I’ve come to realize that the ability to laugh is the most valuable home improvement skill of all, especially when you’re laughing at yourself. I was reminded of this when I left the city in 1986 to create a home and…
Each spring since 1987, I’ve maintained a nearly forgotten part of Canadian heritage that’s still a working feature of the rural landscape where I live on Manitoulin Island. Nestled along the shore of Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada, you’ll find…
It goes without saying that being a professional contractor is about making money. Building and renovation is a business. The contractors you hire have families to feed and retirements to hope for, just like the rest of us. But I’ve…
We all face troubles in life, but an idea I call the “River of Life” is immensely worthwhile when trouble gets big. Perhaps you’ll find the concept worthwhile, too. It occurred to me as I lay in bed shortly after…
Got some outdoor building projects in mind? Heavy 6×6 and 8×8 timbers of the kind you can get at any building supply yard are a great material to use, and the tricks you’ll learn here will help make those timbers…
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,…
A while back I heard that one of my nephews, William, was having trouble determining what kind of work he’d like to do in his life. After sending the note below to William, I realized that the ideas I shared…
In this week’s video episode, see how threaded steel pipes can be used to make excellent light fixtures; learn how specific sizes & types of steel pipe fittings make sense for light fixtures; discover an inexpensive light socket that works well with a specific size of steel fitting . . .
Jigsaws are an under-appreciated power saw, for sure. They’re safer than many other saws, they can handle everything from hardwood to plate steel, most take a wide variety of blade options, and jigsaws let you cut curves. Click to learn about the fine points of choosing a jigsaw you’ll stay happy with for years of use.
Medicinal plants have been integral to human health for centuries, tracing back to ancient civilizations like Egypt and China. Even today, with the abundance of western medicine options and treatments, cultivating a natural herbal medicine garden remains a valuable, truly…
In this week’s video episode, see Steve explain the two types of tubeless tire leaks; discover and easy way to locate a tire leak; understand the tools and supplies needed to repair a leaky tubeless tire; see a trick for solving the number#1 tire repair challenge
My wife, Mary, and I will be married for 36 years on June 4, and during this time I’ve noticed that marriages fall roughly into three categories. These categories aren’t fixed, but I do see patterns of all three all the…