Sewer Smell When Using Fireplace Tom Grote, who lives in Ivoryton, CT, has an unpleasant experience when he starts a fire in his fireplace. It's not a smoking issue, it's a sewer smell. Read what he sent me: "I live in a two-story colonial with a bathroom and fireplace on the first floor. Every time I […]
Basil Pallone lives just south of me in Sudbury, MA. But he's got a problem with his older home he's trying to improve. Here's what he wrote to me: "I recently installed spray foam insulation in the attic of my two story colonial home, built in 1968. Since I installed the spray foam insulation, the windows […]
Margaret Hilpert, who's got the pithy writing style down pat, lives in North Carolina and wrote to me: "Vapor barrier over studs and insulation. Is that all we need before installing a shower kit and tongue and groove paneling?" Margaret, yes, that's all you need! But be SURE to do it right! CLICK HERE to […]
David Roll lives in a very new home in Battle Ground, WA that had a water line MELT and caused a flood. You'll not believe Dave's story. Here it is unedited: "Hi Tim. I am in a brand new home for 1.25 yrs. House flooded this past weekend, significant damage. Plumber cut open wall to find […]
John Sneddon, who hails from Glasgow, Scotland, in the United Kingdom, just purchased a metal shed and realizes he could have an issue with condensation. "Hi there, I have just purchased a Yardmaster 10ft x 13ft Metal Shed but have just found out that these are prone to condensation inside. What I am looking to do […]
Glen and Sandra Schweickert built a new home twelve years ago. Let them fill you in. "We bought a brand new home in 2002 from a regional builder. They went bankrupt in 2007. We would like to build a new home using the same plans and blueprints from the house we now have that was built […]
Bonnie Speeg lives in a chilly apartment in the gaslight district of Clifton in Cincinnati, OH. She reached out and here's her paraphrased situation: "Tim, my forced-air furnace comes on too often and it's driving me nuts. It's hard to sleep and it's annoying. My landlord says everything is fine and I'm under the impression I […]
DEAR TIM: Our four-year-old house's attic creaks as well as has cracking noises during windy times. The sounds are very loud, waking us up. It sounds like something is going to come crashing down through the ceiling above our bed. It's very unsettling! The builder sent fellow to add 2x4's to some of the trusses. […]
Rafael, who lives in Fort Myers FL, is wondering about firewalls. Here's what he sent me. "A house built in 1970 has no fire wall. In what year were firewalls installed in the new homes?" Well, Rafael, I find it hard to believe that a 1970's house has no firewall. I say that because typical construction of both exterior and interior […]
You may not think this is a building and remodeling topic, but it is. This is a look back in time as to how your ancestors moved logs around to build their houses, moved rocks to clear land, etc. I URGE you to read the COMMENTS below once you've watched Dick the horse respond to […]
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