Heat may be needed to prevent plumbing from freezing

Question: I was hoping you could suggest how to prevent a pump from freezing in winter. It is located in the crawl space at the end of the building, which is skirted with insulation panels. The water lines have heat . . .

Posted: 2021-10-30

Bay window fix taking the city by storm

Improves comfort and reduces energy costs

A few years ago, while performing an unrelated renovation, my aunt mentioned that the area surrounding her living room bay window was freezing during the coldest winter months. After pondering the issue for a day or two, I suggested building . . .

Posted: 2021-10-30

Discoloured towels likely due to cosmetics

Question: Last year I purchased new white towels for my remodelled bathroom. They are lovely, but after a few washes and they started sprouting grey blob-shaped spots, especially on the hand towels. At first, I thought it was my daughter’s . . .

Posted: 2021-10-30

Who you GONNA call?

'Ukrainian White Witch' shares a spooky tale from seance

It’s Halloween tomorrow and there sure are some fabulously decorated yards out there! Halloween apparently originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. I’m thinking it was probably about the . . .

Posted: 2021-10-30

Superior style in Sage Creek

Stunning Parade of Homes entry loaded and a looker

What does a builder have to keep in mind when they conceive a luxury home plan that’s designed to appeal to more than one demographic? In a word, balance. That means the home must offer a seamless synergy of flair and function, . . .

Posted: 2021-10-30

Selecting MHBA builders just makes sense

Building a new home is one of the largest investments a family will makes in its lifetime. Doing your due diligence when selecting the right builder is critically important when a family is making this type of major investment. So . . .

Posted: 2021-10-30

Dream home in River Heights ready to go

Spacious two-storey loaded with style and function

As exciting as it is to buy a new home in a cutting-edge community like Bridgwater Trails or South Pointe, there are a couple of downsides to building new. First, you usually need to do landscaping and wait anywhere from five . . .

Posted: 2021-10-30

Drone on for design's sake

Bird's-eye view of your landscape will give you new perspective

Shifting your perspective assists in bringing you to new creative solutions. Could the aerial images captured by a drone fly-over assist you in planning your landscape or making changes or additions to your garden? Richard Denesiuk is a skilled photographer who . . .

Posted: 2021-10-23

Rustic redo reins in costs

Diligent legwork helps minimize kitchen downtime

The costs of a complete kitchen overhaul can be somewhat shocking, and even cost-prohibitive if your budget simply refuses to allow the expense. However, by eliminating elements that may not need to be replaced, pricing will begin to fall within . . .

Posted: 2021-10-23

Weigh asbestos remediation options carefully

Hazardous fibres in stipple ceiling can be safely contained, removed

Question: I am looking for some suggestions on how to deal with a popcorn ceiling that contains asbestos. The ceiling is in my kids’ playroom and when they bounce balls, they often hit the ceiling. I believe the options are . . .

Posted: 2021-10-23