Category: How To’s

  • Before and After Cottage – Siding and Colors

    Before and After Cottage – Siding and Colors

    As readers know, I love a good before and after project. The following is from a cottage that didn’t look very cottage-like with its beige dutch lap siding that was installed by the prior owner. I knew there were cedar shakes underneath but wasn’t sure of the condition that they were in. Fortunately, they were…

  • How I Dealt With Mold In Our Cottage / Cabin / Seasonal House

    How I Dealt With Mold In Our Cottage / Cabin / Seasonal House

    Mold! MOLD!! MOLD!!! How do I get rid of mold and the mold smell? Step 1! Everyone will tell you this. Everyone should tell you this. Deal with the moisture coming into the home first! The following is an extensive list of products to help with mold and musty smelling houses. Ours is a seasonal…

  • Defy The Cable Company With A DIY HDTV Antenna | Popular Science

    Defy The Cable Company With A DIY HDTV Antenna | Popular Science

    This might not be your typical “Handyman” project, but for those cord cutting DIY types, this is right up your alley.  If you are tired of paying for cable just to receive your local news channel, consider an HDTV antenna that you can make yourself.   This is a simple antenna and I expect that many…

  • DIY Concrete Countertop Guide – The Easy Way

    DIY Concrete Countertop Guide – The Easy Way

    The following is a guide to create your own concrete countertop.  The nice part about this tutorial is that you don’t need to order expensive product and build your own form.  This is an additive process that is often referred to as “faux crete” since it is a cement top layer and not a counter that…

  • Make a New Top with an Accurate Fence for a Cheap Table Saw

    Make a New Top with an Accurate Fence for a Cheap Table Saw

    If you are like me, you might have an inexpensive (“cheap”) table saw that you use as a job site or backyard saw.  If you don’t, you can pick one up for about $100 from most big box hardware stores.  If you do have one, you will also know that these are not very well…

  • Is this Maintenance Worth it? You Decide.

    Is this Maintenance Worth it? You Decide.

    Everyone seems to strive for low maintenance in a home nowadays. Well, it isn’t always the best option. We had a sunroom project to work on at a cottage where we are replacing 9 storm windows that were caulked shut to keep out the water. A sunroom that doesn’t have an operable window might as…