Does Treated Wood Rot? - You Bet it Does QUESTION: Tim, my next-door neighbor discovered that many of his outdoor deck floor joists are rotting. The rot is along the top where the decking attaches to them. It’s treated lumber rated for outdoor exposure. How can this be possible? I thought treated lumber was rot-proof […]
QUESTION: Help me, Tim! I’m getting ready to build a new home and am terrified about making a wrong decision about the materials on the outside of my home. I’m afraid they’ll not look good with one another. What can be done to relieve my anxiety? I have the same issue with paint colors too […]
You might be my newest subscriber. Welcome! First impressions are often lasting and I’m going to do my best to make sure your first newsletter from me leaves a good one. You, on the other hand, may have been getting my tips and missives for such a long time that you clearly remember the video […]
Waterproof Electric Arc Lighter - It Really Works! I love small survival fire starters. You need no less than three different ones in case you get caught outdoors and must start a fire. This electric arc lighter is not only waterproof, but it's good-looking, and above all else, it starts fires! Watch this short video […]
Are you a new subscriber? I send these LAST CALL email reminders when a sale is about to end. I GUARANTEE you'll have a question about the BONES inside your home one day. I'm not talking about buried bodies in the basement, mind you. You'll ask a contractor about a beam, or column, or roof […]
This first paragraph of my newsletter is where I welcome new subscribers. It’s how you’d greet any stranger you’ve just met, right? Thanks for allowing me to send you tips each week starting with today’s newsletter. You, though, might have been here since dragons flapped their wings and melted snow for their masters here in […]
How Long Can Concrete Last - Over a Hundred Years! You may be holed up in your home as I am. Lately, I’ve been spending some time looking at the thousands of photographs I’ve shot over the past few years. When I travel and see something interesting about construction, building, or historic value, I always […]
Suing a Contractor for Poor Workmanship - Go to a Casino How many horror stories have you heard about homeowners who end up wanting to sue their contractors? The reasons are as plentiful as grains of sand on a beach. In almost all cases it comes down to defective workmanship. Sometimes it’s non-performance where the […]
Custom Home Building and Repair Advice - I Can Call You My wife thinks I’m crazy most nights. We sit down after dinner and watch different shows on cable TV. I absolutely love to watch commercials laughing at some and groaning at others. I study them to see how the companies use psychological tricks to […]
QUESTION: Tim, I’ve never worked with metal joist hangers. How long have joist hangers been around? When I hold one in my hand I question whether it’s actually strong enough to support all the weight that will be resting in it! Are joist hangers safe? Are there any best practices when it comes to using […]
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