How can I minimize the cracking of a 4”-thick piece of elm wood I’m saving to make a table top. It comes from a 100-year old tree just cut down on our property. Wax log end sealer was applied to…
What do you think about slicing brick so it’s 1-inch thick, then gluing it to the outside walls of a garage I’m planning to build myself? I’d like this garage to match the brick on our house. What are the…
Do I need to heat the basement in my seasonal cottage near Parry Sound, Ontario? The basement is partially below ground, built with concrete blocks, well insulated and finished. We have always heated the basement in other years, but with…
Can I install ceramic tiles over a subfloor product called Tyroc? The manufacturer says I can, but others say no since it’s a floating system. What are your thoughts? It didn’t strike me as reasonable to use a floating substrate…
Refacing cabinets is an excellent way to get a completely new look with minimal cost and lowest possible environmental impact. It involves changing the doors, doorframes and all other visible sides and surfaces of the cabinets. The way you go…
How should I insulate the floor of a sunroom I’ll be building over a raised deck? It’s about 9 feet off the ground, with a hot tub underneath. The easiest, neatest and least expensive option is to apply 2 inches…
What’s the best kind of long-lasting, maintenance-free metal roof? I’m considering something that looks like roofing tiles. Our lot is heavily treed and the roof includes skylights. I’d also like to be able to walk easily on the roof from…
Is there an economical alternative to spray foam applied by a professional? The verbal quote I have for 400 sq. ft. of foam at R40 seems so expensive. Spray foam insulation is substantially more costly than fiberglass or mineral wool…
Maintaining a wooden deck finish is more work than most people realize, and that’s why it’s important to consider the long-term consequences before you make a finishing choice. Although I do like teak oil as a finish for exterior wood,…
What’s the best way to insulate the underside of a 10×15-foot sunroom? It stands three feet off the ground, and I’m confused about where to put the vapour barrier. The purpose of a vapour barrier is to prevent the movement…
What are your thoughts about the new Bosch sliding compound mitre saw with the articulated arm that you and I talked about at the Home Workshop Show last fall? You said you’d be testing it and I’d like to get…
It is a good idea to cover a deck with a roof, while leaving the walls open? What options do I have other than cedar for the new structure? Are there composites available that can hold a roof, possibly with…