When Anne and Fritz Kettling decided to build their dream home on an island in Canada, they weren’t willing to compromise. “If I can’t build on this spot, I don’t want to build at all”, Fritz told someone who was […]
Continue ReadingQUALITY & MORALITY: Build Unto Others As You Would Have Them Build for You
If you do anything at all creative with your hands, you need to understand an idea I call “the challenge of a thousand decisions”. From moment to creative moment we’re all faced with decisions – many of them small – […]
Continue ReadingVIDEO FEATURE: Creating Fancy Sidewall Shingles
Watch Steve’s quick video on how to cut and install fancy cedar sidewall shingles as an artistic accent to any exterior siding installation.
Continue ReadingVIDEO Q&A SESSION: Watch a Replay of the Live Event
This past Monday I broadcast my first live video event. It was a question-and-answer session where I offered solutions to people with practical problems. Some of the question came in by email before the event, and others came in live […]
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WINTERIZING WATER SYSTEMS: Simple System Is 100% Reliable
Dealing with a seasonal water system may be the least enjoyable part of owning a lakeside home or rural getaway, but it doesn’t have to be this way. The frustration and uncertainty endured draining water pipes in the fall and […]
Continue ReadingHOUSE & HOME: Two Properties With Two Great Video Stories
When it comes to houses, there are two ways to look at things. You can see a house simply as shelter and a place to keep your stuff, or you can see it as an energizing, beautiful refuge of comfort […]
Continue ReadingQ&A of the Week: What Replacement Skylight Do You Recommend?
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 […]
Continue ReadingHOME STANDBY GENERATORS: How To Get Uninterrupted Electric Power at Your Home – No Matter What
More and more people are deciding to get proactive about maintaining electrical power supply at their home, cottage and businesses during an outage, and that’s why home standby generators are gaining in popularity. They provide a secondary source of electricity […]
Continue ReadingBRICK VENEER: A Great Homebuilding Option
Masonry wasn’t my favourite homebuilding material when I got involved in building and renovation back in the mid-1980s, but 30 years of dealing with reality has changed my mind. Brick veneer, in particular, offers the best combination of quality and […]
Continue ReadingRUSTIC, MAINTENANCE-FREE SIDING: A Close Look at One Option
When it comes to exterior siding for homes and cottages in rural locations, it’s not easy to find a durable option that works visually. For some of us at least, choices such as vinyl or aluminum siding simply look too […]
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