ASK THE INSPECTOR: Replacing flexible ducting can be exhausting

QUESTION: I live in a single-storey home that is about 55 years old. The roof is described as a gable roof with a two-foot overhang front and back and a one-foot overhang on each end. The attic is insulated with . . .

Posted: 2012-12-15

CONNIE OLIVER: Festive focus

Holiday décor can be beautifully wild or subtle

It's beginning to look a lot like the holiday season. To add a festive flair to your home this season, Home Hardware Stores Ltd., through its Beauti-Tone paint division, has some great holiday decorating projects to help you put the . . .

Posted: 2012-12-15

Strong growth sustains housing demand

The November new-home start numbers were recently released and it appears as though we are still well ahead of the national average for 2012. In the Winnipeg metropolitan area, single-family detached starts are seven per cent ahead of what was a . . .

Posted: 2012-12-15

Bigger, bolder

Sterling Homes amplifies design to fit country-style location

When Sterling Homes designers were confronted with the challenge of building a home on a larger, country-style lot, they were up for the challenge. Instead, they amplified an existing plan, creating a new home designed to mirror the wide-open spaces that . . .

Posted: 2012-12-15

A family can move right in

Well-maintained house has lots of space, needs no upgrades

When it comes to buying a resale home these days, especially for young, growing families, getting maximum value for your hard-earned dollar is a necessity. After all, when you're looking at paying $250, 000 to $300, 000 or more for a . . .

Posted: 2012-12-15

New-home prices shoot up in Winnipeg

The cost of buying a newly built home in Winnipeg rose at one of the fastest paces in the country in October, Statistics Canada said today. The agency said the new housing price index for the Winnipeg Census Metropolitan Area was . . .

Posted: 2012-12-13

GARDENING: Dress up dinner

Elegant tablescapes add holiday splash

When company comes to visit during the holidays, it’s a chance to gather around a table set with our favourite dishes and to enjoy a specially prepared meal. So much planning goes into welcoming our friends and family who are . . .

Posted: 2012-12-08

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Structural wood floors require proper installation

QUESTION: I read your column every week in the Winnipeg Free Press. Although I don't have a specific question regarding my current home, I do have a question about current new-home-construction methods, specifically with regard to structural wood floors (SWFs). More . . .

Posted: 2012-12-08

CONNIE OLIVER: Paint away seasonal blues

Add some colour to your home this winter

Studies show the weather outside can directly affect our spirits on the inside, and with recurring grey forecasts, many of us struggle to stay upbeat at this time of year. Fortunately, there is a way to beat the seasonal blahs, . . .

Posted: 2012-12-08

SOLUTIONS: Washing soda cleans up more than clothes

QUESTION: Can you tell me how much frozen whip I need when a recipe calls for 8, 16, or 24 oz? We buy it by the litre container and I never know how much to use when they call for . . .

Posted: 2012-12-08