Plumbing Supplies Survey

Posted on May 22, 2018 by Tim Carter

I love, love, love things made in the USA. How about you?

CLICK HERE to read the backstory on this Survey. It was in Tim's May 23, 2018 Newsletter.

Would you be excited to discover important plumbing supplies that can protect your home from catastrophic water damage might start to be made in the USA again? Currently, these plumbing supplies are made offshore.

Over the years, I've received more than my fair share of horror stories about substandard quality when it comes to these supplies and parts. My own primary-care doctor is an avid DIYr and he had quite a few failures when he was re-plumbing his vacation home. He was frustrated trying to locate quality plumbing supplies made in the USA.

If you'd rather purchase something made in the USA, then please do me and yourself a favor and take the following short survey. It will take you less than one minute, guaranteed.

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Corner Shower

Posted on May 22, 2018 by Tim Carter

"A corner shower is a great use of space. For maximum pleasure, be sure the shower is a minimum of 42 inches on each leg coming out of the corner."

Corner Shower Installation Tips

get a 42x42 one if at all possible
shower pan must have flanges to prevent leaks
shower pan must be level
use a squeegee to keep glass perfectly clean
WATCH videos below

DEAR TIM: It’s time to remodel our bathroom and I absolutely want a bathroom corner shower to replace our current standard tub. Is it possible to install a corner shower or a corner shower tub that will work for me?

What I really have my heart set on is a sleek glass corner shower. What are some of the pros and cons of these plumbing fixtures? I’m afraid I won’t have enough room with the angled door. Help! Wanda B., Greenville, SC

Are Glass Corner Showers Easy to Install?

Yes, a corner shower with glass panels is easy to install. There are several steps, but if you can follow directions you can install one.

As you might imagine, I’ve installed quite a few showers, many with custom shower glass.

Many showers with glass panels require bracing so the glass doesn't move back and forth as the door opens.

Watch this video to see how easy it is to install a neo-angle shower door.

Are Glass Corner Showers Easy to Clean?

Yes, if you have a squeegee in the shower and use it to get the water drops off the walls and glass, your corner shower will look new all the time.

Currently, the glass shower enclosures are the rage because they’re so sleek and easy to clean. I had one in the house I just sold and will be installing several of these glass showers in the new home I intend to build.

Do Corner Shower Tubs Leak?

Yes, a corner shower tub can leak if it doesn't have the required turned-up flange on the corner edges.

I want to warn you about corner shower tubs. I frequently see these fixtures advertised and feel some are misleading. I’ll never forget a job I did about 30 years ago where an architect insisted on using a first-generation acrylic tub as a shower fixture.

This tub was promoted as being good for a shower, but it had no flange on the edges where the walls of the shower contacted the tub unit. I told the architect it was a mistake and that there would be future leaks.

He insisted that careful caulking would create a permanent seal. We caulked it, under written protest, with his on-site supervision. Six months later there were serious leaks into the living room below. Since I had my written release from damage, I was immune from the warranty claims made by the owner.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors to install a corner shower.

Is Caulk the Best Way to Seal A Shower?

Caulk is not the best way to seal a shower. The shower itself must be designed to shed water to the drain. Caulk is not to be used as a primary line of defense against leaks.

The bottom line is that if you decide to use one of these classy corner tubs in conjunction with a shower, be sure it has a flange on the two edges that contact the corner walls.

Furthermore, be sure you figure out how you’re going to get into and out of the shower safely without stepping over any tall curbs. Finally, be sure the deck of the tub where the glass enclosure goes slopes back toward the tub so that water that splashes onto this surface flows to the tub drain.

This corner shower looks like it’s cramped, but there is plenty of room so you don’t bang your elbows on the walls. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

What is the Best Corner Shower Size?

The best corner shower size is one that's 42 inches on each leg that projects out from the corner. A neo-angle corner shower might be your best bet. They come 42x42, 38x38, and 36x36.

To prevent bumping your elbows in a corner shower unit, I suggest the shower wall dimensions be at least 36 inches by 36 inches as they come out of the corner. Usually, the shower-door manufacturers want you to provide at least 24 inches along the neo-angle clipped corner so they can get a door that will be easy to enter and exit the shower.

The shower door in the above photo is about 22 inches wide. You can see why you need 24 inches on the clipped neo-angle.

When you draw this configuration on a blank piece of plywood or your garage floor with a pencil, you’ll discover that you do end up with plenty of room.

If you want a larger shower for any number of reasons, be sure the walls of the shower as they come out of the corner are at least 42 inches. A larger 48-inch corner shower will give you an abundant play or a luxury shower experience.

Will a Bench Work in a Corner Shower?

If you decide to have your plumber and remodeler construct a custom tile corner shower, I urge you to include a corner shower bench. You’ll discover that this is a great place to sit and relax.

It’s also a great place to allow you to place your foot so you don’t have to bend over so far to wash your feet and lower legs. My guess is it would be handy if you shave your legs. Since I don’t shave mine, I wouldn’t know.

Can You Install Shelves in the Corner?

Yes, you can install all different types of shelves in the corner. Molded showers have them built in.

Don’t hesitate to install some corner shower shelves for all of your personal cleaning and grooming supplies. You don’t want these on the bench or shower seat. If you decide to go with the nice metal corner shower baskets, be sure they are stainless steel or nickel.

Avoid chrome-plated steel. I tested a chrome one in a corner shower I have in the house I just bought, and it started to rust in less than nine months.

Should the Shower Curb Be Level?

The curb to the shower needs to be level for the glass walls and door to rest on, but the narrow width of the curb should slant in towards the drain so water doesn't pool on the curb.

It’s mission critical that any curb that your tile setter or remodeler builds for your new shower must slant in towards the shower. I also urge you to use solid stone for the top of this curb instead of ceramic tile. Each grout line in between tiles on a curb is a place for water to penetrate. Solid stone caps on a curb minimize leak points. Be sure the mitered seams of the stone pieces are filled with waterproof epoxy.

The marble curb in my existing corner shower was installed out of level. I didn't install this curb.

The marble actually slopes out towards the bathroom so that water ponds on the marble against the shower door frame. I’ve caulked this disaster numerous times, but it still leaks. I have to carefully squeegee off the water from this curb after each shower. It’s a nuisance to say the least.

How Do You Clean Acrylic Showers?

You clean acrylic showers using liquid soap and a non-abrasive cleaning pad. Do NOT use any abrasive cleaners as you'll scratch the soft glossy acrylic.

If you decide to purchase an acrylic corner shower, pay very close attention to the written cleaning instructions that are almost always attached to the unit when it’s delivered. If you use the wrong cleaners, you’ll permanently scratch the shiny smooth surface. To keep the plastic surface looking brand new, just use a squeegee after each shower to get all the water droplets off the surface.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors to install a corner shower.

I wrote about bathroom mildew in my February 24, 2009 Newsletter.

Related Column: Deluxe Shower Doors and Enclosures

Column 852

A Bucket of Water and Real Whitewash

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Tim Carter

A Bucket Of Water

Question #1: Tim, I was really grossed out this past weekend. A toilet clogged in our home and while using a normal plunger some of the nasty water squirted up on me. It was horrible. Then you have to clean the yucky plunger. ICK!!! Is there a safer and more sanitary way to unclog a toilet? Becky, Scottsdale, AZ

Has this happened to you? I know you’ve had to deal with a clogged toilet before, but what about the splash back? It’s pretty nasty. I’ve got good news for you and Becky. There’s an easy and fast way to unclog a toilet that doesn’t involve you using the black bulb of nastiness in the toilet bowl.

I’ve been a master plumber since age 29. I’m naturally inquisitive and I thoroughly enjoyed both my high school and college physics classes.

Years ago as a young man I noticed two things about toilet clogs. The first was that when a clog happened and you flushed the toilet, the water would rise up to the top of the bowl and sometimes overflow. Talk about a gross mess! I discovered how to quickly take off the lid of the tank and lower the flapper valve to stop the flow of most of the water into the tank to minimize the flood.

But then I noticed often after a few minutes or even an hour, the water level in the bowl would drop back down to normal. That meant some water was leaking past the clog. I thought about these things and decided to experiment. I remembered a simple formula from my physics classes: Force equals mass times acceleration

My thought was to dump the heavy water as fast as possible into a toilet bowl. This would produce a large force to free the clog. I filled a smaller bucket with water, perhaps two gallons, and poured it as fast as I could into the clogged toilet bowl without splashing it all over the place.

It’s important to realize I aimed the column of water from the bucket directly at the bottom of the bowl where you see the toilet colon passageway disappear. The water level in the bowl started to rise and just before it was to overflow the rim of the bowl, the toilet flushed on its own. The rush of heavy water from the bucket cleared the clog!

This method doesn’t always work the first time, but I started to notice the water level in the bowl would lower faster. This meant more water was passing the clog faster which meant I was making progress. I’ve even used this same method in hotel rooms using the waste can in the bathroom as my bucket.

I taped a quick video showing exactly how I unclog toilets with a bucket of water. You can go to my AsktheBuilder website to watch it. Just go to: https://www.askthebuilder.com/clogged-toilet/

Real Whitewash

Question #2: Hey Tim, is it still possible to do real whitewashing like I remember reading in the Tom Sawyer book? I want to whitewash my interior brick fireplace that has the horrible 80s look. Do they still make real whitewash? Can you tint it a color? I see cable TV shows where people are adding water to paint to make whitewash. Is this the best way to do it? Rachael, Knoxville, TN

Have you been fooled like Rachael by watching those home improvement cable TV shows? BEWARE of the information on some of them as it’s just not right. Thinned paint is not whitewash. If you add too much water to paint, you thin down the glue that allows paint to stick to something. It’s a horrible idea and all those promoting substituting paints for real whitewash should be lashed with a wet fettuccine noodle!

Whitewash is a simple mixture of lime, salt, and water. Whitewash, once mixed, is liquid rock. When you apply it to a clean surface and it cures, it’s far more durable than paint. Whitewash can last for many decades.

The good news is you can still purchase hydrated lime in bags. It’s very inexpensive. Salt is also a cheap commodity. Better yet, you can colorize whitewash using dried pigments that are also easy to get. Stamped concrete installers use these dry-shake pigments all the time to add color concrete.

I whitewashed a huge room addition decades ago to match a 1920s brick house that had the original whitewash on it. The original coating was dirty and the owner loved that look. I mixed black and brown pigments in different batches to get exact matches with those aged sections of the house.

I’ve got step-by-step photos of whitewashing a brick fireplace at my AsktheBuilder website. The recipe I used is also there as well as sources of the dry pigments. I’ve also got some great tips for the first-time whitewasher. Go to: https://www.askthebuilder.com/whitewash-fireplace-diy/

Column 1249

May 20, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Tim Carter

Are you a new subscriber? I'm glad you're here.

Are you a veteran subscriber? You know the drill.

Quick Test - No Foolin'

I know this sounds crazy as can be, but I need you to take this simple test. PLEASE choose one of the answers. It's super important that you click one of the two choices. Nothing bad is going to happen. This is not some gag.

Do you want to still receive this newsletter?

CLICK HERE for "Yes, Tim. I love your newsletter and blue eyes!"

CLICK HERE for "No Tim, I'm sick of your face and deceit."

FREE Deck Stain Test Results

I've just come to realize that two of the products that ranked pretty high in my deck stain test are no longer available.

But some of the VERY BAD PRODUCTS are. You need to know WHAT PRODUCTS I'd NEVER EVER use to seal a wood deck.

They're in my Deck Stain Test Results.

Kathy and I don't feel it's right to charge for the PDF file if you can't get two of the products that did pretty darn well.

As such, I've decided to not charge any longer for my Deck Stain Test Results.

CLICK HERE for the FREE PDF file.

Crown Molding Secrets Revealed

Have you ever pulled your hair out about how to make the cuts for crown molding?

CLICK HERE to see how easy it is. You don't need a fancy expensive compound miter saw to do it.

Pumpkin-seed Lenticular Arch Bridge

On Friday, I went with my good friend Jim Cluett to do amateur radio just upstream from the very historic pumpkin-seed lenticular arch bridge that spans the Pemigewasset River in Campton, NH.

CLICK HERE if you want to see more photos of me in that dashing hat and me praying for a Morse code contact!

Painting Vinyl Siding

Is your vinyl siding fading? Do you want to change the color of your house?

You CAN PAINT vinyl siding, but you MUST DO IT the right way and use the RIGHT PAINT.

CLICK HERE now to discover how I'd paint vinyl siding. This goes for ANY vinyl outdoor thing you have, including furniture or trebuchets.

Whitewashing - The REAL Stuff

You may be a fan of the cable TV shows that show all these trendy ideas.

One that's been bastardized is whitewash. Most of the shows, if not all of them, show taking regular paint and adding water to it.

That's the WORST THING you could ever do.

CLICK HERE to discover how you can put a coating on your house that might not come off for DECADES.

You can even tint whitewash ANY COLOR you want!

Unclog a Toilet with Water!

I've been a master plumber since age 29. Do you know how I unclog toilets?

I use a simple bucket of water.

CLICK HERE to see how I do the secret unclog-with-a-bucket tip.

BEWARE Behr DeckOver!

Is your deck in pretty bad shape? Are you thinking of coating it with that thick Behr DeckOver product?

CLICK HERE to discover why you should probably avoid this product. Wait until you see the videos!!

That's quite enough for a Sunday.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Captain Stain Solver Man - www.StainSolver.com
Purveyor of Ether Waves - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Duluth Trading Men’s Crusher Hat

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Tim Carter

Men's Crusher Hat Keeps You Cool and Shaded

Three years ago I wore a wide-brimmed hat all summer as I re-roofed my house. It was an ill-fitting leather hat that cooked my skull. I wish I had had the Duluth Trading Men's Crusher Hat that I tested yesterday while doing amateur radio at the historic Pumpkin Seed Bridge over the Pemigewasset River in central New Hampshire!

Crusher Hat Preserves Duluth Trading Heritage

I've been a fan of Duluth Trading gear for decades. I was one of their first customers. I remember clearly when they started selling products to contractors.

Before the Crusher Hat arrived, I already knew it was going to be excellent. CLICK HERE to order one.

It's pretty obvious this hat works. My face is fully shaded and I'm not suffering from heat exhaustion because my perspiration can evaporate through the polyester mesh upper sides of the hat. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

Four Colors

The Crusher hat you see on my head is their Steel Blue. They had two other colors that I was quite interested in, the Frosted Moss (a very interesting green), and Bark. It's a bold medium brown color. Let me know in the comments below what you think of them. CLICK HERE to see the colors using the change color tool in the right column.

If you want the African explorer or Outback conquerer-look, then Dark Kahki is for you!

Fit is Perfect | Crusher Hat Sizes are Accurate

I have a tough time finding hats that fit. My wife, She Who Must Be Obeyed (Kathy), tells me it's because of my ego. But I digress.

Suffice it to say, the 2XL size was perfect for my head. On hot days I know I'll appreciate the CoolDry® sweatband inside the hat.

You can see through to my hand inside the hat. The top and brim are solid to protect you from the searing UV and IR waves from the demon sun. The sides, though, are an open mesh allowing cooling breezes to envelope your noggin with fresh air. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

The Federal Trade Commission requires me to tell you that Duluth Trading sent me the Crusher Hat for free. After wearing it, I'd gladly pay for it. It does me no good to impune my integrity by telling you it's a great hat if it sucks. You'll never again trust one of my reviews.

Want to see how well I tell the truth in reviews? CLICK HERE to see what I thought of the Milwaukee Tool electric finish nailer. Milwaukee was so unhappy they stopped sending me tools to review.

I reviewed other items from Duluth in my June 13, 2010 Newsletter.

May 18, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on May 18, 2018 by Tim Carter

New subscriber? Strap yourself in!

Veteran subscriber? You know what's about to happen.

This is a Fast Friday edition. I've got some quick tips for you

Kevin's Yellow Bricks

Kevin composed an email to me late yesterday. He's not in a good mood and this email is 100% responsible for this newsletter.

I felt you need to hear from someone else what I've preached in the past:

"Today I made a mistake by actually listening to a Lowe's store associate's advice and applied a product to my brick patio.

I had some mildew growing between my brick patio over the paver sand and the associate advised me to use product called Moss Out for Lawn by Lilly Miller. So I applied it over my patio and all the bricks are now yellow. I am so disappointed. Is there anything I can do to clean it up? Please help."

After reading his email, these thoughts flowed through my head:

Would you get in a commercial airliner to travel if you knew the captain with the four stripes on each shoulder of her/his shirt had NEVER FLOWN an airliner before?

Would you have surgery done on your body if you discovered the person in the green scrubs had never cut someone up much less sewed them back together again?

Should I give more examples?

WHY WOULD YOU EVER TRUST THE ADVICE GIVEN BY SOMEONE IF THEY'VE NEVER DONE THE JOB BEFORE OR USED THE PRODUCT?

After the Lowe's associate gave his advice, Kevin's polite questions to the Lowe's associate should have been:

"Have you ever used this product before on patio brick?"

"Before coming to work here at Lowe's, how many years did you work out in the field cleaning patio brick?"

It's YOUR MONEY. It's YOUR HOME. You have every right to ask questions before you invest in a product HOPING it will work.

All Kevin had to do was come to me FIRST and I would have told him to use my certified organic Stain Solver.

CLICK HERE and WATCH THE SIMPLE VIDEO to see how to clean mildew and algae from any outdoor surface.

Dan's Quick UnClog Tool

I'm so lucky to have great friends. One happens to be Dan. He lives in Colorado. He and I are going on a little-man self-discovery trip mid September to hike and do amateur radio out in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks.

He emailed me after the last newsletter saying,

"Have you ever recommended this product? It rules! I've used it many, many times."

It's the Cobra Zip-It drain cleaning tool. It works best on bathroom sink and tub drains that are clogged with hair.

The barbs on the shaft grab onto hair that's tangled up in the drain stopper mechanisms. It is a great invention. CLICK HERE to get one.

Keep in mind, I'm a master plumber and have no fear of taking off the tiny nut on the back of the tailpiece of a bath sink drain to be able to make it like new.

My response to Dan was:

"I've not.

I know it works, but it doesn't get all the hair out.

I just take out the lift lever in the tailpiece and get the entire drain clean.

While doing that, I'm able to get a bottle brush down the tailpiece to get rid of all the FOUL biofilm on the sidewalls of the tailpiece.

That invention, while very handy, just does a small part of what needs to be done."

That inexpensive plastic tool will save you HUNDREDS of dollars by not having to have a plumber come out to do what I can do in three minutes.

If hair is clogging your drain, the Cobra Zip-It should work for you.

DECEPTIVE Product Description WARNING

On Mother's Day morning, my youngest daughter chatted me up from Puerto Rico. She's working at a deluxe boutique hotel in Old San Juan and loving it down there.

If you decide to go there, PLEASE let them know you heard about this magic place from Ask the Builder.

She needed to know how to safely strip old paint at one of the hotel properties. I sent her to a website that has a special paint stripper that can remove lots of paint at one time.

While there, I noticed they sold a deck cleaner. Since Kathy and I sell the best certified organic deck cleaner out there, Stain Solver, I just had to click the link.

Here's the FIRST THING I read. It was the TOP CONTENT on the page. I've substituted four X's for the product name to stay out of legal trouble:

"XXXX Deck Cleaner is a highly-effective, biodegradable, concentrated, and safe deck cleaning solution for exterior use on wood decking, siding, shakes, and outdoor furniture. XXXX Deck Cleaner, one of the best wood deck cleaners on the market, is also recommended for removing dirt, mildew stains, and algae from composite decking, concrete, stucco, vinyl siding, fiberglass, and most outdoor furniture. This eco-green product is perfect for any deck you wish to restore, large or small, because it is available in one- and five-gallon pails."

That got my interest so I looked on the page to find the MSDS sheet so I could see WHAT was in the deck cleaner.

It only took me about 20 seconds to discover the product was just CHLORINE BLEACH. The MSDS sheet showed the product contained sodium hypochlorite. That's the fancy chemical name for chlorine bleach.

Allow me ask you a question or two or three. When you see the word "biodegradable" what pops into your head?

Do you feel the product is safe?

Do you feel it's *green* or a warm and fuzzy product?

Does that word cast a spell on you making you like the product?

Did you know that chlorine bleach is TOXIC to all vegetation and many other living organisms?

Would you apply chlorine bleach to your outdoor furniture, you know the ones that have fabric cushions? After all, the label says it's SAFE to use on outdoor furniture!!

The actual definition of biodegradable is: "capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms."

I don't see how chlorine bleach fits that description because it KILLS bacteria and other living organisms!!!

But if you're a chemist, perhaps you can explain how some bacteria or organism will eat the chlorine bleach first!

BOTTOM LINE: STOP TRUSTING product descriptions. STOP trusting people who have NO EXPERIENCE.

Do some simple research. It only took me TWENTY SECONDS to see that deck cleaner was a TOXIC product.

Kevin could have PREVENTED his NIGHTMARE by READING THE LABEL on the Moss Out product .

My guess is it said: "Product contains muriatic ACID."

That's enough for today.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Supreme Stain Solver Commander - www.StainSolver.com
Electromagnetic Message Man - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

May 16, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Tim Carter

New subscriber? I'm glad you're here.

Seasoned subscriber? Thanks for sticking around!

One of my hobbies is taking sunrise photos. I'm blessed to have a superb location to see such majesty. Here's what I saw yesterday morning.

CLICK HERE to see a high-resolution version.

The lake was like glass. It was something to behold in person is all I can say.

I Discover New Things Too

Last week, I had the distinct honor to interview Mr. John Heath. I've done lots of interviews over the years with all sorts of people who make new products or offer fantastic services for homeowners.

This is an interview that could be of HUGE interest to you as it's not your everyday interview topic. My own eyes were wide open after the interview, I can tell you that!

Before the interview, I didn't think I'd discover anything I didn't already know. Well, I was WRONG.

John is a directing attorney for Lexington Law, a law firm based in Salt Lake City, UT. Lexington Law happens to specialize in credit repair.

CLICK HERE to listen to the short interview.

Here's the best part. I was able to get real homeowners involved in the interview who asked questions about credit repair and the best way to achieve a high credit score.

Here's one thing I discovered. If you have damaged credit, it could cost you over $100,000 on your next mortgage?

HOLY TOMATO!

I also found out that you can attempt DIY credit repair, but you'll probably not get the same results if you were to hire a company that has credit repair attorneys on staff.

I think you'll be BLOWN AWAY by the questions and John's answers!

Here are just a few of the highlights of the interview. You can help yourself, and me, if you please click each one of the following links. Thanks in advance for doing this for me:

Who is Lexington Law?

What Exactly Is A Credit Repair Service?

What Is the Credit Repair Process? What's Involved?

What Does it COST To Repair Credit?

HAPPY Credit Repair Stories - WOOT!

Construction DEFECT Quiz

It's time for another construction defect quiz. You're going to love this one. I saw a short video of a builder/carpenter demonstrating a screw gun tool on Twitter. I forgot to capture his Twitter handle to give him credit and now I can't find the video.

CLICK HERE to take the one-question quiz. I pretty much GUARANTEE you'll discover something new.

Getting Bids - Booming Economy Issues

I had a brief back-and-forth text message exchange with a great friend of mine, John, who lives in Philadelphia.

He needs to have some concrete work done at his home and is having trouble getting bids. It's a COMMON problem when the economy is booming as it is now.

But as you might expect, I've got a #Hack so you can get fast bids and FREE ones from local contractors.

Believe me, unless you live so far out in the country that the rural mail carrier has a sleeping bag in her/his car, you're going to hear from the contractors FAST.

CLICK HERE and give it a try. I don't care what type of work you need done.

If you don't get a rapid response, let me know.

Payback Time For New Insulation or Furnace

How long does it take to start SAVING money if you install more insulation or a high-efficiency furnace or AC unit?

CLICK HERE to discover how long it takes.

Best Way to Clean Roof Algae?

Does your roof look like the one in this column? CLICK HERE to see the photo.

While there, discover how to clean algae off your roof and once clean how to make sure it NEVER COMES BACK.

That's enough for today.

You can REALLY do yourself, and ME, a favor by going back up and clicking all those links in the Lexington Law story.

Thanks for doing that for me!!!!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Captain Cleaning Crystals - www.StainSolver.com
Outdoor Adventure Humanoid - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Treated Lumber Decking Installation Defect Quiz

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Tim Carter

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Cleaning Shingles – Algae / Mildew / Oxygen Bleach

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Tim Carter

Clean roof shingles with Stain Solver. This roof is covered with different species of roof algae. Once you clean the shingles, you can keep them clean with a simple copper strip at the ridge.

"Scrubbing asphalt shingles with a scrub brush is fine if you do it somewhat gently."

Clean Shingles | Algae / Mildew Stains From Roofs Gone!

Many people suffer from stains on roofs. Some people have moss and lichen growth as well.

I suffer from all of the above on my own roof. My house is tucked under some magnificent oak trees and I get plenty of shade that promotes the growth of moss and lichens. The algae will grow in both direct sun and shade.

Will A Good Garden Hose Work to Clean Shingles?

I've found that a garden hose with above average pressure will do a swell job of removing moss and lichens. The trick is to aim the hose stream down the roof and keep the nozzle about 3 feet away from the shingles.

Scrubbing asphalt shingles with a scrub brush is fine if you do it somewhat gently. Some granules may come off but not the ones that are deeply embedded in the hot asphalt. You must get this heavy moss and lichen build-up off the roof before you start to deep clean it with oxygen bleach.

What's the Best Roof Shingle Cleaner?

Quite by accident, I discovered a non-toxic product that will not hurt you, the roof or plants below should you want to deep clean your shingles and get them looking like new. It's Oxygen bleach.

Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.

This is a powder that is mixed with water and does a great job of removing black roof algae stains. The trick is to work in the cool part of the day.

The sun heats up shingles quickly and you must keep the roof surface wet with the oxygen bleach solution for up to 45 minutes to achieve superb results. If you try to do this in direct sunlight, the solution will evaporate too fast.

I happen to sell oxygen bleach. I call it Stain Solver. You can also find oxygen bleach on cable TV and in some big-box stores like Wal-Mart. But my Stain Solver is better than ALL of my competition.

Why?

Because my Stain Solver is certified organic. The two ingredients are made in the USA.

Also, the more you buy from me the cheaper it gets. You absolutely do not get a discount when you buy more at the national chain stores or when you order from the TV infomercials.

Oxygen bleach is often sold in two-pound sizes and multiples of two pounds (4 lbs, 6 lbs, etc., up to 50 lbs!) Because my product has the highest concentration of oxygen bleach, you need less of it per gallon of water to deep clean.

Two pounds of my Stain Solver will make four gallons of solution. We find that four gallons of solution will typically clean 250 to 300 square feet of roof area. Badly stained roofs may need multiple applications.

To buy Stain Solver go to: www.stainsolver.com

Or call us at 513-407-8727.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local roof-cleaning contractors. It's safer than you getting up there.

If you want to buy another oxygen bleach product, simply turn on your TV or go to Wal-Mart. But be sure to buy plenty, as the product you get will contain a considerable amount of filler!

How Can You Stop Algae and Moss on Shingles?

All you have to do is install thin copper on your ridge shingles to STOP algae, moss and lichens.

Watch this video to see me do it. Remember, all cap shingles have at least two face nails and you never see leaks from them.

If you install copper strips like this on your ridge and hips the roof algae and moss will disappear if you get periodic rain.

Message from Tim:

Years ago while researching a column about cleaning decks, I discovered the wonders of Oxygen Bleach. It is perhaps the 'greenest' cleaner I know of as it uses oxygen ions to break apart stains, dirt and odor molecules. There are no harsh chemicals, and it works on just about anything that is water washable.

I decided to create my own special blend using ingredients made in the USA. In fact, the raw materials in the active ingredient are food-grade quality registered with the FDA. I call my product Stain Solver. I urge you to use it to help with your roof shingle cleaning. You will be amazed at the results!

Column B374

Payback Periods

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Tim Carter

Your insulation payback time depends on how much fuel your boiler or furnace burns each day. This is my own boiler. If the outdoor temperature drops below 5 F, the house loses more heat each hour than the boiler is able to produce in an hour. The colder it gets outdoors the colder it starts to get indoors. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

"You don't start to save money on any energy-saving improvement until such time as you've paid yourself back in energy savings all of the money, plus interest, that you spent on the energy-saving upgrade."

DEAR TIM: My most recent utility bill took my breath away. It was sky high. I've read different articles in newspapers and magazines that say I can save hundreds of dollars a year on my heating bills.

Is this really possible? If so, it might make sense to replace my 14-year-old 80-percent efficient furnace. What's the best way to calculate the actual savings so I can choose wisely? Connie D., Oshkosh, WI

DEAR CONNIE: I've read similar articles and often wonder if the author was paying attention during math class. Hundreds of dollars to me usually means an amount in the range of $400 - $700.00.

I imagine it is possible for a person to save hundreds of dollars, but these people either live in very large homes, and/or keep their thermostats on high, and/or have little insulation, and/or they have an ancient low-efficiency furnace. Most of us regular folks will save far less than that on an annual basis.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local furnace, AC and boiler contractors.

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

How Do You Calculate Insulation Payback Time?

Here are my two furnaces. They were installed in December, 1986. As of June, 2004, they were still working perfectly. But they are just about at the end of their useful lives. Within 12 months, I will probably replace them with the highest efficiency units I can get.

There are many variables that go into calculating exactly how much money you can save by switching to a high-efficiency furnace and/or adding more insulation. Here are several:

heating and cooling degree days
cost of fuel
amount of solar gain
maintaining consistent indoor temperature year to year

Heating and cooling degree days each season have a huge impact on payback times. To calculate an accurate payback time you have to make sure you're factoring in the number of heating and cooling degree days from year to year.

Gas fuel rates fluctuate. This year, for example, they are very high as I write this column. When Old Man Winter takes an occasional break and we have mild winters, gas rates can go down as the demand for the fuel lessens.

The economic law of supply and demand determines the price. If you or a salesperson calculates energy savings using your latest fuel bill and the rates go down, your payback period will be wrong! It will take longer to receive a return on your investment as the price of fuel drops.

When Do You Really Start To Save Money By Adding Insulation?

You don't start to save money on any energy-saving improvement until such time as you've paid yourself back in energy savings all of the money, plus interest, that you spent on the energy-saving upgrade.

In other words, if you added more insulation and you wrote a check for $2,500 to do the work, you need to pay yourself back the $2,500 before you start to save money. Don't forget to add in any interest if you finance the improvement. If you took the money from a savings account, you need to also add in the lost interest on your savings.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local furnace, AC and boiler contractors.

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

What About the Different Furnace Efficiency Ratings?

The spread between the efficiency of your existing furnace and a new ultra high-efficiency furnace makes a big difference in your calculations. If you get a new 95-percent-efficient furnace, 15 cents more of every dollar you spend on fuel will stay inside your home instead of going up the chimney.

People who have very old furnaces or boilers can save more. But keep in mind that the average useful life of a furnace is just about 20 years. Many furnaces that are 20 years old or younger operate at efficiencies at or above 70 percent efficiency.

How Do I Calculate Energy Savings?

There is a quick and fairly accurate way for you to see how much money you might save each year on your heating bills. All you need to do is have the past 12 months utility bills at hand.

A similar method can be used for people in the south or southwest who want to see how much they spend on air conditioning. Instead of looking at the gas portion of their bill, they would look at the electric portion.

If you heat with natural gas like I do, write down the amount you spend on gas next to each month. Note how little you spend in June, July and August when you do not have the furnace on.

You must determine an average gas cost for these three months. This is the approximate gas cost that you spend on a monthly basis year-round to heat water, dry clothes and cook. People in the south and southwest performing an air conditioning study would look at the winter bills since the air conditioner is turned off at this time.

Study the other nine months. Subtract the average gas cost from the summer months from each bill. You can now see what you spend each month for the gas used to heat your home. Obviously, you spend a larger amount in the dead of winter than you do in October or April.

Should you buy a 95-percent-efficient furnace the net gain is just 15 percentage points. This means that you will save 15 cents of each heating dollar you currently spend to heat your home. Add up your heating costs for the nine months multiply it by 0.15 to see how much your annual savings would have been had you been using the more efficient furnace.

My Own True Energy Savings

I did the calculation for my own home and determined that I would have only saved $179.00 last year. My house is above average in size based on most of the houses I have built and seen in my town.

This tells me that most people might actually save less than $179.00 per year if they have an 80 percent efficient furnace like you and I have.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local furnace, AC and boiler contractors.

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

Column 346

Corner Shower Installation Tips

Are Glass Corner Showers Easy to Install?

Are Glass Corner Showers Easy to Clean?

Do Corner Shower Tubs Leak?

Is Caulk the Best Way to Seal A Shower?

What is the Best Corner Shower Size?

Will a Bench Work in a Corner Shower?

Can You Install Shelves in the Corner?

Should the Shower Curb Be Level?

How Do You Clean Acrylic Showers?

A Bucket Of Water

Real Whitewash

Quick Test - No Foolin'

FREE Deck Stain Test Results

Crown Molding Secrets Revealed

Painting Vinyl Siding

Whitewashing - The REAL Stuff

Unclog a Toilet with Water!

BEWARE Behr DeckOver!

Men's Crusher Hat Keeps You Cool and Shaded

Crusher Hat Preserves Duluth Trading Heritage

Four Colors

Fit is Perfect | Crusher Hat Sizes are Accurate

Kevin's Yellow Bricks

Dan's Quick UnClog Tool

DECEPTIVE Product Description WARNING

I Discover New Things Too

Construction DEFECT Quiz

Getting Bids - Booming Economy Issues

Payback Time For New Insulation or Furnace

Best Way to Clean Roof Algae?

Clean Shingles | Algae / Mildew Stains From Roofs Gone!

Will A Good Garden Hose Work to Clean Shingles?

What's the Best Roof Shingle Cleaner?

How Can You Stop Algae and Moss on Shingles?

How Do You Calculate Insulation Payback Time?

When Do You Really Start To Save Money By Adding Insulation?

What About the Different Furnace Efficiency Ratings?

How Do I Calculate Energy Savings?

My Own True Energy Savings

Expert Advice For Your Home