Warm Floors DEAR TIM: It’s time to build our retirement home. The house will be in a four-season climate and I insist on it being as comfortable as possible when it’s cold outdoors. I’ve heard about radiant floor heat but always have had forced-air heat. What can you tell me about radiant floor heat? Is […]
New subscriber? Welcome! This issue may have you wondering what you've gotten yourself into, but hang in there for a week or three. Subscriber of record? Get ready for a heaping dose of inspiration. Heat Transfer Plates I spent the entire week up in Bar Harbor, Maine working on my daughter and son-in-law's new home. […]
Are you a new subscriber? Welcome to my crazy world. If you've been observing me from afar for the past month or twenty-plus years, sit back and relax. The Week of Cast Iron I'm up in Bar Harbor, Maine, as I type this early today. The sky is just starting to brighten after the wretched […]
"A cast iron plumbing stack is a thing of beauty, especially if it's the sleek newer no-hub cast iron." Tim Carter - Founder, AsktheBuilder.com This article was featured as "The Week Of Cast Iron" in Tim's March 10, 2019 AsktheBuilder Newsletter. Cast Iron Plumbing Stack - Quiet and Strong Cast iron plumbing is still available […]
Toilet Rough-In Dimensions - There are Several!
"A drill-powered pump is an excellent tool to use to AVOID sucking on a hose to start a gravity-powered siphon setup. Why get all that algae-filled water in your mouth?" Drill Powered Pump - It Will Save You Time and Your Back You may not have been aware of a drill powered pump. They are […]
Is this your first real issue? Thanks for signing up! If you've lost count of how many AsktheBuilder.com newsletters you've opened, thanks for sticking around. Kathy and I spent last week up in Bar Harbor. Kathy helped Meghan with the new grandchild, and Brent and I worked on the cast iron drain waste and vent […]
Find a Vocation Not a Job DEAR TIM: I’ve read your column for years. I’d like you to share your thoughts on encouraging a young person to learn a trade or skill rather than go to college. Can you share what you did when you were young and more importantly if you could have a […]
Creeping and Snapping Laminate Floor QUESTION #1: Oh, Tim I need your help! A laminate floor in a friend’s house seems to be possessed. Overnight, gaps appear in the floor where one piece butts up against another. With some effort, you can slide them back tight again. When you walk across the floor in places […]
Factory-Built Walls QUESTION #1: Hello, Tim. A new house being constructed near me was built using wood walls made in a factory. I was astonished that the house was under roof in just two days. What’s better, walls built on the job site by carpenters or those built in a factory? Can you get walls […]
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