Negative basement pressure can be combatted with duct

Question: I had a new gas water heater installed by a professional. I think I have negative pressure being created because of my high-efficiency furnace and exhaust. I also installed a six-inch insulated duct, dedicated to the water heater, so . . .

Posted: 2017-03-25

Negative basement pressure can be combatted with duct

Question: I had a new gas water heater installed by a professional. I think I have negative pressure being created because of my high-efficiency furnace and exhaust. I also installed a six-inch insulated duct, dedicated to the water heater, so . . .

Posted: 2017-03-25

Call in a pro when covering a skylight

Question: I’ve been looking for information on how to fix a skylight cavity, once the skylight has been removed, and ran across an article you wrote, online. In it you say to remove the skylight housing. If this is not . . .

Posted: 2022-04-23

Can we attach newer ABS pipe to existing one?

May be easier to replace the entire section

QUESTION -- We live in a small one bedroom bungalow built in the 1920s. We would like to renovate the single bathroom and as part of that project change the size of the stack while relocating it. The stack is . . .

Posted: 2008-06-29

MIKE HOLMES: Sagging floors a warning of big trouble

I received an email from Jenna and Chris who are looking for their first home. They say they have looked at lots of houses, but none is as attractive as the very first one they saw and fell in love . . .

Posted: 2010-08-21

Eavestroughs not typically required or included with mobile homes

Question: I just purchased a 2012 mobile home. I realized there are no eavestroughs on it. So I started to look at other trailers in the trailer park and none of them have eavestroughs. It was a warmer day and . . .

Posted: 2015-11-28

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Cool floor by bay window needs extra insulation

QUESTION: Our house was built in 2009 and has a bay window which juts out from the foundation in the living room. We've noticed the floor near the bay window is very cold even though there is a heating vent . . .

Posted: 2013-02-16

ASK THE INSPECTOR: If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it

QUESTION: We have a question regarding the sealing of vapour barrier in an insulated basement. We have a four-year-old, 1600-square-foot bungalow. The builder framed the basement concrete walls with two-by-three studs, installed R12 fibreglass insulation and 6-mil poly vapour barrier. The . . .

Posted: 2011-09-10

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Replacing flexible ducting can be exhausting

QUESTION: I live in a single-storey home that is about 55 years old. The roof is described as a gable roof with a two-foot overhang front and back and a one-foot overhang on each end. The attic is insulated with . . .

Posted: 2012-12-15

Kitchen cabinets come of age

Innovations in design and function improve storage and access

When I approach a kitchen reno the first thing I'm looking at is space -- we want to maximize it as much as possible without compromising structure. But I also need to make sure that the kitchen works for the . . .

Posted: 2013-10-26