Home Exteriors
Everything you need to know to make the outside of your home better, more durable and more beautiful.
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Can I paint my white vinyl windows brown? Is painting or aluminum cladding an option?
Most vinyl windows are white, and the reason has largely to do with the way vinyl expands and contracts with…
What’s the best stain or treatment to prevent wear and pet damage to our deck?
We’ve just rebuilt our cedar deck and want to apply the best staining treatment to protect it. In the past…
How can I boost the energy efficiency of the floor-to-ceiling windows in my high-rise condo?
How can I boost the energy efficiency of the floor-to-ceiling windows in my high-rise condo? Heating costs are very high…
How do I get rid of recurring ceiling mold near an exterior wall?
How can my hubby and I get rid of recurring mold that appears in a corner of our bedroom ceiling?…
What are my options for fixing flaking brick on the front of my house?
What are my options for fixing flaking brick on the front of my house? The place was built in 1980,…
Is foam injection insulation a good way to boost the energy efficiency of my brick house?
Is foam injection insulation a good way to boost the energy efficiency of my brick house? It’s about 60 years…
I live in a 50-year old bungalow and have just discovered there’s not a single bit of insulation in the place. How can I fix this?
The first step is to get some loose-fill insulation blown into your attic. This is the easiest and least expensive…
ASK STEVE: Frost jacking causes heaving, help!
About 5 years ago I installed two posts under a porch and now one seems to be rising out of…
What kind of portable tablesaw should I buy for building a new house and outbuildings?
What kind of portable tablesaw should I buy for building a new house and outbuildings? I’m not a professional, so…
How should I go about preserving exposed bricks in my home?
My kitchen will be renovated soon and I’d like to expose the bricks on one interior wall. The kitchen has…
Whole house fans & Canadian homes
I’ve seen a few articles written about whole house fans, mostly in US magazines and on web sites. Why aren’t…
Q&A: Brand new home with brand new mold!
We’ve moved into a brand new home and we’re having trouble with a section of the basement we requested be…
ASK STEVE: Peeling paint mystery
The paint beneath our south facing windows is peeling on the inside walls, but I don’t know why. Some of…
Q&A: Cottage Insulation Help
A friend owns a cottage and would like to insulate the roof. The problem is the limited amount of space…
What kind of subfloor products do you recommend for a basement renovation?
What kind of subfloor products do you recommend for a basement renovation? I don’t know what to make of the…
Can I use spray foam to insulate the underside of the open roof on my 600 sq. ft. cottage?
Can I use spray foam to insulate the underside of the open roof on my 600 sq. ft. cottage? I…
How can I fix sunken patio stones in my backyard? Is there some kind of filler I should add on top?
Sinking patio stones and paving bricks are a common problem in Canada because the freezing and thawing temperatures we get…
Why is condensation forming behind the fiberglass insulation in my basement?
Why is condensation forming behind the fiberglass insulation in my basement? I glued 1 1/2″-thick white styrofoam boards to all…
Can I build a partition wall on top of basement subfloor panels?
Yes, you can build a non-load bearing wall on top of any basement subfloor product on the market today. Since…
Brick Veneer Options
What do you think about slicing brick so it’s 1-inch thick, then gluing it to the outside walls of a…
How should I insulate the floor of a sunroom I’ll be building over a raised deck?
How should I insulate the floor of a sunroom I’ll be building over a raised deck? It’s about 9 feet…
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Everything you need to know to make the outside of your home better, more durable and more beautiful.