When a huge stone was uncovered while excavating for an addition my son Robert is building, we got out our fastest rock drill and some ancient tools called plug and feather wedges. You can see the situation in the video…
On July 4, 1987, I laid the first stone in what would be the basement of my homestead house on Manitoulin Island, Canada. Back on July 26, 2018 I laid the last stone in the last of four peaks in this…
Brick ties are hidden pieces of hardware that tie brick veneer to the underlying wall frame of some modern house. Conventional brick ties are one of those common construction details that strikes me as just barely good enough to do…
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, informs homeowners of the benefits of powder-actuated tools (PATs), especially for basement renovations.
If you’re considering getting an awning, pergola, or maybe one of those cool canopies for your backyard there’s one more benefit that you probably never considered. Most people do it for the obvious reasons, staying cool, looking good, having a…
People who live in Lemoyne and the surrounding areas in Pennsylvania experience temperatures in the mid-80s to low 90s Fahrenheit in the summer. In the winter, the weather dips below freezing, and hovers in the mid-20s to 40-degree range. Throughout…
When searching for their dream home, many people focus on the house design and its location. However, due diligence is important when buying a house to ensure you get the best value for your money and save costs from early…
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, explains an alternative lumber framing method called Timberlinx.
Question: How can I build a home foundation on bedrock? I really like the idea and simplicity of cutting foam concrete forms to follow the bedrock, but my building inspector is unfamiliar with this and wants some engineered drawings. Answer:…
When it comes to anchoring things to masonry, the process is not as simple as working with wood or drywall. Most homes require anchoring to masonry at some point, and there are three popular methods for making this happen: Understanding…
The construction industry includes many operational challenges, including budget overruns, gaps in communication, delays in project timelines, and safety issues. These problems can slow down progress and raise costs, making it hard for businesses to succeed. Construction management software (CMS)…
Back a few years ago, I wrote a newspaper column about how logical reasoning was never going to end the growing shortage of skilled trade workers in North America. We’ve been hearing logical warnings about the lack of skilled tradespeople…