Steve Maxwell articles from the Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen and Canadian Contractor

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TRUCK TIPS: How I Keep Vehicles Going for Years

Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, explains the theory, practice and benefits of truck maintenance on his old pickup, a 1990 Ford F150.

STONEWORKING VIDEO: See How I Build an Arch With Natural Stone

Building with the natural stone of Manitoulin Island is one of the things I’ve learned to do in my time here on our homestead, and the video below shows one of the most intricate parts of the job. Click below […]

OUTDOOR WOOD BOILER: Modified Blower Fan Boosts Performance

Sometimes tinkering can make good things happen. The blower fan upgrade on my outdoor wood boiler is a case in point. The stock fan that came with my Portage & Main unit did a good job most of the time, […]

POWER TOOLS: Cordless Miter Saws Get Good

In the final analysis, do-it-yourself success comes down to tools, and one particular kind of tool makes building projects more fun and more productive than most others. If you’re thinking of tooling up to build your DIY skills, you’d be […]

KILL MOLD: Expert Advice on Getting Rid of Mold and Staying Healthy

Kill household mold with these 7 steps for safe and effective mold removal the proper way.

SEPTIC SYSTEM PART 2: How I Fixed My Septic System & How You Can, Too

Once upon a time, my 20+ year old septic system failed. Sewage was sitting about a foot over the top of the tank. Sometimes it even ran out over the ground. As bad as it was, I wasn’t ready to throw […]

BIRDS EYE VIEW: An Aerial Tour of a Forest Farm

When settlers first came to Manitoulin Island, Canada, they had to be careful when they chose and cleared land for farming. Manitoulin has pockets of good soil but it’s surrounded by areas of thin soil over limestone bedrock. The farm […]

SEPTIC SYSTEM PART 1: How They Work & Why They Stop Working

Millions of people rely on septic systems to handle household waste water, and all these systems are an expensive time bomb waiting to explode. It’s not a matter of if your septic system will fail, but when the thing will […]

TINY HOUSE CABIN TOUR: See How We Built Ours

I know from experience that it’s easy to build what might be called a cabin. What’s more difficult is building a cabin that feels authentic, with lots of solid wood and classic lines, and details that make it comfortable and […]

FINISHING YOUR BASEMENT: The Real Way to Prevent Musty Air & Dangerous Mold in Your Rec Room

There’s a finished basement I know that’s both typical and dangerous. It’s in a small town recreational building near where I live in rural Canada, and this basement hosts a number of different groups and functions year round. Other than […]