A Reader Asks . . . Q: How should I arrange the heating ducts as I convert an unfinished basement space into a couple of bedrooms? Right now the heating ducts are up at the ceiling. Should I extend them […]
Continue ReadingVIDEO TOUR: Is a Tankless Water Heater for You?
Does a tankless water heater make sense at your home? Maybe yes, maybe no. Read and watch to find out.
Continue ReadingTANKLESS WATER HEATERS: Video Tour of How They Work
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.
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ELECTRIC 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 ReadingSOLAR ENERGY Q&A: “Where Can I Learn More About Making Solar Energy a Reality In A Country Home I’m Planning?
Q: Where can I learn more about making solar energy a reality in a country home I’m planning? I need facts about the costs of various parts of the system, different suppliers and technologies, plus some sense of maintenance costs. […]
Continue ReadingBRICK VENEER DONE RIGHT: 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 […]
Continue ReadingHOME 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 […]
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