UPDATED 24May2019 – Video Below Q: What are the pros and cons of leaving cedar sidewall shingles unfinished? We’re planning to cover the walls of our house in western red cedar, but don’t know what to do after that. […]
Continue ReadingQ&A OF THE WEEK: “How Can I Insulate My Cottage For Year-Round Living?”
Q: What’s the best way to insulate a cottage? I’m converting the place into a four-season home, but I want to preserve the interior wooden wall finishes. Paper-covered batt insulation is in the 2×4 wall frames now, but I’m concerned […]
Continue ReadingEASY COTTAGE WATER SYSTEM PRIMING: How to Avoid the Seasonal Misery
Seasonal water system are great when they work, but can also be troublesome to get going again. Did you have trouble priming your cottage water system this spring? Add a few pieces of hardware this coming fall and your troubles will be over.
Continue ReadingQ&A: “How Should I Install a Pellet Stove?”
Q: What’s involved when installing a pellet stove as a heating appliance? We’re planning to build in the country next year, and I’m sold on the cost savings of this heating system. Can you recommend specific models? Do pellet stoves […]
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Q&A OF THE WEEK: “How Do I Freeze-Proof a Cabin Water Line?”
Q: What’s the best way to freeze-proof a water line from a spring to a vacation cabin we visit year-round? There’s not enough soil to bury the pipe below frost and we don’t want to invest in anything fancy or […]
Continue ReadingQ&A OF THE WEEK: “Can I Leave Cottage Heat Off During Winter?”
Q: Can I safely leave the heat turned off in my cottage over winter? The floor is hardwood and I’m concerned about warping. I’m retired and don’t want to spend the $200 a month it costs to keep minimal heat […]
Continue ReadingBUILD A SWIM PLATFORM: Download Plans, Materials List, Instructions & Video
Detailed plans, materials list, instructions and video right here. Summer will come again. Be ready with a swim platform.
Continue ReadingHOME INSULATION: The Invisible Investment That Keeps On Paying Off
UPDATED 21Dec2018: When it comes to home insulation, “overdoing it” today is often ordinary tomorrow. That’s been the trend for the last 30 years and it’s not likely to let up. The question is, when will we learn our lesson? […]
Continue ReadingOFF-GRID ENERGY: Tour a Real-World System With 20-Year Track Record
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 – […]
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