SOLUTIONS: What to do when down-filled parka sheds feathers

QUESTION: I bought a very expensive down-filled parka last year. It sheds feathers on my clothes every time I wear it. I have put it in the dryer on cool and hardly any feathers were in the lint trap. Then . . .

Posted: 2014-03-08

Homeowner on track to fix air pressure

Heat recovery ventilator may be answer

111Once the snow begins melting on the roof, the fans in both main-floor bathrooms drip with water. There also seems to be quite a bit of moisture in the ceiling around the fans. Our conclusion is that, over the . . .

Posted: 2008-10-12

Luxury downtown apartments ready to go

Soho Flats in The Exchange a breath of fresh air

Back in 2019, Centre Venture Winnipeg put out a request for proposals on a compact parcel of land at the corner of Logan Avenue and Princess Street. The eventual winner was CIAO Developments and Raviia Capital, developers based in Calgary and . . .

Posted: 2022-03-26

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Consult independent floor contractors

QUESTION: I've been doing some renovations on our cabin and I am now starting to research flooring. I've been getting conflicting information on the best type of product to use. We've been looking at laminate flooring as hardwood has been . . .

Posted: 2010-07-31

No need to help your basement stay cool

Below-grade areas naturally colder; keeping heating registers open will ensure good air circulation

Question: I have an unfinished basement with four air vents. Can I close all or some of the vents in the winter, as I would like to keep the basement cool? — Thanks, Py Su.   Answer: Opening or closing heat registers to regulate . . .

Posted: 2018-09-29

Doors just don't last like they used to

Question: When our house was about six months old, we noticed the exterior door wasn’t closing symmetrically. It would be snug at the bottom, but shy of closing by about a quarter of an inch at the top. The builder had . . .

Posted: 2017-10-14

Vermiculite insulation likely not a concern as long as contained

Question: I recently had an insulation contractor come to my home to upgrade my attic insulation and ventilation, based on your recommendations from a previous inspection. I called you because there were moisture stains and cracks on my ceiling, . . .

Posted: 2023-08-12

Trailer the perfect addition to 'toolbox'

But do your homework before you hitch one up

There’s nothing that frustrates me more than a task that cannot be completed due to the lack of proper gear. At the beginning of my career as a builder and renovator, this resulted in an unrelenting pursuit for all the . . .

Posted: 2021-10-16

Demolition likely not required to inspect for mould

Question: Over the past 15 years, we have noticed minor seepage from under our baseboard in our finished basement bathroom wall, through the spring thaw. This year, because of the wet weather, we had major flow. We are thinking of . . .

Posted: 2022-06-11

Heating seasonal property not always necessary

Question: I was wondering if it’s advisable, or not, to leave a vacation home unheated during the winter months. It is well insulated and finished inside with drywall and knotty pine flooring and some stone tile. The water has been . . .

Posted: 2020-11-14