Water Heater Anode Rod
Adding a second water heater anode rod will often double the life of a common water heater. The additional anode rod takes the place of the plastic dip tube that is found inside the cold water inlet of the heater.
Author Archives: Tim Carter
AsktheBuilder mp3 Radio Show Nov 12 2005
Tim goes political and talks about his election to the Amberley Village Council this past week. He also outlines a project for building wood shelves in his garden shed. As a licensed master plumber, Tim raves about a no-solder epoxy for copper plumbing pipes. Tim takes callers' questions on painting a wood shed and a home condensation problem. Tim interviews Kim Wagner, a reality TV star from The Mansion reality show and also one of the authors of Building Your Own Home for Dummies.
AsktheBuilder mp3 Radio Show Nov 5 2005
Tim talks about Google Video news and answers a variety of callers' questions. Topics include basement waterproofing, making two ceilings the same height, blisters in painted cedar shakes, hair in a bath drain, curved gutters, asbestos in Zonolite Insulation and recessed lighting.
AsktheBuilder mp3 Radio Show Oct 29 2005
Tim tells about attending the Google Zeitgeist conference and answers a number of callers' questions. Problems solved this week include how many turbine vents to put in a house, concrete overlay on a garage roof, mechanical plumbing vents, fixing a water leak in a plumbing vent pipe, installing a used gas water heater, french drain fill, metal pegboard and worn shingles.
Screw Extractors
Screw extractors allow you to back out screws whose heads are stripped. These simple and effective devices can be found at large national retail stores that have a hardware department. The extractors have special hardened steel heads with reverse cutting bits. Once inserted into a regular drill they cut into and grab the head of the screw as you rotate the drill in reverse.
Bouncy and Springy Floors
Floors that bounce up and down when you walk across them are annoying. The floor may be structurally sound and built within code limits. In almost all cases, the floor can be fixed so that it is solid and does not bounce.
Removing Foundation Tar
Removing foundation tar is not easy. It can also be dangerous. Do not use solvents like gasoline, paint thinner or mineral spirits because of the extreme fire danger.
Installing Wood Siding
Wood siding has been used on houses for hundreds of years. Engineered wood siding is an improvement on traditional siding as it allows us to make the most of our natural resources. If you want the best exterior wood siding, look for wood that contains natural preservatives and has vertical grain. Western cedar is a great wood siding species.
How To Remove Wallpaper
Many people struggle with how to remove wallpaper from drywall. The wallpaper sticks to the paper facing of the drywall and tends to be pulled off the wall exposing the gypsum core of the drywall. Is there a best way to remove wallpaper to minimize damage? It depends upon who you ask.
Restoring a Metal Firebox Damaged by Hurricane Katrina
Metal fireplaces can become flooded by rainstorms or hurricanes. Once the water recedes, is it safe to use the fireplace? The answer is yes, so long as the integrity of the fireplace firebox was not compromised.