HOMEBUILDING/RENOS: Five Tips for Building Well For Cold Weather
Building houses for a cold climate requires things that aren’t immediately obvious. Read on for five essential building strategies for success. A lot of people miss this stuff.
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STONEWORKING: See How I Build a Round Arch With Natural Stone
Building with the natural limestone of Manitoulin Island, Canada is one of the things I’ve learned to do in my decades here on our homestead. The video below shows one of the most intricate parts of the job. Click below for…
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EXTERIORS: “How Can I Make 30-Year Old Aluminum Siding Look Good Again?
Question: The aluminum siding on my house has growths on it and the paint seems to be rubbing off as a powder. Other than these problems, the siding is in good shape physically. What can I do to make things…
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ALUMINUM SOFFIT & FASCIA: How-To Install It The Right Way
Got some soffit and fascia to install on your home, garage or cottage? This article covers the basics for achieving an exceptionally good job, even as a non-professional
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REVOVATIONS: “How Can I Convert a Seasonal Cottage to Full-Time Home?”
Question: How realistic is it to convert a seasonal cottage built in the 1950s into a year-round home? My husband and I live in the city and we’d like to sell our house and take the proceeds to buy a…
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EASY-KEEPER COTTAGE: Don’t Build Or Renovate To Make Work For Yourself
Thousands of people who own beautiful lakeside cottages will tell you that owning the place is fun, but a ton of work. If this is your experience, or if you want to avoid being overwhelmed by a cottage that you…
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CHOOSING PAINT COLORS: Three Steps for Making Better Choices
Choosing paint colors is probably the number#1 challenge faced by people looking to paint their homes, both inside and out. There are so many choices and so many opinions about what looks good that it often leads to indecision and…
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DEEP WELL HAND PUMP: See How We Installed One Alongside Our Electric Pump
Click above to watch lesson#10 in my online video course KEEP IT FLOWING. This video shows a Bison deep well hand pump being installed alongside an electric submersible pump in my own well. It’s surprising how many people ask me about hand pumps like…
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HOW TO BUILD STAIRS: Key Tips & Tricks to Make Things Better (Videos Below)
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, helps homeowners understand how to build sturdy stairs that won’t creak under your feet.
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BEAUTIFUL BRICK: Watch These Videos & Learn Why Brick Construction is Great
There’s a lot to love about brick construction, and the two videos here show some of the reasons it’s easy to like bricks and why you might want to consider using them if you’re building new or adding a major…
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AGING AT HOME: Boosting Household Accessibility With a Porch Lift
I sometimes help seniors decide exactly how to renovate their home so they can age well in place, with no need to ever move into a nursing home. One of the first things we often look at is something called a…
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DECK FINISHING: “What Should I Do About Conflicting Deck Stain Advice?”
Making Sense of Deck Finishes Question: What should I do about 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…
