Julie has a nice home in Quebec, Canada. But she's got a problem with some sloppy mortar around her metal fireplace. Here's what she has to say: "We have a fire place with stones all around, I am trying to find the best option to hide the cement on the fireplace. I find it really ugly and […]
I don't know how many older homes there are on Long Island, NY that have traditional plaster, but I'm willing to bet it's in the tens of thousands. You can still get real plaster installed in a new home, but it's more expensive than drywall that's now the belle of the ball. If you own […]
Last week, we had a little fun with the Limestone Wall game. You had to guess the decade when you thought it was built. I'm extending the game another week because you may be one who emailed me saying it was FUN and you want more games like it. As the week went on, I […]
Many people still like the feel of a real book or magazine in their hands instead of a tablet that lets you read and view digital content. What's more, you may have a collection of books, trinkets or small gear you'd like to display in a simple bookcase. You might shy away from a project […]
DEAR TIM: My backyard is not level. The ground slopes from the left to the right as you look out my back kitchen window. The land in the subdivision slopes this general direction until it hits a small creek three blocks away. Ever since my neighbor built an in-ground swimming pool I have water ponding […]
Tim Carter shot this video on February 12, 2015, in Meredith, NH. It's a massive layout allowing multiple trains to operate at the same time going either direction. Sophisticated electronics in the locomotives create real sounds and allow only that engine to respond to the controls each operator uses. Fascinating technology. Tim CarterTim built custom […]
Eric Sygnatur owns a Hyattsville, MD townhouse located just outside of Washington, DC where it's very humid. He's got a strange stain on the exterior concrete block. "Tim, my townhouse is five years old. There is a stain on some of the masonry that I thought might "wash away" or fade with time, but it hasn't. Any […]
Ines Turpin hails from Allen, Oklahoma. She wants to know about building a full-sized Lego house. Can you guess my answer? "Is it possible to build a house from stackable 2x2x12 or 6 blocks that are designed as Legos? You see this blocks used by concrete companies as retaining blocks for sand and gravel." Here's my […]
Tracie lives in Taft, TN. (How's that for alliteration?) She's wondering if she'll have problems with satin finish granite tops. Let her tell you the situation: "I have tried to find an answer to this question online, but cannot. We don't like the look of highly polished granite, but don't want honed because of care […]
Here's a great folding kneeler and kneeling bench chair that my wife uses when she gardens. Guess what? It's PERFECT for installing ceramic tile on concrete floors. It really protects my knees. Buy it with confidence from Amazon.com! Tim CarterTim built custom homes and did ultra-custom remodeling for 20+ years before launching his Ask the Builder […]
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