Hello Friend,

Can I help you optimize your outdoor painting projects? Have you considered how much money you can save with new windows and doors? Perhaps you’d like to prepare firewood efficiently? This installment of my newsletter has all these things, plus hands-on reviews of six specific products. I hope you find something of value here. Please let me know.

Thanks for subscribing,

Steve

I live in cottage country, and every year I used to help my seasonal neighbours from down south struggle to get their water systems going in the spring. If you own a cottage, you probably know that seasonal water system resurrection can be torture. But it doesn't have to be.

Picking doors and windows is an important yet challenging task for any homeowner. It's important to get all the facts before you start shopping. Here are 3 crtical features to check before you take the money out of your pocket.

The challenging part of making firewood is the splitting -- cleaving sawn logs along the grain lengthwise. Why bother? Most logs are too big to fit comfortably in a woodstove or fireplace, and splitting is the best way to make them thinner. That’s why I’m happy to share what I've learned over 20+ years of heating my house with wood.

Crown moulding looks great, and that’s why plenty of homeowners are willing to fork out good money to buy it. But that doesn’t mean the crown itself has to cost you a bundle.

Here are some of my best tips for milling crown mouldings, up to 5 1/2" wide, on the smallest portable router tables for big savings and a great look.

Steve's Top Tips for Milling Your Own Crown Moulding >>

"Thank you very much for responding to my query. Your information has helped me to make the decision not to add insulation to my roof deck during re-roofing. I will add insulation from the inside, as you have described, as a future project. Thanks again!"

T. Ho, Toronto