If you’ve got any kind of hot water heating system in your home, whether it be infloor heating or radiators, let me show you a thermostat control system at my place that I really like. It’s different than most out there…
Wood is a wonderful material, but sunshine, rain and seasonal temperature swings can make it look weathered and cracked in short order if that wood lives outdoors. This is fine for some applications, but not others. That’s what gave me the idea…
Thousands of people who own beautiful lakeside cottages will tell you that owning the place is fun, but a ton of work. If this is your experience, or if you want to avoid being overwhelmed by a cottage that you…
Choosing paint colors is probably the number#1 challenge faced by people looking to paint their homes, both inside and out. There are so many choices and so many opinions about what looks good that it often leads to indecision and…
Click above to watch lesson#10 in my online video course KEEP IT FLOWING. This video shows a Bison deep well hand pump being installed alongside an electric submersible pump in my own well. It’s surprising how many people ask me about hand pumps like…
Question: How can my wife and I earn a living in the country so we can move out of the city? We’re over-educated urban dwellers with a dream of becoming homesteaders and permaculture farmers. Should we get certified in some…
In the dynamic world of woodworking, the fusion of traditional craftsmanship with advanced technology has paved the way for unprecedented levels of precision, creativity, and efficiency. Among the technological advancements revolutionizing the industry, laser engraving and cutting machines stand out…
One of the strangest things in life is how the most important skills are definitely not taught at school. Many of them aren’t even discussed. Something I call the “discipline of details” comes immediately to mind. It’s one of dozens…
When my parents renovated the basement of my boyhood home, they added a bathroom, and it included a bathroom exhaust fan. Even though it was noisy – like all bathroom fans back then – we used it diligently, during and after showers, as…
Question: Can hardwood flooring be installed on concrete? My parents’ house is about 60 years old and the floor is made from a poured concrete slab at ground level. We’ve been told wood can’t be installed on concrete and they…
Question: Should I replace my large, gas-fired tank-style water heater with a tankless model? My wife and I are seniors living in a two-storey, 4 bedroom home and we intend to stay here for at least another 10 years. We’ve…
Planer and jointer work together as productive partners. These useful woodworking tools are outlined in detail by Steve Maxwell, Canada’s Handiest Man.