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24/08/2020
Items You Could Put in Their Nail Pouch Posted by Chris Emard on December 17, 2019 With 0 Comment
The task of Christmas gifting doesn’t have to be such a challenge if you choose to follow one simple guideline: “make it a practical gift.”
Keep it simple, where the stress of Christmas shopping can effectively be avoided by sticking to a combination of three gift categories, them being beer, cheese, and hardware.
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24/08/2020
Updating that 1970’s Door Posted by Chris Emard on December 26, 2019 With 0 Comment
As we look forward to four months of cold weather, short days, and general dreariness, this might be a good time to pour yourself another spiked eggnog, grab a spot on the sofa, and evaluate your home’s décor.
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24/08/2020
What Comes After the Front Door Posted by Chris Emard on January 1, 2020 With 0 Comment
Refurbishing a home is always a little stressful, although the cleansing process does get easier with every trip to the curb.
Ahh, the curb— the spot where a homeowner can finally lay to rest their shag area rug, macramé wall hangings, everything and anything wicker, famed artwork such as “Dogs playing cards,” and anything the colour orange, with no quarrel or judgment from neighbours, provided all is conveniently stockpiled beside a sign reading free stuff.
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24/08/2020
Choosing Casing and Baseboards Posted by Chris Emard on January 7, 2020 With 0 Comment
First, some basic education. The casing is the decorative trim, or molding, that gets installed around your interior doors and windows.
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24/08/2020
All Hail the Crown Posted by Chris Emard on January 14, 2020 With 0 Comment
Today we’re installing what’s most likely the nastiest, most ornery, and to say the least, most challenging type of molding found in a home, that being the crown molding.
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24/08/2020
Step No. 1 to Finish Your Basement Posted by Chris Emard on January 21, 2020 With 0 Comment
At some point in the life of homeowners the idea of turning an existing basement, which up to this point has served the home as little more than a giant closet for junk and seasonal apparel, into real living space, will cross the kitchen table.
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24/08/2020
How to Create and Sustain Basement Life Posted by Chris Emard on January 28, 2020 With 0 Comment
Last week, we discussed the importance of ensuring your basement space is capable of remaining dry, essentially step one in the creation of a new living area.
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24/08/2020
Always Plan for Your Escape Posted by Chris Emard on February 4, 2020 With 0 Comment
Sometimes, you’ve just got to get yourself out of a situation in as expedient a manner as possible.
Say you’re a teen in a home where the house rules clearly oppose the sleeping over of friends in your finished basement, with said rules especially targeting the opposite sex due to the yearnings of young love not being truly appreciated by the parental hierarchy. Then a call for breakfast wakes you both up from deep slumber; your little friend requires a quick exit.
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24/08/2020
A Subfloor for Your Basement Posted by Chris Emard on February 11, 2020 With 0 Comment
Engineered flooring shown over a basement subfloor. STEVE MAXWELL/POSTMEDIA NETWORK
If you’re finishing your basement, whether it be for it to serve as an exercise room, play area for the kids, or simply as a means of getting the TV downstairs, all in an attempt to create a more peaceful living atmosphere on the main level, you’re going to need flooring.
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18/02/2018 - Chris Emard
No Basement Subfloor Only Equals Disappointment Posted by Chris Emard on February 18, 2020 With 0 Comment
Montreal Canadiens forward Phillip Danault (24) gets hit in the face by the puck in front of Arizona Coyotes goalie Antti Raanta (32) during the second period at the Bell Centre, on Feb. 10, 2020. ERIC BOLTE-USA TODAY SPORTS
With the subject on the table being basement floors, let’s continue with our discussion regarding basement subfloors.
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Handyman Hints: Let there be light! (in your basement)
Posted by Chris Emard on Mar 16, 2021
Neanderthal: an archaic human species, possessing a robust build, averaging 60-65 inches in height, natural cave dweller, having the capacity to develop rudimentary tools for the purpose of hunting and construction.
Although thought to be extinct for at least 40,000 years, I believe the foundation and mechanical systems in our 30-year-old home were constructed and assembled by a crew of Neanderthals. Otherwise, how do you explain a basement height that averages just over seven feet, and 180 feet of concrete wall that boasts only two small windows? Fortunately, both windows are large enough to allow human access, albeit tight, but strategically undersized to prohibit entry to the raptor chasing them.
Read More Handyman Hints: Moving onto better walls
Posted by Chris Emard on Apr 13, 2021
After semi-successfully finishing our basement ceiling — with the term “semi” relating to the fact the plumbing and mechanical ductwork were modified in order to satisfy 98 per cent of society, unfortunately leaving those individuals above 76 inches in height with the choice of either declining entry to our new basement space, or equipping themselves with protective headgear, thoughtfully provided by ourselves at the bottom of the stairs — we’re moving on to the walls.
Read More Handyman Hints: When water ruins your perfect basement wall
Posted by Chris Emard on Apr 20, 2021
What constitutes the perfect basement wall?
Answer: one that doesn’t have a puddle of water at its base. That’s what basically defines the perfect basement wall. Puddle at the base, not good. Dry at the base, perfect.
So, regardless of how your basement wall looks, be it plain concrete or some horrible 70s style panelling, if there’s no water penetrating through to the inside, especially during those periods of spring and winter thaw, then there’s little reason to look this gifted horse in the mouth. Your perimetre concrete wall is doing its job, and is therefore, perfect.
Read More Handyman Hints: Searching for the seep
Posted by Chris Emard on Apr 27, 2021
Pooling or water infiltration history? Consistent water entry over the last eight years, usually occurring during periods of winter thaw, spring rains, rain accompanied by winds coming from the east, uncle Jeff urinating against the home at annual family gathering, and really any moisture-related substance falling within a few feet of our east-facing foundation wall.
Read More Handyman Hints: Floor it? Or live with it unfinished?
Posted by Chris Emard May 04, 2021
The plumbing and mechanical systems have been modified or rearranged to create a living and head-room space more receptive to those winners of the genetic lottery, at least height-wise, with ductwork related concussions and general head injuries expected to drop by at least 20 percent.
Read More Handyman Hints: Why we dig
Posted by Chris Emard Jun 01, 2021
Just to say, if you’re going to erect a structure, and your backyard deck falls into that category, ensuring things remain level and free of movement will mean planting its feet firmly in the ground. How deep do we dig? Although prevailing rains and wind turbulence are a whole lot more severe at 100 stories high, your deck will have one foe to be wary of, and its name is frost.
Read More Handyman Hints: Keep your deck level, consider composites
Posted by Chris Emard on Jun 22, 2021
What should be your deck’s essence?
Similar to the Seinfeld sitcom, it should be all about nothing. No curves, no separated side levels or balconies. No upper or lower levels. Build your deck as deep and as wide as possible, but most importantly, put it all on one level.
Read More Handyman Hints: Planning your deck's 'rail' way
Posted by Chris Emard Jul 06, 2021
Although building codes can differ from municipality to municipality, deck platforms higher than two feet are going to require a spindle-and-railing system that’s at least 36 inches high. Once your deck, or balcony, rises six feet or more off the ground, you’ll require a railing system that’s at least 42 inches high.
Read More Handyman Hints: No drawings, no permit, no rails
Posted by Chris Emard Jul 13, 2021
To review, condition one is railing height, with your railing system needing to be at least 36 or 42 inches high, depending on how high your deck is removed from the ground. Two, baluster spacing, whereby the space in between your vertical balusters shouldn’t exceed four inches. And three, post strength, whereby the newel posts will need to withstand at least 200-plus pounds of lateral pressure without deviating more than an inch or so, basically the same stress it would have to endure should the fellow batting clean-up for your men’s keg league softball team happen to lean up against it.
Read More Handyman Hints: The first step to a good fence between good neighbours
Posted by Chris Emard Jul 20, 2021
For reasons dating back about 2,000 years, people tend to be a little sensitive when it comes to property lines. So, and because wars have been fought over boundaries, don’t just call before you dig, but just as importantly, know exactly where your property lines are before you dig.
Read More Handyman Hints: Fencing etiquette to be a good neighbour
Posted by Chris Emard Jul 27, 2021
You don’t need a permit or licence to play golf. However, there are laws to the game that say you can’t nonchalantly kick your ball out of the rough onto a better playing surface, even if your opponent isn’t looking. And, there are rules pertaining to etiquette, with guidance provided for those individuals prone to profanity, along with suggested coping mechanisms designed to help frustrated individuals in the habit of burying the head of their putters into the green after having failed to sink what was essentially a gimmie.
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