Tankless water heaters do three things that tank-style heaters can’t. First, they’re small. They take up little space because they sit on the wall, not floor. Second, they deliver unlimited hot water. A tankless heater never runs cold. And third, […]
Continue ReadingTIME FOR A NEW ROOF?: Be Sure To Read This First
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, lays out how to install a roof that’ll last 50 years with the right fiberglass shingles, ventilation, and underlay.
Continue ReadingELECTRIC INFLOOR HEATING: A Simple & Effective Retrofit Option
Want warm feet? Save money with reduced overall room temperature and still be comfortable with infloor heating systems. The new electric system Steve tours here is more reliable and a pretty smart control system. Watch and see.
Continue ReadingBRICK VENEER: Tech Tips for Successful Installations
There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to brick veneer. The word “veneer” implies something thin and skimpy, but it’s actually one full brick thick – about 3 1/2″. Most of the modern brick homes and commercial buildings […]
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HOME STANDBY GENERATORS: Choosing & Using Automatic Backup Power At Your Home
BONUS: Don’t miss the two tech videos below. More and more people are deciding to get proactive about electrical power supply at homes, cottages and small businesses, and that’s why standby generators are gaining in popularity. Declining reliability of the […]
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.
Continue ReadingKILL MOLD STAINS: Oxygen-Based Chemistry Now Easier to Use
Sooner or later every deck, shed, fence and outdoor wood surface gets moldy or weathered in time. Even non-wood surfaces such as composite decks, plastic lumber and vinyl siding start to grow things as the forces of nature have their […]
Continue ReadingWHITE LIES: Good Contractors Never Tell Them
Back in June 2018, I got an email from a woman wondering about roof shingles, and it reminded me how easy it is for contractors to destroy their own credibility with white lies. As a homeowner, you need to watch […]
Continue ReadingCOOLER UPSTAIRS ROOMS: See a Great Way to Keep Upper Stories Comfortable
Want to keep a lot cooler in summer without relying so much on air conditioning? Check out Steve’s 2-minute video tour of how openable skylights can do this for you.
Continue ReadingOUTDOOR WOOD FINISH: 28 Years Experience With One Great Product
Back in 1990, I prepared my first outdoor wood finishing sample to see how a particular product actually performed in the sun, rain and weather over the long haul. Since then I’ve tested many other finishes in the same way, […]
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