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 […]
Continue ReadingQ&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 […]
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BUILD 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 – […]
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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