May 16, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

New subscriber? I'm glad you're here. Seasoned subscriber? Thanks for sticking around! One of my hobbies is taking sunrise photos. I'm blessed to have a superb location to see such majesty. Here's what I saw yesterday morning. CLICK HERE to see a high-resolution version. The lake was like glass. It was something to behold in […]

Payback Periods

High efficiency furnaces can save money and they help conserve our natural resources. Before you think about junking your good furnace, keep in mind that the high efficiency furnace can cost up to $1,000.00 more than a standard one. Be sure you can reap enough savings to make it worthwhile.

New Home Cost Calculator

"The first thing you need to get an accurate price for your new home is a good set of plans and specifications. You need these to be able to get individual cost estimates for the different aspects of your home." CLICK HERE to download a set of superb plans and blueprints. Your own plans SHOULD […]

May 13, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

New subscriber? WOOT! Welcome! Existing subscriber? Smooooch - you know I love, love, love you too! You may or may not know that my college degree is in geology. It was a fascinating course of study. Geology made me a better builder because I understood how houses interacted with the soil. I also discovered how […]

Installing Cement Backer Board

Backer board is a term used to describe a drywall-like product that goes behind ceramic tile. Cement backer board was developed first to replace the cement mud and metal lath systems installed by real craftsmen. Tile backer board now comes in all different types from cement to specialized gypsum-core products that are faced with fiberglass. Installing cement backer board is easy if you have the right tools.