Winnipeg Home and Garden Show on now

With sub-zero temperatures hopefully fully behind us and the snow melting away, it’s a great time for home owners to begin planning for the renovation projects they want to tackle this summer or fall. One great way to get ideas . . .

Posted: 2023-04-15

MIKE HOLMES: Proper venting important for plumbing to work

Avoid making a stink, do it right

You understand the importance of the drains in your home: They carry waste and water away from your toilets, sinks and appliances into the municipal sewer system. Drains work basically by gravity, so waste and water flow down and out . . .

Posted: 2009-07-26

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Settlement, workmanship can create cracks

QUESTION: Ari, I hope you can help me with a problem. A number of hairline cracks are appearing in the ceiling of our 1, 500-sq.-ft. bungalow. The cracks are found in the foyer, living room, kitchen and nook, which is . . .

Posted: 2013-05-11

Repairing a relic

My century-old caboose is in rough shape

Yes, we have a caboose in our family. It’s in our backyard, actually. It’s a 1905 CN Railway caboose that has been a ton of fun since I bought it at an auction in Gordon many years ago. My winning bid . . .

Posted: 2017-05-20

Make sure you have a plan before starting a renovation

While the deep freeze-type temperatures we have been experiencing this winter may make you feel like spring may never arrive, now is actually the time of year when many homeowners begin planning for the renovation projects they want to tackle . . .

Posted: 2018-02-17

ASK THE INSPECTOR: How to quiet sump-pump drain-pipe racket

QUESTION: In 2005 we purchased a bungalow which was built in 1993. This was the first time we had a home with a sump pump. Our last home was on a ravine property in Ontario, and when it was being . . .

Posted: 2013-04-06

Spray-on insulation works great on interior walls

Question: I found an article you previously wrote and it seems consistent with my research. I am just wondering if you would recommend using closed cell spray foam on the exterior of our stone foundation. We are in Ottawa. The . . .

Posted: 2020-05-02

Caveat on flooring guarantee looks sketchy

QUESTION: Two years ago we had a lovely Tigerwood floor installed in our kitchen. Overall, we love it. We bought it from a dealer in Niverville. They were wonderful to deal with, except for the information we received after installation. . . .

Posted: 2013-01-12

No need to remove existing attic insulation prior to upgrades

I have a home built in 1950 with just two inches of what I believe is rock wool, wrapped in a waxy paper, in my attic. To pull this out and install a continuous vapour barrier and then re-insulate with . . .

Posted: 2020-01-25

Tricky task to heat room adjoining garage

Question: Our son has an attached garage, which is insulated except for the 16-foot-wide vehicle door. His bedroom has a common wall with the garage, and it’s quite cool in the bedroom at night in the winter. How much would . . .

Posted: 2017-04-15