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Author Archives: Tim Carter

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Mold and Mildew on Lumber

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Tim Carter

Many homeowners experience mold and mildew on their lumber as houses are built or room additions are constructed. The good news is the lumber is going to be fine and there's rarely any damage to the wood. If it's just surface mold or mildew, it will clean off.

Posted in New Construction, Rough Lumber, Structural | 13 Comments

Bathroom Remodeling Sequence

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Tim Carter

Remodeling a room calls for specific tasks to be completed before the next begins. Schedule the tasks in order for a smooth running project.

Posted in Remodeling | 14 Comments

Connecting a New Foundation to an Old One

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Tim Carter

Soil stability is extremely important for foundations. Connections between foundations, no matter how strong, depend on soil and footers for strength. For waterproofing, apply special waterproofing compounds to the exterior of the finished foundation.

Posted in Foundation, New Construction | 10 Comments

Washing Machine Venting Diagram

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Tim Carter

Washing Machine Drain Vent TIPS 2-inch pipe for washing machine drain Standpipe 24 inches above p-trap Branch arm to vertical stack Relax, I'm a master plumber 😉 CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! Want to listen to this column? Use the following audio player: Kevin's Shortcut Vent Kevin Garretty emailed me about […]

Posted in Audio Articles, Plumbing Design, Q & A | 19 Comments

Excess Grout Removal

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Tim Carter

Removing excess grout from your tile floor is a challenging but not impossible project. You need a few simple items to ensure no damage to your ceramic tile. You will need patience to make the grout lines look smooth. Be sure to give yourself enough time for this job.

Posted in Bathrooms, Ceramic Tile | 12 Comments

Crawl Space Encapsulation or Not

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Tim Carter

Crawlspace Encapsulation TIPS Lots of incorrect info out there Bare soil pumps up water constantly  Rectangle vents all but worthless Cover soil with special plastic CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! DEAR TIM: My head is spinning from all of the conflicting information I'm seeing online about crawl space encapsulation. Should it […]

Posted in Condensation, Q & A, Vapor Barrier, Ventilation | 35 Comments

Poured Concrete vs. Block Walls

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Tim Carter

A concrete block foundation can be stronger than a poured concrete foundation. They differ in the size of gravel used, and that concrete blocks are hollow while poured concrete is solid. Reinforcing steel can be used to strengthen either material.

Posted in Foundation, New Construction | 70 Comments

Thickness of Poured Concrete Foundation Walls

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Tim Carter

Poured concrete foundation walls come in all sizes, thicknesses, heights and widths. As concrete gets taller, it must get thicker. All of these dimensions are interrelated.

Posted in Foundation, New Construction | 11 Comments

Foundation Grade Level – Don’t Go Too Low!

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Tim Carter

Foundation soil grade is important to consider for new home construction and for existing homes. Foundations that don't protrude form the ground enough can suffer drainage and leakage problems. Soil should slope away from the home. If you have a flat lot, drain pipes and trenches can be used to control water flow.

Posted in Foundation, New Construction | 50 Comments

Replace Cast Iron With PVC

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Tim Carter

Replace Cast Iron with PVC TIPS Only replace cast iron if cracked Cast iron is not noisy like PVC Use stainless-steel hub adapters on cast iron Watch my PVC VIDEOS Below! CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! Tim the Master Plumber Before we go any further, you need to know I'm a master […]

Posted in Plumbing Design, Plumbing Supplies | 8 Comments

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