Up we grow

Raised beds let gardens flourish in even the most impractical spaces

Here’s the deal: Our love affair with growing edibles has surpassed the stage of brief encounter and graduated to a full-blown lifestyle choice. Everyone’s doing it and sometimes even in the strangest of places. It’s that simple.For both the experienced . . .

Posted: 2016-12-10

Musty smell in basement is likely mould

Ventilate area and check insulation

QUESTION -- Our basement and rec room is quite cool, particularly in the summer months, and has a musty smell. We did have a little water seepage several months ago but this has now been corrected. Could you advise how . . .

Posted: 2008-06-22

Refresh your kitchen, and your mood

Facelift can be as satisfying as a full remodel

A kitchen remodel can be a complicated project that requires a great amount of effort, time and money. That is why a kitchen facelift can often do the trick — with minimal downtime and on a reasonable budget. The homeowners of a . . .

Posted: 2022-02-19

Safety top priority when tackling electrical

Wiring best left to professionals

When it came time to complete the electrical wiring for my recording studio, anxiety had long been running through my veins. I had elected to apply for my own electrical permit at the local Manitoba Hydro office and perform the . . .

Posted: 2017-11-18

GARDENING: The promise of spring

Garden centres busily prepare for rush of customers

Getting your house ready when company is coming can sometimes seems like a mammoth task. Yet, by the time you're ready to greet your guests, everything is in place -- it all looks effortless and only you know what has . . .

Posted: 2013-03-09

This may require some special(ist) attention

Culprit in case of ceiling stains is likely warm-air leakage in the attic

Question: I have several spots that have caused me problems in the spring, when I come back from my three-month snowbird getaway. I had my roof replaced four years ago and the roofer has been back almost every year trying . . .

Posted: 2019-03-16

The dirt on successful gardening

Good soil key to growing healthy plants

What are you planning to do differently in your garden this year?With the start of a new year, most gardeners envision a new and better way of doing things. Whether you are fuelled by frustration because of underperforming plants or . . .

Posted: 2015-01-03

New homes offer style, function, value and great location

As much as people focus on style when they look at a new home, they often overlook a subtle, yet important feature: none other than a home’s overall livability.Three elements play a central role in determining how livable a home . . .

Posted: 2016-03-12

The mudroom: a safe spot for you and your boots

Mudrooms are the ugly ducklings of the home. Purely functional, the dirt and sloppiness are so integrated and expected in this room that "mud" is a part of its very name.While the romance of a grand, sweeping foyer is undeniable, . . .

Posted: 2016-09-03

Break on through to the other side

Cutting holes in walls to add light -- and FIRE

A project that includes the breach of an exterior wall always drums up a bit of anxiety. Once that hole is made you’re committed. At a recent jobsite the homeowner’s design required three separate breaches that had to look just as . . .

Posted: 2021-09-25