You know the thrill of turning raw materials into something uniquely yours, so choosing presents for fellow makers can feel like a project in itself. Before you wander hardware aisles aimlessly, remember that this website has lots of really great…
Travel back in time and see how one of the most famous hotels in the world was built – and saved – against all odds.
If you’ve got drain pipes that aren’t completely protected from frost by sufficient soil, you may have a huge problem waiting to happen. If that sewage line freezes up, it can be well into spring before it defrosts naturally. Click…
Question: How can I add insulation to the roof of a 500 square foot cabin without covering the rafters and roof boards you can see inside? My place is in the eastern townships of Quebec, Canada and we’d like to…
Over the last few years I’ve been increasing the productivity of the cattle pastures on our Manitoulin Island homestead, and a big part of this is rotational grazing. By restricting cattle to relatively small areas of the pasture for a…
Question: What should I put on the interior walls of a garage I’m converting to a workshop? I’ve kicked the car out and two of the walls are currently covered with OSB. Should I cover the remaining walls in OSB…
Building houses for a cold climate requires things that aren’t immediately obvious. Read on for five essential building strategies for success. A lot of people miss this stuff.
Building with the natural limestone of Manitoulin Island, Canada is one of the things I’ve learned to do in my decades here on our homestead. The video below shows one of the most intricate parts of the job. Click below for…
If you’ve got any kind of outdoor steel around your house that needs protection from rust, there are a few things you should know about the element zinc. It offers the most effective way to prevent rusting of all kinds…
Question: The aluminum siding on my house has growths on it and the paint seems to be rubbing off as a powder. Other than these problems, the siding is in good shape physically. What can I do to make things…
In this video Steve shows how to patch one of the most common types of drywall damage; the screw pop.
Got some soffit and fascia to install on your home, garage or cottage? This article covers the basics for achieving an exceptionally good job, even as a non-professional