Q&A / 

25th AsktheBuilder Anniversary October 2, 2018 is the 25th anniversary of my Ask the Builder syndicated newspaper column. I’m very proud of surviving this long as a writer and publisher and thought I’d share some of the good and the bad I’ve seen since that morning I waited outside in the dark for the newspaper […]

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"I do NOT make a normal practice of bashing my peers, but this instance is so egregious I had to point it out." This column was SO GOOD that I shared with the 31,000 subscribers who read my September 9, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter. Exterior Wall on Slab Must Be Out on the Edge An exterior […]

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Tim Carter records an excavator unloading heavy stackable retaining wall blocks. Tim CarterTim built custom homes and did ultra-custom remodeling for 20+ years before launching his Ask the Builder media presence. He was selected as one of the Big 50 by Remodeling magazine in 1993. This award gave birth to Ask the Builder in October […]

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This column was inspired by something that happened to my sister last week. She called me for advice because she needed a tree removed from her rear yard and she didn’t know any reliable tree-removal companies. Perhaps you’ve been in the same situation recently about any number of repairs or projects that you need to […]

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 Ask the Builder Podcast 18 Highlights: Settlement Cracks in Walls Podcast Sponsor: Stain Solver - Certified Organic Oxygen Bleach Home Improvement and Home Construction Podcast Photos, Links and Great Stuff: Settlement Cracks in Walls Related Links: Settlement Cracks and More Pro Tips   Subscribe to the AsktheBuilder Podcast Tim CarterTim built custom homes and […]

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Skylight Melting Siding Can and Does Happen It's possible for a skylight melting siding story to be in your local paper or here online. I know it's possible because I've felt the searing heat on my own face from sunlight that's concentrated and reflected by the slightly concave glass on my own skylight. I was […]

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"An electric baseboard heater works just like a toaster but without the danger of a fire." Basement Heating Options Checklist Electric heating is probably your best bet Do the math before making an expensive selection Insulate walls with closed-cell foam Portable heaters work well What Basement Heating Options Are Affordable? You might be surprised to […]

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 Ask the Builder Podcast 16 Highlights: Replace Wood Basement Support Beam Podcast Sponsor: Stain Solver - Certified Organic Oxygen Bleach Home Improvement and Home Construction Podcast Photos, Links and Great Stuff: Replace Basement Wood Beam Related Links: Wood Beam Tips and Tricks   Subscribe to the AsktheBuilder Podcast Tim CarterTim built custom homes and […]

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 Ask the Builder Podcast 14 Highlights: Foundation hole too deep Water leaking into the crawlspace Best garage insulation Tim shares a story about the sun destroying your things Podcast Sponsor: Stain Solver - Certified Organic Oxygen Bleach Home Improvement and Home Construction Podcast Photos, Links and Great Stuff: CALL 1: Foundation Hole Too Deep […]

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Stop Brick Leaks Question #1: Help me, Tim! When a blowing rain lashes my brick-veneer home, water streams down over the inside of my foundation in the basement. I thought brick was waterproof. What’s happening and is there a way to minimize, or eliminate, the water from entering my home? What could have been done […]

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