Reach the breach

New picture windows boost natural light in expanded kitchen

The introduction of a new window along a finished exterior wall involves many crucial steps. At my current jobsite, the interior kitchen design calls for windows on either side of the stove, to create symmetry along the wall of . . .

Posted: 2024-06-22

Side project provides storage-space solution

During a recent kitchen gut and renovation, a few secondary projects were added to an ever-increasing list of tasks to do later. One of these tasks involved converting an awkwardly built end-of-hall storage closet into a fully functional storage pantry . . .

Posted: 2019-07-20

Bathroom reborn

From 'scary' to comfy, thanks to inventive reno

It's never a good thing when you see one of your home's most important rooms as a place you'd rather not spend much time in. Nevertheless, that's how a couple (until recently, that is) viewed the bathroom on the second floor . . .

Posted: 2011-04-30

Keep tea out of the fridge for optimum freshness

Question: How long does tea stay fresh before it goes bad? Should I refrigerate tea? — Aaron Answer: Although tea will gradually lose flavour over time, if properly stored, away from air, light and moisture, it will not go bad and . . .

Posted: 2020-04-18

New home construction typically occurs in five phases

A very common and important question that most new home buyers ask when looking at building a new home is how long will it take for my new home to be built? Just how long does the whole construction . . .

Posted: 2023-07-22

Bathroom fan may require upgrade to fix drip

Problem could also lie with attic duct, location of vent hood

Question: I have a 1958 three-bedroom bungalow and have owned it for about five years. It has a 10-year-old high-efficiency furnace. New triple-pane windows were installed about four years ago. About the same time, I replaced my gas hot-water heater . . .

Posted: 2018-03-03

The five phases of new home construction

A very common and important question most home buyers ask when looking at building new is how long it will take for the home to be built. Just how long does the whole construction process usually take and what does each . . .

Posted: 2021-07-31

Forget stainless and go for bold appliances

I don’t remember the first refrigerator my family owned, but I distinctly recall the one my mother bought when she renovated our Massachusetts home in 1988. It was a sleek black glass unit, a contrast to the kitchen’s luxurious cherry . . .

Posted: 2022-05-14

Outdoor wood projects demand careful thought, research

Now that it's summer many homeowners have outdoor projects on their minds. The most popular are decks and fences, and the most popular material for these types of projects is wood, by a long shot. When it comes to outdoor wood . . .

Posted: 2014-06-28

Plank vinyl best bet for unheated, seasonal cottages

Question — I am hoping that your answer might resolve a question from which there appears much conflicting advice, from vendors and contractors. Many of those have not had to deal with older, unheated cottages. We want to redo our . . .

Posted: 2020-08-29