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 Contract & Specifications This is video number two of a four-part series. CLICK or TAP HERE for the FIRST video. CLICK or TAP HERE for video #3. CLICK or TAP HERE for video #4. In this video Tim discusses the importance of the contract. In a perfect world, and it happened only once during […]

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 Finding the best contractor This is video number one of a four-part series. CLICK or TAP HERE for video #2. CLICK or TAP HERE for video #3. CLICK or TAP HERE for video #4. Tim Carter, founder of AsktheBuilder.com and national award-winning builder, discusses how easy it is to locate the true professionals in your […]

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New Home Quality Control I didn’t ask permission from my editor to depart from my normal question and answer format, but I’m sure he’ll agree this is a long overdue column. I’ve been writing this column now for over twenty-three years. Ask the Builder was first published October 2, 1993. It was my original goal […]

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The following checklist is a FREE sample of some very important things you need to make sure happen as you build your new home or room addition. There are MANY OTHER THINGS that are important and they're included in a comprehensive checklist I created years ago. Don't count on the building code to protect you. It's […]

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Modify Wood and Attic Trusses TIPS Trusses can be modified or changed Structural engineer must be consulted WATCH truss videos below! Replace with common rafters CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! Mike, from Cleveland, Ohio, wrote to me: Tim, great reading your tips. I've got a question, I would like to convert […]

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The size of studs used in exterior walls, coupled with additional insulation can be highly energy saving. You can determine the possible payback by understanding heating degree days.

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Majestic Fireplace Customer Service Davey lives in Baltimore, Maryland. Yesterday, he wrote me the following: "I have a small townhouse with a corner fireplace (zero clearance) in the basement that was built 33-years-ago. The seven years we've lived here we've always known there's cold air coming in from behind the fireplace.  Finally, I cut open the […]

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Quick Summary: Compare slab to crawl space wood floor cost Pros and Cons of slab Pros and Cons of crawl space wood floor Karen lives in Saint Cloud, Florida. She emailed me the following: "I would like to build a home that is about 600 sq ft with 1000 sq ft roof to cover the front […]

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DEAR TIM: Yesterday I stopped by my new house that’s under construction. I go there at the end of each day to take photos. I saw a strange board nailed across the wall studs that surely is a mistake. It ran at a diagonal from the bottom wall plate up the wall to one corner […]

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This is an experiment. I discussed it in my September 14, 2016 AsktheBuilder Newsletter under Galvanized Nails, Screws and Connectors. I want to see if you're interested in discovering how and why things work around your home in a fun and clever way. Please take the quiz below. It's only five questions. All of the questions […]

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