Architects Design Flawed Garages Time and Time Again Two weeks ago, on a whim, I recorded a 60-second video that I uploaded instantly to YouTube.com. I wanted to share one of the biggest mistakes I’ve ever seen in the common garage. I’m willing to bet you’re a homeowner who suffers from this oversight by architects […]
Algae and Lichens Grow on Composite Decks and Rails - Easy to Clean You might be one of the countless homeowners frustrated with the annual, or every-other-year, task of cleaning and sealing your wood deck. I’m right there with you as I have to deal with my wood dock and the stairs leading to it. […]
Beware Egotistical and Closed-Minded Contractors -Nothing But Bad Happens Just three weeks ago, I shared a true story with you about my failed asphalt shingle roof. If you remember, it had a thirty-year warranty and after just twelve years, it began to experience catastrophic failure. Looking back now, I shared the wrong photograph with you. […]
Here is the proof the copper works. Look at this photo I shot of the vacant Tilton, NH post office: Asphalt Shingles Curling and Crumbling - How to Prevent This is a true story about asphalt shingles curling. I live in central New Hampshire, and my house was built in 2001. […]
Davinci Roofscapes Color Fade - Looks More Like Slate I installed Davinci Roofscapes Single-Width Slate shingles on my home during the summer of 2015. I did this just before I wrote my exposé book Roofing Ripoff. I created this post at the bequest of one of my newsletter subscribers who is considering purchasing DaVinci Roofscapes […]
Your Chimney Might Be Your Roof Leak Location Roof leaks plague countless homeowners each year. Talk to experienced roofers and they’ll be the first to tell you the vast majority of leaks happen at flashings. A roof flashing is a transitional material. It connects your roof to something that’s not your roof. Plumbing vent pipes, […]
Outdoor Firepit Planning Tips - Don't Get Too Close! Autumn is my favorite time of year. I love the eye candy Mother Nature hands out here in the great Northeast USA. Add the fragrant aroma of a crackling outdoor fire feeding on seasoned oak and you have, in my opinion, the perfect outdoor setting. Breathing […]
Algae, Mold, and Mildew Removal and Prevention - Remove Water & Food Days ago Jerry stopped by my www.AsktheBuilder.com website. He reads my column each week in his local paper and was perplexed by algae growth on the exterior of his home. Jerry hales from Chesterton, Indiana, the gateway to the massive sand dunes at […]
Repair Front Porch - Mosaic Tile and Concrete Base In the past week, Don asked me for advice. He lives in the extreme northeast corner of North Carolina just 15 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. His front porch stoop is in very bad shape. Back in 1949 when the house was built, the tile setter […]
Three Season Room Problems - There Can Be Many Not too long ago Philip reached out to me. I’ve mentioned in past columns that each week I solve countless problems for homeowners just like you. For me, it’s similar to putting together a jigsaw puzzle or playing the board game of Clue. You present me […]
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