Use steel wool to restore that worn-out wok

Question: I read that one could restore a wok, but I cannot find the information. Although I have never used any sharp utensils on the wok, the centre is black and the food sticks. Any suggestions? Many thanks, Aurise Answer: It . . .

Posted: 2020-06-20

Grandpa Mountain brings out the kid in all of us

Repurposed water tank doubles as storm shelter

Reading today’s column may save your life! But before we get to that, let’s have a much needed chuckle shall we. I get some very interesting, and much appreciated feedback to these columns. This one’s priceless. The writer has asked to remain . . .

Posted: 2020-06-20

Removing old furnace chimney easy job, but requires roof patch

Question: Several years ago, we had a tankless water heater and very high efficiency furnace installed and the installers tape-sealed off the old metal furnace chimney in the basement, as the new furnace and water heater vented out the side . . .

Posted: 2020-06-20

Craftsman-style bungalow oozes sophistication

Uncomplicated design delivers elegance and function

Designing a show home is a tricky proposition for builders. They want to show prospective home buyers how grand a home can be, but they must also be careful not to overwhelm them with too many bells and whistles. The designers at . . .

Posted: 2020-06-20

Ready for your growing family to enjoy

Former Sage Creek show home in tip-top shape

When marketing a resale home, realtors will often say how it is in show home condition. In some instances, such a claim is an overstatement. That’s definitely not the case with the 1, 990 sq. ft., two-storey home found at 6 Purple . . .

Posted: 2020-06-20

KING OF THE...

My dad passed when I was fresh eyed, ready to take on the world. At a time in my life when I was about to learn how to tie my own shoes and grow a plant in a Styrofoam cup. . . .

Posted: 2020-06-18

Gazing through the garden gate

Canada's public gardens are reopening and they need support

Public gardens occupy a special place in our national psyche as well as our individual well-being. You can’t throw away the key to public gardens and yet, with all the entry bans and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s . . .

Posted: 2020-06-13

Thinking outside the outhouse

Mustard rescues yet another rare artifact

When it comes to interior design, I think it’s safe to say not everyone is on par with my skill set. Some may say that’s a good thing, however, I believe it’s worthy of note that some of the world’s . . .

Posted: 2020-06-13

All decks are not created equal

Built-in seating gives design an edge

The standard deck design usually involves common elements, including a square or rectangular top-decking surface, a staircase to the ground level, and a railing configuration of some sort. In this case, a client requested a long and narrow deck that would . . .

Posted: 2020-06-13

Loose pipe on sump pump likely cause of noise

Question: We live on the river and have a 2, 000-square-foot home that is approximately 25 years old, with steel beam construction and wood floor joists. We also have an HRV system with our furnace, which is about five years . . .

Posted: 2020-06-13