Never the same bathroom project twice

The old adage, “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all,” definitely does not apply to bathroom renovations.

Although the finished results from one project to the next may appear similar, the paths to get there often require a variety of dissimilar steps. A bathroom job completed a short while ago is a perfect example.

Generally, a bathroom remodel requires a few typical enhancements: a tub and shower stall facelift, a new sink vanity and mirror, tub and toilet replacements, new lighting fixtures and possibly new flooring. To achieve these outcomes in the simplest manner requires the removal of the “old” to make way for the “new.” The process becomes more complex when the existing sub-surfaces are no longer viable. For instance, after removing the existing tile along the tub and shower wall reveals a mouldy backer, the existing drywall is replaced with new aqua-board.

At a recent bathroom upgrade (part of a much larger project at an impending rental property), the existing space was in terrible shape. The ceiling and wall paint had begun to flake, discoloured from years of moisture. The tub, sink and toilet were badly stained from the hard water in the area. The electrical outlet was not GFCI. The old vanity was not centred during installation, and was offset from both the partially inset medicine cabinet and the vanity light fixture above it. The linoleum flooring was lifting along all seams and revealed a gap along the base of the tub. Every single water feed and drain revealed a minor leak of some sort, likely overlooked due to the bigger issue of water in the domicile’s basement, which was recently rectified by introducing a much needed sump pump to manage the elevation of the water table.

Bungalow seamlessly melds style, function

When a builder is given licence to build a luxury home on a huge, countrified lot, it can be difficult for them to contain their excitement.

Little wonder.

With all that space to work with — in this case, a 77-by-165-foot lot — it’s all too easy to design a home that’s visually exciting but lacking in functionality.

Artista Homes’ design team didn’t make that mistake with their new bungalow show home at 19 Ash Cove in Headingley, says the home’s sales representative, Phil Amero of Royal LePage Prime Real Estate.

A toilet fail was caught in the nick of time

Just reliving this experience sends a cold chill down my spine.

If my wife hadn’t spotted a minor issue with the handle of our main-floor toilet, there’s a good chance we would’ve endured a disastrous water breach in our house. And had that happened, the water would have flowed unrestricted for hours, likely damaging a good portion of our main floor — completely destroying our recently finished basement.

A few nights ago, my wife discovered that the main-floor toilet was no longer flushing when you pressed the handle. The two-piece had worked for two decades without faltering — part of the bathroom renovation I completed shortly after we moved to this property. As a matter of fact, in December 2016, I wrote a Reno Boss column about this bathroom, dubbed the “Coca-Cola Bathroom,” since it is adorned from top to bottom with Coke paraphernalia collected throughout the years.

After a brief inspection of the toilet, I found that the inner plastic lever had a non-reparable crack and could no longer lift the flush mechanism. It would need to be replaced.

Manitoban's new book 'Gather Together' has a cornucopia of ideas for entertaining

Robyn Chubey’s creative ideas for decorating homes and gardens in every season, and her garden-to-table recipes to delight family and guests, are about to reach a new audience.

Light, airy and just like new: Make this luxury home your own

Thanks to U.S. tariffs and ever-rising construction material prices, it’s never been more costly to build a luxury home.

Generous two-storey is great for large families

As anyone who’s part of a large family will attest, space matters.

Show homes still open for visitors after the parade

While the Manitoba Home Builders’ Association’s 2025 Fall Parade of Homes comes to an official close on Sunday, Oct. 12, that doesn’t mean your chance to visit Manitoba’s newest and finest show homes will end.

Almost all the show homes that have been part of this fall’s event will remain open for viewing well after the Parade of Homes ends.

MHBA builders have continued to see outstanding crowds at the 135 new homes in this year’s parade. The homes certainly don’t disappoint, offering an amazing array of design, style, quality, craftsmanship and choice for viewers.

Our Fall and Spring Parades of Homes are showcase events hosted by the MHBA that demonstrate the best that the new home building industry has to offer. Whether you’re in the market for a new home, considering a change or just looking for ideas for your current home, no other Parade of Homes in Canada provides the opportunity for people to experience such an extensive collection of new home concepts, features and decor.

Homegrown solution

For the last two years, Dave Hanson, owner of Sage Garden Greenhouses, has been using Typha for mulching plants and improving soil quality. A sustainable product made from harvested cattail stalks, Typha holds significant potential for gardeners, says Hanson.

“The story behind Typha is incredible in so many ways,” says Hanson. “It is a Manitoba-made solution with ecosystem benefits to our lakes, but it’s not limited in its scope. As more gardeners discover Typha’s benefits as a mulch and soil amendment, it has the potential to impact the horticulture industry across Canada.”

Typha is an aquatic plant that functions as a bio accumulator. Typha plants naturally filter nutrient runoff before it makes its way downstream to freshwater lakes. Harvesting Typha plants at a critical time of its life stage has proven very effective at removing phosphorus, which is the key culprit behind excessive algae blooms in Lake Winnipeg.

Alec Massé, CEO and co-founder of Typha Co., is keen to spread the word about the many ways that Typha simplifies gardening.

Making windows disappear

It’s often the least sexy tasks during remodelling that prove to be the most important, but they tend to be overshadowed by the grandeur of a completed project. We’re talking the rough plumbing of a bathroom upgrade, the electrical required for the introduction of ceiling pot lights or building the sub-structure that supports a multi-tiered deck.

Stately home in Oak Bluff West has all the space you need

As important as it is that a house be functional, it also needs to be inviting. If the design is too clinical, and function trumps livability at every turn, the home will lack personality and style.

Mid-century modern marvel

Sometimes when you envision a home, it can come close to perfection. That’s what happened in 1964 when architect Roy Sellors designed a 1,996 sq. ft. bungalow for an oversized lot at 71 D’Arcy Drive in University Heights.

Product promises to extend shingles’ life span

After upgrading the windows on the original portion of my house last fall, the prospect of incurring another major expense in the short term had me slightly concerned.

Rave reviews: two-storey offers flex space galore

While large families need ample space to function properly, that space must be well-ordered.

The reason is simple: a logical layout allows a family to live in a more organized and orderly fashion and to have different zones that allow for separation when private time is required.

Randall Homes’ new 2025 Fall Parade of Homes show home at 109 Mill Rock Road was designed to be exceptionally family friendly, says the sales representative for the 2,027 sq. ft., two-storey design, Davinder Thind of Century 21 Advanced Realty.

“People who went through the home on the first weekend of the Fall Parade loved the home’s layout,” he says. “It really works well for a large family.”

Why visitors are flocking to this Winnipeg yard

When Elizabeth Ochnio decided to become a member of the East Kildonan Garden Club in January, she couldn’t have imagined the new connections she would make.

Well-built bungalow is a homey haven

These days, purchasing a brand-new house can cost a family $650,000 or more.