Batt insulation can lead to mould grief

An uninsulated basement can account for up to 30 per cent of the total energy loss of a house. This chilling statistic has motivated many homeowners to reduce their monthly electric or gas heating bills by insulating their basements with fibreglass . . .

Posted: 2015-01-31

Fall for your garden

These tips will help your plants make the most of autumn

Most fall gardening tasks can be divided into two categories — mandatory and optional (with some being more optional than others). Should you cut back your perennials in fall? Will flax straw protect your borderline hardy perennials? How can you prevent . . .

Posted: 2017-09-23

Don't get floored by choices

Consumers face overwhelming dilemma for decision

KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- Overwhelming is the best way to describe the number of choices consumers face with regard to one of the most important decisions they must make in their home -- what to put on the floor. There is a . . .

Posted: 2010-09-11

Worrying about radon justifiable

SOMETHING I haven’t spoken about in a while is now suddenly a hot topic again. What’s everyone asking about? Radon. Go figure. Most people are scared of radon. The truth is not a lot of people know what it is. They . . .

Posted: 2012-06-02

Get emergency heat with one simple wiring change

From this past autumn into the dead of winter, our household dealt with an unfortunate bout of HVAC issues. In the fall, the heat pump’s blower fan failed, resulting in sole reliance on the air handler (furnace) to heat the . . .

Posted: 2026-04-11

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Holmes Inspection doesn't represent reality

QUESTION: I watch the TV show Holmes Inspection. Why do all the house inspectors portrayed on the show do more harm than good? Would it not be better to hire a carpenter, a plumber and a electrician for one hour . . .

Posted: 2011-12-31

CONNIE OLIVER: Going with the flow

Creating a smooth transition is key to good decorating

When you have an open-floor plan, you want to create a smooth visual transition from one room to the other while maintaining individual spaces. Our feature photograph shows a lovely kitchen and dining room that is a good example of how . . .

Posted: 2013-11-16

Summer's not just for major renovations -- sweat the small stuff, too

Summertime is the best time for building projects and renovations, such as refinishing the deck, putting up a fence or painting outdoors. Mother Nature is on our side, in terms of weather (for the most part), so we can really . . .

Posted: 2015-07-04

Updating style can fit just about any budget

Every once in a while, a project with rather foreign parameters crosses my path. At a recent property, a minor kitchen facelift (part of a much larger renovation to ready a rental property) was heavily bound by budget constraints. Nonetheless, . . .

Posted: 2025-10-25

Make the old look new again

DEAR Marc: I have an old claw-foot tub which I love but the outside of the tub is looking a little drab. Is there anything that can be done besides replacing it? Wendy Dear Wendy: There are certain things in your home that add . . .

Posted: 2010-03-27