Five projects to storm-proof your home

If there’s one thing homeowners know all too well, it’s that storms can be destructive. Everything from rain and hail to strong winds can damage a house during a storm, especially if you’re not prepared. Fortunately, there are several things . . .

Posted: 2019-03-30

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Using heating cords to melt roof snow a bad idea

QUESTION: We have a split-level home in Winnipeg. Last winter, there was an extreme accumulation of snow on the north side where the gable of the living room meets the vertical section of the house that accommodates the upstairs bedrooms. . . .

Posted: 2009-11-14

Shaking all over

Roofing expert weighs in with options

Just when I thought I'd covered the topic of roofing materials quite thoroughly (July 25 column), I received an email from Jeff Barnard, an insightful man who mostly agreed with my thumbs-down assessment of metal roofing, but felt further coverage . . .

Posted: 2015-08-08

Get in the attic to diagnose that leaky bathroom fan

Question: Hello Ari, I am seeking advice on how to fix a recurring problem in one of my bathrooms. I have been in this 1952 home for 13 years and have had this same problem of seepage around the . . .

Posted: 2023-08-05

Going to extremes

Protect your home from increasingly volatile weather

From intense rain to droughts, extreme weather is on the increase, say climatologists and insurance companies alike. Whether you believe it's rooted in human-induced climate change or not, you need to protect your home from that weather. Before learning how, a . . .

Posted: 2014-03-22

MIKE HOLMES: Roof can be the root of a home's problems

The cold weather is starting to close in. That means there are a few things homeowners should be thinking about getting done before Old Man Winter stakes his claim. Your roof is No. 1. Why is it important? Anyone who . . .

Posted: 2012-11-03

Homeowner responsible for Hydro wiring on property

QUESTION: I don’t know who to contact about the following — the hydro line connected to my house rubs against the shingles, which also creates a banging noise when it’s windy. Hydro has previously put something around the wires in . . .

Posted: 2019-02-09

Heating cables OK for eavestroughs, rarely ideal

There are better and probably far less costly ways to deal with icicle woes

Question: I’ve read your previous article on why you shouldn’t use heating cable on roofs. Wouldn’t it be better installing the heat cable only in the eavestrough, and then running it via the downspout, not putting any of the cable . . .

Posted: 2019-03-30

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Skylight removal likely means bigger job

QUESTION: I read an article of yours online and published in the Free Press about removing skylights. We bought our home a year ago. We are just about to get our roof re-shingled and have decided to remove two old . . .

Posted: 2013-11-02

Hire a certified electrician to install outlet for new fridge

Question: My fridge has chosen this to be the perfect time to die in my 1950’s home. We have a new one on the way, but it turns out that the outlet behind the old fridge wasn’t switched to three-prong, when . . .

Posted: 2020-04-18