Looking for a friendly herbicide

Social media appeal attracts plenty of suggestions for handling two acres of weeds

It’s starting to look like I need a goat. Maybe two. How many goats does it take to keep two acres free of weeds and unwanted grass? Is it possible to teach a goat which grass is the unwanted grass? Probably . . .

Posted: 2019-08-10

Working with new product demands diligence

Extra time required to finish deck while learning to install different composite material

As a contractor, dealing with familiar product lines is as important as the reliability of relationships forged with the suppliers I’ve worked with over the years. Although my composite deck-building acumen has grown consistently, it most often encompasses one specific brand. . . .

Posted: 2019-08-10

Sunshine causes paint to fade over time

Question: I love your natural, non-chemical solutions. Is there anything that will remove the dark discolouration on the paint behind pictures hung on the wall? And is there a way to prevent this discolouration from happening? Thanks. — Norman Answer: I contacted my favourite . . .

Posted: 2019-08-10

The good life never looked so affordable

Smartly designed bungalow in Sage Creek has much to offer

When prospective homebuyers visualize a luxury home, they tend to think of something priced at $650, 000 or more. That’s not always the case, says Glen Harvey, sales representative for Avanti Custom Homes’ show home at 11 Borealis Bay in Sage . . .

Posted: 2019-08-10

An opportunity and experience unlike anything else

The Fall Parade of Homes is a mere month away... are you ready?

It’s hard to believe that we are only four weeks away from the 2019 Fall Parade of Homes! The Manitoba Home Builders’ Association’s parades of homes are the signature showcase events for Manitoba’s residential construction industry, providing Manitobans interested in building . . .

Posted: 2019-08-10

Custom home has all bells and whistles

Massive two-storey house has an in-ground pool

If you drove or walked by 7 Pinehurst Cres. and thought it looked newer than the homes around it, you’d be right. While the home that originally occupied the 62-foot by 120-foot lot was built in 1983, a fire destroyed it . . .

Posted: 2019-08-10

The fall and return of impatiens

How a disease took out the world's favourite annual bedding plant

This time next year, a new generation of impatiens will once again take its rightful place in shade gardens all around the world. With the announcement last year of the breakthrough sequencing and assembly of the Impatiens walleriana genome and . . .

Posted: 2019-08-03

A few hurdles can't hinder this backyard reno

There's no denying the beauty in the simplicity of an entirely wooden deck

Nothing beats the smell of freshly cut wood — this brings me so much joy. So, it should be no surprise that when a client requests a new deck be built solely using lumber, my excitement and anticipation are hard to . . .

Posted: 2019-08-03

Aiming for eggs-cellence? Try this

Question: I cook scrambled eggs, but they are never fluffy. They are never perfect, the way they are at restaurants. What am I doing wrong? — Janet Answer: One of the ways to avoid making scrambled eggs that are runny is to season . . .

Posted: 2019-08-03

To insulate or not to insulate? That is the (popular) question

Question: My husband and I are in the process of buying our first new home in Ottawa. We were researching regarding insulating the garage walls and stumbled upon your detailed and insightful response regarding the same issue. Some information about . . .

Posted: 2019-08-03