DEAR TIM: I’ve got water leaking and infiltrating the underside of my front porch. My house is about ten years old. The porch has a roof over it with a decent overhang, but the floor system is regular wood joists covered with plywood. The contractor installed a waterproof layer over the plywood, then ceramic tile […]
I've got some great news for you. In fact, I'd love your input. A month ago, I was in California and had a meeting with a friendly competitor of mine, Don Vandervort and his son Kit. Don owns the website hometips.com. We were talking about how we could help one another, and Don suggested something […]
Brown Stains on Side of House TIPS Below Brown Stains on House TIPS: Cedar has natural preservative chemicals that dissolve in water Stains originate just above metal z-flashing Weather conditions before stain appeared are critical Carpenters installed z-flashing wrong Cedar was not painted on back and edges CLICK HERE to subscribe to Tim's FREE newsletter […]
Pipe sizes and pipe thicknesses have a hand in the water flow rate and noisiness of your home. Your plumber or builder can do things while building to prevent plumbing problems in the future. The main water pipe into the house should be at least 3/4 to an inch big.
Coal Fire on Titanic There was a recent story floating around the Internet that a coal fire may have contributed to the sinking of the HMS Titanic. CLICK HERE to read one of the stories. I'm a master plumber, albeit not a PhD metallurgist, and am here to tell you that if you try to unsolder […]
Extension cord sizes are specific for different types of tools. The amperage flowing through an extension cord can ruin a tool. It is important to choose extension cords that are proper for the kind of tool you will be using. Here is an extension cord size chart that lists the amperage and the gauge of the extension cords.
Please take the following survey below. Loading... 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 50 by Remodeling magazine in 1993. This award gave birth to Ask the Builder in October 1993. Tim also operates […]
Sewer gas and its smell is obnoxious. The heath risks of sewer gas are significant if you breathe it for an extended amount of time. The best plan is to locate the break in the pipe or pipes and stop the sewer gas in the house.
Finishing drywall is an acquired skill, like driving a car. From mixing the joint compound correctly to drywall taping and applying the second coat, here are my top finishing drywall tips to help you get professional results.
A toilet gets a lot of hard use and often abuse. Fortunately, toilets are simple mechanisms, but toilet problems are bound to arise in a mechanism that gets used so often. Many toilet repairs can be handled by the homeowner. Instructions for do it yourself toilet repair are explained here for ten common toilet malfunctions. If fixing toilet problems is on your agenda, roll up your sleeves, and start here!
Subscribe to the FREE Ask the Builder newsletter to receive professional advice for your home. Complete the form below and each week you'll get:
Unsubscribe at any time. We respect your email privacy.