Q: We bought our home in 1995, when it was 2 1/2 years old, and the windows have not been changed since then. The original crank-style wood-frame windows seem to be letting more street noise into the house than before. […]
Continue ReadingQ&A: How Can I Shingle a Roof From The Top Down?
Q: How can I install asphalt shingles on a roof from the top down? I’ve heard this is better since you never walk on the shingles as they’re being installed, but how is this possible? Shingles need to overlap correctly […]
Continue ReadingWINDOW TRIM: A Faster, Easier & Better Way to Install It
Faster, neater window trim and molding installation with joints that never open up. These are the advantages of trim frames, and it’s an approach that’s easier and better than ever. I’ve never seen anyone else work like this but I know […]
Continue ReadingWORKBENCH PLANS: Download First-Class Design for Free
If you don’t have a workbench somewhere around your home, you should get one. You’ll never find a simpler, more economical source of mental health and household well-being. Fewer and fewer people have home workbenches these days, and maybe that’s […]
Continue Reading
Got a Question for Steve?
OIL FINISHES FOR WOOD: A Beautiful & Repairable Option
Steve explains an under-appreciated option for finishing interior wood using a mixture of oil and varnish.
Continue ReadingTHE BAILEY LINE ROAD CHRONICLES: Chapter 11 – Tractor, Stones & Social Scenes
This is chapter 11 in my book The Bailey Line Road Chronicles, the 30-year story about moving from the city to live a modern homestead life deep in the country on Manitoulin Island, Canada. Missed Chapter 10? Click here to […]
Continue ReadingSHARPENING TOOLS: How To Get Razor-Sharp Tools in Minutes Without Sharpening Stones
Sometimes the journey of becoming a skilled woodworker takes you down paths that didn’t seem important at first. Sharpening hand tools was one of those paths for me. Actually, there were two paths involved. It all started when I got […]
Continue ReadingFROST SEEDING: See How to Plant in Winter and Why
Frost seeding is the practice of broadcasting certain kinds of seeds on frozen ground near the end of winter. It’s an effective way to improve the species makeup of pastures without plowing, discing and reseeding bare ground. Why bother? More […]
Continue ReadingBISCUIT JOINT VIDEO: You’ve Probably Never Seen This Trick Before
In the world of woodworking, biscuits are pre-made ovals of compressed hardwood that are used to create simple, strong joints between pieces of wood. The traditional approach is to use a special power tool to cut slots in both sides of […]
Continue ReadingQ&A: How Can I Fix the Cracked Parging on My Foundation Wall?
Q: What’s the best way to fix the cracked parging on my house foundation? I live in a 13-year-old brick bungalow, with about 6 feet of parged concrete block foundation visible above ground. Over the years this parging has become […]
Continue Reading