Family focused

Avanti home boasts functionality & style

It’s no secret large families need a spacious home that’s exceedingly flexible and functional. That said, they also need a home that possesses a certain flair, an intangible quality that promotes the enjoyment of day-to-day life. Avanti Custom Homes’ sparkling new 2020 . . .

Posted: 2020-10-10

Shutoffs placed near outside faucets for good reason

But frost-proof outside fixtures can replace hard-to-access valves

QUESTION — As temperatures drop, and as I plan a basement renovation, I have been considering relocating the shutoff valves for my two outdoor faucets. Currently each valve, at opposite corners of the house, is buried in the ceiling a . . .

Posted: 2020-10-10

Parade may be ending, but doors are still open

When this year’s Parade of Homes kicked off on Sept. 12, our weather still had a summer tinge to it. With the change in the weather also comes the official end of the 2020 Fall Parade of Homes which wraps up . . .

Posted: 2020-10-10

A Crescentwood classic transformed

Fantastic fusion of character & function

Bringing a home back to its former grandeur is never an easy task. But that’s what renovator extraordinaire Scott Fisher chose to do with a grand turn-of-the-century two-storey home that has stood for over 110 years on a 50-by-128-foot lot at . . .

Posted: 2020-10-10

The lowdown on ground-level decks

Lack of elevation doesn't make project simpler

There is a misconception regarding ground-level decks that often comes as a surprise to potential deck clients: "The lower the deck, the easier the build." This is rarely the case. Low-level decks lack a shared beam that keeps all the . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03

Garden vox

Opera blossoms in our backyards

Beginning Saturday, Manitoba Opera debuts a new virtual experience called Opera in the Garden. So pull up the most comfortable seat in the house, take your mind off things and immerse yourself in soul-stirring performances by Manitoba Opera singers in . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03

West End wonder

Updated classic has character to spare

For some reason, one home often tends to stand out above others when you glimpse it walking through a neighbourhood. Then, when you stop to scrutinize it more closely, you realize why the home caught your eye. Some design detail, its . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03

Getting a handle on radon gas in your home

Take some practical steps before installing remediation system

Question — Earlier this year, I received a postcard in the mail from the federal government explaining the dangers of Radon gas and suggesting doing a home test. I ordered a test kit from a company in Saskatchewan. I followed . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03

Cupboard staple may resurrect damp cellphone

To keep brown sugar soft, turn to the puffy stuff

QUESTION – I dropped my cellphone in the toilet, and it is no longer working. Any solutions to fix this mess? Randy ANSWER – Turn off your phone. If the battery is removable, take it out and dry the inside with . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03

There's always room for history

Wagon, bunkhouse and possibly bigger plans have place in yard

Houston, we have a problem. The forest is eating my old grain wagon. I rescued this dear old sweetie, with permission, from a collapsing barn on the Bates farm just outside of Killarney about 30 years ago. I brought it home . . .

Posted: 2020-10-03