Subway Tile Bathroom I have been installing a stunning green subway tile the past two weekends in my son’s new basement bathroom. Subway tile is rectangular in shape. The grout joints between each tile have the same back-and-forth staggered pattern as mortar joints between bricks in a wall. It’s a fascinating look, and one you […]
Architect Fee for Renovation - How to Pay the Minimum I was on the phone for an hour a few days ago with a young man who lives about 15 miles north of downtown Chicago. He’s used my affordable phone coaching service in the past to solve a complex heating and air conditioning problem with […]
Self Storage Savings - Build a Shed Are you surrounded by off-site storage businesses like I am? Within a fifteen-mile radius of my rural home in central New Hampshire, there are thousands of storage spaces in metal buildings one can rent for a king’s ransom. Self-storage is the key to saving huge money. There are […]
Bathroom Condensation Causes Mildew Do you wage a constant war against mold and mildew in your home, especially in your bathroom? You’re not alone. Millions of people fight this scourge, and businesses have tried to develop all sorts of products to slow or stop the growth of this ugly, black organism. Your chances of slowing […]
Repair Wood Rot - There are Different Methods Do you have wood rot happening at your home? It’s a very common problem. Wood rot, in my opinion, is getting worse each year because new wood is more susceptible to rot, and many tradespeople are not coating the fresh cut ends of wood with paint or […]
Finish Nail Guns - Affordable and Amazing A few months ago, I brought my 20-ounce hammer and a traditional nail set tool with me to church. A six-penny finish nail, driven by a carpenter in the late 1800s through a piece of oak trim, had worked its way out of the wood about 1/8 inch. […]
Pocket Door Installation Secrets I installed a pocket door in my son’s basement several days ago. The basement remodeling project has stretched out over a year because we can only work together on Saturdays and on occasional days he can take off from work. It was a unique pleasure to show him how simple it […]
Contractor Scams & Incompetence Each week, I extract homeowners just like you from horrible encounters with contractors. I do this via a short consult phone or video call. The situations range from faulty roofing work, new cracked or spalling concrete, wet basements, shoddy tile work, etc. The common denominator in every situation is trust. The […]
Best Way to Clean Glass - Soapy Water & a Squeegee I’m willing to wager a two-step hot fudge sundae made with mocha chip ice cream that you struggle to get the glass in and around your home perfectly clean. I’m talking crystal-clear glass that looks invisible. It might be glasses you drink from, the […]
Baseboard and Casing Installation This past weekend, I had the good fortune to show my son how to install wood baseboard and interior door casing. We’re in the final stages of finishing over 1,000 square feet of finished living space in the basement of his three-year-old home. We only work on Saturdays because of his […]
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