Guides & notes
Notes from the yard.
Practical guides on patios, walls, lawns and winter in Barrie and Simcoe County — the things we’d tell you on a site visit.
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Unilock, Techo-Bloc, Permacon and more: how to choose a paver brand
Six paver brands, side by side — and why the right product for the job matters more than the logo on the pallet.
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Fall cleanup checklist for Simcoe County yards
What you leave in the fall, you find in the spring. A practical checklist for getting your lawn, beds, gutters and hardscaping ready before the snow…
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Barrie windrows: who clears the end of your driveway?
Every Barrie homeowner knows the ridge of hard snow the plow leaves across the driveway. Here’s who’s responsible for it, what the rules say, and how…
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How to break up driveway ice without wrecking the surface
Built-up ice is harder to deal with than any snowfall. Here’s how to break it up without gouging your driveway, and how to use de-icers without…
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How deep should a patio base be?
Most sunken, heaved patios fail at the bottom, not the top. Here’s how deep a patio base should be in our climate — and why the…
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Interlock vs. concrete vs. natural stone: which patio fits your yard?
Interlock, poured concrete and natural stone all make good patios. They age differently, repair differently and handle winter differently. Here’s how to choose.
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Why retaining walls fail — and the drainage that stops it
Leaning and bulging retaining walls usually aren’t a block problem — they’re a water problem. Here’s what should be behind a wall, and when yours needs…
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