RENOVATIONS: Gutter Talk

Aluminum eavestrough beats vinyl in Manitoba's tough climate

A friend told me recently about a linguist who reads English words to non-English-speaking people to determine what words sound the most soothing to them. The overwhelming favourite is diarrhea; the least-liked is cud. I think a similar case could be made . . .

Posted: 2013-05-11

MIKE HOLMES: A room where baby can sleep safely

Spring is the high season for babies, so a lot of parents are starting to prepare the baby's room now. We usually remember the regular stuff, like covering electrical outlets and installing safety gates around the house. But here are . . .

Posted: 2014-01-25

Lots of damage, but little recourse

Poorly installed air vents leave a home with more than just leaks, but there's little you can do to hold contractors accountable

QUESTION: I bought my mother-in-law’s home one year ago and I am now experiencing leaks. The shingles were replaced about 10 years ago. When I moved in, there were small bulges on the drywall near the peak of the vaulted ceilings, . . .

Posted: 2016-10-01

Venting alone can't keep upstairs cool

Question: My wife and I own a 21/2-storey house in the West End, and we need to replace the roof in the next couple of months because it is leaking. The fir planks underneath are in good condition, according to . . .

Posted: 2013-09-21

MIKE HOLMES: Small jobs can become huge

It was just a small job and ends something like: Why did it end up costing so much? Why did it take so long? Why did it become such a nightmare? Unfortunately, in my world, there really is no such thing . . .

Posted: 2011-02-05

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Metal roofing bad idea if pitch is too low

QUESTION: I read your column weekly, and have really learned a lot. I have a low-slope residential tar-and-gravel roof. I'm thinking of replacing it with a metal roof with spray-on foam in the cavity. My question is this: Right now I . . .

Posted: 2012-04-07

Burn with caution to keep everyone healthy and happy

Question: My neighbour is installing a new high-efficiency wood stove in his home, and I have a question about the required chimney height above the roofline. We live in the West End, our houses are only six to seven feet . . .

Posted: 2020-12-19

Burn with caution to keep everyone healthy and happy

Question: My neighbour is installing a new high-efficiency wood stove in his home, and I have a question about the required chimney height above the roof line. We live in the West End, our houses are only six to seven . . .

Posted: 2020-12-19

Soaring through time

Antique tin ceiling takes rustic charm to new heights

Ok, so it’s not quite up there with the Sistine Chapel ceiling painted by Michelangelo, but in my humble opinion, and especially because they sent me Christmas goodies, I’d say it’s close, really close. I speak of none other than the . . .

Posted: 2020-12-19

Make mine a double

Veteran car-guy gets spiffy new garage

When homeowner Mick Delisle realized the single-car detached garage at the house he’d just bought did not meet his capacity requirements, the dilemma became whether to add on to the existing garage or build a new double-detached from scratch. With . . .

Posted: 2021-07-24