Breaker battle heats up during winter's worst

Sure wasn't the best time for a furnace to falter, but we got it fixed up quick

Last week was a tough one. With sustained temperatures at -40 C and wind chills near -50 C, household ventilation systems were put to the test. And if you reside in a rural area where natural gas isn’t available, an . . .

Posted: 2019-02-16

Something old, something new

Ideal replacements for your plants that didn't survive the winter

Has it crossed your mind — as it has mine — that replacement plants may be needed once this harsh winter finally wraps up? Snow cover is an excellent insulator; however, winter injury resulting in plant losses often occurs at . . .

Posted: 2019-02-16

Asbestos not necessarily reason to lose one's head

Question: Our home was built in the mid-1970s in rural Manitoba, and every ceiling on the main floor was stippled. We are renovating the bathroom and plan to remove the stipple. Do we need to be concerned about asbestos being . . .

Posted: 2019-02-16

Doesn't take much to shelter strays

Saving a life from deep freeze easier than you think

There’s no place like home, especially when it’s -39 C. Tragically, there are a lot of homeless people and animals out there who don’t have a warm refuge to call their own, so these frigid polar temperatures of late, with more . . .

Posted: 2019-02-16

Get a few steps ahead on those spring projects

While the deep-freeze types of temperatures we’ve experienced this winter may have left you feeling as if spring could never come, now is actually the time of year when many homeowners begin planning for those renovation projects they want to . . .

Posted: 2019-02-16

Country living without the long commute

Bungalow's six bedrooms should meet any family's needs

Certain neighbourhoods seem to be able to remain relatively anonymous, especially if they are off the beaten path. That’s definitely the case with Headingley’s Monterey Park. Tucked away behind commercial buildings on the north side of Portage Avenue, it’s all too easy . . .

Posted: 2019-02-16

Homeowner responsible for Hydro wiring on property

QUESTION: I don’t know who to contact about the following — the hydro line connected to my house rubs against the shingles, which also creates a banging noise when it’s windy. Hydro has previously put something around the wires in . . .

Posted: 2019-02-09

Effective quotes protect client and builder

Avoid surprises with a thorough cost breakdown

Quoting is an inescapable process that, as a contractor, comes with the territory of renovations and construction. Depending on the requested tasks or project’s complexity, generating a quote for a potential customer can sometimes prove to be a laborious process . . .

Posted: 2019-02-09

A nutty solution for removing stains from frosted glass

Question: I have some kind of frosted glass on my pantry door. The one side is plain glass, but on the inside, it is frosted. I can’t seem to get normal, everyday kid spills off the inside of the door . . .

Posted: 2019-02-09

A-Maes-ing murals

Artist adds creative touch to walls, fences and just about any flat surface

Next time the word mural pops to mind, think Rachel Maes. Maes is the very much in-demand Winnipeg artist who comes to your home or business — just about anywhere, actually — and hand-paints the mural of your choosing on any . . .

Posted: 2019-02-09