The Blog
Proudly sharing 25 years experience in home renovations and restorations in the Ottawa Valley.
Sick Homes: How To Eliminate Hazardous Internal Pollutants
The catch phrase “Sick Homes” describes homes with poor, even hazardous, living environments. There are several sources which can make homes uncomfortable and unhealthy to live in. And a basic problem is poor air quality, often caused by too little ventilation....
5 Tips For Living Through Your Renovation
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,...
Professional Design Tips Can Help You Plan
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...
Housing Is The “Green” Machine
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...
Ottawa Soil Conditions Can Present Major Challenges for Home Builders
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,...
Drywall and Your New Home: Drywall Nail Pops and Cracks
Shrinkage, Temperature, Settlement 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...
Extreme Snow Conditions & Your Home
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...
Be Prepared: Flexibility is Key in Managing Delays
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...
Protecting Your Family: Smoke Alarms Save Lives
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...
Housing Then, Now and Tomorrow
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...