May 16, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

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.

Morning-sunset-05-2018

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 NOW FOOLISH ONE - BE EXPOSED to Knowledge

 

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!

Cleaning Shingles – Algae / Mildew / Oxygen Bleach

clean shingles

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.

Related Links

How To Clean Roof Algae

Remove Moss in Minutes

Free & Fast Bids

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

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

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.

clean shingles

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

house cold

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.

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

New Home Cost Calculator

new home under construction in a rural area

A new home cost calculator works well to determine the price of a standard home like this one. You just need to know the accurate costs of several components like foundation, rough lumber, drywall, etc.  (C) Copyright 2023 Tim Carter

"The first thing you need to get an accurate price for your new home is a good set of plans and specifications. You need these to be able to get individual cost estimates for the different aspects of your home."

CLICK HERE to download a set of superb plans and blueprints. Your own plans SHOULD HAVE as MANY PAGES as this set showing all the details.

A New Home Cost Calculator Works

You want to build a new home, but you have no idea what it's going to cost. It's important that you get the number right so you don't run out of money or you borrow enough.

Here are your options to calculate the cost of a new home:

  • get accurate quotes for all labor and material
  • visit identical new homes on the market and deduct land and realtor cost
  • use a magic calculator that allows you to enter one number and it figures out the rest
  • throw a dart at a dartboard filled with possible numbers
  • guess wildly

Two of the methods are foolish, one's very hard, one's risky, and one will generate a fairly accurate price.

But which is which? The third method is the fastest and can produce an accurate total cost estimate. 

WATCH THIS VIDEO:

Is a New Home Cost the Sum Of Its Parts?

Each major part of building a home represents a small part of the total cost. This is basic grade-school mathematics.

New cookie-cutter houses are the easiest ones to calculate. The houses are often similar in size and have the same components. It's important to realize many use the exact same subcontractors who charge the same per house, for the most part, to do what they do.

You can determine what each part of your home costs after you move in once you know the final bill. For example, let's say your new home's total cost, not counting the land, is $485,000. You know the footings and foundation cost $45,000. That means this part of your home was 9.2 percent of the total cost.

The issue is you want to know the total price while you're in the dream phase and it's not easy to get all the individual bids for every aspect of the house.

What is the First Thing I Need to for a New Home Cost Calculator?

The first thing you need to get an accurate price for your new home is a good set of plans and specifications. You need these to be able to get individual cost estimates for the different aspects of your home.

Where Can I Get a New Home Cost Calculator?

I developed a new home cost calculator you can download right now. It could save you THOUSANDS of dollars. You just enter one number and the spreadsheet fills in all the other numbers. Here's a partial screenshot of what it looks like:

new-home-cost-estimator

This simple tool is only $19.95. You can't go wrong. CLICK HERE to download the tool in just seconds.

It works BEST if you get bids on the mundane aspects of your project like:

  • electrical work
  • roofing
  • siding
  • lumber package

I would then enter just one of the above numbers in the spreadsheet and allow it to calculate all the others including the total cost. Write down what the total is.

Then do the same process with the other three numbers. Add up the four total-cost numbers and divide the sum by four.

This should give you a fairly accurate total cost number.

What Causes The Cost Number to Be Inaccurate?

Specialty items like extravagant kitchen cabinets, countertops, exquisite lighting fixtures, or anything NOT normal will yield inaccurate total cost numbers. My cost calculator works best on cookie-cutter houses, but it will work well for custom homes if you use it as I say above.

 

Why Your Asphalt Shingles Are Falling Apart

Why Your Asphalt Shingles Are Falling Apart

These shingles were supposed to last 30 years. They started to fall apart in just nine years. (C) Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

Asphalt Shingle Failure

Question #1: Tim, I’m beside myself. My expensive asphalt shingles that have a 30-year warranty are less than ten years old and starting to curl. I see lots of roofs around me doing the same. I never recall observing this type of defect in all my past houses with asphalt shingles. Did I get a bad batch? What’s going on? Charlie, Raleigh, NC

Do your curled shingles look like the asphalt potato chips up on Charlie’s roof? Guess what, it happened to me. My own 30-year-warranty asphalt shingles started to fall apart in nine years and suffered a catastrophic failure just a few years later.

I was so angry I decided to reach out to the national association that represents most of the asphalt shingle manufacturers. They rebuffed me. I then tried to interview the top three USA shingle manufacturers. Two refused to answer my questions and the third company put so much spin on their answers I got dizzy reading them.

By this time, I was so infuriated I decided to see how widespread the defective shingle problem was. You may have participated in my national survey over two years ago. The results were so shocking I decided to write a short book about why your asphalt shingles are falling apart. The book is titled: Roofing Ripoff.

roofing ripoff

My research indicated the problem is happening all across the USA. In my opinion, it appears many of the shingle manufacturers are blowing too much air into the liquid asphalt at their factories. You need to blow some air into the asphalt, just enough so the black brew doesn’t drip from your roof on a hot summer day.

But blow too much air into the asphalt and you pre-age the shingles. Imagine opening a fresh pack of shingles only to discover they already have twenty, or more, years of wear built into them. It sounds like you got some of these poor-quality products.

I discovered something that can save you and millions of other homeowners billions of dollars. While doing research for my Roofing Ripoff book, I was the first person in the world to discover that copper ions react with asphalt molecules slowing down the aging process.

It’s been known for centuries that copper prevents algae and moss buildup on roofs and ship hulls, but I was the first to recognize copper can make asphalt shingles last 40, 50 or even more years! How cool is that?

For an existing roof, you just have to put a 12-inch-wide roll of very thin copper on top of the cap shingles that run across the ridge of your roof and any hips. The copper dulls down to an attractive medium nut brown in as little as four months so you don’t even see it.

Apply the copper strip just below the ridge shingles when you're installing a new roof. This allows you to blind nail the copper. Ideally, you want about 10 inches of copper exposed at the top of the roof on each side. Look at the following photo:

copper roof strip

I was the first person in the world to identify that copper prevents the oxidation of asphalt molecules on asphalt shingles. See how easy it is to install this copper in a new-roof installation? CLICK the photo or TAP HERE to order the copper strips.

Each time it rains some of the tiny copper ions wash down onto the shingles. The copper bonds to the asphalt and prevents one asphalt molecule from connecting to an adjacent asphalt molecule. If too many asphalt molecules link together like a long freight train, the colored granules fall off and cause the shingles to curl up like a cat taking a nap. The copper ensures your roof will outlast your ownership of your home.

You must use solid copper nails to attach the discrete copper strip to your cap shingles. The copper is the same width as the cap shingles and will not interfere with any ridge ventilation products.

You can read the first three chapters of my Roofing Ripoff book for free. Go to: https://roofingripoff.com

Cleaning a Wood Deck with a Power Washer

Question #2: Tim, can you settle a disagreement between my husband and me? He wants to use a pressure washer to clean our gorgeous wood deck. I’m convinced that the concentrated pressure will harm the wood. He says it’s all about how far you hold the wand away from the wood and the degree of the tip of the tool wand. What say you? Terri, St. Paul, MN

Terri, you’re right. Pressure washers can wreak havoc with the soft fibers of wood, especially the light-colored bands of spring wood you see in all species of wood. Water that just flows over rock under no pressure other than its own weight scours solid granite. Just look at the Grand Canyon. Water spewing from a machine at 2,500 pounds per square inch is just too much.

Your husband does have a point with respect to the distance and tip size. Have him use a 40-degree tip and hold the wand at least 16 inches away. See what happens. Realize the closer the tip gets to the wood the more damage you’ll be doing.

Watch a short video showing the damage pressure washers do to treated lumber. Go to: How to Clean a Deck

Reference: April 25, 2016 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Column 1248

May 13, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

New subscriber? WOOT! Welcome!

Existing subscriber? Smooooch - you know I love, love, love you too!

You may or may not know that my college degree is in geology. It was a fascinating course of study. Geology made me a better builder because I understood how houses interacted with the soil. I also discovered how to keep basements and crawlspaces BONE DRY.

If I could go back in time the only thing I'd change would be to have taken all advanced business classes for any free electives.

The Kilauea volcano in Hawaii is generating lots of attention because it's doing what active volcanoes do. It's making the island bigger and taller.

To put this in perspective, realize ALL of the land in the state of Hawaii above the sea, and below down to the seafloor, was spewed out over time in the form of lava. In other words, the slow eruption of lava is perfectly normal and it's ongoing.

Just think of Kilauea as an upside down giant tube of caulk that every now and then gets squeezed. The lava flows up and out of various vents and fissures.

How would you like to have a better understanding of what's going on? Believe me when I say that it's NOT going to make your head explode.

Here are TWO AMAZING books written for homeowners like you that explain in language you can understand of what's really causing the lava to flow.

It's all plate tectonics and the slowly roiling molten rock in the upper mantle of the Earth.

Rough Hewn Land is SO GOOD I read it twice. Keith Heyer Meldahl, the author, explains exactly how the conveyor belt of plate tectonics works and WHY and HOW it creates volcanoes.

If you want to understand how the Rocky Mountains came to be and how there's going to be ocean-front property in Las Vegas one day, then read this book. I GUARANTEE you'll love it.

Rough-Hewn Land by Keith Heyer Meldahl

Earthquakes are caused by plate tectonics as well. If you want to know about a MASSIVE earthquake and tsunami that's GOING TO HAPPEN out in the Pacific Northwest, then you MUST READ Cascadia's Fault. If you love MYSTERY books then you're going to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book.

Jerry Thompson takes you down the timeline how a few geologists working together over a period of years solved a huge mystery. Who would think that a few Japanese scribes in small towns over 100 years ago would provide the most valuable clue?

Cascadia's Fault by Jerry Thompson

DIY Paver Patio

Last year, I installed a new paver patio for Kathy. It took me just four days working by myself. The large format pavers about broke my back, but I'm glad I used them.

What if I told you that you don't need all that crazy expensive gravel under the pavers on your patio? That means you save money and have to do less digging.

Are you a contractor that's balking right now? Perhaps you need to go to Daytona Beach. Watch this video and think about the WEIGHT that's on each tire of the car or truck.

Daytona Beach Baby!

The sand at Daytona Beach, and many others, can easily support the concentrated loads from heavy cars and trucks.

Think about WHY.

You stepping on a patio stone that's resting on compacted sand is going to be LESS weight.

This is why you need to READ MY DIY Paver Patio column and peer at the crazy photos I have there.

I'd LOVE to see the photos of the patio you build or have done yourself. Send them to me!

Cement Backer Board Installation

Have you ever seen ceramic tile in an old home? Do you know why it's still on the wall and SOLID?

It was set in concrete. Yes, the master tile setter mixed up coarse sand and Portland cement and applied it to mesh that was nailed to the studs.

Concrete is waterproof. CLICK HERE to see the modern method of using this SAME MATERIAL.

On Demand Radio Shows

I uploaded my on-demand radio shows #10 and #11 over the past week.

If you're not listening to these shows you're MISSING OUT on some time and money-saving tips.

At the very least go look at the PHOTOS and VIDEOS on the pages so you get an idea of what was discussed as I talked on the phone to homeowners just like you.

Show #10

Show #11

Do you want me to solve your problem over the phone? You just need to take two or three GREAT photos of the problem and magic may happen.

Take the photos then CLICK HERE and fill out the form.

That's enough for a Sunday morning.

Tim Carter

Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Captain Magic Crystal Man - www.StainSolver.com
Purveyor of Adventures - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Installing Cement Backer Board

Installing Cement Backer Board

"But when it comes to tile and what it should be applied to, I feel that cement might be the standard to a large degree. Cured cement is not damaged by water. You can immerse a piece of cement board in water for an indefinite amount of time, and it will never fall apart."

Backer Board Install Is Something You Can Do

  • Backer board is waterproof
  • Wall must be flat and in the same plane
  • Different easy-to-cut products
  • Leave a gap between pieces and caulk

DEAR TIM: I have a ceramic-tile job coming up and want to use cement backer board. I have never installed this product before, and wonder if it is really worth it.

It seems hard to work with and I'm tempted to just use a water-resistant drywall. Is cement backer board really worth the trouble? What tips can you share to make the job go easier and faster? Jackie L., Pleasant Hill, CA

Related Links

Top Tips for Working With Cement Backer Board

Step-By-Step Fast Cement Backer Board Installation

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST bids from local contractors to install your backer board.

DEAR JACKIE: There are all sorts of different tile backer board products out there. Some are cement-based, some are gypsum-based and others have a mix of ingredients. The cement-backer-board products can be a little tough to work with during the installation process, but in my opinion, they pay you back in spades for the effort.

Is Backer Board Better Than Other Products?

I am not against new technology when it comes to building products. There are countless examples of where a new product is much better than existing products. Plywood and oriented strand board (OSB) are excellent examples of this. Before plywood and OSB, carpenters used to deal with smaller pieces of wood that were not as dimensionally stable as plywood and OSB. Plywood and OSB also makes very good use of wood as a natural resource.

But when it comes to tile and what it should be applied to, I feel that cement might be the standard to a large degree. Cured cement is not damaged by water. You can immerse a piece of cement board in water for an indefinite amount of time, and it will never fall apart.

Cement board is MUCH BETTER than green board. Green board is a gypsum product. It's drywall that has some silicone in the core and a more water-RESISTANT paper. It WILL FALL APART over time.

Is Backer Board The Same As The Cement Mud Of Old?

There are tens of thousands of ceramic-tile installations all over the world that are hundreds of years old that are still in great shape. Almost all of these are installed directly over concrete or some cement-based material. Many older homes still standing in the USA have ceramic tile firmly attached to cement stucco that was applied over wire mesh by true craftsmen.

All that being said, there are indeed other high-performance backer boards for ceramic tile. This past summer I decided to test a newer one in my daughter's bathroom. It has a rough fiberglass face and a waterproof gypsum core. It was easier to cut than cement backer board, but the installation of the product to the wood studs was the same as far as I was concerned.

Does Backer Board Need to Be Flat?

If you want a gorgeous ceramic-tile job, you need to be sure the backer board is in the same plane and the walls are perfectly plumb. In the old days, the tile setters installing the wet cement stucco took the time to get the stucco perfectly plumb and flat, even if the wall studs were crooked, bowed or bent.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST bids from local contractors to install your backer board.

With modern cement backer board, you must get the framed walls perfectly plumb and flat. Since the cement backer board is thin and a uniform thickness, when you attach it to the studs, it simply conforms to the shape of the stud wall. This means twisted, out-of-plumb frame walls will lead to twisted, out-of-plumb ceramic tile. No one wants that.

How Do You Cut Backer Board?

The cement backer board can be cut with a circular saw with an abrasive blade, but that process creates clouds of choking dust, and can cause great damage to the saw motor. You can score the cement backer board with a hand tool that has a carbide tip. You make numerous passes along the cut line, and then apply pressure to the other side of the cement backer board along the scored line. It usually snaps the backer board in two quite nicely along the desired line.

Do You Need A Waterproof Membrane Behind Backer Board?

I also recommend a water-resistant barrier between the backer board and the wall framing. You can put overlapping layers of asphalt felt paper or go with a large sheet of plastic commonly used for a vapor barrier. This layer helps protect the wood framing from wood rot in that rare case where water would soak through the cement backer board.

When installing the cement backer board, I like to leave a 1/8-inch gap between pieces. This gap is then filled with pure silicone caulk before the ceramic tile is installed. I never allow the cement board to rest on top of a bathtub edge. If water gets to the cement board, capillary attraction can cause water to wick up into the cement backer board. I always leave a 1/4-inch gap between the top of the tub and the bottom edge of the backer board.

How Do You Fasten Backer Board To Walls?

The cement backer board can be screwed or nailed to the wood framing. Always follow the instructions printed by the manufacturer. I use hot-dipped ring-shanked nails if I am nailing. Corrosion-resistant screws can also be used. You need to make sure the cement backer board will never fall off the wall at a later date. Inferior fasteners can cause catastrophic failure if they rust.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST bids from local contractors to install your backer board.

Column 661

May 10, 2018 AsktheBuilder Fast Tips Announcement

I've got TWO cool things for you this morning and a Stain Solver tip too.

Around 7:30 am this morning, I ended one of my consult calls with Mary. She lives in steamy hot & humid Orlando, FL.

She's got a pesky problem with a flashing detail at the edge of her roof.

As I often do in these phone consults, I find it's easier to make a drawing with my colored markers than try to describe something over the phone.

I told Mary I'd make this drawing and send it to her. It only takes me a few minutes to make these crude drawings. I did the same thing years ago sitting at customers' dining room tables when making a presentation to get a job.

Mary needed a simple flashing - she's going to make it herself - and it needs an all-important hemmed edge to prevent wind-blown rain from getting into her home.

What's a hemmed edge? Look:

Hemmed Edge on Flashing

 

See that green weird line (sorry if you're color blind)? See how it's got a 180-degree bend at the top?

That's a hemmed edge. The red hashed lines indicate an all-important AIR GAP you must maintain.

Can you see how if rain is blown up under the shingles the hemmed edge acts like a dam and prevents the rain from getting past the flashing?

The black thing is a shingle nail that stops the flashing from going higher up under the shingles.

Hemmed edges are another example of BEST building practices that are transitioning from history to legend to myth.

Upcoming Vinyl Siding Call - Monday

Yesterday, Rick from Maryland purchased one of my consult calls. It's about some new vinyl siding about to be installed on his home. You may ponder:

"Tim, why do I need to care about Rick's silly siding?"

I'm glad you had that thought. I'll tell you why in just a moment.

Rick and I are going to talk on Monday afternoon. But BEFORE the call, I suggested he skim over this FREE vinyl siding installation manual:

Vinyl Siding Installation Manual

 

Are you aware that MANY ASSOCIATIONS have fantastic FREE installation manuals showing the RIGHT WAY to install building products?

Here's why you should care about Rick's siding:

You should always download these FREE manuals and study them BEFORE you call contractors to do anything for you.

Why?

You can ask the bidding contractors specific questions about important installation details. See if THEY know WHY certain things are done.

If they answer three or four questions correctly, you may have a winner. If the person hems and haws and starts to spout some BS to you, then you might thank them for their time and give them the bum's rush.

For example: How TIGHT do you think the nails should be driven when you install vinyl siding?

Is there a reason for this? What's the reason?

What happens if you don't nail the siding correctly?

It's all in the above manual. And much much more.

You taking the time to skim, or read, the manual ensures you'll get a fantastic job with no issues down the road.

Well, so long as you pick the right contractor who will do the job right. Just put in the contract this wording:

"Contractor agrees to install the siding per the written instructions outlined in the latest edition of the Vinyl Siding Installation Manual published by the Vinyl Siding Institute."

CLICK HERE if you want to get FREE & FAST BIDS from vinyl siding contractors that will give you the correct answers.

Clean ANYTHING-OUTDOORS Video

What are you getting ready to clean outdoors?

Deck? Patio? Siding? Kayaks? Railing? Porch? Tent?

Please CLICK HERE and watch the bottom video on the page.

You'll see me showing how to clean ANYTHING outdoors using my certified organic Stain Solver oxygen bleach.

That's enough for a fast Thursday Tips e-blast.

Do you have ANY QUESTIONS???? Reply and ask them.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Captain Magic Cleaner - www.StainSolver.com
Purveyor of Invisible Audio - www.W3ATB.com
PODCAST MAN: www.askthebuilder.com/podcast/

Do It Right, Not Over!

May 8, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

New subscriber? Glad you're here!

Seasoned subscriber? - You know I love you too!

Warm WX has finally arrived here in central New Hampshire and that means I'll resume my decluttering project.

Last fall, I started to get rid of stuff that's accumulated in my shed, garage and the attic of my garage. I seem to have inherited a little bit of my Mom's packratitis disease.

Mom had a chronic case that I'm sure made it into one, or more, obscure medical textbooks.

Allow me to share a funny story, well I think it's funny - but Mom may have been a little embarrassed. It's important to realize I was in my mid-teens when this happened and started to get enough life experience that I could challenge Mom's fountain of knowledge.

My room was in the basement of our small house. When I was about ten years old, maybe nine, my Dad and Uncle Raymond transformed our basement garage into a paneled very private and cool bedroom.

I even had my own door to the outside world far away from the ears of my parents. You know those door hinges were well oiled, but I digress.

You got to this sanctuary by going down the stairwell that went from the kitchen down to the basement. There were pegs and hooks on the wall in the staircase. My mom saved the paper shopping bags that had those loop handles and stored them here.

Here's a photo I just took of some modern ones in my own mud room. We now have amazing fabric ones and see-through ones.

Mom's shopping bags

Anyway, Mom's collection grew and grew until I was constantly bumping into them as I went up and down the steps. Frequently they fell off the pegs onto the landing at the back door.

One day she was in the kitchen and I was in a rush to get somewhere. I bumped into the bags and about twenty fell to the floor. Exasperated I said, "Mom, why in the heck do you have so many of these STUPID BAGS? You'll never use them all up in your lifetime. You just keep getting more and more!"

Her response was priceless. It's as if she just said it a minute ago. In fact, when Kathy and the kids ask me why I'm saving this or that, I use the EXACT SAME LINE.

With a perfectly straight face she replied, "Timmy, they're not going to make them much longer."

Three years before I would have accepted that statement as if it were gospel. But I was now spreading my wings and discovering more of the outside world. I was connecting more dots on my own.

"WHAT?" I shrieked while shaking my head as I was picking them up and trying to get them to stop from sliding off the round pegs.

"Are you crazy? Some other company will start making them. We'll always be able to get paper bags with handles."

Mom didn't have an answer for that and I'm sure I remember her cheeks turning a slight crimson red as I had exposed her soft underbelly of packratitis. It's a fond memory to be sure!

As you can tell in the above photo, I was right and I probably have a few too many bags with handles of my own.

I also have other things that I've got too much of and I'm selling lots of it not only on Craigslist, but also on the special group pages on Facebook that are titled Garage or Yard Sale.

Believe me, there are lots of these groups in your city or town. Your junk is someone else's gold. You can transform just about anything into cold cash. Just be sure it's clean and take LOTS of photos.

CLICK HERE to see a refrigerator I just listed last night. It will be sold and in someone's house in the next 48 hours for sure.

Trust me, it feels GOOD to get rid of crap you don't need nor use any more. You then have cash to save or use to get things you really want or need now.

Getting Organized - Akro Bins Baby!

I've used Akro Bins for years to keep things organized in my garage and workshop. I was introduced to them thirty-five years ago by one of my customers, Dale Friemoth. He was a great engineer and they used him at his business. I mentioned using these bins back in my September 12, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter.

Akro BinsThese multi-colored bins come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They have a slot on the front where you can put in a heavy paper label. Almost all come with a french-cleat lip on the back so you can hang them on pegboard.

They're built to stack on top of one another. You can use colors to your advantage - storing certain types of things in the same color.

I not only stack them on my workbench, but I also have them hanging from my metal Wall Control pegboard. My metal pegboard gets lots of praise from visitors. The metal pegboard comes in all sorts of colors. It's amazing stuff.

The hooks NEVER come out of the metal pegboard like they do on the standard wood pegboard. No more frustration for me!!

Look at the photo below. You can see the Akro bins hanging from the metal pegboard in the lower left corner.

CLICK HERE to read the story about how I discovered the metal pegboard.

There's a GREAT PHOTO in the story showing my workbench and my own Akro bins hanging right where I need them. Some are also stacked on my workbench.

akro-bins-pegboard

Cast Iron Pipe vs PVC

You may not know this, but I've been a master plumber since age 29. I love, love, love to do plumbing work. To me, it's a 3D puzzle to make all the pipes connect.

Are you building a new home or doing a major remodel? Do you suffer from Niagara Falls in your home now when someone flushes a second-floor toilet and you hear the CRASHING WATER cascading down the PVC pipes in the wall and overhead ceiling?

Did you know you can eliminate that sound by installing cast iron?

CLICK HERE to see how easy it is to do.

Free & Fast Bids From Local Contractors

What jobs do you have planned around your home this spring? I don't care what they are.

How would you like to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors? No obligation.

When I say FAST, I mean it. Don't believe me?

CLICK HERE and try it out. Let me know how long it takes for you to get a phone call or email. You'll be STUNNED!

Shed Ramps - Easy to Build

Do you have an outdoor shed? How would you like to have a ramp to get things in and out with ease?

CLICK HERE and I want you to pay particular attention to the type of DOOR I use to get in and out of my shed.

Did you know you could get one that small??? I'll bet you didn't!!!

Deck & Patio Cleaning DANGER

My syndicated newspaper column that's now appearing in many papers is about the DANGERS of using chlorine bleach to clean things outdoors.

I still see MANY websites and articles saying, "Mix a 50/50 solution of BLEACH and water to clean your deck, patio, siding, blah blah blah."

The bleach they're talking about is chlorine bleach. The stuff in the white jugs you get at the grocery store.

The chemical name for chlorine bleach is sodium hypochlorite.

Chlorine bleach is the WORST THING YOU CAN USE OUTDOORS.

Chlorine bleach is VERY TOXIC to any vegetation, trees, expensive landscaping, etc.

It's FAR BETTER to use oxygen bleach. Oxygen bleach is SAFE for all outside vegetation. The solution adds beneficial oxygen to the soil!

My Stain Solver, to the best of my knowledge, is the only certified organic oxygen bleach out there.

Stain Solver Oxygen Bleach

 

Kathy and I own Stain Solver. We've made it for 23 years.

You may be one of our tens of thousands of REPEAT customers. If you've NOT TRIED IT YET, you're missing out.

CLICK HERE and just try a sample bottle if you're a Doubting Thomas or Thomasina.

Our sample bottle is less than $10 with FREE SHIPPING to any USA state or territory including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

If you have any issues with it, I'll give you your money back. All I ask is that you follow the directions on the small card I include with the cute sample bottle.

If you want me to autograph your bottle, I will. Just put that note in the COMMENTS section on the checkout page. 😉

That's enough for a Tuesday.

Do you have QUESTIONS about Stain Solver? Do you want to know if it's SAFE to use on something? REPLY to this email and ASK ME.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Uncle Tim's Magic Crystals - www.StainSolver.com
Purveyor of Outdoor Adventures - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!