Question: How should I reinforce my floor before installing new ceramic tiles? A written quote I received from a contractor includes 3/8” plywood fastened on top of the existing subfloor, but my friend says it should be 5/8”. What do…
Question: Is it practical to create rain-proof shelter under the floor of a second storey deck? There’s a lot of tall space under mind and I want to use the space for BBQing and entertaining. Answer: Raised decks can offer…
Want to build a timber frame home but don’t have the budget? There are ways around that difficulty.
Watch Steve show how to apply an astonishing smooth urethane finish on interior wood, without using a sprayer.
While the energy efficiency of new homes and renovations has gone way up over the last few decades, most people don’t realize how much more gains are possible. Employ the renovation and new construction strategies you’ll find here and you’ll…
Winter is the season when people in cold regions rely most on home insulation. That’s because winter presents the greatest insulation needs – both physically and financially. The thing is, you have to think correctly about insulation in the off-season…
Fabric structure buildings have become a popular option for barns, equipment storage, workshops and agricultural buildings. Compared with traditional framed buildings, they can go up faster, cost less per square foot and provide bright interior spaces filled with natural light….
Portable power stations (sometimes called portable solar generators), are an up-and-coming technology that offers more than gas-powered generators. Watch this video tour of the technology and see how one of the newest and most widely available models stacks up.
Wood thickness planers are one of the most useful machines in any home workshop. They turn rough lumber into smooth, uniform boards and open up new design options you simply can’t achieve otherwise. Whether you’re buying your first planer or…
If trees grow where you live, then making them into firewood is a great way to reduce heating costs and get exercise. I’ve been cutting firewood and heating with it for 35+ years, and there are five main steps to…
I’ve been around long enough to notice what seems like a serious deterioration in the state of the family, and especially in the amount of meaningful interaction between fathers, grandfathers and children. In my own case, I’m fortunate enough to…
Have you ever picked up a piece of lumber, run your hand over it, and declared it dry, only to watch it warp or gap weeks after you built something with it? Wood has a way of looking and feeling…