Cast critical eye before purchasing a home

As exciting as the thought of owning your first home is, it's nevertheless a purchase fraught with financial dangers. That's because starter homes can come laden with hidden costs, especially those under $200, 000. With attractive interest rates and the expectation . . .

Posted: 2012-02-25

Apartment plumbing woes difficult to diagnose

Question: I live in an eight-storey apartment building constructed in 1967 and reside on the sixth floor. Last fall I noticed the water in my toilet bowl would drain to just above the siphon jet hole whenever the tenants on . . .

Posted: 2015-09-26

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Frost buildup leads to water leakage in fan

QUESTION: During a period of mild weather last February we noticed that the main-floor bathroom exhaust fan is dripping water. The water is not coming from within the exhaust duct, but rather around the casing of the exhaust fan. We recently . . .

Posted: 2009-11-07

Condensation issues may go beyond HRV settings

Question: Hello, I just read an article online about the use and operation of a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) in the home. We live in northern Ontario and my HRV is always on in the winter and we have a . . .

Posted: 2018-11-03

Roof-mounted vent should eliminate icicles

Question: Can you tell me what I can do about ice forming where my bathroom fan vents into my soffit? I have a bungalow where the bathroom fan on the main level vents along a smooth three-inch duct for about five . . .

Posted: 2017-11-18

Tax credit can also be used to fix cottage

Tax credit is incentive to renovative your home away from home

You've just bought a recreation property and the house could use some serious updating, or perhaps the family cabin is starting to show its age. It might be time for some renovations, and the timing couldn't be better, thanks to the . . .

Posted: 2009-07-12

Design trends for wood floors

Wood flooring is a classic look for any home, but there are trends to consider when installing a new floor or refinishing an existing one:1. Wide floor boardsIf you have smaller rooms, consider the trend toward wider planks, which create . . .

Posted: 2016-08-13

Why should you use a REALTOR®

Taking the plunge into homeownership is an exciting time! From the relief of getting pre-approved for a mortgage to the anticipation of waiting for your offer to be accepted, there can be a rollercoaster of emotions involved in this life . . .

Posted: 2019-10-22

Solid base key to avoiding cracked concrete

Question: We are in the process of getting quotes to replace our cracked and heaving concrete driveway. On one quote I was told that the new pour would come up to the garage door concrete grade beam, but would . . .

Posted: 2023-05-20

Laminates in the limelight

Art deco, wide plank just a few of the hot trends

We're not about to rip out the hardwood in our house (my husband would kill me), but if we were starting from scratch we'd certainly reconsider our choices. The versatility and durability of laminate flooring has come such a long way . . .

Posted: 2008-09-11