Economy plan can come back to haunt you

QUESTION: I am in need of floor-covering advice for our basement. It will be installed directly onto the concrete. I am desperately trying to avoid using carpet there. A subfloor is cost-prohibitive. Do you have any suggestions?Thank you. Lianne.ANSWER: Installing . . .

Posted: 2011-12-17

Bring the heat to your feet

Radiant floor heating systems gaining steam

Imagine stepping out of your bed or from the shower onto a warm floor that continuously, invisibly and quietly generates comfortable heat for your home. That’s far from a dream — radiant floor heating systems can make that a reality. Radiant . . .

Posted: 2020-12-12

ASK THE INSPECTOR: New floor, roofing materials offer benefits

QUESTION: I am an avid reader of your column and have gotten some excellent advice from the many questions asked over the years. My wife and I are slowly getting into the process of building a house and I was . . .

Posted: 2012-09-08

Recurring ice problems remedied by adding or relocating downspouts

Question: In winter, the sidewalk that leads to my front door, as well as the porch in front of the front door, becomes incredibly icy. I asked my handyman to take a look and he said that the problem has . . .

Posted: 2020-02-01

Sealed up against the weather

It has been an incredibly hectic and often overwhelming year of renovations and construction both for hire, as well as with several large undertakings on my own property. And as a “checklist” guy, it is extremely satisfying to have . . .

Posted: 2024-11-23

Eliminate moisture to curb peeling paint

Question: Would putting cedar on the ceiling in a bathroom stop paint from peeling around the inside of an old window on the outside wall?Thank you for your advice, Doug Flanigan.Answer: There may be several reasons for paint to peel . . .

Posted: 2016-07-30

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Mould on ceiling requires investigating

QUESTION: I have a 65-year-old house with an ongoing mildew problem on the bathroom plastered ceiling. In the past I have cleaned it with bleach and TSP and then painted it with latex bathroom paint. The mould spots keep coming . . .

Posted: 2011-04-02

Keep the pipes above zero, especially in winter

Water lines installed in unheated spaces often a problem in our climate

Question: I have an alcove in the kitchen that overhangs the outside of the back wall. Ever since I replaced the flow-form countertop with a quartz countertop, I’ve had a problem in the winter with the dishwasher water-supply line freezing. . . .

Posted: 2019-09-28

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Contractor should fix problem repair work

QUESTION: I live in a one-and-a-half-storey house located in North River Heights, built in 1927. The house has sunk towards the front of the property. Some of the history I have obtained indicates that at some point a portion of . . .

Posted: 2012-04-21

Plenty to consider when upgrading your furnace

Today, I would like to help you make an informed decision about upgrading your furnace.On Dec. 31, 2009, a new national minimum-energy performance standard for residential gas furnaces was introduced. This applies to virtually all gas furnaces sold in Canada . . .

Posted: 2011-12-05