Good as wood

Compostite decks gaining in popularity -- but they are pricey

When building a composite deck, it is only the outer sheathing that is of a composite material. The support structure below is still built using the traditional treated lumber. That being said, the approach to framing differs slightly, depending on . . .

Posted: 2021-06-26

Avoid these design trends to keep your decor fresh

Grass-green shag carpet evokes the Nixon era on the lower level of my family’s turn-of-the-century farmhouse. The wall-to-wall floor cover, like a teddy bear underfoot, was all the rage in 1974, when my grandparents left urban life to retire at . . .

Posted: 2021-06-26

Cracked ceiling likely the result of poor workmanship

Question: We live in a 12-year-old cab-over house with vaulted ceilings. At the peak of the vault the tape has come away and cracked across the expanse of the room. I have had this retaped and sprayed with stipple, but . . .

Posted: 2021-06-26

Singing a happy tune

Piano bar makes perfect use of beautiful old wood

She’s an event producer, entrepreneur, solutions specialist, planner of all things fun, and now Winnipeg’s oh-so-accomplished Brenda Bourns of Event Strategy Productions has added another title to her portfolio — she’s an accidental pirate. Her new self-appointed moniker came about as . . .

Posted: 2021-06-26

Big and bold on Henderson Highway

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If owning an estate is your goal — your search may finally be over. Corey Kehler of RE/MAX Professionals says everything about this exceptional property on Henderson Highway screams luxury living. "This is truly an estate property, " he says. "The home, . . .

Posted: 2021-06-26

Unbridled expectations await at the altar

Wedding couples finding creative ways to show their love

Weddings are one of life’s biggest celebrations. In Britain, starting next week, big weddings are expected to be back as the cap on attendees ends. Confusion still reigns, however, as to what the U.K. government will allow in terms of . . .

Posted: 2021-06-19

Quartz an easy choice for countertops

Hard, man-made surface becoming the standard

Whether remodelling a kitchen, or giving the master bathroom a facelift, a new countertop can revitalize the overall look and feel of the room, quickly becoming the focal point of a completed facelift. In recent years, quartz may well be the . . .

Posted: 2021-06-19

Lifting sagging concrete slab a needed fix

Question: I have an issue with some stucco cracking and the concrete slab outside my foundation wall has dropped in the last couple of years. There is now a visible crack between the concrete and the foundation wall. With the recent . . .

Posted: 2021-06-19

Another brick in the yard

Backyard patio laid out one stone at a time

Welcome to paradise, otherwise known as Alan Shepard’s stunning yard. Oh to have his skills and work ethic to get to this level. Back in 2010, the Butchart Gardens-type vista you see before you today, was a bare backyard with a . . .

Posted: 2021-06-19

Moving shouldn't hurt

Tuxedo Point apartments large and loaded

After being homeowners for decades, many empty-nest couples don’t necessarily want to own another home when they retire. Consequently, they pass on buying a condominium, instead opting to look for a good-sized apartment to make their new home in so they . . .

Posted: 2021-06-19