You’re probably not a professional wood finisher, but protecting wood by spraying polyurethane is something that comes up now and then with home maintenance, and more often if you do woodworking. Simplicity, reliability and effectiveness are why I like something called […]
Continue ReadingPORTABLE GENERATOR: How to Choose One Wisely
As far as I can tell, there are two reasons more and more people are interested in buying portable generators. One is a lack of faith in the reliability of grid power. Low prices are the second. I’m not sure […]
Continue ReadingVAPOUR BARRIERS: How They Work & Why They Matter
Most homes are insulated with some kind of fibre-based insulation such as fibreglass or rock wool, but for these products to work properly they need to be installed with some kind of vapour barrier applied to the warm side of […]
Continue ReadingCERAMIC TILES: This is What a Proper Installation Looks Like
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, goes over how DIY homeowners can install ceramic tiles that last.
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QUALITY & 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 ReadingSTAIR TREAD TRICK: See Simple Jig on Video
Are you building or renovating stairs? Do you need to precisely fit pieces of wood between two fixed surfaces? You’ve got to watch this video. It’s the first I ever posted online, it’s been public since November 28, 2008 and it’s […]
Continue ReadingROOFTOP MOSS: Does It Damage My Roof?
A reader emailed me with this question . . . Q: Is moss on a house roof a serious problem? About 20% of the roof area of a house we’re looking to buy has moss, mostly near a large maple […]
Continue ReadingHOW-TO STACK FIREWOOD: Round Piles Offer Big Advantages
UPDATED 17Aug2018: After more than 20 years of stacking firewood in square or linear piles, I discovered that stacking in round piles is not only easier and more stable, it’s also far more attractive. I’ve been doing it now for more than […]
Continue ReadingMOLD STAIN REMOVAL VIDEO: See Oxygen-Based Cleaner In Action
Do you have mold and mildew stains to remove? Back in July 2018, I wrote a story on the evolution of oxygen-based stain removers over the last 10 years and how these products have advanced with next-generation formulations that are […]
Continue ReadingDETAIL SANDERS: Tips for Using This Key Tool for Outdoor Wood Refinishing
Summer is the season you’re most likely to refinish outdoor trim, door frames, window sashes and finickity woodwork of all kinds, and detail sanders are tools I’ve come to rely on for this kind of work. Also called multitools these days because they can also cut and grind, detail sanders are not for stripping back large expanses of bare wood.
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