What makes a house good to buy on a technical level? It’s a question that not enough prospective homeowners ask themselves properly, especially as they’re dealing with the fact that buying a house is usually a surprisingly large amount of…
Steve answers your questions about metal roofing, adding insulation to older brick homes and how to prevent deck rot.
Chainsaw sharpening is one of those skills that separates pleasant cutting from frustration. A sharp chain pulls itself into the wood, throws real chips and makes the saw feel powerful. A dull chain makes smoke, dust, heat and hard work….
In this video, watch Steve explain how to insulate a cabin roof from the top, leaving the rafters and roof boards visible from inside.
Ever notice how some indoor spaces feel great and others make you feel lousy? The difference comes down to a handful of things that aren’t immediately obvious, not even to some renovation professionals. That’s where knowing about four simple design strategies pay…
Until a few years ago, fuel-powered generators were the only way to create substantial amounts of electrical power for household backup during a blackout, or for power needs beyond reach of an electrical outlet. All this is changing with something…
In this week’s video episode, see a weird water well pump failure issue, watch a real-world troubleshooting procedure for discovering the problem, see the installation of a new submersible water pump and more . . .
If you’re planning to build a new house or major addition, I’d like to make the case for masonry. It could be used in more places than it is now, and there are good reasons for this. But first, let…
Got some painting to do at your place? Check out these five tips from professional painters that Steve has worked with. Better painting in less time is what you’ll get.
Frozen water supply pipes are bad enough, but a frozen sewage or drain line can be much worse. When wastewater can’t leave the house, everything stops. Toilets, sinks, tubs, showers, washing machines and dishwashers all depend on one simple thing:…
Every home has dark spots. Sometimes it’s a hallway, sometimes it’s a bathroom, sometimes it’s the space over a kitchen sink where daylight never quite reaches. A tubular skylight is one of the simplest ways to bring natural outdoor light…
Outdoor wood finishing seems simple until you try to keep new wood looking new. Cedar, pine and other exterior woods can look beautiful when freshly built, but sun, rain and time quickly change the colour and surface. The real question…