In this edition of Maxwell’s Tips, Steve explains furnace room ventilation, insulating exterior walls and the truth about basement walls.
Continue ReadingSOLAR ENERGY Q&A: “Where Can I Learn More About Making Solar Energy a Reality In A Country Home I’m Planning?
Q: Where can I learn more about making solar energy a reality in a country home I’m planning? I need facts about the costs of various parts of the system, different suppliers and technologies, plus some sense of maintenance costs. […]
Continue ReadingROOFTOP MOSS: Does It Damage My Roof?
A reader emailed me with this question . . . Q: Is moss on a house roof a serious problem? About 20% of the roof area of a house we’re looking to buy has moss, mostly near a large maple […]
Continue ReadingQ&A: How Can I Dispose of Shavings From My Planer?
Q: I recently bought a benchtop wood planer and have been happily generating bags and bags of sawdust in my workshop. Trouble is, I just found out that my municipality doesn’t accept sawdust as garbage. How can I dispose of […]
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SUMMERTIME MUSTINESS: Concrete Floors Often the Culprit
Q: What can I do about sky-high summertime humidity in our house? The building is 35 years old and sits entirely on a concrete pad. Humidity is fine in winter, but in the warm months we smell mildew in the […]
Continue ReadingWHITE LIES: Good Contractors Never Tell Them
Back in June 2018, I got an email from a woman wondering about roof shingles, and it reminded me how easy it is for contractors to destroy their own credibility with white lies. As a homeowner, you need to watch […]
Continue ReadingQ&A of the Week: What Replacement Skylight Do You Recommend?
Q: My current skylight is damaged and needs to be replaced. Can you recommend a reliable brand and installer? A: There are many brands of skylights out there, but I’ve never seen any that match the quality of VELUX. I’ve installed […]
Continue ReadingQ&A of the Week: “How Can I Shorten a Door to Allow for New Flooring?”
Q: What’s the best way to shorten two wooden doors as part of a laminate floor job I’m planning? I need advice for marking and cutting the bottom of these doors accurately. A: This job is actually trickier than it […]
Continue ReadingQ&A: Can you help me make sense of options for potlights? I’m confused.
Q: Can you help me make sense of all the options for potlights? I’m confused by all the choices, sizes and types. A: Potlights are also called recessed lighting in the industry, and they’re a terrific feature when used properly. But […]
Continue ReadingNEW WINDOWS: Will They Reduce Street Noise & Condensation?
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. […]
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