Engineered Wood Building Products Deliver Better Homes and Performance
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, talks about engineered wood lumber materials, a popular eco-friendly option.
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Is Pine Good for Flooring? Pros, Cons & What To Expect
A subscriber asked: “Is knotty pine a good option for a finished floor? We’ve read your recommendations on this material, and would love to use it, but we’ve been advised not to. We’re told the wood will probably buckle, crack…
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Home Standby Generators: Size, Cost, Fuel Options and What You Need to Know
A number of years ago, some Toronto relatives of mine experienced an extended power outage over Christmas, and like many people in their area of the city they ended up being forced to move into a hotel during the holiday…
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Simple Portable Off-Grid Power for Cabins, Cottages and Blackouts
Off-grid power technology is getting better quickly in surprising ways, and this means it’s never been easier to enjoy running water and electric power for lighting and small cooking jobs in cabins and lakeside cottages that can’t connect to utility…
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How to Keep Upstairs Bedrooms Cooler in Summer (Even When Central AC Doesn’t Do It)
Is the second story of your home too hot in summer, despite air conditioning that’s running full blast and making lower levels too cold? Click for a real-world solution that solves the problem once and for all.
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How to Get Rid of Rotten Egg (Sulphur) Smell in Well Water
Question: How can I get rid of the rotten egg smell of the water at our cottage? It affects both the hot and cold supply. I’m told dumping chlorine down the well may help, at least for a while. What…
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Classic Wooden Stair Railing: See How It All Goes Together
There’s something satisfying about a solid, classic stair railing. That’s why I like what they call “box newel” railings. The name comes from the frame-and-panel newel posts that support the railing at each end. Click above for a 10-minute tour…
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Who Are the Top 5 Kitchen Remodelers in Minneapolis?
A kitchen remodel is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make to a home — but it’s also one of the easiest projects to get wrong. Between layout decisions, material choices, timelines and budgets, many homeowners feel overwhelmed…
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How to Polish Brass So It Looks Right (Not Overdone)
Brass is a great metal for hardware, but it does need to be polished to remain pretty. Factory-applied lacquer coatings keep brass looking good for longer, but the lacquer needs to be removed to allow polishing, as you’ll see from…
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The Old House Renovation Guide
This Guide Helps You Avoid Expensive Regrets If you’ve worked on modern houses, you already know how much can be systematized.Materials are standardized. Methods are familiar. Surprises are limited. Older houses are different. Homes built before — and even shortly…
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Why Restoring an Old House Is Nothing Like Building a New One
I’ve built houses from scratch from foundation to roof peak, and I’ve also managed and worked on a number of older home renovations and restorations. Because of that, I can say with confidence that these two types of projects are…
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INTERIORS: How to Hang Heavy Items on Drywall
Hollow wall anchors like these are among the strongest options for securing heavy objects to drywall. Metal wings expand and tighten against the inside face of the drywall after installation. Question: How do I anchor something heavy to drywall? I’d…
