Bulk up those bulkheads

Covering ceiling elements gives attractive results

Remodelling a basement from nothing but a concrete shell, is a time-consuming experience. Once the room layout has been established, the framing can begin, and the space quickly starts to take shape. Unlike other levels of the house, basements often . . .

Posted: 2022-03-12

Splintering deck needn't be the end -- there are fixes for that

Splintering decks are usually the result of neglect — occurring after a deck remains untreated and unsealed for a number of years. The lack of protection allows water to soak into the boards, eventually causing them to splinter and crack. Fortunately, all . . .

Posted: 2018-06-02

MIKE HOLMES: Don't close the door on idea of pocket doors

Doing it right isn't easy, but it is elegant

Pocket doors have been around a long time, but their traditional design also works with a modern look. But homeowners have a love-hate relationship with pocket doors. I'd like to open that door and shed some light on them. Let's first . . .

Posted: 2010-02-27

Everything is better when you add a little butter

Question: Many of my recipes call for unsalted butter, but often when I am at the grocery store I notice only salted butter is available in no-name brands and therefore less expensive. What is the difference between using salted and . . .

Posted: 2020-08-08

Dreaming of a social media Christmas

You don't have to be face to face to share memories and emotions

Here’s a big shout out to everyone out there brightening our world and spirits with your beautiful Christmas lights. This may even provide enough inspiration to put up some of my own lights one of these years — but I see . . .

Posted: 2020-11-28

Room to manoeuvre

Wolseley home converted for accessibility

When you walk by 139 Garfield Street, it looks like any other two-storey home on the street. That's exactly what Deborah Stienstra and her late husband, Patrick Kellerman, had in mind when they turned a bungalow -- built in 1923 -- . . .

Posted: 2009-04-19

Fabulous deck the answer to magical question

How one homeowner's 'Tuxedo Riviera' was born

Most clients have a pretty good idea what it is they’d like to achieve before a contractor’s first visit, regarding renovations and upgrades to their home and/or property. They’ll often provide a crude sketch with visible revisions and walk the contractor . . .

Posted: 2017-04-22

Stinky sink issue may need a pro

Question: I need your help with a problem we are having with our bathroom sink. There is a bad odour coming from the sink (which we had replaced about a year and a half ago). Prior to that there was . . .

Posted: 2019-05-11

Once more unto the breach

Invasive renovations are difficult -- but often worthwhile

One of the most unnerving processes during an invasive renovation is the breach — stripping away what is there to facilitate the merging of new construction to the existing structure. During the summer months, my two-storey addition began to quickly take . . .

Posted: 2017-11-04

MIKE HOLMES: Contractor 'extras' should be standard

People usually think the work of a contractor begins and ends with construction and building. That's certainly a big part of it, but it's not the whole story. A lot also goes into getting the job started. Contractor extras are the . . .

Posted: 2012-11-24