Question: How realistic is it to convert a seasonal cottage built in the 1950s into a year-round home? My husband and I live in the city and we’d like to sell our house and take the proceeds to buy a…
If you’ve never had a water well drilled, you don’t know the combination of hope and fear involved. Hope because you’re looking for a supply of water where none existed before. Fear because you never know how much it will…
Canada’s Handiest Man, Steve Maxwell, shows inspired homeowners Might Forge, a way to make forging metal a realistic hobby.
In the last few days of May 1988, I was a few weeks away from getting married. That’s Mary and I in the photo above, on June 4 of that year. As I was preparing mentally for the big day, I…
Question: How can I make the ceiling above my basement workshop more sound resistant? The joists and wood frame are open and accessible since the ceiling isn’t finished. Way too much sounds comes up into the living area above right…
If you’ve got any kind of hot water heating system in your home, whether it be infloor heating or radiators, let me show you a thermostat control system at my place that I really like. It’s different than most out there…
Wood is a wonderful material, but sunshine, rain and seasonal temperature swings can make it look weathered and cracked in short order if that wood lives outdoors. This is fine for some applications, but not others. That’s what gave me the idea…
Thousands of people who own beautiful lakeside cottages will tell you that owning the place is fun, but a ton of work. If this is your experience, or if you want to avoid being overwhelmed by a cottage that you…
Choosing paint colors is probably the number#1 challenge faced by people looking to paint their homes, both inside and out. There are so many choices and so many opinions about what looks good that it often leads to indecision and…
Click above to watch lesson#10 in my online video course KEEP IT FLOWING. This video shows a Bison deep well hand pump being installed alongside an electric submersible pump in my own well. It’s surprising how many people ask me about hand pumps like…
Question: How can my wife and I earn a living in the country so we can move out of the city? We’re over-educated urban dwellers with a dream of becoming homesteaders and permaculture farmers. Should we get certified in some…
In the dynamic world of woodworking, the fusion of traditional craftsmanship with advanced technology has paved the way for unprecedented levels of precision, creativity, and efficiency. Among the technological advancements revolutionizing the industry, laser engraving and cutting machines stand out…