Countertop Layout Tool - Simple Hack I’ve shared in past columns how I’m helping my son finish off about 1,200 square feet of his basement. I’m saving him over $100,000 in labor and profit costs had he hired a contractor. I’m also confident he and I are doing a much better job. After all, I’m […]
Septic Tank Too High - Idiot Installer My best friend in Cincinnati, Ohio, Richard Andersen, had his septic tank installed too low. This story is about installing a septic tank too high. I’m about to share an incredible story about Jennifer’s new $20,000.00 septic tank that failed in the first year. You may not care […]
DIY Boiler Service - Easy if You Have the Tools Several days ago, I found myself without heat and hot water at 6 PM just as I was washing dinner dishes. My propane-fired modulating combi boiler, which does double duty, heating the house and my hot water, decided to stop working. It’s still chilly in […]
Why is My House So Cold? Tell the truth. Are there days in the winter when your heating system can’t provide the heat you need to keep you comfortable? What about your AC system? Are there blistering, hot summer days when you feel like a simmering sausage in a skillet? You may not want to […]
A Mystery Beam From the Annie Hodges Schooner? Publisher Note: The following content was generated and contributed by Ms. Margaret Acquarulo and her son. Margaret reached out to me after reading a column I wrote. The column topic dealt with old tradesmen who were so proud of their work that they signed it. CLICK HERE […]
Types of Construction Defects This column is all about types of construction defects and misplaced hope. You can lose thousands of dollars, and sometimes tens of thousands of dollars, should you make this mistake. I do at least five short consult calls each week. The common denominator in almost all of the calls is that […]
Spackling and Caulking Tips I’ve been sharing with you the wonderful saga of my son’s basement remodeling project in past columns. Together, he and I have transformed 1,100 square feet of bare basement into five large rooms and a full bathroom. We’ve done all the work ourselves, and only work on Saturdays. It’s now time […]
Drone Home Inspection Thirteen months ago, my very good friends Steve and Karin were going about their daily lives in their wonderful home in Altadena, California. Several years before, I had visited for a week. Steve and I plowed through a long honey-do list. I donated my time to Steve to help pay back all […]
DIY Wood Preservatives There’s a very good chance you own something made of wood that’s exposed to the weather. It might be a fence, a deck, a dock, patio furniture, wood siding, a shed, etc. Wood is a marvelous material. It’s favored by many because it’s easy to cut, shape, and install. Wood can also […]
Vocational Schools - Create Master Craftsmen/women Again I need your help. You’ll be helping your children, any grandchildren, friends, neighbors, etc., too. You may not realize it, but there is a severe shortage of workers in just about every residential construction trade. Here’s another reality: Over 70% of the U.S. population hires people in the […]
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