Outdoor Shed Tips and Pocket Doors

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Tim Carter

Outdoor Shed Tips

QUESTION #1: Tim, what can you tell me about outdoor sheds? I’m thinking it could end up being an outdoor retreat more than it might be for garden stuff and junk. How can you keep a shed cool that bakes in the sun all day? I want to make sure the shed is big enough, so please share sizing tips. Eddie R., Nashville, TN

Sheds are popular. I’ve built more sheds than I can remember and several stand out in my mind. My favorite shed of all time was the L-shaped Queen Anne Victorian one I built at my last house. It matched our home in every detail including all the colors. My wife loved that shed. It even had a 6-foot wide overhead door so my garden tractor could go in and out with ease.

Based on emails that I get each week, I’d say the biggest mistake you might make when building or buying a pre-built shed is it’s going to be too small. You may look at an 8 x 10-foot shed thinking it’s enormous, but it’s not. You need to keep in mind that you have to be able to access things in the shed so there has to be a clear floor area allowing you to get what you need.

If you’re going to use the shed as a hideout from your significant other or the kids, it’s very important that you use some graph paper to create a crude plan. Create scale cutouts of the furniture you’ll have in the shed and make sure it fits. The easiest way to size one of these hideout-sheds is to look at a room in your home that you feel is a perfect size. Make the shed the same size.

Before you get too far in the project, be sure you’re allowed to build the shed. You need to check with your local government officials to see if there are any zoning restrictions. The last thing you need is a “stop-work” notice because you failed to get all the required permits to do the work.

You may feel the answer to keeping a shed cool in the heat of summer is just adding more insulation. That’s a folly. Insulation gets hot too and it releases the heat slowly. The best way to keep the shed cool is to build a second roof over the shed. I know this sounds crazy, but it’s true. The upper roof will shade the shed. You know this is the best way as you stand in the shade when possible to lower the heat gain on your body.

If you plan to have a wood floor system in your shed, be sure the floor joists and the plywood floor are treated lumber. You may not realize it, but you can purchase plywood that’s been treated with the same chemicals as regular timbers and decking made to resist water.

I’ve created a page at my website that has numerous shed planning videos lots of other shed-building tips. Go to: sheds

Pocket Doors

QUESTION #2: Tim, I saw a show on TV that talked about using pocket doors. I’ve not seen one in decades. Are they still made? Better yet, are they really any good or do they rub and come off the track? I’m not interested in having a problem door, but the thought of a disappearing door intrigues me! Becky T., Boise, ID

I tend to think most of what you see on cable TV home improvement shows is fantasy. But in this case, Becky was given a morsel of information about a great product.

Pocket doors are alive and well and they’re better than ever. You wouldn’t think it possible to constantly improve these devices that are hundreds of years old, but it’s happening all the time.

I’ve installed countless pocket doors on my jobs and had two of them in the last home I built for my family. My daughter is building a new home now and her home will have at least five pocket doors.

I prefer the pocket door hardware that features three-wheeled trolleys. A trolley is what connects to the top of the door and then fits into a special track. These trolleys can’t jump off the track and the nylon rollers with precision ball-bearings will last for generations.

You can now get soft-close hardware for pocket doors. This is a popular feature that’s been on drawers for quite some time. There’s no more banging of doors in the pocket or out on the jamb if you equip it with the soft-close accessory.

Follow the simple installation instructions and you’ll not have any rubbing. The key is to used thin studs that are capped in steel. This prevents warping. You can also purchase an accessory kit that allows you to install thin plywood over the pocket so you can hang heavy pictures right next to the door opening.

I’ve got pocket door videos and lots of tips for you on my website: pocketdoortips

Note: Pocket door wall-mount door kit referenced in October 14, 2010 Newsletter.

Column 1271

October 20, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Tim Carter

Are you a new subscriber? You've become part of the family at a very special time. Keep reading.

Old-friend subscriber? You're not going to believe what's about to happen.

One never knows what lays ahead. That's part of the magic we get to enjoy with each new day.

Months ago, Kathy and I discovered that our oldest daughter Meghan and her husband Brent were moving back to the East Coast.

They had been in California for the past four years with Brent working for a technology startup that a year ago was purchased by Western Digital. Brent was able to negotiate a work-from-anywhere clause in his new agreement.

Why is this important to you?

Meghan and Brent just broke ground last week on a new home on Mt. Desert Island in Downeast Maine. You may know the area by another name - Bar Harbor, or as the locals say, "Bah Haabaah".

Their new house is going to be behind that logging skidder.

A Real-Time Journal

Beginning this issue of the newsletter, I'm going to do my best to take you on a journey through the entire building process from start to finish.

Kathy and I are driving up to see Meghan and Brent on Monday. I'll be helping to site the house and take some all-important readings with my builders level.

The first step in this process happened last January. A realtor they were working with told them about the lot. I went by myself to look at it to give a full report to Meghan and Brent back in California.

CLICK HERE to have a feel for what I was thinking about as I walked through the lot.
lot in Maine
This is a photo I took while walking their lot. Yes, that's a white rabbit at the base of the pine tree. I took that as a very good omen.

Fortunately, the early snow that covered the land was eaten up by a January thaw. You want to look at land like this in the winter or early spring when there are minimal leaves on the trees.

The extra advantage I had is that any wet spots on the land were small patches of ice. You want to identify wet spots or if the lot has drainage challenges.

It really makes a difference what time of year you look at lots unless you're in areas where the weather is similar for most of the year.

Each Week A New Chapter

I'm going to share news about the build each week. I'll be sharing new pages at my website filled with photos. I plan to take thousands of photos for you. Yes, I'll be shooting lots of video too.

The issue with video is that it requires so much work with both pre- and post-production not to mention the need for a videographer.

I'll be installing all the plumbing, radiant heating and all the electric in the new home.

The entire house is being built in a local factory and the parts are going to be assembled on the site. Wait until you see the videos of that!

Here's a very basic front elevation of the house. It's going to have a stunning cedar shake product as the siding.
front-elevation

Open Each Newsletter

I'm going to do my best to make it worth your while to open each newsletter.

You're going to see lots of photos and I'll be linking to RELEVANT columns you should scan in the event a new home is in your future.

I hope you're ready for the journey!

My New Haas Garage Doors

About a month ago, I got two new garage doors. My old doors were horrible. I have no clue what the previous owner of this house was thinking when he selected them.

CLICK HERE to see my review and WATCH THE VIDEO.

haas garage door review

That's enough for a weekend. I hope you're as excited about the new home project as I am!

I guarantee you it's going to be one heck of an adventure.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Clean Grout! - www.StainSolver.com
Radio Stories - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Haas Garage Door Review

Posted on October 20, 2018 by Tim Carter

Haas garage door - These are my two new doors. The autumn sunlight is seeping through the trees over my left shoulder causing a unique dappled lighting effect on the doors. My old doors were solid green and made the garage look like a commercial building. Read more on Tim's Haas Garage Doors and the mouse barricade. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

"The decorative glass panels at the top of each door flood the garage with light."

Haas Garage Door - Real Wood Look But Tough Steel

Just a month ago, I had two new Haas garage doors installed at my home. The doors are steel, but anyone visiting my home thinks we've got distinctive real-wood garage doors with leaded glass.

Do The Doors Look Like Real Wood?

Yes, the graining on the wood doors is done as if real wood was used to create the doors. The grain runs in the exact directions that you'd find the panels, stiles, and rails.

Are the Door Insulated?

Yes, my new Haas doors are filled with foam insulation that will keep my garage above freezing in the bitter New Hampshire winters. That's a big plus.

Do You Feel The Haas Doors Add Value to Your Home?

Absolutely yes! You be the judge. Imagine if you were able to see the before look and then the after. I did that for you by taking a photo of the first door complete before the second door was installed. You tell me if my home is more attractive?

Do The Glass Panels add Lots of Light to the Garage?

The decorative glass panels at the top of each door flood the garage with light. Before my garage was a dungeon and in broad daylight I had to turn on overhead lights to see anything.

What About the Decorative Glass?

There are several styles of decorative glass. We wanted the Emerald pattern to match the leaded glass at our front door. The Aqua glass provides privacy with the rippled texture.

This shows you what the decorative glass starts to look like as the sunlight fades. The darker it gets outside the more beautiful my new Haas doors look as the light becomes more golden. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

Would You Recommend a Haas Door to Your Friends?

You bet. I've installed countless garage doors in my career and my new doors are made in the USA in the great state of Ohio, they're strong, the hardware is substantial, the look is superb, and I know they're going to last for decades. What more can you expect from a garage door?

The Federal Trade Commission requires me to inform you that Haas Door installed these doors at my home at no charge so you could read about what I thought for free. My policy has always been that I don't recommend or review products that I wouldn't be proud of owning or showcasing in my own home. Those products that don't pass that initial quality test probably are reviewed on other blogs.

Concrete Block and Flood Plains

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Tim Carter

Concrete Block

QUESTION #1: I’ve been researching foundation types for both new homes and room additions. I’ve narrowed it down to either poured concrete or concrete block. Many websites thump their chests saying poured concrete is better than concrete block. What’s your opinion, Tim? Have you worked with both materials? Carol Ann S., Richmond, VA

You may be wondering about the relative merits of poured concrete vs. concrete block foundations just like Carol Ann. The two methods dominate the residential construction industry here in the USA.

I’ve built buildings using both materials. The last home I built for my family had a giant poured concrete foundation but in the backyard, I used concrete block to construct a magical serpentine retaining wall that looks as good as the day I built it decades ago.

Reinforcing Steel Makes The Difference

Here’s the truth. You can build a poured concrete foundation that can crack and cave in within a year and you can build a concrete block foundation that can last for hundreds of years with no failure whatsoever. Reinforcing steel is what determines the winner of the battle between the foundation walls and Mother Nature.

It’s important to realize if you want a super-strong concrete block foundation you need to include both horizontal steel reinforcing wire and the cores must have vertical reinforcing steel that extends up from the concrete footing. The cores of the concrete block need to be filled solid with strong concrete that has small pea-sized aggregate.

Poured concrete foundations also require reinforcing steel if you want the walls to resist the horizontal forces of wet soil. Another key point to remember is that foundation walls buried in the ground are nothing more than retaining walls. They stop the soil from cascading into your basement.

Modern poured concrete foundation forms have revolutionized foundation construction. An experienced foreman with a small team of semi-skilled laborers can set poured concrete foundation forms in the morning and the concrete can be poured in the afternoon. The next day the forms can be stripped off and carpenters can get to work.

It would take a small army of masons to achieve the same results building with concrete block. Poured concrete is a huge time saver. Be sure you use lots of steel no matter what material you decide to choose.

I’ve created a page at my website that has numerous videos and photos of poured concrete and concrete block foundation installation. Go to: pouredorblock

Flood Plains

QUESTION #2: Tim, I’m desperate. My 1972 house was built in a floodplain. Twice in the last nine years, it’s had two feet of water in it, most recently from Hurricane Florence. I’m desperate to sell the house but I doubt anyone will buy this turkey, nor should they. I didn’t understand what I was buying at the time. Can you help? What are my options? Ann L., Chapel Hill, NC

Countless people have the same problem as Ann. Perhaps you’re one or you know someone. Watch the news after each natural disaster and you see images of destroyed or flooded homes. Just last week I saw nothing but concrete slabs next to the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico along the Florida panhandle. Hurricane Michael’s storm surge ground up the houses like a blender purees vegetables.

My college degree was in geology. I realize that not everyone had the good fortune to pursue this enlightening course of study. Several of the classes I took focused on flooding, earthquakes, and other natural disasters that face homeowners. Sinkholes, landslides, debris flows, and other things can wreak havoc and mayhem in your life should you decide to build a home in a spot where things can go wrong.

There’s little I can do to help Ann now other than have her schedule a meeting with the top three realtors in her neighborhood. I’m talking seasoned realtors who know what’s going on. They’ll be able to outline any and all options.

However, the best advice is to avoid buying or building a home on a lot that has a high or medium probability of suffering damage from most disasters. You can get this advice by talking with a professional engineering geologist. These pros know the best and worst lots to build on in a city, town, or region.

A consult with one may cost several hundred dollars, but it’s the absolute best insurance you can get to ensure your home, or what’s left of it, isn’t front and center on everyone else’s TV.

Dr. John Alexander and Modern College Millennial Students

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Tim Carter

tim carter ask the builder in 1972 new mexico

Dr. John Alexander - University of Cincinnati Chemistry Professor

Dr. John Alexander was a physical chemistry professor at the University of Cincinnati (UC). I was fortunate to have him as my physical chemistry lab professor in the 1971-72 academic year.

It's important to realize he was a young professor and I estimate he was no more than thirty years old at the time, although he might have been a little older.

I majored in geology at UC and physical chemistry was a required course.

I was invited to speak at the UC Geology Department lecture series in the autumn of 2016. While touring the department I came across this funny sign on a lab door in the Geology Building. It's great to see humor like this on the campus. It's aimed squarely at the millennial students. My guess is some who read it are offended and have to run off to a *Safe Space*. BWAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA - the babies..... Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

Why was Dr. Alexander Important?

Dr. Alexander was important to me because he oozed authority and respect. You may have vivid memories of some of your high school and college professors for a number of reasons. I admired Dr. Alexander because he was fair, he was knowledgeable, and his style garnered the complete attention and respect of every student. He also possessed a wry sense of humor.

What About the Millennials in 2018?

Dr. Alexander would undoubtedly be fired from his job if he had to deal with today's self-centered millennial college students. The general consensus defines a millennial as a person born between 1982 - 2004. They're also referred to as Generation Y.

This video pokes fun at some in this age group.

I'm going to share two true stories and you be the judge. Wait until you read the second story submitted to me by a college professor here in October of 2018. But first, read about Dr. Alexander.

The First Two Dr. Alexander Labs

This is a true story and I'm not embellishing it one bit. I only wish I could go back in time and record a video of what I'm about to share with you.

I can't remember what day my three-hour physical chemistry lab was on, but I'm fairly certain it was every Thursday from 2 until 5 pm. The first lab class in the autumn quarter is burned into my memory because of what happened a week later.

The modern, at the time, building that housed the chemistry labs had synchronized clocks up on the walls in each classroom. These clocks would buzz for two seconds at the top of each hour.

I got to the classroom at about 1:57 pm on that warm autumn day and Dr. Alexander was leaning against the desk adjacent to the chalkboards in front of the room. He had an impish smile on his face. He may have returned cordial "Hellos", but I don't recall if that happened.

At 2:00 pm the buzzer sounded and the moment it stopped Dr. Alexander said, "Welcome. I'm Dr. John Alexander and I'll be your lab professor the entire year. Each Thursday we'll meet here at 2 pm for just ten minutes. I'll go over what's going to happen in the lab and what's expected of you. You'll produce a lab report about the results of your experiments for each lab session. The report is due NO LATER than 2 pm the following week after the lab. You can place your report right here on the corner of this desk as you enter the room. You can also turn in your lab report earlier if you have it finished. Drop it off in my office, number XXX, here in this building. The office hours are posted on the door."

Dr. Alexander then proceeded to tell us what we were going to do that day and at 2:10 pm he released us to go into the actual lab.

The following week I arrived once again about 1:56 pm and placed my lab report on the stack of lab reports that other students sitting in the chairs had already dropped off. Dr. Alexander was once again leaning on the desk looking out to the class, but at no one in particular. He had that same smile pasted on his face. Note that the smile wasn't a smirk or nasty. It was one that told you something was going on inside his head.

More students filed into the room and put their reports on the growing stack.

At 2 pm the buzzer sounded for two seconds and Dr. Alexander proceeded to start to talk about the lab experiment we were about to perform.

Approximately 30 seconds later, a female classmate arrived late. As she walked by the desk she placed her lab report on top of the others. Dr. Alexander was unfazed by her entrance and continued to talk as if she didn't exist.

Once she took her seat and looked up at Dr. Alexander, he had positioned himself at the corner of the desk. Without breaking his cadence about the subject matter, he casually picked her lab report up out of the pile and as he walked back and forth talking about the lab he was tearing it into small pieces.

About twenty seconds later he ended up by the trash can and dropped the girl's shredded lab report into the can all the while talking about the day's lab activities.

Nine minutes later he finished talking and said, "Are there any questions?"

You could hear a pin drop it was so quiet. All of us in the room were stunned by what Dr. Alexander had done to the girl's lab report.

The girl who arrived late raised her hand and stuttered, "Uh, Dr. Alexander. I think you threw my lab report in the can."

Dr. Alexander looked right at her and with minimal emotion uttered, "Yes, I did. You were late to class and I distinctly said last week that lab reports were due by 2 pm. You get a zero for last week."

It's as if all air had been sucked from the room. Dr. Alexander then stated, "You can all go to your lab desks now."

I have no recollection of anyone ever turning in their lab report late for the remainder of the year and I can tell you that I always made a point to turn my lab report in early.

Lunch Seven Years Later With Dr. Alexander

Dr. Alexander made such an impression on me that I made an effort to stay in touch with him. I used to do construction jobs near UC and one day I asked him if he'd like to have lunch. We met and it was a great time. He asked about my work and I told him how much of what he taught I actually used in construction.

I brought back up that story about the young girl and her report and he couldn't recall it. I was surprised by that. But he said, "Oh, I don't know if I could pull that off today. The students today are not at all like your class, Tim. They need lots more hand-holding."

Note this would have been just about 1980 when he talked about the trend of students not being tough.

Millennial College Students, Safe Spaces, Juice Boxes, and Fruit Roll-ups

I now produce a newsletter that goes out to 45,000 USA consumers from every walk of life. Just days ago in response to one of my newsletters where I talked about how self-centered people are becoming, I received the following reply.

The professor asked for me to keep his name confidential as he didn't want any trouble and is trying to retire.

I've not edited what he sent. You're about to be shocked is all I can say. Dr. Alexander is no doubt spinning in his grave:

"I know what you mean by the unreasonable expectations of people. I completely agree. I've been teaching college now for almost 28 years and the civility has changed.

Students want an answer to their question RIGHT NOW, even if you're in the middle of presenting a lecture that took hours to prepare. Often their question is not even on the topic being presented.

It is very COMMON for a student sitting on the front row to wear headphones and listen to music while you teach, or to get up and walk out of class to smoke or go to the bathroom or make/take a phone call, and then wander back in...whenever.

Reading anything or taking notes on anything is out of the question. They want a study guide for every test that tells them EXACTLY what they need to know to pass.

Students from the class that ended 20 minutes ago in the classroom are still there talking, working even when you ask them to leave so you can begin your class.

Office hours? No, they prefer that you Skype, Zoom, WebEx them at their convenience. All email must be answered within 48 hours, even if it's the weekend.

I'm done. I'm retiring from teaching and going on to something else."

Concrete Foundation Forms

Posted on October 13, 2018 by Tim Carter

Concrete Foundation Forms Checklist

Modular design allows forms to be set in hours
Produce perfectly straight and square foundations
Allow for the easy installation of reinforcing steel
Simple design requires few skills to set up

Concrete Foundation Forms Save Time and Money

Modern concrete foundation forms are modular and can be assembled with almost no tools. All the parts fit together like large children's toys.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local foundation contractors.

How Were Old Concrete Foundation Forms Made?

Concrete foundation forms used to be made from tongue-and-groove 1x6's assembled by carpenters. After the concrete was hard, they salvaged the wood and used it as the diagonal subflooring for the homes. Whatever was left over was used as roof sheathing.

Modern concrete foundation forms are made with steel and aluminum.

How Long Does it Take to Set Up the Forms?

A simple square or rectangle foundation can be formed up in just a few hours with modular forms. It's important to realize that a level and square footing makes the job go very fast.

How is Foundation Reinforcing Steel Installed?

The cross straps used in some forms have notches in them that hold the reinforcing steel in place. It's best to have two rows of steel bars in concrete foundations. One set of bars should be about a foot up from the bottom of the wall and the other set should be about a foot down from the top of the foundation wall.

Is Skilled Labor Required for Concrete Foundation Forms?

A skilled foreman should be on the job to direct the layout work. However, unskilled labor can do almost all of the assembly of the forms because of the clever design of the interlocking panels and parts.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local foundation contractors.

October 12, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Tim Carter

Are you new around these parts? Welcome pardner! The local sheriff doesn't take kindly to those that cause trouble. 🙂

If you're a local, then you know all the good stuff happens when you use the search engine at AsktheBuilder.com. CLICK HERE to see it and a dorky video of me.

I wanted to just share a disturbing trend I'm experiencing. I wonder if you're seeing it too.

Yesterday morning, I had a new subscriber yell at me at 5:30 am ET because he had to read a column to get the answer to his question.

He was so busy, or stressed out, or ???? that he vented on me because I didn't drop what I was doing and do exactly what he wanted.

It also happened two days ago when a woman asked me if I had a detailed video that would help her do a job. I simply said, "No." and then went on to explain why I didn't have the extremely long and costly video.

She answered back that I was rude.

I'm not looking for your sympathy or empathy. I'm just asking that we might consider being nicer to one another. Our culture seems to be going down the toilet and people seem to be less patient and more demanding.

This is not good in my opinion.

What's This?

Do you know what this is? If not, you should absolutely CLICK HERE. Wait until you see the FUNNY video of me at the page.

What Can the Bucket Do?

CLICK the photo.

Chris from Columbus, OH inspired me to revise THIS COLUMN. His house was built in the mid 1990s. Was yours? CLICK HERE to see why that's an issue.

What Are the Best Deck Piers in Life?

Yes, that's me in the hole. What is that crazy orange tube and WHY is it so important? Is that pre-bent reinforcing steel in the tube? Who cut and bent it? CLICK HERE for the answers and for a really funny video about how to avoid getting into the doghouse!

What Can Possibly Go Wrong Here?

Do you think you know everything there is to know about tubs like this?

What about vintage tubs - the clawfoot ones? You better CLICK HERE NOW and get up to speed before you have a $3,000 MISTAKE.

That's enough for a Friday.

I pulled a muscle in my left shoulder and the two middle fingers on my left hand are giving me trouble. The less I type the better.

I'll be back with more new and revised columns for you soon.

I also recorded a new product podcast yesterday about some revolutionary new IRWIN vise-grip pliers. You'll absolutely want to hear that. I hope to have it ready for you next week.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Certified Organic Cleaner Man - www.StainSolver.com
Morse Code Man - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Septic Tank Design

Posted on October 11, 2018 by Tim Carter

Septic Tank Design | This is a complete septic tank design. You can see the top of the concrete septic tank and the level leach field on the other side of the vertical green vent pipe. House drain pipes that flow into septic tanks require maintenance to keep the septic tank working well. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

"The size of the septic tank is determined by the number of bedrooms in almost all cases."

Septic Tank Design Checklist

You need a professional design drawn by a pro
Each house is different because of load, soil, and topography
A leach field can be under a road
Use gravity - avoid pumping septic tank water up hills

Septic Tank Design - You Need a Professional

Septic tank design is a science. Professional septic tank designers are trained to know exactly what type of system to put in for each location.

What Size Septic Tank is Required?

The size of the septic tank is determined by the number of bedrooms in almost all cases. The septic designer has to know how many people might be living in the house. I have a four-bedroom home here in New Hampshire and my tank has a 1,000-gallon capacity.

What are the Basic Septic Tank Design Components?

A basic septic tank design will have:

a precast concrete or fiberglass septic tank
a distribution box
a leach field piping system

What Does a Septic Tank Design Look Like?

The following photos show you an overall septic tank design. Look at the close-up photos to see the specific design details.

septic tank design

What Soils Are Best for Septic Systems?

A well-drained soil is best. The more sand that's in the soil the better. Dense clay soils are the worst.

What is a Raised Leach Field?

A raised leach field is one where the pipes and sandy filter soil are placed up above the normal grade height. These raised leach fields resemble Indian burial mounds.

Can a Leach Field be Placed Under a Driveway or Road?

Yes, a leach field can be placed under a driveway or road. These require a special pre-cast concrete panel system that protects the sand filter medium under the roadway or driveway. Watch the following video to see one.

Should I Have a Pump in My Septic Tank Design?

I'd avoid septic tank pumps at all costs. Pumps fail and are expensive. Request a septic tank design that uses gravity flow at all stages. If that's not possible, consider purchasing a different building lot.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local septic tank companies.

Different Deck Piers and Wet Basements and Yards

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Tim Carter

Different Deck Piers

QUESTION #1: Tim, can you explain why I need concrete deck piers under the wood support posts that hold up my deck? I saw an older deck where the posts just rested on pre-cast concrete stepping stones. The deck seemed fine to me. Are deck piers overkill and a way for contractors to just rip me off and make more money? - Cynical Sarah, Cincinnati, OH

You might be a distruster like Sarah if you’ve been burned once or twice by unethical and dishonest contractors. The ecosystem deals with these bad people and it’s harder for them to operate now that you can use the Internet to share your horror story.

However, any contractor that says you need deck piers for your new deck or to expand an existing one is giving you great advice. Deck piers are the foundation for a deck just like your home most likely has footings and foundation walls.

There are quite a few reasons why you need piers not the least of which is to spread out the concentrated loads of the deck posts across a larger footprint on stable and strong soil.

Decks are heavy, very heavy. Pick up just one treated-lumber 2x12x16-foot floor joist to get an idea. If your deck is bolted to the side of your home and has two posts that support the structure, usually half the total weight of the deck is bearing on the tiny 4x4 posts.

These wood posts resemble spike high heels some women wear. Several thousand pounds of weight might be pressing down on the two posts. This kind of concentrated load on 2-inch-thick precast concrete paving stones can crack them like you’d snap a fresh saltine cracker.

Another key point is the deck structure must be immune from frost heave damage. Here in central New Hampshire where I live, the soil freezes in the winter and I’ve seen it rise up at least 4 or 5 inches. The bottom of the deck piers must be placed deep enough in the soil so the pier can’t move up and down. This movement can wreak havoc on any structure.

It’s important to realize that the shape of the deck pier is critical. It’s a good idea to make the bottom of the pier larger than the top. The base of the larger bell-shaped pier can then distribute the weight across more soil.

Reinforcing steel should be placed in deck piers to make them as strong as possible. In almost all cases two 1/2-inch steel bars extending vertically in the pier is sufficient. Some DIY deck pier forms come with the reinforcing steel already cut and bent.

I’ve created a page at my website that has illustrations of different deck piers and numerous videos of me showing the deck pier I love to use. Go to: Deck Piers

Wet Basements and Yards

QUESTION #2: Hello Tim! A spate of recent rainstorms has created not only a wet basement at my home but also a backyard that resembles the Okefenokee Swamp. Is there a way to prevent the water from entering my basement as well as drying out my yard? If a method is available, is it DIY friendly? - Wet Walter, Woodstock, VA

Wet basements, crawlspaces, and soggy yards are some of the most frequent problems homeowners like you ask me to solve. The good news is I’ve helped tens of thousands of homeowners stop water from entering their homes. What’s more, I’ve dried out thousands of acres of land at the same time!

My college degree is in geology with a focus on hydrogeology and soils. Water tends to move sideways through most soils that have a medium to high clay content. Almost all land has a slope to it that you can use to your advantage to capture subsurface water before it comes in contact with your foundation.

It’s important to realize you need to capture all roof water from your home and pipe it to the lowest part of your lot. You then need to dig a 6-inch-wide trench around two, or more, sides of your home that resembles a moat around a castle. The trench might be as shallow as one foot or it can be several feet deep. A perforated pipe is placed in the trench and the trench is filled with rounded or angular gravel the size of grapes or walnuts.

The perforated pipe extends to the lowest part of your lot as well. Water flowing through the soil encounters the large gravel, it drops through the gravel and then enters the pipe. The water flows through the pipe, out onto the ground away from your home and continues its journey to the ocean.

I’ve got lots of other trench drain installation tips at my website as well as a video showing you easy DIY methods to install one of these superb trench drains. Go to: Stopwater

October 7, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Tim Carter

New subscriber? Welcome! This is a fairly odd issue. When I have RARE sales on my stuff, I send out a reminder email when the sale is hours away from ending. This is one of those days.

But hang in there, as this issue has some very cool stuff.

Notable subscriber of past time? Please tell the new subscribers that the last time I had a big sale at the shopping cart Henry Ford was playing patty-cake with this friend Pedro.

Two years ago, when I was writing my Roofing Ripoff book about the huge scam concerning your asphalt roof shingles I included a small part about a light bulb.

It's not just any light bulb mind you. My advisors said to take out that part of the book because it had nothing to do with shingles.

The point I was trying to make is that there are all sorts of products that have been made to last and last but ethics and money sometimes get in the way. I wish I would have left it in the book now. But that's water over the dam.

centennial light bulb

CLICK HERE to read the fascinating story about this light bulb that burns CONTINUOUSLY.

Be sure to pay attention to WHO bought the company.

LAST CALL for ATB Anniversary Sale

This is the LAST CALL for my sale.

You can get 25% off MANY, not all, items at my shopping cart.

You can't get a discount on Stain Solver, the copper strips that protect your shingles, stainless-steel flashings, and some of my DVDS. Anything made from atoms is pretty much exempt except for my helpful Linear French Drain Stream Video.

Here's what you should look at in the cart to take advantage of this sale:

Basic Structural Concepts eBook

Linear French Drain Streaming Video

I Draw Your Plumbing Plans

New House Cost Estimator

Sample Blueprints - What YOUR Plans should look like!

Roofing Ripoff book PDF version

There are MANY MORE products I could name, but I'd bore you. This is a RARE opportunity to SAVE BIG MONEY.

The promo code to use is:

25ATB

The sale ends in HOURS.

CLICK HERE to see all products.

Enlarge Opening in a Bearing Wall

Have you thought about the process of creating an opening in a wall?

Do you know where to start?

PLEASE GO WATCH the video of me in this new column. I'm talking about the video where you see me standing in a room with red walls.

enlarge opening in bearing wall

That's quite enough for a Sunday morning. I'm wearing my spiffy American Flag bow tie today at church.

I always get lots of compliments about it. Here it is before I tie it.

I should have some great revised columns for you this coming week.

Watch for your next issue.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Certified Organic Man - www.StainSolver.com
Radio Operator - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Outdoor Shed Tips

Pocket Doors

A Real-Time Journal

Each Week A New Chapter

Open Each Newsletter

My New Haas Garage Doors

Haas Garage Door - Real Wood Look But Tough Steel

Do The Doors Look Like Real Wood?

Are the Door Insulated?

Do You Feel The Haas Doors Add Value to Your Home?

Do The Glass Panels add Lots of Light to the Garage?

What About the Decorative Glass?

Would You Recommend a Haas Door to Your Friends?

Concrete Block

Reinforcing Steel Makes The Difference

Flood Plains

Dr. John Alexander - University of Cincinnati Chemistry Professor

Why was Dr. Alexander Important?

What About the Millennials in 2018?

The First Two Dr. Alexander Labs

Lunch Seven Years Later With Dr. Alexander

Millennial College Students, Safe Spaces, Juice Boxes, and Fruit Roll-ups

Concrete Foundation Forms Checklist

Concrete Foundation Forms Save Time and Money

How Were Old Concrete Foundation Forms Made?

How Long Does it Take to Set Up the Forms?

How is Foundation Reinforcing Steel Installed?

Is Skilled Labor Required for Concrete Foundation Forms?

What's This?

What Can the Bucket Do?

What Are the Best Deck Piers in Life?

What Can Possibly Go Wrong Here?

Septic Tank Design Checklist

Septic Tank Design - You Need a Professional

What Size Septic Tank is Required?

What are the Basic Septic Tank Design Components?

What Does a Septic Tank Design Look Like?

What Soils Are Best for Septic Systems?

What is a Raised Leach Field?

Can a Leach Field be Placed Under a Driveway or Road?

Should I Have a Pump in My Septic Tank Design?

Different Deck Piers

Wet Basements and Yards

LAST CALL for ATB Anniversary Sale

Enlarge Opening in a Bearing Wall

Expert Advice For Your Home