How To & Home Improvement Archives

ONE-TIME OUTDOOR WOOD FINISH: See Application & Time Lapse Colour Change

In this video (7 1/4 minutes) see how Steve mixes an outdoor wood finish that only needs to be applied once; applying Ecowood Treatment on a whole shed takes less than 10 minutes; the darkening effect of the treatment unfolds over hours, days and months

SHOWER STALL SUPREME: How a DIYer Built a Great Bathroom Remodel

Thinking of a bathroom renovation? See how one handy homeowner did an outstanding job using best-practice methods.

Q&A of the Week: Workshop Wall Treatment

Q: What should I put on the interior walls of a garage I’m converting to a workshop? I’ve kicked the car out and two of the walls are currently covered with OSB. Should I cover the remaining walls in OSB […]

Fancy Cedar Shingles for Exterior Walls

In this video (8 minutes) visit with Steve as he shows how to make and install fancy cedar sidewall shingles; introduces a weatherproof outdoor extension cord connection port (really cool); and shows how to boost the life of all types of wood siding with an installation tip.

ROOFTOP MOSS Q&A: Does This Stuff Damage My Roof?

Q: Is moss on a house roof a serious problem? About 20% of the asphalt shingle roof area of a house we’re looking to buy has moss growing on it, mostly near a large maple tree. Is there a proper […]

FIREWOOD FROM THE FOREST: How to Turn Trees into Fuel the Right Way

UPDATED 3Oct2019 (with videos below): If trees grow where you live, then cutting them can be a rewarding stewardship responsibility. It can also be a great way to heat your home. I’ve been cutting firewood and heating with it for […]

FINISHING A BASEMENT REC ROOM: Avoid these 5 Deadly Mistakes

Are you thinking of finishing your basement? That’s a great home improvement goal, but you need to be more careful than most people if you expect good results. Even professional contractors often get basement finishing details wrong. It happens all the time and […]

GENERATOR CONNECTION: Watch the Simplest Safe Method in Action

UPDATED 26Sep2019 + 2 VIDEOS: As generator prices fall and confidence in electrical utilities declines, you may be wondering how you could safely and legally connect a portable generator to your home. One of the simplest options is something called […]

CEDAR RAIL FENCES: A Few Thoughts While Fixing an Heirloom

In this 4 minute video, watch Steve as he fixes a century-old cedar rail fence in the backwoods of Manitoulin; offers some thoughts on the responsibility of keeping farm land going; spends time doing some hard-but-fun outdoor work

SMART THERMOSTATS, BETTER HEATING: How Today’s Best Hydronic Heating Controls Deliver More Comfort for Less Money

PUBLISHED 17Sep2019 (Video below): There’s more to optimal control of heating systems than just a thermostat that turns heat ON when it’s too cold, and OFF when temperatures rise. Today’s smartest hydronic heating controls serve this purpose in a way […]