Steve Maxwell tips on Cottage Repair & Seasonal Maintenance

An Outhouse, a Misunderstanding and Some Laughs

I’ve come to realize that the ability to laugh is the most valuable home improvement skill of all, especially when you’re laughing at yourself. I was reminded of this when I left the city in 1986 to create a home and […]

VIDEO: One Simple Mouse-Proofing Idea

If you’ve had any experience at all in rural areas, you know that autumn is the time of year when mice start looking for comfortable winter accommodations. And what better place than a summer cottage closed up until next spring? […]

VIDEO: Priming Seasonal Water Systems Made Easy

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.

SMALL COUNTRY BUILDINGS: How to Create Good Ones That Last

Q: How should I build the first small building on my 15 acre country property? I don’t have a lot of experience, but I’m thinking of completing a stackwall and timber frame structure measuring 16×24 feet this summer, then something […]

Q&A: Tiny Home Bylaw Issues

Did you ever have trouble with zoning bylaws when you built the tiny house you’ve written about? I want to follow your plans, but the 550 square foot floor size is smaller than the 800 square foot minimum I hear about where I live. What should I do? Read on for Steve’s advice to this reader.

Sane & Sustainable Homesteading: Part 1

How to thrive on the land without burnout, despair and failure

The Hidden Truth About Insulation

Home insulation isn’t flashy or fun. And unless you’re weird, it’s hard to get as emotionally excited about insulation as, say, a granite countertop of a new hardwood floor. But the fact is, insulation upgrades offer plenty to get excited about. Read Steve’s thoughts and see for yourself.

VIDEO: Cabin Roof and Floor Insulation

In this video, watch Steve explain how to insulate a cabin roof from the top, leaving the rafters and roof boards visible from inside.

VIDEO: Window Insulation & Condensation

Have you ever wondered what you can do about window condensation? Steve Maxwell talks about how the R-value of window glazings is about more than just saving energy.

$4000 Cabin plan? Not so fast!

There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding a $4000 cabin plan on the internet lately. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the author of this ambitious plan was none other than myself! This update corrects some information for a more accurate build.