Retailer could help with mortar repair

Certain projects require specialized advice

Question: I have an old Wolseley home, built in 1911, with a stone foundation that appears to be a limestone/Tyndall stone type. There are a couple of small areas that I am looking to repoint on the exterior above grade. . . .

Posted: 2019-10-26

Cold-air ventilation will fix moisture problem in camp's crawl space

Question: My camp is up in Sudbury, Ont., and I have a problem with moisture in the crawl space. It is mostly enclosed, due to the previous owners living up there full time, so they required this for the plumbing. The . . .

Posted: 2019-04-13

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Adjusting teleposts a skill best left to pros

QUESTION: We are in a six-year-old home in Richmond West. This house has two beams and is a cab-over design, so telepost adjustment may present problems. The doorway leading to the master bedroom in the cab-over has been sticking in . . .

Posted: 2009-10-18

Ponds made easy

Swim with the fish and aquatic plants, too

Everyone should have a water feature in their yard, says Riley Scott. The movement of water and the sound it makes brings a magical element to an outdoor landscape. A pond with fish and aquatic plants is the ultimate . . .

Posted: 2022-11-12

Healthy apples keep the tree doctor at bay

Last week we discussed a number of issues that are causing problems for apple trees. This article will continue with other issues faced by declining apple trees.Apple scab is a fungal disease that occurs mostly on ornamental crab apple trees . . .

Posted: 2015-07-11

From dungeon to desirable

Laundry rooms rarely make for aesthetically appealing spaces

The laundry room is a utilitarian space and basically serves one main purpose: to clean dirty clothes. As such, this space often ranks quite low on the list of renovation priorities, despite its often dungeon-like appearance. During a lower-level remodel this past . . .

Posted: 2017-08-12

Check with officials when insulating basement

Question: We are planning on finishing our basement and want to use two inch thick Dow styrofoam rigid insulation between the floor joists, with Great Stuff from Dow to seal any cracks around this insulation. We will eventually drywall the ceiling and . . .

Posted: 2016-06-25

Remedy depends on extent of moisture damage

QUESTION: Please advise us on the following problem. Our ceramic tiles above the bathtub have been leaking and we are going to have to remove them and replace the wallboard. There is mould behind the tiles because there are black . . .

Posted: 2011-08-06

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Don't worry, your house won't implode

QUESTION: I have a problem with large wall cracks which have all appeared this year. There were some existing cracks ascending from the corners of door frames, but now we have large ascending cracks which are a couple of millimetres . . .

Posted: 2012-03-31

Deck it out

Tips for fun and funky backyard entertaining

Many Canadians will celebrate summer parties featuring freshly grilled food, delicious cocktails and laughs with family and friends this season. When hosting an outdoor dinner party, a stellar menu is only half the battle. For the ultimate al fresco dining . . .

Posted: 2016-07-23