Home improvements you might regret

From pools to walk-in closets, here are some projects that may not be worth the effort

Between trying to save money and customizing a home to an exact lifestyle, homeowners can make some big mistakes. Whether they decrease resale value, go way over budget or increase maintenance costs, some renovations are better left undone. These are . . .

Posted: 2019-01-26

Damp spot in garage persists after eaves replaced

Determining whether moisture is coming from inside or outside is first step in solving problem

Question: I am a single woman with a detached 22-by-24-foot garage, standard package and construction. It is not insulated, has stucco on the exterior and is wired. It was built in 2002 and almost every year I see a wet . . .

Posted: 2018-01-13

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Does that telepost need to be attached?

QUESTION: I have read a couple of your articles about telepost adjustment, and you seem very knowledgeable on the subject, so I was hoping you could answer a question for me. I have recently had a custom house built by a . . .

Posted: 2009-05-17

How much fresh air does your home need?

Question: My concern is with the fresh air intake for my furnace. I was told that I needed a 12-centimetre duct, which they ran through the foundation at the front of the house. This is in addition to the 10-cm . . .

Posted: 2017-04-29

Old chimney vent pipe is likely asbestos-free

Question: A while ago, I removed the top section of my B-vent chimney that goes through the roof. I then insulated and capped the remaining B-vent in the attic below the roof line, patched up the roof and shingles.Does the . . .

Posted: 2022-07-16

Old chimney space can be used for fresh-air intake

Question: We have a new Carriere high efficiency furnace, which is one year old. We love it except for the interior humidity in winter. We never had a fresh air vent before because the old system using the chimney drew out . . .

Posted: 2019-05-18

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Cap that sump pit to combat humidity, radon

QUESTION: I have an interesting question for you about our house, which is in the country and about eight years old. Should a sump pit in a basement, next to a forced-air electric furnace, be capped to vent outside? I . . .

Posted: 2014-02-08

Address any potential radon problem right away

Worry more about the levels of the gas in your home, not any distribution of it to other rooms

Question: My unfinished basement previously had four heat supply vents and no air returns. I then finished my basement and added two air returns, one in the basement bedroom and one in the main room, as per building code. Does adding . . .

Posted: 2018-11-17

CONNIE OLIVER: Some handy dos and don'ts with feature walls

A few weeks back, I mentioned there was one more update needed in my kitchen. The brick wall on the wall opposite the cabinets has been a thorn in my side since we purchased our home years ago. The brick 'feature' . . .

Posted: 2013-06-01

Making the best of a bathroom

Tricky project had a fabulous finish

This bathroom project turned out amazingly well. However, its journey to completion was far from straightforward. The homeowner had intended to tackle this renovation himself. But during a fencing project on his property, he asked if I could take a . . .

Posted: 2026-07-11