A furnace burning smell that smells like rubber is a sign something needs attention. In older furnaces with belt-driven blowers, a slipping or worn belt can give off that odour. In newer furnaces, it can come from damaged wire coating or something caught in the blower. Either way, it isn't a smell to wait out: turn the furnace off and have a technician check it. Purcell Heating & Air in Calgary explains what causes a rubber smell and how a licensed technician finds and fixes the problem.

Siding in Edmonton faces some of the toughest conditions in Canada: deep cold that makes plastic brittle, repeated freeze-thaw cycles that pry joints open, strong summer UV that fades colours, and hail that cracks weaker panels. Our best siding for Edmonton guide explains how each of these forces damages siding, why proper house wrap and flashing matter as much as the material, and how to choose siding that lasts in this climate.

Is winter commercial roof replacement cheaper because contractors are less busy? In Edmonton, usually not. Snow and ice removal, heated material storage, slower daily progress, weather delays and extra overnight protection can all raise the cost compared with the same job in summer. This guide breaks down the factors that affect winter pricing. It explains when the extra cost is worth it, such as when waiting would cause more damage inside the building, and how to get a fair, itemized quote.

Great layering should feel effortless. Start with a well-fitting T-shirt or lightweight shirt, add a textured sweater and finish with an outer layer that suits the silhouette. Try a forest green knit under a camel overcoat, a mustard sweater beneath a denim jacket, or a cream cable knit with a leather jacket. Our BIA BORO Menswear guide shares a simple men’s sweater layering formula for stylish autumn outfits in Vancouver

A handy homeowner can lay plastic in a small, dry, easy-to-reach crawl space. But a crawl space vapour barrier job is better left to a professional if the space is damp, has standing water or smells musty, if there’s old insulation, rodent activity or possible vermiculite, or if you want the walls insulated at the same time. DIY insulation also doesn’t qualify for BC rebates. Find out when to hire a pro for a crawl space vapour barrier.