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October 18, 2011 AsktheBuilder Tips And Newsletter

What's in This Newsletter?

Latest News
Interactive Delta Brizo Showroom
Washing Machine Time Bombs
Christmas Gift Guide
Firewood Storage
Latest Book I Read
Facebook Fan Page

I hate to be the wet blanket, but last week's Remodelers Show in Chicago was pathetic. It's a possibility that your local home and garden show in the spring had a larger convention-center footprint than this show.It's absolutely a sign of the times. What's more, the vast majority of attendees - remodelers - I talked to were within a day's drive. For the most part, the aisles were wide open.

I did see a few interesting things, and was able to do some business there, but the low attendance, lack of major name-brand exhibitors, etc. is a telling tale of how stressed the industry is. Last winter's National Builders Show was no different. It was just a shadow of it's former self.

Here are some links to videos I shot on the floor of the convention center:

Deck Pier Video

LED Lights for a Deck

Camouflage Vinyl Siding

 

Interactive Delta Brizo Showroom

Brizo Delta Faucet ShowroomWhile in Chicago I made my first-ever trip to the historic Merchandise Mart. It's the largest commercial building in the world I was told.

After you walk in the front door and go past the elevators, you'll see Delta and Brizo's new showroom. It's open to the public and you can see, touch and use all of their new faucets. The best part is you can operate all of them!

Ms. Kelly Litton, the store manager, took me on a tour. Watch this video I shot on the fly. Thanks to Todd Fratzel for his videography skills.

 

Washing Machine Time Bombs

Stainless Steel Washing Machine HosesA very good friend of mine, Bryan, lives in San Francisco. He rents an apartment and last week he had a major plumbing disaster. Luckily he was home when it happened. Had he been gone or at work, oh my.

One of the supply hoses to the washing machine burst. Bryan does not own the machine nor the connecting hoses. They are the property of the building owner. But right now the owner is blaming Bryan for messing with an overflow alarm. It's a long story.

Water flowed for ten minutes before he discovered the problem. I get at least one email a month from subscribers like you where this has happened.

A mold remediation company was called in to cut away the damaged drywall and set up heaters and dehumidifiers to prevent a mold bloom.

The question is, if you're renting do you have adequate liability insurance? If you live in a home and have homeowner's insurance, are you completely covered if something like this happens to you? Call your insurance agent. Get out your policy and have the agent PROVE to you that you have coverage.

The entire incident could have been prevented with washing machine supply hoses that are clad with braided stainless steel to prevent blowout leaks. If your washing machine is anywhere OTHER than a basement with a concrete floor and a floor drain, you NEED these. Here are the opens in a new windowstainless-steel washing machine hoses I use at my own home.

 

Christmas Gift Guide!

I'm starting to put together a DELUXE Christmas Gift Guide for that handywoman, handyman or pro around your home that's so hard to buy for.

It's going to be broken down into sections and list my favorite tools at different price points so no matter what your budget is, you'll be able to find that special gift that comes with the AsktheBuilder Seal of Approval!

This is a first ever for me. Look for it the second week of November. You'll not believe some of the things that will be in there!

 

Firewood Storage

I just wrote a new column about firewood storage tips. It talks about an inexpensive way to keep firewood dry. I know there are many other methods. If you want to share your method, just reply to this newsletter. Send high resolution photos if you can.

But if you want to see some opens in a new windowspectacular photos of stacked firewood, then you just click that link. Wow! The one of the fake downed tree is my favorite, although it would be cool to be in that Hershey's kiss structure at night!

 

Latest Book I Read

opens in a new windowNot Without Peril BookI live about 50 miles due south of one of the most dangerous mountains in the USA - Mt. Washington. Hundreds of people have died on this tiny mountain because the weather conditions near the summit are almost always radically different than they are in the valley at the trailheads.

By most standards, it's a tiny mountain, only 6,288 feet tall. This means many non-mountaineers try to climb thinking it's no big deal. Guess what? This past week the temperature at the summit was in the low 20sF and 100 mph winds were howling. Down at the base at the parking lot - it was mild weather.

opens in a new windowNot Without Peril is a book I got for my birthday that tells fascinating stories, starting with the first person who died, about the conditions and poor decisions hikers made. If you like to read true suspense stories and want to gain a real respect for Mother Nature and Mt. Washington, you'll love this book.

 

 

Facebook Fan Page

opens in a new windowAsktheBuilder on FacebookIf you were a fan of mine on Facebook last week, you were getting all my updates about the Remodelers Show. You could have even joined me at The Gage Restaurant on Thursday night! We had a blast. Please go LIKE me now and get ready for lots of new tips each week.

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