUESTION: I have a problem with the front steps of my house, which are 10 years old and are made of poured concrete. The steps are in excellent condition, except for a few scalded and pockmarked areas caused by the . . .

Posted: 2009-07-12

Preventing cabin foundation shift a challenge

Question: We have a cabin in the Whiteshell and are looking at a re-level, after about 12 years. The cabin always moves towards the back of the property. It is built on 24-inch square pads and posts right now. . . .

Posted: 2022-09-24

Overactive sump pump needs a look

Mechanical problems may be cause of activity

Question -- Should a sump pump be kicking in every day of the year? Through summer dry spells and cold winters my sump pump kicks in daily. What could be the cause of this? I extend my drainage hose far . . .

Posted: 2008-04-06

Aluminum wiring requires a professional

Question: A family member recently bought an older home, built in the 1970’s, which has aluminum wiring. The insurance company said that all the aluminum wiring connections would have to be checked by an electrician and all the receptacles . . .

Posted: 2023-03-11

CONNIE OLIVER: When it comes to wall art, anything's possible

FILLING wall space with interesting art doesn't have to be an expensive or complicated endeavor. If you've just moved in to a new apartment and are wondering how you're going to fill the blank wall space or if you just want . . .

Posted: 2011-09-24

Aeroponic pyramid garden in Victoria is a catalyst for change

Innovator Allan Murr cultivates a fresh perspective for distributing community food relief

Victoria’s Allan Murr uses pyramid-shaped planters and aeroponic farming to cultivate and harvest fresh produce that is distributed by volunteers to local food banks and community kitchens. This is not your average community food share. Murr is president of . . .

Posted: 2023-04-08

Building code not always set in stone

Question: I was visiting a friend’s new condo recently and noticed the drywall in the garage was not taped or painted. Does this conform to the Manitoba Building Code? It seems that any fire in the garage has direct access to . . .

Posted: 2017-10-07

Value packed

Meticulously designed home offers style and function

In an effort to distinguish themselves from their competitors, builders spend long hours trying to conjure up distinctive yet practical designs that properly balance style and function. That’s no simple task. Make a home too stylish, and you stand to lose function. . . .

Posted: 2020-01-18

SOLUTIONS: When cleaning wooden furniture: Don't hold the mayo

QUESTION: We have unfinished cedar chairs. Last summer they became darkened from the drippy stuff that comes off our elm tree. I used soapy water and a scrubbing brush last fall and they are a tiny bit cleaner. Do you . . .

Posted: 2009-05-31

RENOVATIONS: Foam framed

News stories miss key details in bid to slag spray-foam insulation

There's something fishy about a couple of recent stories concerning off-gassing purportedly caused by the installation of polyurethane spray-foam insulation (PSFI)--yes, the very insulation lauded until recently as a green product used extensively in the U.S. and Canada for more . . .

Posted: 2013-11-16