What is the best way to insulate the cold floors of my 95 year old home?
In this video I assist Joanne, from Kingston Ontario, with a cold floor situation in her 95 year old home which is mostly over an unheated crawl space.
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How do I anchor the partition walls in a basement I’m finishing?
In this video I give advice to Gareth, from Ottawa, who is wondering how to anchor the partition walls in a basement he’s renovating. He wants to know if he should put the partition walls on top of a dimpled…
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How to Avoid Common Basement Finishing Mistakes
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, shares insight and tips towards finishing your basement.
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What’s the best way to make my brass door hardware shiny again?
What’s the best way to make my brass door hardware shiny again? As I polish the metal only some areas come clean. The problem you’ve got comes from a lacquer coating. It’s intended to prevent tarnishing during storage, but it…
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How can I protect the exposed concrete foundation on my new home?
In this video I answer a homeowner who asked for advice on how to protect the exposed concrete foundation on their new home. I suggest one of two home maintenance options: It is very important to protect exposed concrete foundation. I water…
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Can I install vinyl flooring directly on top of a concrete basement floor?
Although it’s possible to install vinyl flooring directly on concrete, it’s not a great idea. I’ve seen vinyl separate from the concrete over time, besides the fact that a basement floor constructed this way won’t feel very warm underfoot. That’s…
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We bought a new home and have a problem with the cold cellar.Help!
We bought a new home and have a problem with the cold cellar.Help! The roof is corrugated steel, on top of which has been poured a concrete slab that forms the porch floor. The walls are poured concrete, too. In…
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What kind of furnace should I have installed?
Our insurance company tells us that our 25 year-old oil tank needs to be replaced or they won’t extend coverage. Is it better to spend $1,100.00 on a new oil tank or $3,000.00 on a gas furnace? The heating oil…
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Can you help recommend an insulation upgrade for my 150-year-old home?
I’m planning to restore an 1860’s board-and-batten home, and need some advice about insulation. Right now there’s none in the wall cavities and I want to change this as part of the restoration. What’s the best type of insulation to…
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Can we install drywall over plaster and lathe?
We’re fixing an older home with plaster walls and want to apply drywall over top. Can we do this? I’ve heard that you can’t screw drywall down in situations like this. What about construction adhesive instead? I’ve never heard any…
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Q&A OF THE WEEK: “How Can I Soundproof the Suspended Ceiling In My Basement?”
Q: How can I soundproof the suspended ceiling in my basement? My daughter is moving in down there and I’m hoping that fiberglass batts installed above the ceiling tiles will keep the sound down. A: Effective retrofit soundproofing is never…
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What’s your opinion of macerating toilets?
What’s your opinion of macerating toilets? I’m planning to build a two-piece bathroom in a finished basement. Macerating toilet systems allow bathrooms to be built below the level of a drain. They include a toilet that connects to a sealed box…
