Home Exteriors
Everything you need to know to make the outside of your home better, more durable and more beautiful.
Review the entire Archive of Home Exteriors Articles here, or do a more in-depth search to find what you’re looking for.
HOW TO BUILD STAIRS: Key Tips & Tricks to Make Things Better (Videos Below)
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, helps homeowners understand how to build sturdy stairs that won’t creak under your feet.
BEAUTIFUL BRICK: Watch These Videos & Learn Why Brick Construction is Great
There’s a lot to love about brick construction, and the two videos here show some of the reasons it’s easy…
AGING AT HOME: Boosting Household Accessibility With a Porch Lift
I sometimes help seniors decide exactly how to renovate their home so they can age well in place, with no…
DECK FINISHING: “What Should I Do About Conflicting Deck Stain Advice?”
Making Sense of Deck Finishes Question: What should I do about conflicting advice I’m getting about deck finishing? I just…
HOME INTERIORS: Why Cast Iron Radiators Are Still Great Home Heating Option
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, discusses the aesthetics and efficiency of cast iron radiators as home heating options.
HOME BUILDING: How Wooden I-joists, Composite Studs and Glulam Beams Deliver Better Buildings
Steve Maxwell shows us three applications where engineered lumber helps you build better buildings.
CLASSIC BRICK: How to Design for Old-Fashioned Beauty
Over the last five years I’ve been trying to understand a kind of beauty I see from time to time…
OUTDOOR WOOD: “How Can I Fix the Fuzzy Wood on My Deck?”
QUESTION: What should I do about the fuzzy surface fibers that developed on my deck? In the fall I stripped…
ASPHALT SHINGLE ROOF REPAIR: Climb Up Top With Me & See How It’s Done
Have you lost some asphalt roof shingles because of wind? Let me show you how to fix that with a job…
MULTI-FUEL GENERATORS: Ideal Option for Long-Term Outages
Home generators have never been more popular because people are more concerned than ever about backup electrical power when the…
ROOFS: Leak-Proof Alternative to Eavestrough
Sick and tired of leaky, clog-prone eavestrough? You might consider a trough-free alternative that Steve has used at his own…
DOOR HINGE INSTALLATION: Watch Me Chop a Hinge Pocket for a Wooden Door I Built
Just for fun, here’s a two-minute peek over my shoulder as I use a super-sharp chisel and mallet to create…
SUMMER COMFORT: Keep Upper Stories Comfortable When A/C Can’t
Want to keep a lot cooler in summer without relying so much on air conditioning? Check out Steve’s 2-minute video…
OUTDOOR PLAYSETS: Tips & Plans for Building Your Own
Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man, talks to homeowners about how to build a safe and fun wooden play area for…
PREPAREDNESS: Why The Electricity Grid Could Go Down for Months (and what you can do about it)
Our world has become entirely dependent on centrally supplied electricity, and this has brought a lot of good to humanity…
OUTDOOR PROJECTS: Real-World Tricks for Working With Posts, Beams & More
There are tricks that make a big difference to the visual success of outdoor woodworking projects, and that’s what you’ll…
HOW TO GET RID OF GNATS – 10 Fast, Easy Ways That Really Work
The term “gnat” means different things to different people, but generally they’re small biting and non-biting flying insects that often…
YARD & GARDEN: How Poor Soil Conditions Can Sabotage Your Driveway from Below
Your driveway’s biggest enemy is not the weather or heavy traffic – it is what lies beneath the surface. While…
HOMEBUILDING: Furnace-Free House in Cold Toronto Heats for $20/Month
Learn About Reiner Hoyer’s fantastic super-efficient furnace free home and how he stays warm during the Toronto winters.
Accessible House Cleaning Services & Tools for Seniors and Disabled Individuals
For many seniors and individuals living with disabilities, maintaining a clean home can be both physically demanding and emotionally overwhelming…
PLUMBING: My Favourite Way to Make PEX Water Pipe Connections
Join more than 85,000 people who have watched and learned from Steve’s tour of the ProPEX pipe and connection system…
Search Home Exteriors Articles
Everything you need to know to make the outside of your home better, more durable and more beautiful.