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Here’s why a Swedish Torch is better than a campfire
Campfires are traditional at cottages, but for portability and concentrated heat, the Swedish Torch is a niftier contraption, using the chimney effect to feed a single-log fire with oxygen. Likely...
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Tereasa Surratt agreed to buy her husband’s childhood summer camp—and then...
When Tereasa Surratt agreed to buy and renovate her husband’s childhood summer camp, she did so reluctantly. By 2003, it had been neglected for 20 years, and its vibes were pretty Blair Witch-y. If...
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Cottage Q&A: How to prevent dock rot over the winter
We have an aluminum dock with cedar inserts. What is the best way to store it? We have always stacked it in its frame to keep it from warping, but I feel like the ends of the boards never get a chance...
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Cottage Q&A: How can I add passive ventilation to my cottage?
We have an uninsulated, 90-year-old cottage on the Gatineau River, Que. In the fall, we drain the plumbing, install wooden shutters over all windows and doors, and turn off the power. Inevitably it...
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Gift Guide: Holiday shopping for a DIYer? Try this mix of 9 affordable and...
Our editorial team independently selects these products. If you choose to buy any, we may earn a commission that helps fund our content. Learn more. If you like giving inexpensive gifts, it’s easy to...
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Could you void your insurance policy by DIYing electrical work?
The next time you strip wires for a DIY electrical fix, are you stripping your cottage of insurance, too? The answers cycle like alternating current—positive, negative, and back again. On the plus...
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This family cottage in Prince Edward County maximizes nature’s bounty
“We love the country, we love Prince Edward County, let’s look for a place there.’ ” Frank Park and his wife, Tracey, were first charmed by the bucolic slice of eastern Ontario when they visited in the...
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6 winter maintenance tasks that you never want to ignore
Winter is no time to ditch your cottage maintenance. Keep up with these six tasks to avoid problems throughout the cold season. 1) Checking for draughts. A cottage with draughts is an expensive...
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4 tricks to avoid frozen plumbing in winter
Indoor water supply pipes can be vulnerable to freezing at your four-season cottage—even if you keep the heat on low. Consider these four solutions. Leave a tap running slowly While this band-aid...
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Cottage Q&A: Why is my solar power conking out in the cold?
We use solar power. One circuit appears to have become weather-sensitive. It works when the weather is warm, but conks out in the cold. What’s happening? Can I fix it?—Gerry Dust, via email There are a...
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This cottager saved cash by building his own heating system
If you’ve ever warmed your toes with a hot-water bottle, you know the principle behind Michael Salter’s cottage heating system. Except this “bottle” holds 4,500 litres, it’s way too big to fill from a...
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Planning a DIY project with log posts? Read this first
Attention to detail will make your outdoor post projects more successful. Follow this five tips. 1) Projects that don’t keep out moisture are susceptible to rot. Divert water by sloping surfaces,...
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Forget spring flooding: here are 4 other sources of cottage water damage
Winter is over—which means that spring flooding could be on the way in cottage country. But rising water levels in lakes and rivers isn’t the only potential source of cottage water damage, indoor...
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4 spring maintenance tips for your fireplace
If your cottage sits empty for months, your fireplace will need some attention before you strike that first match. Daniel Kimia, a professional engineer and the managing director at Zoroast The...
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Why Canada’s Robertson screwdriver is far superior to the American Phillips...
If you are a true Canadian, the only screwdrivers you enjoy using are Robertson (black, red, green, or yellow handles denote the size of screw). Oddly, the square-hole fastener, patented in 1909 by...
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This bold blue shed has hockey-stick style
For Lac Sinclair , Que., cottage owner Mark Potter, repurposing materials was the starting point for his bold and playful shed. “Not wasting things became the framework I operated in,” he says. “A...
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Cottage Q&A: How do I get rid of the moss growing on my steel roof?
How do you remove moss from a steel roof?—Chris Gunther, via email Wait, moss grows on steel? Yes. Because moss grows wherever it damn well wants. All it needs is moisture and a little food. “Even...
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The outdoor space at this cabin in Ucluelet, B.C., helps you embrace the...
When your cabin is deep in the forest, in one of the rainiest communities in the country—the surf town of Ucluelet, B.C., sits on the Pacific side of Vancouver Island in a temperate rainforest—your...
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