WHAT’S NEW IN INSULATION
Canada’s climate extremes have always put demands on our homes. And that’s truer now than ever before. Few elements are put to the test more than insulation when it comes to keeping…
Features
KEEPING THE COLD OUT
A NEW CROP OF WINDOW AND ENTRYWAY PRODUCTS HELP MEET GROWING DEMANDS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT PRODUCTS. Consumers no longer judge a home’s facade solely by its appearance. Windows and doors that look…
KEEPING WARM: WHAT’S HOT IN INDOOR HEATING
High-efficiency furnaces, smart home innovations, more realistic electric fireplaces and other home heating options may be warming up this winter. Home heating is, of course, a broad space across Canada, making national…
LUXURY VINYL FLOORING — A TWIST ON AN OLD CLASSIC
Photo courtesy of Taiga Building Products When one hears vinyl flooring, their first reaction may be to cringe at the thought especially given some of the product’s history. For years, whether it’s…
MOULDINGS: ADDING A SENSE OF ZEN THROUGH SMALL (AND BIG) DETAILS
A little bit of design can go a long way, and one of the details that can make a huge difference is, of course, trim and mouldings. “While there was a time…
OPEN THE DOOR ON A FRESH STYLE
Interior doors rarely get the attention from householders as the front door or windows, but lately the affect they can have on décor and design is getting more respect. “They are becoming…
DECKING 2019 TITLE MATCH: COMPOSITE VS. WOOD
The adoption of composite and other alternative decking materials continues to grow every year, and the fierce contender in the decking category is making inroads into new territory in Canada. Still, for…
THE CONCRETE OPPORTUNITIES WAITING OUT BACK
As outdoor living continues to explode, many see hardscaping — the use of man-made products in landscape architecture — picking up, and with it the use of concrete and stone. Brad Thomson,…
WHAT’S TRENDING IN FENCES AND RAILINGS
A lot goes into the choices homeowners make when it comes to fencing and railing. There are security and safety features to consider, how the products work with the landscape and home…
COOL TOOLS 2019
Many tools that grace a contractor’s kit have been in use for decades, but that doesn’t mean tool manufacturers aren’t in a constant state of upgrading and improving what goes into the…
DESIGNING THE “5TH WALL”
Things are “looking up,” literally, when it comes to the latest interior design trends for 2019. Whether in home or commercial design, ceilings are garnering a lot of attention, as they become…
GARAGE ENVY
Unless they’re NASCAR mechanics, outfitting a state-of-the art garage probably hasn’t been at the top of most homeowners’ to-do lists. Until recently, that is. With the proliferation of high-tech gadgetry and a…
ANOTHER DOOR OPENS
Even as homeowners look for a simpler, more contemporary design throughout their home’s interiors and exteriors, there is still an opportunity to make a bold statement with their entranceways. It’s also a…
A WINDOW OF A DIFFERENT COLOUR
Design and elements of style continue to be on the uptick in the windows market, as homeowners balance between form and function, style and utility. “Now windows are more part of the…
THE MODERN WELL-DRESSED HOME
Industry insiders reveal the top design trends in roofing and siding Like icing on a cake, a home’s good-looking exterior makes an impression and hints at great things on the inside, too.…
THE WINTER SEASON: A TIME TO CHECK IN ON HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Mental health is a topic that is rarely discussed as part of on- the-job training, yet according to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, “in any given week, approximately 500,000 Canadian workers…