Does anyone have any photos of Winnipeg and its Suburbs?

Found alot of the city on 'you tube' etc but nothing on the streets.

Thinking of doing a recce in October but would love to see what i can expect.

p.s. How cold is winnipeg in October?

Another question, how bad are the Mosquitoes really?

One of the reasons we're moving is to get better weather (both winter and summer). My kid has eczema so we apply creams all the time. However, it appears as though we wouldn't really be able to enjoy the summer unless we layer ourselves with repellent creams etc or cover ourselves up completely which kinda goes against what we're looking for.

Just do a google image search for snow, that's what Winnipeg looks like for 8 months of the year

To be honest with you if your kid has eczema then winnipeg might not be the ideal place as i don't know about anyone else but my skin cracks throughout the winter as it is so dry. Doesn't help that it gets to -40 either lol.

The mosquito's this year have been crazy again!!! right now it is 12:38 and if i go outside i will be bitten and they generally don't come out until dusk...So it goes to show that they are pretty rampant.

I'm not trying to put you off Winnipeg either because it is a lovely place but given your concerns it might be a bit too much for you and your family.

All the best.

Thanks for the reply gents,

I'm limited to BC and Manitobo because of my profession, 1111-Financial Auditor and Accountant is in demand in these 2 provinces.

BC seems to have expensive property (and its all wooden slats!). If someone knows of a place where there is a shortage of my profession (accountant) and the property is a good price (4-5bed with 2 Garage 450$k-550$k) please let me know. I will have about £200k cash to buy property. Wife is a Teacher but i have learned that she won't get proper job for about 2yr. Basically i will need to run household on my wage (????$55k-$75k)

Any ideas

Expensive in B.C. compared to Winnipeg...yes.

I presume by "wooden slats" you mean wood frame construction? If so, if you're expecting anything different in Manitoba you're in for a disappointment.

Wood frame is the standard construction method in Canada and it it works very well.

Houses here are priced more on the square area than number of bedrooms, so a 3200sq foot home may have 3 or 5 and still be a similar selling price. The price range you are looking at will get you into he suburbs about an hour out of Vancouver. Wood frame is they way they are built out here, if you want brick it is around (occasionally), but will be older and cost way more. Roofs are not tile either, wooden shake/shingle, asphalt, fibreglass shingles, tin.

I'm in favour of brick building based purely on the fact (IMHO) that they look better, and being from the UK that i can relate to them better,

I understand why they don't need brick on the west coast because the weather doesn't get that cold but i think the brick props are better styled.

Steve_p
MLS websites has many brick houses at reasonable prices for sale in Winnipeg but if you know any different please give me more detail.

Possibly not brick construction but brick veneer, i.e. one course of bricks over the wood sheathing.

Brick is not necessarily a good material for Canadian home construction, it is not that good an insulator.

Modern wood frame allows for up to six inches of insulation in the outside walls (2"x6" studs). Necessary in most Canadian locations.

http://homeimprovementtopics.com/R-v...ick-Wood-etc/1

In majority of cases the brick is just a cladding as opposed to siding or stucco! It's just a look.
It's how they build houses in North America.

Rob4BC

I understand what you're saying because even here in the uk the exterior is just cladding because load bearing walls are either timber or breezer blocks.

Steve_p
There must be some merit in brick exteriors because from what i've seen on mls, brick exteriors are seen in areas where winters can get cold ie winnipeg and toronto. Taking that on board you'd have thought they must a have a certain level of insulation capabilities

The other thing i don't understand is why they don't believe in doors downstairs. Surely being able to shut the living room door keeps the room warm far better than an open plan set-up?

A House built to standard British construction would not last 10 years in most of Canada due to the extreme weather conditions. Here in Winnipeg it is not unknown to have a 90C temperature spread between summer and winter. (In the 10 years I have lived here it got down to -53c and upto +44c).

A structure has to be able to move, and wood is the best material for this.

Most newly built Canadian homes should last 40 to 50 years, longer if well maintained throughout their life.

Homes for the most part use either oil fired or natural gas forced air central heating, so all rooms maintain the same temperature by and large. There is no need to close off rooms in order to save heat. Some homes in the lower mainland of B.C. and Vancouver Island use electric baseboard heaters, then it becomes more important to heat just the rooms you are occupying.

Stewart.

MB-Realtor

Most of the houses i've seen in Winnipeg are brick built. You're a chap that will know far more more about this than i will. Should i be looking for wooden slatted houses?

I'm considering Charleswood (from a previous thread of yours) River Heights, Crescentwood and the general south west area. I don't mind spending the money as long as i know what i'm getting.

Any suggestions??

ps. is central heating a bit 'old hat' for Canada?

The vast majority of Winnipeg homes are either Vinyl or Wood Sidings, with the newer ones almost exclusively Stucco. The brick is more like a veneer over exactly the same construction as the vinyl/wood/stucco finish. Its only purpose is to keep water out of the structure.

If you have traditional radiator heating (some old Winnipeg homes have this, normally built prior to the 1st World War) ) you can't have Air Conditioning.
Blown air is cheaper too, as its the Standard for North America.

Charleswood Homes go from to 50's to now, with a lot built in the 70's, styles vary, as does build quality.