NEW CONSTRUCTION
In the interests of health and safety a number of trades are controlled by law, most particularly plumbing and electricity. The degree to which plumbing and electrical work are actually regulated varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. For instance almost all work performed in...
Jacqueline from Red Deer Alberta is trying to figure out how to close up her chimney between periods of using the fireplace, given that her damper is burned out and very difficult to replace.
Closing off the top of the chimney
There are dampers that go on the top of the chimney and are pulled t...
Drywall cuts best when you score the paper and snap the board. When cutting near the edge of a piece of drywall this is not an easy task. Here are some tips from how to clean up a rough cut to seeing how professionals "double score" small cuts near the edge. The tool is called a "Drywall Strippe...
If you listen to the sales people, this is a hot debate. If you talk to Health Canada, this is a settled issue. Isabelle Sauve from Health Canada was as clear as the warnings issued by her department (January 1999) -- devices designed specifically to produce ozone may be dangerous to your health ...
Residential sized units that I can recommend are now available for Canada direct from the factory in Florida.
My research and experience have convinced me that using hydroxyl to clear the air of VOCs, kill mould, neutralize mould spores and more is the safest and most efficient way to make livin...
Many people would like to filter the air in their houses in an effort to improve indoor air quality.
The most efficient of the furnace filter systems, when it is kept clean, is the electronic air cleaner. As you can see in the first photo, it is a large unit that is installed directly in the fur...
hether you are trying to get rid of smoke odours caused by fire or cigarettes, mold infestation, incrusted pet odours, the aftermath of a contagious disease (used to sterilize ambulances) or just preparing an apartment for rent that smells bad - read on.
THE CHANGING SCIENCE
This article was fi...
Hydroxyl generators are used heavily in industrial, commercial and institutional buildings including schools and hospitals for sanitizing the air, controlling offensive odours and providing that “fresh air” smell without fragrances. They are used extensively in flood and fire restoration for cl...
Because of the seriousness of the issue, I want to take a moment to present my credentials other than that guy that has been on TV and radio for 42 years. In the 1980’s I was one of the primary instructors for the R-2000 energy efficiency program teaching contractors across Québec through the AP...
Susan from Calgary, Alberta has mice that just keep coming into her house. She knows where they get in and would like to block the entrance. She wonders if the foam in a can would stop them.
No. They will eat right through it. But if you mix the foam in a can, or caul...
This is one of those problems that are not dealt with seriously enough by the building officials in really cold regions. I have opened a blog space at the bottom of this article for you to add in your case history so we can demonstrate that this is a large and continuing problem. Take a look...
During the infamous Eastern ice storm of 1998, people went running out and bought every generator available and set them up to power something in the house during the extended black-out. Many of those efforts created great problems for the utility because homeowners were often feeding electricity...
If you are just talking about keeping the house from falling down around your head, and a few minor adjustments or additions here and there, but no real renovations -- the tool kit is rather simple.
A multiple head screwdriver.
A pair of pliers.
A pair of clamping pliers.
A light hammer.
A g...
Wood Restoration is the process of using a very liquid penetrating epoxy mix to saturate wood, strengthening the fibers at the same time killing fungi. This is not an epoxy adhesive, but a penetrating liquid that changes the structure of wood. Then a thick putty like epoxy is used to fill in...
Getting through doors with a wheelchair or even a stroller can be a real problem and often all you need is an inch more.
"HealthSmart Expandable Door Hinges" can solve the problem, but availability is hard to keep up with, you may have to do a current Google search to find them. Some health ...
As I look at my own database, I see that I have almost 100 answers to specific questions about roofs and roofing. Despite a good search engine, that much scattered information can get confusing. Let me make just a couple of overview statements to help guide you in getting your existing or new r...
(updated May 2023) -- Essentially nothing has changed in the last year -- read on.
As for heating contractors that say you have no choice but to go all-electric, they are either ignorant of the regulations or lying to you. When they tell you that you have no choice, tell them to call their ...
Homeowners hear a lot of strange suggestions when it comes to repairing a flashing at the bottom of a brick wall, or installing one where it had not been installed. Actually it is a bit difficult to find reliable guidance in this endeavour as most industry brick information is intended for indus...
How to turn a "butt" joint into a "tapered edge" joint -- creating a valley for compound and tape.
Why bother? This technique allows for a wall or ceiling that would normally have a "tape bump" to be perfectly flat. That could be important under certain lighting conditions, or when a straight ed...
