TREE CARE: How to tell if tree will stand or fall

Is your tree safe? Homeowners who have lived on their property for years recognize their large trees are usually safe and unlikely to topple if they're stable. But new residents who are not familiar with their newly acquired trees are often . . .

Posted: 2011-05-21

Smart-home technology takes off

OTTAWA -- The evening's colder than a polar bear's toenails as you pull into the driveway, and your home's been empty all day. Yet the entrance lights glow, the house is warm, and your music playlist is already working its . . .

Posted: 2011-05-21

MIKE HOLMES: Politics stalling clean-energy program

You might remember a while ago I wrote a column about solar leasing on residential rooftops. These leasing programs allow homeowners to lease out their rooftops for solar panels. The panels are paid for by the energy provider -- at . . .

Posted: 2011-05-21

CONNIE OLIVER: You can paint your way to a fresh, new décor

IF your decor is in need of a change but you can't afford to buy all new furniture, consider painting your wooden pieces to create a whole new look. Saving money usually means you have to put in a little . . .

Posted: 2011-05-21

Consult an expert when renovating your bathroom

DEAR LEANNE: We are going to be renovating our master bathroom this spring and wanted your thoughts on the latest bathroom trends. We currently have a walk-in shower that has tiled walls with a regular sized opaque door. The tiles . . .

Posted: 2011-05-21

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Why you should never unplug your sump pump

QUESTION: I read your article on sump pumps in the Free Press on April 16. I found it very informative and timely. However, I would have liked to have seen you expand on the issue of never unplugging the sump . . .

Posted: 2011-05-21

SOLUTIONS: Hardwood installation need not floor you

QUESTION: I purchased hardwood floor and am now at the point where I am deciding which way to lay the flooring. Are there any rules about which way to run the flooring? Benette (Onanole, MB) ANSWER: Install hardwood parallel to incoming . . .

Posted: 2011-05-21

Tightest new houses in Canada built here

I was reading the most recent issue of the Solplan Review recently when a particular article caught my eye. The Solplan Review is the independent review of energy conservation building science and construction practice and is published in Vancouver. The article . . .

Posted: 2011-05-21

SOLD: May 21-11

Royalwood Address: 78 High Ridge Road Asking Price: $349, 900 Sold Price: $ 349, 000 Taxes: $3, 840.95 Square Footage: 1, 745 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Lot Size: 44 x 118 Listing Agents: Charlene Urbanski & David R. Anderson, Century 21 Bachman & Associates, 453-7653 Riverbend Address: 59 Grady Bend Place Asking . . .

Posted: 2011-05-21

The 'Wow!' factor

Stonewall bungalow has it in abundance

While some new home designs ease you into the wow factor inside, that's not the case with 30 Stone Ridge Drive, said A&S Homes' sales representative Kim McGrath. "The reaction of every visitor to the home has pretty much been the . . .

Posted: 2011-05-21