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Author Archives: Tim Carter

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Attic Insulation Batts or Blown In

Posted on February 4, 2017 by Tim Carter

Attic insulation is accomplished with either fiberglass blankets (batt) or blown in insulation. Batt insulation is available at home centers and lumberyards. Blown in insulation requires a professional. Before choosing blown vs. batt insulation, take time to read this column.

Posted in Insulation, New Construction | 8 Comments

LE Johnson Soft Close Q1 2017 Fun Quiz

Posted on February 4, 2017 by Tim Carter

Your job is to CLICK  the five links just below. Once at each page, study the photos you'll see. These links were shown in my February 5, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter. You can click each of the photos to see a BIGGER one. This will help you later when you take the funny quiz below. Some of […]

Posted in Games, Miscellaneous | 9 Comments

Easy Tile Grout Cleaning

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Tim Carter

When it comes to tile & grout cleaning, there is an easier way to clean tile grout. Knowing how to clean tile grout this method will save you hard scrubbing and your ceramic tiles will look brand new.

Posted in Bathrooms, Ceramic Tile | 44 Comments

How to Insulate an Older Brick Home

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Tim Carter

How to insulate an older brick home can be a challenge. If furring strips were nailed to the inner masonry, there is only a narrow 3/4-inch space to add insulation. Very old brick homes often have no space to add insulation as the plaster was applied directly to the brick wall.

Posted in Insulation, New Construction | 10 Comments

How to Drill Ceramic Tile

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Tim Carter

Drilling ceramic tile requires a special drill bit and a steady hand. A carbide drill bit or a diamond drill bit are best for drilling holes in ceramic tile. The proper drill speed will prevent a disaster.

Posted in Bathrooms, Ceramic Tile | 6 Comments

How to Clean Exterior Siding

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Tim Carter

House siding, including vinyl siding, is not maintenance free. Mildew and algae can grow on vinyl siding, as well as wood siding. Try using oxygen bleach to clean your house siding instead of using a pressure washer.

Posted in Outdoor, Siding | 23 Comments

Duct and PVC Pipe Noise

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Tim Carter

Metal ductwork, plastic piping and any other object that might expand and contract can rub against wood framing. The movement, in almost all cases, creates annoying noises anytime of day or night.

Posted in Heating Design, New Construction | 3 Comments

Diagonal Brace Tips

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Tim Carter

Diagonal braces are used to keep your building project square and structurally solid. Without bracing, walls or decks can collapse since there isn't any lateral stability. Be sure to check your building codes for diagonal brace requirements.

Posted in Deck Construction, New Construction, Outdoor, Structural | 20 Comments

February 2, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Tim Carter

I don't have much time. I need to scoot out the door in about 35 minutes. This is FAST. I've been CRAZY BUSY with some amazing new revised columns for you. The tips in these are astonishing. I'm just going to give you links below and no descriptions. I don't have time for that. The […]

Posted in Newsletters, Q & A | Leave a comment

Crawl Space Vents

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Tim Carter

Crawl spaces collect and condense water vapor. Crawl space ventilation is necessary to prevent mildew or rot. Vapor barriers may provide better protection than crawlspace vents.

Posted in Kitchen, Ventilation | 6 Comments

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