If you’ve ever pulled up a section of baseboard during a DIY project and found a fine trail of sawdust-like material where none should be, you already know the sinking feeling. Maybe you were finally getting around to that basement…
Ants are among the most common household pests in the Southeast, and Alabama’s warm, humid climate creates ideal conditions for several species to thrive around residential properties. While it is tempting to treat every ant sighting the same way, different…
Every time you look up lawn advice online, you end up deeper in a rabbit hole of conflicting opinions. One guide says water daily, another says barely touch it, and somehow both sound equally reasonable. The good news is that…
Canada’s Handiest Man, Steve Maxwell, has compiled a top 10 list of ways to reduce your home’s energy consumption and be more green.
In this week’s two-video episode see how stairs are supported on notched pieces called “stringers”; determine how many treads you need for a given stair installation; accurately mark a stringer for cutting; take a video tour of a cherry stair railing.
a circular saw and handsaw are used for cutting the stringers you’ve marked
the second video below shows how to build a fancy staircase railing
Anyone can put “licensed and insured” on a business card. When the furnace is down in January, most homeowners take those words on faith, and the unqualified operators in the trade are counting on exactly that. Homeowners across Canada can…
Every property runs on water systems most owners never think about: the drains at the foundation, the sump pump in the basement, the sewer lateral under the yard, and the grading that quietly steers rain away from the walls. All…
Older Toronto homes have plenty of character, but their pipes haven’t been touched in decades. Plumbing companies in Toronto deal with this every day, yet finding one that’s actually licensed, shows up fast, and won’t charge you double for a…
Cottages and rural retreats are great, but not if you have to work on them all the time. Read five simple strategies for ensuring your cottage doesn’t become an expensive ball and chain in your life.
A few years ago I visited one of the largest, most advanced sawmills in North America, and I came away with something unexpected. This massive facility pumps out enough 2x4s and 2x6s to frame 15,000 homes each year, but it…
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, lays out three steps to successful window renovations.
If you spend your weekends building a cozy cabin, finishing a basement, or keeping backyard chickens, you already know that a hands-on approach to home maintenance means paying attention to the small stuff before it becomes a big problem. Tiny…