Better than all the pests

Modern gardens opt for natural, non-chemical approaches to nuisances

Last summer, when I discovered the red lily beetle in my garden for the first time, I soon realized I wasn't one of those gardeners with a stomach for picking them off, one by one. Perhaps if this scarlet red, . . .

Posted: 2015-02-07

Backup generator can be a valuable asset for your home

Q: With the latest winter storm, I found myself in line again at the gas station waiting to fill my portable generator gas cans. Earlier this year you wrote an article about standby home generators that operate with natural gas . . .

Posted: 2015-02-07

Night light with an alarming twist

Unless your smoke alarm is connected to a security system, it's no good if nobody's around to hear it. Enter the Leeo, a clever little night light that can detect a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector beeping ($99, www.leeo.com). . . .

Posted: 2015-02-07

Follow simple principle on heating systems

Question: I have read a lot of your articles, and have found them to be very informative. I was wondering if you could help me out with a little dilemma. I am presently finishing the 1, 000-square-foot basement in my 16-year-old . . .

Posted: 2015-02-07

Spice up sandwiches with modified mayo

QUESTION: I am having guests over for a fancy lunch. I am planning on making sandwiches and want to perk up plain mayonnaise so the sandwiches taste better than the usual. Any suggestions? Peter (Dominion City)   ANSWER: Mayonnaise provides a unique . . .

Posted: 2015-02-07

Seat selection

Be careful when buying custom couches

Q: I have a two-part question about sofas. One, can I use a modern sofa in a cottage? I'd like to move the ones in our living room at home to the cottage. Our sofa and loveseat are done in . . .

Posted: 2015-02-07

The right way... and the wrong way

In the renovation business, they are referred to as "truck-and-ladder" contractors. Though they may offer home renos for 50 per cent less than certified contractors, hiring a fly-by-nighter could end up costing you much more money than you expected to . . .

Posted: 2015-02-07

Gadgets to make your home life easier

From compact appliances to touchless toilets, today's home devices are designed for streamlined operations. And with homeowners spending more time than ever on their smartphones, designers are responding with apps that allow you to control such devices as lighting and . . .

Posted: 2015-02-07

Is your roof tough enough for the white stuff?

Your home's hat is hit hardest in a winter storm

One area of the house that gets hit the hardest during a winter storm is the roof. It should be strong enough to take the brunt of bad weather, and you need to make sure it can. To start, take a . . .

Posted: 2015-02-07

Take housing market opinions with grain of salt

There appears to be no end of experts with opinions on Canada's housing market. It becomes truly entertaining when highly qualified experts have contrasting views on the same subject. In that case, it boils down to who you want to . . .

Posted: 2015-02-07