The Maître Bricoleur blog
Welcome to Maître Bricoleur. I’m Patrick, a carpenter by trade, and I share practical tips on DIY, home renovation and energy efficiency — to help you understand the work, choose your tools and bring your home improvement projects to life.
PRO TIPS!
Pro tip: 10 things to check before buying an old house

Hi, DIYers, Patrick here. Before buying an old house, check the structure, moisture, roof, utilities and inspection reports in that order, then price up the work before committing.…
Pro tip: Insulating without a diagnosis is a false economy



Hi DIYers, Patrick here. Insulating without an assessment can be costly for little benefit: first identify where heat is escaping, then tackle the priority areas in the right…
EASY RENOVATION
Easy renovation: get started on your own or with guidance



Hello, this is Patrick. For a small, low-risk task, get started on your own; for technical work or jobs that are difficult to fix, get some guidance. Easy…
Easy Renovation: Should You Finish the Outside Before the Inside?



Hi, folks, Patrick here. Yes: secure the exterior first, especially the roof and façade, before doing the interior finishes. You’ll avoid water leaks, dust, and costly rework. The…
ENERGY-EFFICIENT RENOVATION
Energy renovation: an old house, the order that changes everything



Hi, tradespeople, Patrick here. For an energy renovation of an older home, start with an assessment and water-related issues, then insulate, plan the ventilation, and choose the heating…
Energy renovation: 5 tips before installing new heating



Hi, DIYers, Patrick here. Before installing a new heating system, get an assessment done, reduce heat loss, then choose equipment suited to your home. This order helps you…
Digital presence
LATEST POSTS
MUST-READ POSTS



Pro tip: 10 things to check before buying an old house



Energy renovation: 7 sequencing mistakes in an old house



Renovating a rental property: when to carry out the work without losing rental income



Pro tip: This structural detail ruins your plan



Easy renovation: which work should be done before replacing the windows?


