ASK THE INSPECTOR: Moisture problems in fibreglass insulation?

QUESTION: About 10 years ago, a sunroom was attached to the back of my house, with access from the back door. The floor level of the room is about 12 inches from ground level. The floor was insulated with yellow . . .

Posted: 2009-07-19

True value

The Tofino delivers lots of bang for the buck

These days, many home builders wax eloquently about their commitment to delivering value to those in the market to buy a home. Question is, does value equate to quality? In the case of The Tofino, a 2, 030-square-foot, two-storey home by Qualico . . .

Posted: 2009-07-19

The tranquil heart of the city

�ñº Renovations leave the original charm intact

Deep in the heart of the city resides the most tranquil of getaways: a Tudor-style country estate that is able to shut out all the hustle and bustle of urban life. Situated on nearly an acre of gently sloping hills, pebbled . . .

Posted: 2009-07-19

Coming of age

21-year-old home has been restyled into a contemporary haven

Two critical elements almost always determine whether a home, despite its age, remains contemporary or becomes an anachronism: its design and interior styling. In the case of 221 Kildonan Meadow Drive, a 1, 942-square-foot two-storey home built in 1988, the design, . . .

Posted: 2009-07-19

Want a big splash? Dig deep

Think before you sink money into backyard pond

There's a burble of water rushing over stones, a splash as it tumbles over a rock cliff. Sunlight glints off a small lake. A flash of silver, and a fish swims by. Wilderness, northern Alberta? No. Acreage, east of Edmonton. As the project . . .

Posted: 2009-07-12

Tax credit can also be used to fix cottage

Tax credit is incentive to renovative your home away from home

You've just bought a recreation property and the house could use some serious updating, or perhaps the family cabin is starting to show its age. It might be time for some renovations, and the timing couldn't be better, thanks to the . . .

Posted: 2009-07-12

A sheltered Eden

Couple creates fabulous outdoor living room

It's summer: Time to fling open the french doors, let the sunshine in and expand our living spaces to the outdoors. But in Canada, where the weather can turn on a dime, designing outside spaces is not always so simple. "It . . .

Posted: 2009-07-12

Sitting on the fence about a new one?

Check with neighbours, then consider your options and bank account

In his 1914 poem, Mending Wall, Robert Frost wrote: "Good fences make good neighbours." The sentiment may or may not be true, but the real question for homeowners is: What makes a good fence? Should you go with standard-issue wood or vinyl . . .

Posted: 2009-07-12

It's not a deck -- it's a customized summer home

It is the ultimate icon of summer. The ubiquitous backyard deck, topped with a barbecue, dining table, maybe even a hammock, is where homeowners love to chill during the hot months. What began 30-something years ago as a functional platform from which . . .

Posted: 2009-07-12

Slow-grow, low-mow

Fescue blend of grass seed is a low-maintenance homeowner's dream

Got that sinking feeling as you contemplate another summer of cutting, fertilizing, watering and generally playing slave to your lawn? The low-mow grass folks say they've found the solution. Sold under various brand names -- Eco-Lawn, available from Wildflower Farm (www.wildflowerfarm.com), . . .

Posted: 2009-07-12