UPDATED 1Nov2019 + Video Q: Will new windows reduce street noise and wintertime condensation? Our home was built in 1995 and still has the original windows. Will new windows reduce the increasing street noise coming into my home? Will they…
Q: What’s the best way to strip back to bare wood on a deck that I started to finish with a stain that I don’t like? I’ve covered two-thirds of the deck, but the opaque results are not what I want….
How a basement is finished has a big effect on indoor air quality throughout your home. That’s because more than half the rec room finishing jobs I see are done badly enough to cause potential health issues with indoor air quality…
Q: What are the pros and cons of leaving cedar sidewall shingles unfinished? We’re planning to cover the walls of our house in western red cedar, but don’t know what to do after that. A: I install cedar sidewall…
Q: What’s the best way to freeze-proof a water line from a spring to a vacation cabin we visit year-round? There’s not enough soil to bury the pipe below frost and we don’t want to invest in anything fancy or…
Q: Am I being scammed by a mold expert? I found a 24” x 24” area of discolouration on my garage ceiling after a roof leak was discovered and repaired right away. One contractor wants to cut out the…
Q: What should I think of a contractor who wants to fasten 8” wide Douglas fir exterior window trim using stainless steel screws? Not the nicest look in my opinion. He also wants to do the same thing with interior…
A number of years ago I was asked to testify in a lawsuit involving a father who fell off a ladder building a shed for his adult son. This man was suing his son for not providing a safe working…
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, goes over how DIY homeowners can install ceramic tiles that last.
Furnace Room Ventilation Q: Do I need to install vented doors when I build a wall around the furnace and water heater in my basement? I’d prefer to use solid doors if I could, but I’m concerned that the furnace…
Sooner or later every deck, shed, fence and outdoor wood surface gets moldy or weathered in time. Even non-wood surfaces such as composite decks, plastic lumber and vinyl siding start to grow things as the forces of nature have their…
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…