Q: How can I stop sap from oozing out of several new Douglas fir benches I had made and how can I remove it? I’m getting sap all over my clothes, so I need to remove sap there, too. Is […]
Continue ReadingHow to Build a Wheelchair Ramp
PUBLISHED 12Jul2019: A wheelchair ramp is the single most important feature you can build into your home to make it more user-friendly for people with physical challenges. The thing is, a wheelchair ramp has to be built correctly to work […]
Continue ReadingSubmersible Water Well Pump Tear-Down
In this week’s video episode, watch Steve cut into a failed submersible water well pump; see a big power hacksaw in action; discover how a nearly-new submersible pump destroyed itself from the inside out
Continue ReadingOFF-GRID ENERGY: Tour a Real-World Solar Panel System With 20-Year Track Record
UPDATED 5Jul2019 Got an interest in building your own off-grid solar panel and wind energy system? I’ve got a true story that you might find interesting . . . a story about a couple who have been living a modern […]
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How to Choose a Backup Generator & Three Options For Legal Connections
Want the most economical kind of backup generator to provide power for your home or cottage or off-grid building project? Large portable models provide the most power for a given purchase price. But how do you connect a generator to […]
Continue ReadingBailey Line Life Ep. 24: How to Install Cedar Shingle Siding
In this week’s video episode, watch how cedar shingles make a great wall siding; see
one way to make a vertical drainage pathway behind shingles; watch
how a saggy old shed is refurbished using cedar shingle siding
Q&A OF THE WEEK: Resurfacing a Wooden Deck
Q: Can I attach synthetic deck lumber directly on top of the existing wood of my old deck? I’m tired of finishing and refinishing this wood. A: I’ve resurfaced a number of decks and yes, you do need to remove […]
Continue ReadingHow to Build Stairs: Key Tips & Tricks
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, helps homeowners understand how to build sturdy stairs that won’t creak under your feet.
Continue ReadingBATHROOM EXHAUST FANS: How to Make Them Really Work
UPDATED 21Jun2019: When my parents renovated the basement of my boyhood home, they added a bathroom, and it included a bathroom exhaust fan. Even though it was noisy – like all bathroom fans back then – we used it diligently, during and after […]
Continue ReadingBASEMENT INSULATION 101: The Real Way to Prevent Musty Basement Smells
UPDATED 21Jun2019: With warmer weather setting in, it’s the time of year when basements everywhere start smelling musty and moldy. In more cases than you might think I’ve even seen musty basements affect the air quality in an entire house. The […]
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