Getting your deck in shape feels good

Composite material can be permanent solution for a great look

Recently on this page, I was bemoaning having to stain my front deck/veranda, yet again, in the never-ending challenge of trying to keep it protected and looking good. I hate staining. All that prep, applying the stain, trying to keep the . . .

Posted: 2018-07-21

Luxury -- without the maintenance

No-fuss design of new executive-style homes is ideal for those who want to live the sweet life

They call it executive lane. And while Vireo Lane has been earmarked as an enclave for executive-style luxury homes, the homes built there have been designed to put a different spin on luxury, says Steven Crampton of Re/Max Executives, Maric Homes . . .

Posted: 2018-07-21

Bamboo makes easy to maintain flooring

Question: We have new bamboo floors in our home, what should we use on the floor to clean them? — Emily Answer: Not only are bamboo floors beautiful, they are also easy to maintain. Professional cleaning products such as Bona Hardwood Floor . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

Room upgrade should make laundry easy

Functional area requires lots of pre-planning

A laundry room upgrade doesn’t always look sexy — with the best use of available space, laundry room components, when conveniently positioned, will provide an ease of use that far outweighs any esthetics. And that, in my experience, is priority! It . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

Consider putting your shoes on display

Want more control over your closet? Stop hiding your shoes. Instead, designers suggest taking cues from retail stores and displaying your collection — at least, the core six or eight pairs — on shelves, at eye level, where you can easily . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

DIY deck a learning, money-saving experience

You don't need to hire professionals to get a good result

What to do when the old deck dies? Here’s what Randy Swanson and his wife Chris (coach) did, and it’s turning out splendidly. The Gimli couple were tired, fed up even, of staining and re-staining their deck every year for the past . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

Wooden structural floors can come with unique problems

Question: We have wooden structural basement floors in our home, which was built in 1999. We also had the home built on piles. We have noticed in one area, against the back of the house, that the floor has heaved, . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

Mortgage-friendly home loaded with features

Price point helps buyers pass stress test

Over the past two years, the federal government’s mandatory stress test has stifled the plans of many new home-buyers. Prior to the stress test, a buyer may have been approved for a budget of, say, $500, 000. However, that was then. This . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

Each new home has its own timeline for completion

A very common and important question most buyers ask when looking at building a new home is how long will it take for the home to be built? As you can guess, there is no standard answer to this question. The . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14

Newer Scotia Heights home good fit for family

Not all neighbourhood's houses are senior citizens

Most of the housing stock in the Scotia Heights area tends to fall somewhere in the 60- to 100-years-old range. "This home was actually built in 1984, which makes it quite a bit newer than most of the homes in the . . .

Posted: 2018-07-14