Deck it out

Tips for fun and funky backyard entertaining

Many Canadians will celebrate summer parties featuring freshly grilled food, delicious cocktails and laughs with family and friends this season. When hosting an outdoor dinner party, a stellar menu is only half the battle. For the ultimate al fresco dining . . .

Posted: 2016-07-23

Ponds made easy

Swim with the fish and aquatic plants, too

Everyone should have a water feature in their yard, says Riley Scott. The movement of water and the sound it makes brings a magical element to an outdoor landscape. A pond with fish and aquatic plants is the ultimate . . .

Posted: 2022-11-12

A deck built in a day

Project started off with complications but ended with a quick turnaround

Decks come in all shapes and sizes. Some are multi-tiered, with wrap-around stairs at every level, while others are slightly more modest, revealing typical features such as a simple staircase access and wooden railings along the perimeter. No matter the . . .

Posted: 2018-09-29

Use cottage with care in winter months

Question: We have a post-on-pad summer cottage in Whytewold, not skirted. The water system was drained the first week in October. We have plastic sheeting over most of the windows, the thin film that you shrink with a blow dryer. . . .

Posted: 2017-03-04

The canola oil experiment

Unconventional deck treatment holding up

A few years ago (nearly six to be accurate), a Reno Boss column featured the process of re-“staining” the front and back decks on my property. The product used was a deep-penetrating oil by Behr, that boasts better coverage . . .

Posted: 2023-06-30

Best methods for sealing plumbing stack

Q: I am sealing the plumbing stack at the attic floor and replacing the flashing with EPDM. I have seen two different methods. The first method is to use a poly boot with clamp around the three-inch ABS pipe and . . .

Posted: 2015-02-14

Home work

Tailor your office to fit your needs and living space

NEW YORK -- Working from home never looked so stylish or productive. Gone are the days of cheap plywood desks and pleather chairs with wheels. Home offices now incorporate a house's style and seamlessly transform from workspace to TV room, guest . . .

Posted: 2008-08-17

Going colour crazy?

Relax. Let manufacturers' websites find the right paint hue for you

IN the world of colour, two is company but three is a 'wow' if you can pull it off. I know, I know, choosing one wall colour is difficult enough, let alone three, but being adventurous with colour is part . . .

Posted: 2008-02-24

Fill area under porch with crushed stone rather than concrete

Question: Just saw your article online about cold storage rooms in basements and was wondering if it is recommended to completely fill it in with concrete? We live in an older house, with cold storage under the front porch, which is . . .

Posted: 2021-09-11

Small improvements can have dramatic effect

Don't underestimate the difference seemingly minor updates can make

When a client requests a facelift, it is important for a contractor to determine whether it truly is only a facelift with cosmetic changes they are after, or a remodel — which typically involves much more invasive work. There’s one particular . . .

Posted: 2019-05-11