Annika's Carpentry

09/04/2026

08/29/2026

During that rather hot week earlier in August I replaced 5 basement windows for two lovely families. On the outside, I sat on the ground to work on them. On the inside, I needed a ladder to reach!
The cool basements were a fantastic break from the heat.

08/29/2026

Just for giggles ... read the dimensions on the box.
Which one do you use more often - metric or imperial?
For me, it's definitely imperial.

08/28/2026

I recently stripped the cladding off this fireplace. It was an interesting project because the cottage has not changed much since it was built some 75 years ago.
The cottage has sunk around and away from the fireplace while the fireplace has stood steady. So the cottage will be lifted soon by another contractor and the fireplace may be rebuilt afterwards. Fingers crossed that all goes well.

08/03/2026

Remember that pile of trim? A planned and then postponed power outage by NS Power forced us to reschedule a couple of times, but today this pile finally found a new home and took on a useful shape.

07/31/2026

This bathroom received a partial makeover with new flooring, baseboards and vanity.

07/31/2026

This deck turned out very nice and strong. During construction, I test the deck for bounce and sway and add braces or blocking if needed.

07/31/2026

This pile of bifold doors and pine trim is ready to go and turn into a bathroom closet with shelving. Everything got a first coat of paint in my basement and will receive another one after installation in the customer's home.

07/23/2026

Here I used cedar decking! In the photos it is wet from rain, but when dry it is a little lighter in colour than pressure-treated lumber.

Pressure-treated lumber is regular SPF (Spruce, Pine or Fir) lumber infused with a chemical mixture that contains copper and a fungicide. Copper gives it the brown colour.

Cedar is naturally decay-resistant and does not need a chemical treatment to withstand our weather conditions. It also has a greater dimensional stability (less shrinkage and less likely to twist and warp) which makes it easier to work with. Of course, it comes with the typical scent of cedar.

Locally, cedar lumber is not as readily available as pressure-treated lumber and costs a little more than twice as much as the pressure-treated alternative.

07/10/2026

I just finished up this fun project. Turned out I was dealing with really hard concrete which took a toll on the drill bits and concrete screws. Andrew Marshall from Northshore Ballast helped promptly with some advice, so everything came together nicely.
Luckily, building the deck was a bliss, like all the pieces just knew where they belonged!