Changing brick colour requires some care

Whether DIY or professionally done, there's a right way to alter your home's outer esthetic

Question: I read one of your articles regarding painting stucco. We are contemplating painting our brick on the outside of our house. It is a peach colour and has probably been like that for the past 30 years. I see many . . .

Posted: 2018-09-22

MIKE HOLMES: Tests underway to protect from deadly winds

THE East Coast is still cleaning up in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, and probably will be for some time to come. The heavy rain from the storm and resulting flooding led to catastrophic situations for families. Hurricanes are the most . . .

Posted: 2011-09-17

Vent blockage a common cold-climate problem

QUESTION: I enjoy reading your column and hope you can make a suggestion that will eliminate a problem I am having. I have two roof vent pipes installed on the north side of my home and they face the prevailing . . .

Posted: 2013-12-21

Placement of insulation important in crawl space

Question:I have a question that I have not been able to answer through my extensive research and I appreciated the light you shed on heated cold crawlspaces. My situation is that I have a crawlspace below my kitchen which has . . .

Posted: 2015-06-13

RENOVATIONS: Concrete basements? Who needs them?

There are many alternatives well-suited to area soil conditions

Why do we continue to build basements? There was a time during the coal-burning age when basements did serve a practical purpose. They contained a large, smelly furnace that burned coal to heat the house. An area separated by a wall . . .

Posted: 2012-11-10

Insulation easy way to upgrade

Use the money you save for other home projects

So, you're in a quandary. Faced with an unexpected surplus in your home improvement fund, you can go one of two ways: the practical one, which involves insulating your home (both the basement and attic), with money left over for future . . .

Posted: 2008-07-27

Cart before the horse

Deck build timing beats the clock

Projects run smoothest when tasks are achieved in the proper order. This holds true for both interior and exterior projects. If the desire is to build a deck on a virgin plot of land behind a newly constructed house, . . .

Posted: 2023-07-29

Insulating exterior walls minimizes condensation and mould growth

Question: I enjoyed reading your previous article about basement mould, as it was a very timely read. I am in the process of finishing my basement. It is a newer home that I am building an hour south of Winnipeg . . .

Posted: 2016-02-13

Joist that bale

Energy-efficient straw bale homes, once a fad, are going mainstream

Your next home could be growing in a farm field. Energy-efficient straw bale houses, once considered a fad, are going mainstream, thanks in no small part to skyrocketing heating costs. Those that own them swear by them, contractors can't keep up with . . .

Posted: 2008-09-03

Foundation leakage a common problem

QUESTION: We have water leakage underneath the wallboard on one wall of our basement when there is severe rainfall. At this point we haven't removed the wallboard in that section to actually view the wall. However, one of the options . . .

Posted: 2011-12-05