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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Tim talks about phone consulting he does and going to the Google Zeitgeist. He answers callers' questions about detached garage structural problems, finding super duct tape, solving drainage problems, truss uplift solutions and removing a rusted washing machine hose.
Annetta comes back to produce a show, and Tim talks about a Colorado business trip and radiant heating. Tim also gives tips about saving money on heating bills this winter through minimizing air infiltration. Tim answers callers' questions on exterior paint prep, information about sears catalog homes, gas fireplace inserts and garage doors.
Tim talks about some of his listeners' encouraging e-mails and answers callers' questions about mystery odors in a home, removing a bathtub drain, fixing a self-closing door, snow blowing in a pole barn and a bathroom remodel disaster.
Tim visited Seattle this past week and went to a wooden boat museum. He also warns about "energy-saving" claims on products and discusses the effectiveness of spray-on radient barriers. Tim answers callers' questions on Tyvek installation, taking care of unfinished hardwood floors, finding a structural engineer and identifying strange noises in walls.
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