How to Insulate an Old, Brick House
Steve answers your questions about metal roofing, adding insulation to older brick homes and how to prevent deck rot.
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RECIPROCATING SAWS: Why These Power Tools Are So Useful
If you’ve got home renovations on your to-do list (and maybe even auto repairs), then you should probably know more about reciprocating saws. Professionals use them all the time for gutting old spaces, and you should too if you plan…
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HOW TO BUILD SAWHORSES: Building Plans & Video Tour
Want to build some good, old-fashioned wooden saw horses? Watch the video above to see how I do it. Downloadable, printable plans are below. This video and the plans are part of my Woodworking for Beginners online course. Click below…
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Bailey Line Road news: Bargain $30 Tomato Plants
Here’s the first edition of a new, just-for-fun feature: Bailey Line Road News. This time it’s a satirical look at the strange economics of buying premium, ready-to-bear tomato plants in spring. Click image below for complete, high-res view. Do you…
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MIG WELDER BASICS: See How the World’s Easiest-to-Use Welder Works
MIG welders are the easiest of all welding equipment to use, and there are plenty of great DIY-grade machines on the market. See for yourself in the video above. It’s one of many video tutorials that make up my online…
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Why Home Improvement Matters More Than Most People Realize
Home improvement matters for reasons that go beyond repairs, upgrades, and property value. At its best, it helps turn the shell of a house into a place where people feel safe, comfortable, and deeply at home. That is the real…
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COAL HEATING: Watch a Classic Anthracite Stove in Action
Back in the fall of 2020, my oldest son, Robert, and I installed a classic anthracite heating stove in his house. I thought you might like to see how it works. Anthracite is a clean-burning, smokeless coal that has about…
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5 Woodworking Tips to Boost Your Efficiency
One great thing about woodworking is that you can work smart and create a great deal of beauty. However, even with all the right tools and materials at your disposal, there are some things you can do to increase your…
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CATHEDRAL CEILING CHALLENGE: “How Do I Insulate This Area Properly?”
Got a cathedral ceiling that’s giving you moisture trouble? One of my subscribers, a man named Donald from southern Quebec, emailed me about his plans for solving an ongoing problem with poor cathedral ceiling performance. Cathedral ceilings are often insulated…
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ELECTRIC CORD REPAIR: How to Install Replacement Ends
Got a bad electric cord or extension cord? Making things right with a replacement cord end is easy, inexpensive and effective. Watch the video here to see and learn.
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Oregon Chainsaw Sharpener: Fast Sharpening With PowerSharp
Chainsaw sharpening is one of those skills that separates pleasant cutting from frustration. A sharp chain pulls itself into the wood, throws real chips and makes the saw feel powerful. A dull chain makes smoke, dust, heat and hard work….
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Top-Down Roof and Floor Insulation
In this video, watch Steve explain how to insulate a cabin roof from the top, leaving the rafters and roof boards visible from inside.
