Q: What should I put on the interior walls of a garage I’m converting to a workshop? I’ve kicked the car out and two of the walls are currently covered with OSB. Should I cover the remaining walls in OSB […]
Continue ReadingROOFTOP MOSS Q&A: Does This Stuff Damage My Roof?
Q: Is moss on a house roof a serious problem? About 20% of the asphalt shingle roof area of a house we’re looking to buy has moss growing on it, mostly near a large maple tree. Is there a proper […]
Continue ReadingHow to Dry Wood
Q: How can I dry wood quickly? And more specifically, is there any way I can get freshly cut birch lumber dry enough for woodworking within two months? My daughter’s getting married this fall, and in July I cut 3/4”-thick […]
Continue ReadingHOW TO BUILD A DECK: Avoid the #1 Deck Construction Mistake
Q: What should I do about a deck that’s bolted to my house without provisions waterproofing? The edge of the floor frame is attached to the house frame, but with no flashing for waterproofing the connection. If I lift the […]
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Q&A: “What Should I Do About Conflicting Deck Stain Advice?”
Q: What should I do with conflicting advice I’m getting about deck finishing? I just built a new staircase out of cedar for my deck and the measured moisture content of the wood is less than 10%. Some brands of […]
Continue ReadingQ&A of the Week: “How Should I Re-Strip a Deck for Refinishing?”
Q: What’s the best way to strip back to bare wood on a deck that I started to finish with a stain that I don’t like? I’ve covered two-thirds of the deck, but the opaque results are not what I want. […]
Continue ReadingHow to Remove Tree Sap from Wood, Clothes & Vehicles
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 from cloth, too. […]
Continue ReadingQ&A OF THE WEEK: “Can Asphalt Shingles Be Installed From The Top Down?”
UPDATED 6Jun2019 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 […]
Continue ReadingQ&A OF THE WEEK: “Should I Finish Cedar Sidewall Shingles?”
UPDATED 24May2019 – Video Below Q: What are the pros and cons of leaving cedar sidewall shingles unfinished? We’re planning to cover the walls of our house in western red cedar, but don’t know what to do after that. […]
Continue ReadingQ&A OF THE WEEK: “What’s the Best Way to DIY Autobody Work?”
A reader asks . . . Q: What’s the best way to fix rust holes in the cab of my pickup truck? I’m handy around the house, so I figure I can learn to do decent autobody work in my […]
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