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DIY offers big potential

DIY offers big potential

I’m a big fan of do-it-yourself home improvements, and whenever I wonder about the wisdom of this strategy I talk to my non-DIY friends.
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Plumbing puzzles can be easily solved

Plumbing puzzles can be easily solved

Plumbing can be puzzling. It all seems simple enough as long as pipes work like they’re supposed to, but that’s not always the case.
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Before you choose your next floor . . .

Choosing new flooring is serious business because so much rides on your decision. Even cheap flooring costs a lot, both in terms of money and the inevitable installation hassles. You’ve also got to live with your choice for a long time after your new floor goes down.
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Build it yourself know-how now easier to get

It won’t be long before the new year makes some of us feel like setting new lifestyle resolutions for ourselves, and if this means getting intentional about upgrading your home improvement and renovation skills, there’s something new you should know about.
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Coping with eavestroughs

Of all the homebuilding hardware used on Canadian houses, nothing annoys me more than standard, aluminum eavestroughs.
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Houseworks: Tremclad paint still top choice after 100 years

Houseworks: Tremclad paint still top choice after 100 years

There’s one product that I can remember happily using over the last 45 years of hands-on work and it’s a paint made especially for exterior steel. A lot of us can remember half-used cans of Tremclad in the garage or shed where we grew up, and I’m happy to report that good old Tremclad has not been dummed-down to the point of diminishing performance, as so many other coatings have. It still works fabulously well and is still the best I’ve seen at preventing steel from rusting.
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One-time outdoor wood finish delivers easy-going results

One-time outdoor wood finish delivers easy-going results

Beginning back in 1990 and continuing until today I’ve methodically tested exterior wood finishes to see how well they last, and even though products have changed and improved since then, one thing has remained true the whole time. When it comes to identifying the best exterior wood finishes for a given application, it depends. By “depends” I mean mostly what kind of look you want and what kind of ongoing maintenance regime you’re willing to commit to.
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Tips for dealing with tarps

Some people never have enough covered roof space for storing all their outdoor stuff. I’m one of them.
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COLUMN: Dealing with attic problems

COLUMN: Dealing with attic problems

Q: Why is the underside of my roof boards damp? I had a roofer look in the attic in preparation for having my roof redone and he told me about the moisture. We haven’t had rain for a while, so it can’t be a leak.
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Electric chainsaws more than just toys

Electric chainsaws more than just toys

Chainsaws are the fastest way to cut tree limbs, brush and wood of all kinds in landscaping situations, but the noise, expense and fuel involved in running a gas-powered model puts them out of the realm of what’s reasonable for many Canadian homeowners.
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