DIY Boiler Service - Easy if You Have the Tools Several days ago, I found myself without heat and hot water at 6 PM just as I was washing dinner dishes. My propane-fired modulating combi boiler, which does double duty, heating the house and my hot water, decided to stop working. It’s still chilly in […]
Why is My House So Cold? Tell the truth. Are there days in the winter when your heating system can’t provide the heat you need to keep you comfortable? What about your AC system? Are there blistering, hot summer days when you feel like a simmering sausage in a skillet? You may not want to […]
A Mystery Beam From the Annie Hodges Schooner? Publisher Note: The following content was generated and contributed by Ms. Margaret Acquarulo and her son. Margaret reached out to me after reading a column I wrote. The column topic dealt with old tradesmen who were so proud of their work that they signed it. CLICK HERE […]
Types of Construction Defects This column is all about types of construction defects and misplaced hope. You can lose thousands of dollars, and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars, should you make this mistake. I do at least five short consult calls each week. The common denominator in almost all of the calls is that […]
Spackling and Caulking Tips I’ve been sharing with you the wonderful saga of my son’s basement remodeling project in past columns. Together, he and I have transformed 1,100 square feet of bare basement into five large rooms and a full bathroom. We’ve done all the work ourselves, and only work on Saturdays. It’s now time […]
Drone Home Inspection Thirteen months ago, my very good friends Steve and Karin were going about their daily lives in their wonderful home in Altadena, California. Several years before, I had visited for a week. Steve and I plowed through a long honey-do list. I donated my time to Steve to help pay back all […]
DIY Wood Preservatives There’s a very good chance you own something made of wood that’s exposed to the weather. It might be a fence, a deck, a dock, patio furniture, wood siding, a shed, etc. Wood is a marvelous material. It’s favored by many because it’s easy to cut, shape, and install. Wood can also […]
Vocational Schools - Create Master Craftsmen/women Again I need your help. You’ll be helping your children, any grandchildren, friends, neighbors, etc., too. You may not realize it, but there is a severe shortage of workers in just about every residential construction trade. Here’s another reality: Over 70% of the U.S. population hires people in the […]
Prier P-118 Installation Video This is the Prier P-118 hot/cold outdoor hydrant hose bib. It's very easy to install. I offer phone coaching if you get stuck. Tim CarterTim built custom homes and did ultra-custom remodeling for 20+ years before launching his Ask the Builder media presence. He was selected as one of the Big […]
Labor Cost to Install a New Front Door - Many Small Numbers Add Up I talked with Irene on the phone a few days ago. She lives in Connecticut and used my affordable phone coaching service. She needed to make sure the bid she received to repair wood rot next to her front door was […]
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