May 15, 2016 AsktheBuilder Newsletter
I'll make this as fast as possible. I've got two pretty important tool / product reviews for you.
They're both SHOCKING, but for different reasons.
The links to them are below.
But first, I want to share a quick story of where I was yesterday.
Several days ago, I was hired by a homeowner who lives about an hour's drive from my house here in central New Hampshire (NH).
I've done a bad job of letting you know that I do consulting, but realize if you want me to come to your home, it's possible - even if you live thousands of miles away.
But I digress.
The owners of the house wanted me to look at rotting wood, crumbling fiber cement siding and roof leaks on their magnificent home.
The wife also was complaining about an ice-cold bathroom. I told her I had the solution to that and it was EASY to do!
I have to tell you that when you drive past certain drives in NH, don't for a minute think that a shack or a trailer might be around the bend or up at the top of the hill.
Their home was STUNNING. It was to be their dream home.
However, certain defects in the construction have turned into a nightmare.
The builder of the home used a finger-jointed wood product that was really popular here in NH, and other parts of the USA, the past fifteen years.
This CRAP is even on my own home. Remember, I didn't build the house I live in up here. I'm trying to change that, but that's a story for another day.
The issue with this crap wood trim product is that it's made from a hybridized tree that grows FAST.
This means there's lots of porous light-colored spring wood in it. Spring wood is the wood that grows as the tree puts on growth in the spring. As the year progresses and summer sets in, tree growth typically slows down. Usually there's less water and the growth becomes denser and darker in color.
When you look at the end of a log it takes a light and a dark ring to account for a given year's total growth.
The rot problems could be traced to two major mistakes on the part of the builder:
- He didn't provide the necessary 1-inch overhang of the shingles on the bottom and side rake edges of the roof.
- He didn't put up gutters to capture and divert the roof water that was splashing down onto hard surfaces like the driveway, sidewalks, rear decks and whatnot.
This splashing water was saturating the wood and fiber cement siding and causing serious rot.
What's the takeaway?
This couple TRUSTED the builder was good. They TRUSTED the builder was going to do the right thing.
The issue with this is that the builder may have been doing things WRONG his entire career. I feel this is the case here.
How do you AVOID these nightmares?
You need to educate yourself on basic best practices of building and be sure you have fantastic written specifications for your building or remodeling project.
The repairs to this house are going to cost at least $35,000, or more, by the time they get everything complete.
The sad thing is that it should have NEVER been an issue if just a few simple things had been done right ten years ago when the house was built.
Tool and Product Reviews
opens in a new windowCLICK HERE now to read my review about the new Milwaukee 18-Gauge Brad Nailer that just uses electricity to drive a nail!
opens in a new windowCLICK HERE to read my review about unbelievable Gorilla Step Ladders and Work Platforms.
GREAT PHOTOS are in both reviews.
I GUARANTEE you'll be surprised at both reviews.
That's enough for a Sunday.
READ BOTH REVIEWS ABOVE!!!!!
Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Do It Right, Not Over!
