Upgrade makes business bloom

Addition of pergola at local establishment results in amazing transformation

As the sole proprietor of several small businesses, I fully understand the ramifications of a bad first impression. In early April of 2014, owner and operator Victor Tomassetti, a charismatic hair stylist at Victor’s on Queenston Street at Grant Avenue, contacted . . .

Posted: 2018-03-17

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Fortify your garage to keep squirrels out

QUESTION: A few years ago, you did a house inspection for me, and I think the one thing I forgot to ask was how to get squirrels out of my garage. I am sure you have probably done a column . . .

Posted: 2012-08-18

Increased air movement will make home more comfortable

Question: I live in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario and built a new house, which I moved into in May 2021. I have an HRV system and nobody seems to know much about how the system works with respect . . .

Posted: 2023-01-28

Leather flooring: If the shoe fits...

It makes for great footwear and soft, natural-feeling furniture -- but who ever thought of using leather to cover floors? One innovative company is using leather to create sumptuous floor surfaces that caress the feet and are much more comfortable than . . .

Posted: 2009-10-31

Set sail

Yacht's Cove home fully rigged with comfort

When it comes to custom home building, some builders -- over time -- build an (often) indelible identity. Take KDR Design Builders. Over the past five years or so, they've established a reputation for building expansive, rather opulent homes. With that reputation . . .

Posted: 2010-04-10

Gimme shelter

Mesh fence offers privacy and protection

After moving to my property tree-planting became an on-going ritual. Primarily along the perimeter, rows of trees were planted in an effort to create a shelter belt to lessen the effects of wind. Although many of the trees did . . .

Posted: 2023-09-23

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Poor-quality workmanship or materials leads to leaks

QUESTION: Last fall, we replaced the soffits, fascia and eavestroughs on our 40-year-old home. Now, with the melting, I see water dripping in three different spots. In one place, the water is dripping out of the spot where two troughs . . .

Posted: 2014-05-17

Using every inch

Savvy floor plan maximizes space throughout four-level home

In an ideal world, every home built would feature a floor plan with a purpose. Sadly, that isn't always the case. A home listed at over 2, 000 sq. ft. might feel small and unwieldy due to an ill-conceived floor plan. . . .

Posted: 2013-05-25

Just made deadline on delightful addition

Two-storey home project a worthwhile effort

After months of planning, the framing of a two-storey addition to the south side of my house began on a warm and sunny day in mid-September 2017. Luckily, the exterior was completed the day before the first official snowfall. Amidst a rigorous . . .

Posted: 2018-04-07

Counter measures

From laminates to granite, countertop options abound

For homeowners looking to remodel their kitchens, picking a durable and good-looking countertop is a way to make the room both comfortable and practical. Kitchens are usually among the busiest rooms in the home, the place where families cook, eat, gather . . .

Posted: 2008-09-11