Beating the winter blues

For the cost of a vacation, you can enjoy a Manitoba winter in your backyard

The traditional way to escape a Manitoba winter is to book a one-week family trip to Florida or Mexico that can cost anywhere from $4, 000 to $30, 000-plus, depending on the number of people and the exclusivity of . . .

Posted: 2014-09-27

Room to unwind

Two-storey offers flex space galore

While large families need ample space to function properly, that space must be well-ordered. The reason is simple: a logical layout allows a family to live in a more organized and orderly fashion and to have different zones that allow . . .

Posted: 2025-09-27

Be sure to keep your sump pumps maintained Secondary, battery-powered pump is good safety measure

Q: I recently purchased a property, which is a side-by-side condo. The property is three years old. We have a sump pump that is automatic. A previous article of yours raises some questions for my pump. Is there . . .

Posted: 2008-11-23

See your way clear to determining need for new windows

Question: Do I need new windows? I have window inserts in old frames that are framed into the existing frames in two of the windows. In a third, a complete window installation, a drip is still occurring. Is it because . . .

Posted: 2022-08-20

Leaky foundations best fixed from outside

May not be necessary for minor seepage

Today we have two questions I have selected from the many I regularly get on everyone's favourite topic, especially this time of year, basement seepage. I read your column on a regular basis, and I was hoping you'd be able . . .

Posted: 2008-04-27

A river runs through it

Musician channels creativity to build custom tabletops in downtime

There was a time when a musician in a band could make a good living working all year round, performing at various local venues and even touring the country. Although there are still a few fortunate artists who manage to . . .

Posted: 2019-02-23

City's ancient oaks under stress

Ever since I discovered what was causing our native bur oaks -- many more than a century old -- to die back in 1989, I have noticed more and more of them dying each year. The killer is a small beetle . . .

Posted: 2009-09-06

Country state of mind

Stunning and spacious Charleswood two-storey in perfect tune

Over the past decade or so, an increasing number of people have chosen to build luxury homes in south Charleswood. In particular, many opt to build on Liberty Street due to its close proximity to Kenaston Avenue, its huge lots and . . .

Posted: 2020-12-12

Understanding homes that go BANG in the night

Question:We had vinyl siding installed on our house, approximately five years ago. Since that time, we have experienced a loud banging in a particular area of the back of the house. It seems to become louder during the winter months . . .

Posted: 2021-12-31

Many causes for plumbing odour

Q: We purchased a five-year-old, three bathroom, cab-over home two years ago and noticed an unpleasant odour in one of the bathrooms. This odour appears to be worse in winter. We checked the floor for mildew, etc., when we had . . .

Posted: 2008-07-27