Home Exteriors
Everything you need to know to make the outside of your home better, more durable and more beautiful.
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What’s the best way to clean a dirty, mildewed, pressure treated deck?
What’s the best way to clean a dirty, mildewed, pressure treated deck? Should I use TSP? Does the wood need…
How should be keep my cottage foundation protected from frost over winter?
What recommendations can you offer for the foundation of a seasonal, water-access cottage we’re building directly on bedrock? I plan…
Should I install a plastic vapour barrier on the inside of basement wall frames?
Should I install a plastic vapour barrier on the inside of basement wall frames? They’re made with wood studs, and…
Can I install a solid wood floor in a cottage that isn’t heated in the winter? Are there certain woods that I should use or avoid?
Yes, you certainly can install solid wood flooring in an unheated cottage. In fact, lack of heat in the winter…
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…
Is there an alternative to an HRV for condensation?
Is there a cheaper way to control wintertime window condensation and icing than installing a $2000 heat recovery ventilator? Yes,…
How can I stop white, salt-like powder from appearing on the block walls of our basement cold room?
How can I stop white, salt-like powder from appearing on the block walls of our basement cold room? I brushed…
How can I remove oil-based paint from an exterior brick wall?
The challenge with any kind of masonry surface is cleaning the paint out of all those pores:
Can I use regular insulation batts to replace the paper-backed batts used between the ends of the floor joists where they meet the outside walls in a basement?
Can I use regular insulation batts to replace the paper-backed batts used between the ends of the floor joists where…
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…
ASK STEVE: Will this fix my rooftop ice woes for good?
Last winter I had a lot of rooftop ice build up that led to leaking, and now I plan to…
How can I eliminate window condensation in a multi-story condominium unit? We’ve been experiencing lots of condensation for the seven years we’ve lived in the building. Window replacement isn’t an option since they’re considered common elements in this building.
How can I eliminate window condensation in a multi-story condominium unit? We’ve been experiencing lots of condensation for the seven…
How should I insulate a cold floor underneath a bay window?
It’s not unusual to require insulation upgrades in floor cavities that sit over unheated spaces, and there are two things…
“Will weeping tiles prevent all dampness in my basement?”
Question: We’ve just gone to a lot of trouble and expense installing drainage tiles around our basement, but we’re concerned…
How can I insulate the double-brick walls of my 100-year-old home?
How can I insulate the double-brick walls of my 100-year-old home? One contractor says he can drill holes in the…
How can I remove white pine sap from the 10-year-old cedar deck at the cottage?
How can I remove white pine sap from the 10-year-old cedar deck at the cottage? I’ve tried deck cleaner, scraping,…
Oiling Exterior Wood Easily and Effectively
Is your outdoor wood furniture or deck looking tired? Steve Maxwell explains how oiling your exterior wood is a low…
Q&A: Insulating a Hollow Block Wall
Q: Is it okay to add wall insulation to a hollow block wall by adding a loose-fill fiber product in the block…
How can I restore the lustre of a cedar strip canoe that’s covered in fiberglass?
How can I restore the lustre of a cedar strip canoe that’s covered in fiberglass? The surface is dull and…
SIPs Panels: A Better Way to Build with this Foam Board Product
Steve Maxwell is a fan of structural insulated panels due to the fact that they help ordinary people create strong,…
Insulation R Values: Not What They Seem
An in-depth look into R Values on insulation products from Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man.
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Everything you need to know to make the outside of your home better, more durable and more beautiful.