Don't flush your money for small plumbing issues

Make sure to know the difference between a serious issue and a nuisance

Question: We live in a raised, three-bedroom, two-bathroom bungalow In Oakbank. Our toilets have always made a loud draining noise — kind of like a suction sound — when we flush. I am wondering if there is a blockage or something . . .

Posted: 2018-09-15

Older furnace doesn't necessarily require replacement

QUESTION: I recently had a problem with my furnace that turned out to be a worn out sensor. While the man from the heating company was here he noted because my furnace is 15 years old I should seriously be . . .

Posted: 2015-07-11

Screening porch OK, but what about floor?

Thoughts on solving bug problem without creating others

QUESTION -- I'm planning to screen in the deck at the cottage. It already has an overhang integral to the rest of the cottage. The decking is two by three, with about a half-inch gap between the boards. What's the best . . .

Posted: 2008-08-10

Twin peaks (and dips)

Identical homes compare energy-saving measures

It looks like a scene from the movie Pleasantville dropped in the middle of Ottawa's National Research Council campus. There are two family homes, complete with lawns and driveways. But no one lives here -- these are labs. Built by Minto almost . . .

Posted: 2012-02-18

Hiring a home inspector makes sense

Question: I’m actually in Edmonton, but I can’t find any other person to get advice from. I hope you can help me, or help me find another source. We took over a 26-year-old house this past winter and the sump pump . . .

Posted: 2016-05-21

Trim adds touch of splendour

Panels an affordable way to transform tired rooms

I have wanted to give my kitchen cabinets a facelift for a long time now. I'm trying to decide whether to trim them out in a Shaker-style cabinet or whether to add decorative trim to the middle of each door . . .

Posted: 2009-01-24

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Stick to your guns about isolating teleposts

QUESTION: I am having a house custom-built with a piled foundation and supporting teleposts on piles as well. I have asked the contractor to place isolation or slip joints around the teleposts to ensure the floor can move independently from . . .

Posted: 2011-06-11

Home projects to get you ready for fall

There’s still plenty of time to cross projects off your summer to-do list. According to HomeAdvisor data, homeowners commonly start these projects around the beginning of September: Decks and porches: Between foot traffic and sun exposure, your deck can take a . . .

Posted: 2018-09-08

Window Replacement Essentials: Tips from the Pros

Due to harsh winter weather, high-quality windows have become a necessity for all residential applications in Winnipeg. Frosty Canadian winters require a lot of thought invested into the window replacement process, which involves a lot more than simple knowledge on . . .

Posted: 2018-11-27

No moisture issues with painting subfloor

Question: What are your thoughts on painting a structural plywood subfloor over the crawlspace in our new home, so that we can use the space for now and finish it properly in a couple of years? Any potential moisture-related harm . . .

Posted: 2017-05-20