FRIENDLY ADVICE: Avoid Biggest Wood Fence Stain Mistake
A long-time reader is about to waste time and money doing something to her fence that a lot of people are confused about. Read her email and my answer:
How do I replace a rusting steel garage support?
Steve explains how to replace a rusting steel garage support post and how to make the new one last.
How can I extend the height of a wooden fence from?
How can I extend the height of a wooden fence from five feet to seven feet tall without putting in new posts? I want to install a wooden lattice above the five-foot mark. If this were my fence I’d bolt…
How can I treat two new cedar decks I’ll be building at our restaurant?
How can I treat two new cedar decks I’ll be building at our restaurant? I need something that looks good and requires little work. In this video, Steve Maxwell answers a question from a homeowner wanting advice on treating their…
Why is water dripping from underneath my eaves?
Why is water dripping from underneath my eaves? There’s no leakage in the attic or living quarters, but I’m concerned. The leaks happened when warm weather melted snow on the roof. The water dripping from your soffit is a definite…
Q&A: Outdoor boilers – dispelling some common myths!
I have to disagree with your published opinion that outdoor wood boilers are an environmentally sound way to heat. While they do move the fire, soot and ash outdoors, they also burn twice as much fuel as an indoor woodstove…
What’s the best way to insulate a 1906 farmhouse?
What’s the best way to insulate a 1906 farmhouse? My plan is to strip the interior, increase the depth of the existing 2×4 wall studs to 2×7, then install batt insulation in the deepened wall cavities after rewiring. What do…
What’s the most economical furnace to install in my Victorian farmhouse, oil or propane?
What’s the most economical furnace to install in my Victorian farmhouse, oil or propane? I’d like to replace the 20-year-old furnace I have now. This is a good question because optimal energy decisions aren’t easy to make. Different measuring systems,…
Will a light colored, floating wood floor work well with the dark, walnut paneling of our foyer?
On June 12, 2012, Shae from Sterling, Virginia wondered if a light colored, floating wood floor would work well with the dark, walnut paneling in her foyer. In this video I address the technical side regarding the new breed of…
ASK STEVE: Beginner help with building a garden shed
I’m looking to build a garden shed, but don’t know which way to proceed. I can be handy if I put my mind to it, but it doesn’t exactly flow for me. I’d like the shed to be 6-feet by…
Where’s the best place to locate a furnace?
Where’s the best place to locate a furnace? My wife and I are designing a new home, and our plans require two furnaces. We’ve heard different viewpoints about where to place the second unit: basement, second floor, even the attic….
HANDMADE GRAIN: How We Grew Wheat By Hand
Canada’s Handiest Man and proud father, Steve Maxwell, tells a story about his son Jacob’s love of the land and eagerness to help in the garden.