How should I rout flexible synthetic water supply pipes underneath our cottage? I’m especially unclear about whether or not we need to use a manifold and where it should be located. Flexible plastic water pipes are becoming more popular because…
How should I finish my 18-year-old cedar deck? Over the years I’ve tried many products, and none have lasted more than a year. Even products with a five year warranty didn’t fare better. What should I do? The wood is…
Where can I find a hand pump for priming my seasonal cottage water system? I’m ready to follow your previous articles on priming from the end of the water intake line, but I can’t find any kind of a hand…
What can I do about the sad, ugly finish on my 2 year old cedar deck? The original finish lasted less than two months. Do I need to sand the surface? This would be a huge job, and maybe not…
How can I get rid of moisture build up and mold in my 20×40-foot, window-free cottage garage? The structure is built quite tightly, and boats, cars and trailers all show signs of moisture and corrosion, especially after being stored all…
Will insulating my garage warm up the cold bathroom that’s above it? The garage doesn’t have any insulation now, just block walls and an open ceiling frame above. Should I be using spray foam? What kind? Insulating garage walls won’t…
I’m hearing more about EnerGuide for New Houses, but I don’t know what it means. Can you explain? EnerGuide for New Houses is a numerical system that rates the energy performance of new homes. It’s based on a scale from…
What kind of inexpensive exterior wall siding can I install on top of the painted roll roofing that’s above the two doors of my garage? What’s there now has lasted two decades, but needs replacing. If you’re happy with the…
What’s the best way to insulate the sloped second floor ceilings of my 1949 storey-and-a-half double-brick house? There are three options that I know of: The baffle method is time consuming to create, but good because it allows air movement…
What’s the most economical method of heating a new home I’m planning to build electric infloor heating or an electric boiler of floor mats? Natural gas isn’t available on my lot and I don’t want to burn oil or wood….
What’s the best way to stop drafts from coming in around the new recessed light fixtures I’ve had installed? The electrician was careful to replace the insulation around each ceiling box but it didn’t do much good. Can I apply…
What’s the best product to use for finishing the interior of pine windows? I want to leave the wood its natural colour, and I’m thinking of either waterbased urethane or tung oil. Which do you recommend? The interior surface of…