Q: We bought our home in 1995, when it was 2 1/2 years old, and the windows have not been changed since then. The original crank-style wood-frame windows seem to be letting more street noise into the house than before. […]
Continue ReadingQ&A: How Can I Shingle a Roof From The Top Down?
Q: How can I install asphalt shingles on a roof from the top down? I’ve heard this is better since you never walk on the shingles as they’re being installed, but how is this possible? Shingles need to overlap correctly […]
Continue ReadingWINDOW TRIM: A Faster, Easier & Better Way to Install It
Faster, neater window trim and molding installation with joints that never open up. These are the advantages of trim frames, and it’s an approach that’s easier and better than ever. I’ve never seen anyone else work like this but I know […]
Continue ReadingWORKBENCH PLANS: Download First-Class Design for Free
If you don’t have a workbench somewhere around your home, you should get one. You’ll never find a simpler, more economical source of mental health and household well-being. Fewer and fewer people have home workbenches these days, and maybe that’s […]
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THE BAILEY LINE ROAD CHRONICLES: Chapter 11 – Tractor, Stones & Social Scenes
This is chapter 11 in my book The Bailey Line Road Chronicles, the 30-year story about moving from the city to live a modern homestead life deep in the country on Manitoulin Island, Canada. Missed Chapter 10? Click here to […]
Continue ReadingBISCUIT JOINT VIDEO: You’ve Probably Never Seen This Trick Before
In the world of woodworking, biscuits are pre-made ovals of compressed hardwood that are used to create simple, strong joints between pieces of wood. The traditional approach is to use a special power tool to cut slots in both sides of […]
Continue ReadingQ&A: How Can I Fix the Cracked Parging on My Foundation Wall?
Q: What’s the best way to fix the cracked parging on my house foundation? I live in a 13-year-old brick bungalow, with about 6 feet of parged concrete block foundation visible above ground. Over the years this parging has become […]
Continue ReadingGLOVES GALORE: Canadian Company Celebrates 100 Years of Great Gloves
I’ve used work gloves every week for more than 30 years, so I was surprised to find that it took me until late 2017 to discover the story of Canada’s largest, oldest and most interesting work glove company. In April […]
Continue ReadingLAMINATE FLOORING: Download a Free Hands-On How-To Guide
“Canada’s Handiest Man”, Steve Maxwell, shares his tips for picking and installing the right laminate wood flooring for your home.
Continue ReadingHYDRONIC HEATING: How to Use a Hot Water Tank for Space Heating
Tank-style water heaters can do more than just produce domestic hot water. The right kind can also be the engine for spacing heating your home. Click here for schematic drawings and a video tour of how it works.
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