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/ Products and Retail
basement wall framed with BluWood

What happened to BluWood?

At one time, it seemed as though BluWood was everywhere. It was featured on popular home improvement and renovation shows. And then, it disappeared. What happened to BluWood? And why did I tear out the BluWood framing in my basement?
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/ Fireplace
family room with gas fireplace

The perfect contract? (and why I DIY)

Anatomy of a perfect contract (and why we didn't sign).
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/ Waterproofing
Basement waterproofing: solutions for wet basements

Basement waterproofing: solutions for wet basements

Solving wet basement problems. Information about exterior membrane and interior French drain waterproofing systems.
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/ Framing and Structure
steel track

Cost of Wood versus Metal Stud Framing

Comparing the cost of framing with steel studs versus wood.
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The DIY Shuffle

The DIY Shuffle

A look back at our first year in this house as we shuffled from one home improvement project to another.
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home depot

The sweet siren song of DIY

The addition project may be delayed but there is no way I am going to sit on my hands for another year without making some sawdust of my own.
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/ Addition
Hope fades fast for financing the renovation in 2015

Hope fades fast for financing the renovation in 2015

Between the first ball-park estimate for the addition and bad news about our septic system, it looks like the addition has to wait until next year.
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/ Addition
Locating our septic drain field:  more questions than answers

Locating our septic drain field: more questions than answers

Our septic filter bed may need to be moved if we rebuild the addition. So do we relocate the leach field or the entire system?
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/ Addition
New plans, new problems: Egress confusion and septic skepticism

New plans, new problems: Egress confusion and septic skepticism

Record search failed to locate our septic drain field. And Ontario Building Code and National Building Code seem to disagree on egress windows.
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/ Addition
Our garage plan: attached or detached?

Our garage plan: attached or detached?

Sometimes an architect knows what you want more than you do. I want a detached garage, but after discussions with the architect, I have reconsidered.
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/ Addition
deposit photos image

Addition and Garage: The beginning

Working with an architect for our addition from initial consultation to the first set of drawings,
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A strange source for design inspiration

A strange source for design inspiration

My wife and I started talking about some design ideas for the family room addition. You'll never believe what sparked the conversation.
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