MIKE HOLMES: If salesman comes knocking, keep door shut

We've all been there. You're just about to sit down to dinner when the doorbell rings. It's a salesperson who's come to sell you home-renovation services. He says he's noticed your driveway needs re-sealing, or your shingles need replacing, or your . . .

Posted: 2011-10-15

TREE CARE: How to tell if tree will stand or fall

Is your tree safe? Homeowners who have lived on their property for years recognize their large trees are usually safe and unlikely to topple if they're stable. But new residents who are not familiar with their newly acquired trees are often . . .

Posted: 2011-05-21

Heated garages need new approach to insulation

Questions: We currently have a garage in London, Ont., that was totally drywalled, both walls and ceiling, and painted and is in perfect condition. We cut a small hole to see if there is a vapour barrier and insulation, and . . .

Posted: 2017-12-02

Put these quick home fixes on your winter to-do list

We have all heard of New Year’s resolutions, but what about fixes for your home? Those back-burner items you have been holding off for months can now become front-burner fixes in the new year.So what should you focus on and . . .

Posted: 2016-12-31

Seal unused chimney top and bottom

B-vent simplest type of old vent for homeowner to deal with

QUESTION -- This past winter I replaced my home's gas hot water tank with an electric model and also replaced my low efficiency gas furnace with a high efficiency furnace. My question concerns the now unused chimney, which has . . .

Posted: 2008-04-20

Home's bad smell likely moisture related

Mould a possible culprit, along with dead rodents, plumbing problems

QUESTION -- We have a two-year-old house on a concrete foundation with a crawl space. Our problem is a persistent and worsening bad smell, somewhere between musty and dead animal, which is at its worst during the winter when the . . .

Posted: 2008-02-17

It's fine to do foundation repairs in stages

Question: A while back, you replied to someone’s inquiry about rainwater leaking into the basement and said it could be due to plugged drain tiles. I have the same problem on the north side of my house. I’ve buried two-foot-wide . . .

Posted: 2017-09-09

Leaking rooftop pool cause for condo concern

Question: I purchased a brand-new condominium in 2020, near the ocean. The building is seven floors high, including the rooftop pool, and four condominium units wide. In the past six months I have noticed that one of the interior . . .

Posted: 2023-08-19

Condensation in chimney puts fireplace out

Main concern is safety of gas-burning appliance

QUESTION -- My gas fireplace stops working when the outside temp gets down to about minus 20 C. I believe this is caused by condensation in the chimney because when it warms up we get water in the bottom of the . . .

Posted: 2008-08-31

Solutions: Fixing stains and wobbly locks

QUESTION -- I have four butter knives from the American Silversmiths Collection, and they have stains on them I can't remove. They look like smudges. Can you help? Janet (Winnipeg) ANSWER -- You may want to purchase the commercial cleaning product . . .

Posted: 2014-11-15