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 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.
Continue ReadingHOW TO BUY A HOUSE: Four Simple But Important Tech Issues to Look At
What makes a good house to buy? It’s a question that not enough people ask themselves properly, especially as they’re dealing with the fact that buying a house is usually a lot of work. You’ll often have to wade through […]
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DECK DESIGN: How a Router and Three Bits Boost Beauty
A little time spent with these three router bits can make any new deck look much, much better. Click and learn these details for beauty that hardly any deck builders use.
Continue ReadingTECH TUTORIAL: Easier Ways to Build With Timbers
Read Steve’s three unconventional methods for incorporating timbers into home renovation and building projects.
Continue ReadingBathroom Exhaust Fans That Really Work
Bathroom exhaust fans can do a good job at preventing mold growth when chosen and installed correctly.
Continue ReadingINTERESTING PEOPLE: Cathedral Painters Work Miracles of Craftsmanship
If you haven’t been to an old church for a while, you might consider going at least for the view. There’s a lot more painting skill behind traditional churches than you might realize, and it’s definitely worth looking at. Alex […]
Continue ReadingVIDEO Q&A: How Do I Insulate a Cathedral Ceiling?
One of my readers, a man named Donald from southern Quebec, emailed me about his plans for solving an ongoing problem with poor cathedral ceiling performance. Cathedral ceilings are often insulated poorly, resulting in energy loss, condensation in winter, and ice […]
Continue ReadingHOW-TO: Save $$$ Installing Your Own Heat Recovery Ventilator
UPDATED: 12Jan2018: Some of the most common questions I get come from people looking to increase the quality of the air in their homes using a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). These are devices that bring fresh air into your home, exhausting […]
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