Sticking with what’s familiar goes a long way

No need to reinvent the wheel with this classy bathroom reno

All along, the homeowner had heeded my advice to reposition, reorient and enlarge the shower stall for an impending main floor bathroom remodel. During demolition, it soon became clear that our intended design layout may fall short of expectations. . . .

Posted: 2023-01-07

Small space not lacking in style

Capitol Hill row house maintains classic style with fresh DIY touches

WASHINGTON — In an old house, there are endless places to spend money. But for the Hoburg family, whose Capitol Hill row house is 117 years old, it’s never been about perfection. In the 14 years the family of four . . .

Posted: 2017-10-14

Securing subfloor the solution to squeaky floors

Question: Our house was built in 1960. The floors have squeaked since we bought it 11 years ago. They are the original hardwood floors. I am wondering, if we hired a professional to adjust the teleposts downstairs, could that help with . . .

Posted: 2020-02-29

Beaming with pride

Renovation project was a personal challenge, but also a pleasure

It’s tremendously fulfilling to embark upon a new adventure, especially one that involves a cool and challenging project. Hours can be spent contemplating the best approach, the building process and trying to determine the best solution to a problem encountered . . .

Posted: 2016-11-26

Nothing to sneeze at

Fort Garry Home built with allergy reduction in mind

Livability. It's a term oft bandied about when people talk about how user-friendly a new home is. Suffice it to say, livability means more than simply endowing a new home with a great floor plan and a host of luxurious finishes, . . .

Posted: 2013-12-14

What an open concept

New support beam makes wall history

Replacing a load-bearing wall with a support beam to introduce an open concept floor plan is a multi-faceted exercise. At my current jobsite, the removal of drywall on the existing wall exemplified this fact to the extreme — this . . .

Posted: 2023-03-25

Weigh asbestos remediation options carefully

Hazardous fibres in stipple ceiling can be safely contained, removed

Question: I am looking for some suggestions on how to deal with a popcorn ceiling that contains asbestos. The ceiling is in my kids’ playroom and when they bounce balls, they often hit the ceiling. I believe the options are . . .

Posted: 2021-10-23

Drainage pipes without holes are the norm

Unperforated piping now drains directly into weeping tile

Question: Hi Ari, I was hoping you could answer a question for me. I live in Niverville in a 10-year-old house. We were having some problems with water coming in a window and noticed the window well is very small. . . .

Posted: 2018-03-31

‘A step above’

Infill home’s exceptional livability comes down to deft design details

There are two types of infill home builds. The first is one done quickly to maximize profit. That being the case, its build quality, floor plan and finishing standards often leave much to desire. Then there’s the second type: a . . .

Posted: 2026-03-28

All the home's a stage

Maximize the sale price for your property with a pro's touch

For one reason or another, it's time to sell your home. And, truth be told, you're not exactly liking what you're seeing. As you survey your home, the harsh realities of living in it for nearly 20 years -- and doing . . .

Posted: 2009-06-07