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...
I hate to put exhaust ducts through roofs, because there will always be some condensation that could drip back inside. I would much rather go through a side wall, or down and out the side of the basement. But if you must go up and through the roof...
Don't allow your ducting to have any loops in...
Yes you should have at least one fire extinguisher in your house. But please understand their limitations.
You have 30 seconds!
Most extinguishers will empty in about 30 seconds or less. Don't count on a fire extinguisher to save your life.
Set your exit BEFORE fighting a fire
Only use the e...
Any cutting board can become dangerous to your health if you let it collect bacteria.
Rule number one is to use a different cutting board for food that will not be cooked than the one you use for raw meat and fish. If raw vegetables are contaminated, there is no heat process to kill bacteria aft...
Butcher blocks are either not finished at all, or are finished with oil.
There exist special 'Salad Bowl' oils that work well for butcher blocks, in that they are totally non-toxic, but they can be difficult to locate.
Probably the easiest finish is mineral oil from the drug store. The key is t...
Bathroom and kitchen fans are rated to move a certain volume of air, but do they actually move what they say they move? A study done in 1990 by CMHC says "rarely". In fact, on the average, measured volumes were 44% of rated flow for bathroom fans and 38% of rated flow for kitchen fans. The primar...
More and more people are asking for powerful kitchen range hoods or bathroom exhaust fans. The logic appears simple, increase the power of the exhaust fan and get rid of pollutants quicker. In more and more modern homes which have been weather-stripped and sealed against cold air leaks and heat l...
Putting a sink in an island in the middle of the kitchen presents some plumbing challenges. Generally the venting for a sink goes upward in the wall while the drain water flows downward towards the floor – but in an island, going up is not an option.
To have a large sink that drains properly y...
Slots are simply small passageways through something. In this segment we looked at three very nifty Slots -- all completely different.
THE INSULATED MAIL SLOT
How about a through the door mail slot that does not give you cold drafts?
The Draft Dodger has two gasketed and spring load...
There are a myriad of choices for a new kitchen, from style to counter top materials – and choosing what is right for you has always been a balance between your “desires” and your “budget”. This kitchen renovation tips article was written in 2003 in Toronto, but the basic information is still...
