MIKE HOLMES: Closed-cell spray foam tops insulation options

Everyone's always asking me "What's the best insulation? Batt? Loose fill? Rigid?" Different insulation will work best for different jobs, but there's one product that has proven itself consistently on every job where I've used it: closed-cell spray foam. For me, . . .

Posted: 2012-12-08

RENOVATIONS: Up for the challenge

Glitches make renovations an interesting journey

There's a big difference between renovating a house and building one from scratch. "Renovations tend to be more challenging because there is always a glitch, " said Kim Schroeder, owner of Charisma Design in Winnipeg. For example, her company is remodeling a . . .

Posted: 2012-12-08

Don't tar Manitoba with the same economic brush

The Canadian Home Builders' Association recently published its monthly economic update, evaluating most of the factors that impact the residential construction market in Canada and explaining why we are where we are and where we're headed. As I've said in the . . .

Posted: 2012-12-08

SOLD & OFFERED: Dec 8-12

SOLD! Meadows West Address: 43 Petriw Bay Asking Price: $239, 900 Sold Price: $237, 000 Taxes: $3, 179.92 Square Footage: 960 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2 Lot: Pie-shaped Listing Agents: Mark Kogan, Royal LePage Alliance, 204-885-5500/ Eugene Kogan, Cornerstone Properties, 204-232-4455 St Norbert Address: 23 Houde Dr Asking Price: $172, 900 Sold Price: $174, 000 Taxes: . . .

Posted: 2012-12-08

Raising the roof

St. Vital home sits higher, has eco-friendly features and is functional

It's easy to walk through a show home and take its design for granted. What prospective buyers don't see is all the effort that went into that design. "When I build a home, I always think about the overall process, " said . . .

Posted: 2012-12-08

Good as new

Resale home offers great value

There are many factors that must be considered when buying a resale home. Those considerations include a home's age, its location and, of course, how much it needs to be updated. Given the high prices dictated by a lack of inventory in . . .

Posted: 2012-12-08

CONNIE OLIVER: Basic black a versatile classic for your decor

When you are deciding on paint colours for any room in your home, you most likely wouldn't consider black. You wouldn't be alone in this mindset. The psychological stereotype of black tends to make homeowners shy away from this strong decor . . .

Posted: 2012-12-01

MIKE HOLMES: Stick with stucco in dry Manitoba climate

Traditionally, stucco has been a popular exterior wall system. It adds character and can give a house a sophisticated finish, especially when combined with other masonry wall systems such as brick. If it's done right, stucco can also be a . . .

Posted: 2012-12-01

GARDENING: Winter green

How to decorate for the holiday season

Fresh evergreens have been used to decorate homes for winter, especially in the celebration of Christmas, for centuries. In the past decade, the trend towards seasonal outdoor containers and fresh arrangements indoors has been growing in popularity by leaps and . . .

Posted: 2012-12-01

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Knee wall attic poses moisture problem

QUESTION: We moved into a 1922 River Heights home at the end of May 2009. We had an Energy Audit done on our home about a year later and are interested in upgrading our attic and knee wall spaces. The home . . .

Posted: 2012-12-01