How should I insulate my basement? I’ve been researching foam products and they look impressive, but I can’t find any contractors who think foam insulation in basements is a good idea. All they recommend is stud frame walls with fiberglass…
Should I be concerned about water dripping from the inside the eaves of my house? It’s leaking from the ventilation holes in the aluminum underneath the overhang of my roof. Yes, you should be concerned because you’re in danger of…
Are low-flow toilets really any good? I have two old toilets I’d like to replace, but I want to be sure the new ones work. About 10 years ago I replaced the conventional toilets in my house with low-flow units…
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.
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…
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, shares insight and tips towards finishing your basement.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…