Home Renovation advice from Steve Maxwell, Canada's Handiest Man

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.

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.

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 […]

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 […]

EXTERIOR PAINT: Old-School Craftsman Brings Colour to Winnipeg

Want to learn something about exterior paint? Paul Tyzek has a lot to teach. He’s an old-school solo painter in Winnipeg, Canada and he comes to the trade from a different angle than most. Paul’s a journeyman painter with 30+ […]

HOUSE INSULATION: The Truth About Insulation R Values

Insulation R values seem straight forward enough. The bigger the number, the better the insulation, right? Not really. Not even close. Let Steve show you why insulation R values are misleading, and what you can do about it.

Wood Finishing: Varathane Pro Finisher Oil Based Clear Review

PUBLISHED 2Aug2019: If you’ve been finishing wood with urethane for any length of time, you know that it has become significantly more difficult to get good results. As government regulations squeeze excellent urethanes out of existence, they’re being replaced by […]

Q&A of the Week: “How Should I Re-Strip a Deck for Refinishing?”

Q: What’s the best way to strip back to bare wood on a deck that I started to finish with a stain that I don’t like? I’ve covered two-thirds of the deck, but the opaque results are not what I want. […]

Cottage Plans: Don’t Build Or Renovate Until You’ve Read This

UPDATED 26Jul2019: Thousands of people who own beautiful lakeside cottages will tell you that owning the place is a ton of work. If this is your experience, or if you want to avoid being overwhelmed by a cottage that you […]