Are you a new subscriber? You've become part of the family at a very special time. Keep reading. Old-friend subscriber? You're not going to believe what's about to happen. One never knows what lays ahead. That's part of the magic we get to enjoy with each new day. Months ago, Kathy and I discovered that […]
"The decorative glass panels at the top of each door flood the garage with light." Haas Garage Door - Real Wood Look But Tough Steel Just a month ago, I had two new Haas garage doors installed at my home. The doors are steel, but anyone visiting my home thinks we've got distinctive real-wood garage […]
Concrete Block QUESTION #1: I’ve been researching foundation types for both new homes and room additions. I’ve narrowed it down to either poured concrete or concrete block. Many websites thump their chests saying poured concrete is better than concrete block. What’s your opinion, Tim? Have you worked with both materials? Carol Ann S., Richmond, VA […]
Dr. John Alexander - University of Cincinnati Chemistry Professor Dr. John Alexander was a physical chemistry professor at the University of Cincinnati (UC). I was fortunate to have him as my physical chemistry lab professor in the 1971-72 academic year. It's important to realize he was a young professor and I estimate he was no […]
Concrete Foundation Forms Checklist Modular design allows forms to be set in hours Produce perfectly straight and square foundations Allow for the easy installation of reinforcing steel Simple design requires few skills to set up Related Links Foundation Footer - Must Be Level and Square - SECRET TIPS HERE - Do NOT Share Poured Concrete […]
Are you new around these parts? Welcome pardner! The local sheriff doesn't take kindly to those that cause trouble. 🙂 If you're a local, then you know all the good stuff happens when you use the search engine at AsktheBuilder.com. CLICK HERE to see it and a dorky video of me. I wanted to just […]
"The size of the septic tank is determined by the number of bedrooms in almost all cases." Septic Tank Design Checklist You need a professional design drawn by a pro Each house is different because of load, soil, and topography A leach field can be under a road Use gravity - avoid pumping septic tank […]
Different Deck Piers QUESTION #1: Tim, can you explain why I need concrete deck piers under the wood support posts that hold up my deck? I saw an older deck where the posts just rested on pre-cast concrete stepping stones. The deck seemed fine to me. Are deck piers overkill and a way for contractors […]
New subscriber? Welcome! This is a fairly odd issue. When I have RARE sales on my stuff, I send out a reminder email when the sale is hours away from ending. This is one of those days. But hang in there, as this issue has some very cool stuff. Notable subscriber of past time? Please […]
"You can make an opening higher in a load-bearing wall much easier than creating a wider opening." Enlarge Opening in Load Bearing Wall Checklist Build temporary walls to support the load Bearing points of columns must be stacked and extend down through the house to a footing Hire a structural engineer to size the beam Be sure […]
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