ASK THE INSPECTOR: Tree care can help avoid damage to homes

QUESTION: About five feet from the side of our River Heights house there are two young maples trees about four years old. Will the roots from these trees become a problem for the house eventually? Thanks, Lawrence Marmel ANSWER: There are definite . . .

Posted: 2013-08-31

Allow the housing market to maintain itself

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty recently announced that he's satisfied with the Canadian housing market and he has no plans to intervene further.As you may recall, the federal government shortened the length of mortgages from 35 to 30 years, and then . . .

Posted: 2013-08-31

Well-thought-out

Newcastle II in Kildonan Green makes the most of its space

When it comes to picking one new-home design over another, it's often the little things that make the difference. The island in the kitchen of 10 Tychonick Bay, a two-storey show home by A & S Homes, is a prime example . . .

Posted: 2013-08-31

Purchase it, move in and enjoy

Everything's in place in like-new resale home

Building a new home, to put it mildly, isn't a simple process. First, the house has to be built, which can take upwards of a year between start and completion. Finally -- once all the sawdust has settled -- you get . . .

Posted: 2013-08-31

Discovering cabinets of gold

Quality RTA an attractive alternative to melamine and particle board

What do Neil Young, the Winnipeg Falcons and Kelvin High School have to do with my life-long search for a kitchen cabinet with a heart of gold? Not much, except I, along with thousands of other Kelvinites, can claim . . .

Posted: 2013-08-24

Study finds Canadian household debt stabilizing

All of us operate on a budget, whether it is a hard-and-fast detailed plan or a spending pattern that expires when the money runs out. Larger cost items such as a house or a car generally demand more planning as . . .

Posted: 2013-08-24

Treasures from a child's mind

Best to consult youngsters when designing their spaces

Some of our greatest treasures are the storytellers, musicians and designers who have never lost their childhood imagination. Their ability to automatically connect to the whimsy and adventure of a child's world brings enchantment that would otherwise be lost. When . . .

Posted: 2013-08-24

How to re-point your chimney

There are a few key things homeowners need to think about when preparing to repair their brick or cinder-block chimneys. Chimneys are being converted to the metal-insulated type of chimneys, rather than the old flue-liner type with solid brick/block chimney chases. . . .

Posted: 2013-08-24

Growing Azaleas In Manitoba successfully

Manitoba gardeners might be surprised to learn that it is possible to successfully grow azaleas outdoors in our Province. Hardiness is a concern, but it is not the primary reason that many gardeners fail with this showy staple of southern . . .

Posted: 2013-08-24

More than one way to warm a floor

Question: I was browsing the Internet looking for good information and recommendation on a particular topic and I ran across an article you had done for the Free Press back in 2003. "Moisture under cottages a common woe" which . . .

Posted: 2013-08-24