Victorian-style house great for narrow lot

Home's details reminiscent of yesteryear

With its compact footprint, this Victorian-style home, Plan APS-1912 by Home Plans LLC, is a great choice for narrow lots and would be perfect for an established city neighbourhood. Its floor plan covers 1, 985 square feet of living space. Decorative . . .

Posted: 2009-02-14

How to make your home senior-friendly

As we age, even a house that has been a home for decades can become an obstacle course or pose unexpected problems.The American Association of Retired Persons suggests these modifications for your home:Vision• Make sure lighting is adequate on exterior . . .

Posted: 2017-02-11

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Fighting moisture in addition's curtain wall

QUESTION: I helped a friend put an addition on his house and to imitate the foundation of the original, he used piles with the floor cantilevered to accommodate a pressure-treated 2x6 wall built between the bottom of the floor and . . .

Posted: 2009-05-31

Longer-lasting air filters not advisable

Question: I have one simple question. I need to install a new gas furnace in my home. The local heating contractor has installed a Marv 10 air filter and claims this is good for a year, and after that time . . .

Posted: 2015-03-14

Patience equals perfection in bathroom tiling project

Tiling your tub can be a fun and easy process with a little patience

The most interesting features of any bathroom renovation involves the subjective elements — the colour scheme, the flooring and how you populate the space with the type of vanity, style of faucet and choice of commode. Custom tiling a tub . . .

Posted: 2017-07-08

Seed or Sod?

Either grass-growing technique offers advantages

"Why not just low lawns under?" That was the question posed to the audience at a recent presentation by Dr. Michael Brownridge from Ontario's Vineland Research and Innovation Centre at the Canadian Master Gardener Conference at Huntsville, . . .

Posted: 2013-04-27

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Get it done right -- furnace installs

QUESTIONS: I am building a new house, and the builder has vented out my furnace exhaust and inlet through the side of the basement concrete wall. This is a high-efficiency furnace. Would there be any problems if it's going through . . .

Posted: 2011-05-28

Adding in-floor heat may mean calling experts

A consultation could save you hassle down the road

Question: We’re in the process of building a cottage. We have a 42-inch-high crawl space. The walls and floor of the crawl space are concrete. The walls are sealed and insulated with fibreglass batts to R17. The main floor is . . .

Posted: 2018-02-03

How to stay warm and save money

A small investment now can lead to cheaper energy bills throughout the winter months

Every year, you tell yourself things will be different. You’ll actually start winterizing your home ahead of time. But you procrastinate and end up curling up in a fleece blanket once again when the thermometer dips. Now is the time . . .

Posted: 2016-11-19

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Concrete won't fix flooded cabin

QUESTION: I wonder if you could supply me with a quick answer to a footing question. We bought a cabin 10 years ago. The cabin was originally built on posts and pads. In order to prevent pest intrusion, they constructed an . . .

Posted: 2011-12-24