Nestled in the heart of Canada’s capital, Ottawa, are older neighborhoods that boast a rich history and unique architectural heritage. These neighborhoods are home to beautiful heritage homes that have stood the test of time, offering a glimpse into the city’s past. Among the distinctive features of these historic homes, front porches hold a special...
Moving to more energy efficient homes. You might be surprised to know how much housing in Ontario and Canada has evolved over the past 60 years. In fact, it’s very likely that your parents or grandparents lived in homes that were significantly different than the house you and your family live in today. Canada Mortgage...
Most of us see our homes as a safe, secure and protective shelter for our families. And with the proper precautions that’s likely very true. As we welcome yet another spring season, we are reminded that it’s that time of year again to ensure that your home has properly installed, functioning smoke alarms. If your...
A couple of weeks ago, I joined some friends at one of our favorite restaurants for a much-anticipated evening out. Our reservation was for 7:30 but our table wasn’t ready so we waited in the lounge until about 8:00 p.m. and then enjoyed a wonderful meal and great time. Incidentally, I wasn’t able to wear...
What to Watch For The heavy snowfalls that Ottawa has been receiving are just about over but some of the potential problems for homeowners are just about to begin. Dry light snow and high wind conditions in Ottawa have presented some unusual problems not seen for many years. One of these is a much higher...
Drywall nail pops and cracks are a common occurrence in new homes and they can occur to varying degrees in each home depending on several factors. The three most common causes of cracks and nail pops are the drying of wood framing material (shrinkage), temperature changes associated with the four seasons and normal settlement. These...
Ottawa residents who are not involved in the construction industry may not be aware of this region’s reputation for extremely variable soil conditions. On a new project, builders spend hundreds of thousands of dollars taking soil samples on a very dense grid pattern, having them tested and designing appropriate footing systems to support new homes...
Ottawa is being transformed through the combined efforts of private sector developers and investors, new home builders and local renovators, working with municipal audit’s now been almost 20 years since the term “sustainable” first gained popularity and although most people had a vague notion of what it meant there wasn’t any clear definition. It wasn’t for...
Planning your renovation is both exciting and challenging. You want to create a home that suits your lifestyle and your budget. You also want to protect your investment by making wise decisions that let you recoup all, or most, of your money on resale. Recently, a group of professional renovators from across Canada were asked...
A few years ago, when I owned a period home in Sandy Hill, I did a small kitchen renovation. It involved stripping the old linoleum floor to the original hardwood, repositioning the existing kitchen cabinets, relocating some wiring and a small amount of plumbing, adding a new counter top and – of course – painting....
