November 26, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

BURP! Kathy outdid herself on Thanksgiving. I didn't think it was possible, but once again she didn't disappoint.

Thanksgiving is my favorite meal of the year. The brined turkey was so juicy when I carved it, I thought a water line was somehow connected to it.

Then there were the Mistake Muffins.

For years, Kathy has made mouth-watering pumpkin muffins and then a batch of sweet potato muffins.

On Wednesday, she was on the phone talking with our oldest daughter Meghan, who lives in California. Being a woman, Kathy was able to multitask making the pumpkin muffins at the same time she was on the phone.

She got distracted and after adding the pumpkin in the bowl, she proceeded to then put in some sweet potatoes.

Moments later she called me in my man cave telling me about the mistake. She asked me to run to the store to get more yams.

"Did you throw out the batter?" I asked.

"No, why?"

"For goodness sake DON'T THROW IT OUT. We'll bake them and see how they taste."

OMG!!!! They were the BEST MUFFINS I've ever put past my lips.

I know, you want the recipe. I'll ask Kathy.

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving meal too. If you live outside the USA, I hope you have a holiday like Thanksgiving so you can experience a once-a-year food coma.

Laura Needs Your Plate

Speaking of plates - you need them to eat food - my friend Laura needs your help.

She wants to make her fiance's upcoming birthday the best ever.

You can help. I helped Laura a few days ago.

Tis the season of GIVING, so please consider helping Laura surprise Jack!

CLICK HERE to see what this is all about.

Shopping at Amazon?

If you're shopping today at Amazon.com for gifts, you can really help this newsletter.

Amazon pays affiliates like me a tiny percentage of their profit when I send them business.

This revenue HELPS make this newsletter and the AsktheBuilder.com website possible. I use it to help pay the salaries of my staff.

CLICK HERE to get started shopping at Amazon.com and I THANK YOU for using the link.

Saving a Quilt

Are you a quilter? You may think this is not home improvement, but it's related.

Hang in there.

Late in the day on Wednesday, just before I was ready to shut down for the holiday, I got an email from Jani in Oregon.

She was sharing her JOY about saving a quilt she had created.

quilt stain removal

My Stain Solver transformed an ugly yellow stain into pure white without harming the quilt or fading the colors.

CLICK HERE to see the After photo. WOW!!!!!

You can use Stain Solver to clean ANYTHING water washable around your home: carpet, tile grout, couches, chairs, etc.

If you're hosting family for Christmas, NOW IS THE TIME to ORDER Stain Solver and clean up.

You can get 10% off and FREE SHIPPING to any of the lower 48 contiguous USA states using this promo code:

THANKS17

The sale ENDS in just 16 hours - yes, midnight November 26, 2017 ET.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER STAIN SOLVER

Finally, if you're a quilter and are active on any Facebook, Instagram or other social media pages, can you help Kathy and me?

Please SHARE THIS LINK and story so other quilters don't FREAK when their quilt gets stained.

New & Revised Columns

Here's a few new & revised columns for you.

STOP Woodpeckers From Eating Your House!!!

How to Use a Spade Bit

Pesky 4-Way Switches - WATCH THE VIDEO!

Loretto Chapel Staircase - Demystifying the Myth

That's enough for a Sunday.

Many many new revised columns are coming your way.

Amazon Reminder: Please use this link to shop.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Eater of Mistake Muffins

Do It Right, Not Over!

Laura Steinberger Needs Plates

Posted on by Tim Carter

Laura Steinberger is an amateur radio operator in northern Michigan.

I've not met Laura in person, but have interacted with her and many other radio operators as part of National Parks on the Air.

Laura wants to make an upcoming birthday the best ever for her soulmate Jack.

Jack is in the process of decorating their basement game room with license plates.

nh license plate

Here's my ham radio vanity license plate. I sent Laura my Ohio plate with the same call sign. Don't ask me why it's on my wall instead of my truck. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Here's what Laura sent me:

"Jack’s birthday very special. A little back story, Jack has been collecting license plates since he was 9 years old.

They've lived in a milk crate, getting heavier and heavier over the years. When we moved in together, he brought his collection, still in the milk crate with him. They were stored in the garage for the last year, and just a month ago he told me how much he would like to display them.

I told him “Lets do it” I took him to our finished basement and pointed to a wall and said “display them there!” He didn’t believe me at first, but I know how much his collection meant to him. So one Sunday recently we put them up.

He has quite the collection, but I noticed quickly that he only had Michigan.

He said “I would love to have plates from all 50 states. How cool would that be?” A light went off in my head, I had to try and make this happen! So with your help, I can. Thank you so much for helping me make a dream come true."

Laura knew I might be able to help with my large newsletter list.

Please help Laura make Jack's dream come true.

A week ago, I sent her three license plates that I had: Ohio, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

Laura is willing to pay for the shipping to get your license plate to her.

Here's the list of states she still needs.

  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Idaho
  • New Jersey
  • Florida
  • South Dakota
  • Georgia
  • Connecticut
  • Utah
  • West Virginia
  • Louisiana
  • South Carolina
  • Wyoming
  • Hawaii
  • North Dakota
  • Virginia
  • Vermont
  • Delaware
  • Wisconsin
  • Indiana
  • Massachusetts
  • Oregon
  • Kentucky
  • Montana
  • Mississippi
CLICK HERE if you have a plate from one of these states. Fill out the form and I'll then put you in direct contact with Laura to work out all the details.
Featured in Tim's November 26, 2017 Newsletter.

Thanksgiving 2017 AsktheBuilder Greeting

Posted on by Tim Carter

I'm going to make this as short as possible. Hang in there if you can - especially if you want a great deal on Stain Solver - BLACK FRIDAY SALE today baby!

Thanks to You

I don't say this as often as I should - I'm so very thankful for you.

You may not realize it, but you're directly responsible for my continued passion about all things home improvement.

Just when things are going off the rails and I've received ten nasty or hateful comments on my YouTube videos, you may send me a delightful email about how I've helped you in some way.

Or perhaps you leave a great comment at the bottom of one of my articles at the website.

You may have sent me an old-fashioned letter - yes, I do get them from time to time - and they're a special treat!

When you play the fun games in this newsletter, you help AsktheBuilder.com.

When you shop at Amazon using my affiliate link to get to Amazon.com, you help AsktheBuilder.com. CLICK HERE if shopping at Amazon.com today.

When you write a letter to the editor of your local paper where you see my column telling her / him how you like my column, you help me.

I could go on and on, but I'm sure you get the idea. Your FEEDBACK to me or to things that connect to me all HELP keep AsktheBuilder.com going.

I've got news for you. Next year, 2018, is very likely going to be the BEST YEAR EVER for AsktheBuilder.com. I can't share just yet why, but stay tuned!

Stain Solver Black Friday SALE

Many stains are black. It only seems natural that we should have a sale on the monster BLACK FRIDAY along with everyone else.

It's happening NOW! Yes, CLICK HERE for the Stain Solver Black Friday SALE.

Promo Code: THANKS17

10% off any order over $28.00 + FREE SHIPPING to anywhere in the contiguous 48 USA states.

This sale ENDS Sunday night at midnight. I'll send out a reminder, but just act NOW before you forget or are too tired to do it on Sunday.

Stain Solver Oxygen Bleach

Stain Solver

New Columns & VIDEOS

Here are some great new columns for you many with VIDEOS!!!

Magic Dust Patches Patio Crack - Amazing Video!!!

How to Cut Mexican Tile - Super Grinder Video!!

Strong Wood Epoxy Fixes Wood Rot Fast

That's quite enough for the insane day before Thanksgiving!

Once again, THANKS SO MUCH for being part of my family here at AsktheBuilder.com!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. I want to thank Jim and Maryrose who reached out to me three days ago after I sent out my "Oooops" email.

Maryrose said, "I love the fact that you forget. You are still a lot younger than I. In February, I will be just 4 years short of 100."

Jim was very pithy saying, "You're the real deal."

Notes like that paste a huge smile on my face for hours......

Maryrose, I'm planning on going that far too on the journey. Happy early birthday!!!

How to Repair Wood Rot

Posted on by Tim Carter

How to Repair Wood Rot Video

Repair wood rot is what your significant other asks you to do. But you don't know the best way.

To put it differently, you don't know what's product to use and what will last.

Repair Wood Rot Using Epoxy & Hardener

The first thing to remember is you need to use a material that's not going to fail again. Wood epoxy should be your go-to choice. You should use the liquid wood hardener before mixing up the epoxy.

PC Woody epoxy

This is the milky liquid you brush onto the rotted wood. Allow it to harden for 24 hours before using the PC Woody epoxy. CLICK THE BOTTLE to have this delivered to your home in days.

I've had the best luck so far with a product called PC Woody.

PC Woody Epoxy

This is PC Woody. It's a fantastic two-part epoxy that's very sticky. It's easy to sand once hard. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW to have it delivered to your door.

This epoxy is two distinct colors. You mix it using a putty knife until the color is consistent. I prefer to mix it on a piece of sturdy cardboard.

Related Links

Wood Repair Tips - Rotted Wood Sucks

Treated Lumber Rots Too - Crazy Photos!

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen who can install the PC Woody for you.

Use Hardener First

Wood rot attacks the cells of wood. Severe wood rot creates a stringy mess. You can stiffen this summer wood that remains by saturating the remaining wood with a liquid hardener. The people that make PC Woody make PC Petrifier that does a great job.

The hardener is a milky liquid that dries clear. It usually takes 24 hours to dry, then you can apply the PC Woody.

Sandable, Stainable & Paintable

Another key point is the wood epoxy can be sanded smooth. You can paint or stain the epoxy and the repair should be invisible.

The first thing to remember is the epoxy needs to be hard before you start to sand it. It's best to wait at least 48 hours before you sand it.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen who can install the PC Woody for you.

How to Cut Mexican Tile

Posted on by Tim Carter

How to Cut Mexican Tile Video

It's very easy to cut Mexican tile. To put it another way, it's one of the easiest tiles you'll ever cut in your career.

Soft and Absorbent

Mexican tile is not hard because it was fired at a lower temperature and for a shorter amount of time while it was in the kiln.

The tile starts out as a wet clay and heat transforms it into a soft stone.

The softness of the tile allows it to soak up water. On the negative side, you'd never want to use Mexican tile where the temperature drops below 32F. Water in the tile will freeze, expand and cause the tile to surface spall.

Related Links

How to Install Mexican Tile

How to Grout Mexican Tile

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local tile contractors if you want to avoid the hassle yourself.

Cut Mexican Tile With an Angle Grinder

An inexpensive angle grinder is the best tool to cut Mexican tile. You can use a wet saw if you have access to one, but they are very expensive to rent.

Be sure the grinder has a dry diamond blade. This blade will cut through the tile like a hot knife through butter.

Angle Grinder

This is a great but inexpensive angle grinder. Put in a dry diamond blade and you can cut away grout in seconds. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW to have this grinder delivered to your door.

Cutting Circles In Tile

It's very easy to cut a curve with the angle grinder. A small-diameter blade allows you to cut a curve. 

To cut tighter curves, don't bury the blade into the tile. Make shallow passes and enlarge the cut line on the outside of the curve where it doesn't matter.

Dust Control Is Important!

It's important to realize you'll be creating lots of dust if you use the angle grinder and dry-diamond blade. Stay upwind of the cutting area if it's windy. If no wind, consider using a large fan to blow dust away from you and the grinder.

The Mexican tile will probably have silica in it and it's not a great idea to breath lots and lots of dust that contains silica.

Here's a dust mask that works quite well:

Silica Dust Mask

Be sure any dust mask you get says it's approved for silica. CLICK THIS PHOTO NOW to have this mask and filters delivered to your door.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local tile contractors if you want to avoid the hassle yourself.

How to Fix a Cracked Patio

Posted on by Tim Carter

How to Fix a Cracked Patio Video

"Fix cracked patio" is probably the last item on your honey-do list you want to see. You don't think it's possible to hide the crack and you think it will take all day.

Fix Cracked Patio Fast

The first thing to remember is it's easier and faster to repair the crack than rip out the tile or patio and start over. It's much cheaper too.

All you need to do this job is some painters tape, super-strong concrete epoxy and a hammer or drill.

Podcast 3

CLICK this image and listen to the first story - Vic has a gorgeous patio on the back of his house. One part of the patio has sunken down. I've got the fix.

Related Links

Magic Concrete Epoxy Repair Video

How to Repair Chipped Tile

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen that can do this patio crack repair.

Epoxy In a Tube

The best epoxy in my opinion to fill the crack is one that squirts out of a regular caulking tube. I've used the PC products epoxy now for years and it has great open or work time.

PC-Concrete Epoxy

This is the magic epoxy that fits into a regular caulk gun. I've used it with great success. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW TO HAVE IT DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME.

This epoxy comes with two clever nozzles. They have an internal helix insert that blends the two-part epoxy so when it comes out at the tip it's already mixed.

Tape The Crack Edges

Use normal painters tape to carefully tape the sides of the crack. Taping prevents epoxy smears on the tile. You will have to small short pieces along the jagged crack.

The Magic Dust

It's important to realize the epoxy is gray in color. This is fine if your tile matches that color, but most don't.  You may need to create fine dust that's the same color to match the color of the patio.

Use a hammer drill on the edges of a concrete patio to create dust and grit that will match the top surface of the concrete.

Use a regular hammer and create matching dust and grit using broken or discarded pieces of the tile used to cover the patio.

A point often overlooked is paint. In order to disguise the epoxy you may have to paint it a flat color that matches the patio.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen that can do this patio crack repair.

How to Remove Patio Tiles

Posted on by Tim Carter

How to Remove Patio Tiles Video

You can remove patio tiles in a flash using a cordless rotary chipping hammer. For one thing, your back is going to love you.

A power tool with a 3/4-inch flat chipping chisel can remove full tiles in seconds if you get under the tile.

Related Links

Demolition Gloves That Fit

Great Sweat-Equity Jobs - Save Big Bucks!

Remove Patio Tiles Requires Minimal Skill

You don't have to have years of experience to remove tiles. I taught a friend of mine to do it in less than two minutes.

The key is chipping pieces of tile away from you if you're trying to preserve nearby tiles.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local tile contractors if you don't want to do this job.

remove patio tiles - chipping hammer

Use a cordless chipping hammer like this to remove tiles in seconds. You must have the right chisel bit!

Sometimes you can remove an entire tile by chiseling at a low angle getting the bit under the tile so it pops up.

Safety First

Be sure to wear safety glasses, heavy gloves and slow down. Shards of tile can be very sharp and cuts are a constant threat.

Grind Out Grout

You need to grind out the grout around tile that are being replaced. If you bash the tile with a hammer without removing the grout, the force of the hammer blow will transfer to adjacent tile and possibly crack them.

Remove Patio Tiles - Angle Grinder

This is a great but inexpensive angle grinder. Put in a dry diamond blade and you can cut away grout in seconds. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW to have this grinder delivered to your door.

Remove Thinset Too

The old thinset that is under the tile needs to be removed. This cement material can get in the way when you go to install the new tile.

A wide chisel tapping towards the thinset is the only way to remove it fast.

Rub the concrete slab with your bare hand to make sure its smooth. All dust must be swept away before installing new tile.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local tile contractors if you don't want to do this job.

How to Install Mexican Tile

Posted on by Tim Carter

Install Mexican tile? You bet you can do it. It's much easier than you can imagine.

Install Mexican Tile On Smooth Slabs

Mexican tile is soft because it's not fired long in a hot kiln. The concrete slab under the tile needs to be very strong so the tile doesn't crack.

The concrete slab should be at least 5 inches thick. The slab should have 1/2-inch steel bars both directions in the middle of the concrete.

This steel prevents wide or offset cracks in the slab and tile. The worst thing that may happen is an ultra-thin hairline crack at some point.

Related Links

Concrete Slab Install Video 1 of 4

Thinset Quick Start Guide

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE  to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local tile contractors who can do this job.

Notched Trowels and Flat Concrete

A 1/2-inch by 1/2-inch square-notched trowel is required to install Mexican tile. Look at the photo below:

notched trowel

This is a perfect-sized trowel for installing Mexican tile. The notches are 1/2-inch wide by 1/2-inch tall. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW to have this trowel delivered to your door. It's a great one.

Another key point is how you hold the trowel. Be sure the trowel is held at a 45-degree angle to the surface of the concrete. If you lower the angle, the thickness of the cement thinset will be insufficient.

Most Mexican tile come from the factory with a very smooth bottom surface. The wear surface may have small undulations that add character.

Be sure the concrete slab is smooth and in the same plane with no humps or dips in it. This is a point often overlooked.

The tile will look best when they lay flat on top of a flat concrete slab. Doing this ensures you don't have to back butter each tile.

Thinset Consistency and Weather

Mexican tile is installed on concrete using thinset. Thinset is a mixture of Portland cement and fine silica sand.

You add water to mix the thinset. The thinset should resemble warm cake icing.

The concrete must be dust-free and damp when you trowel on the thinset. Only trowel on thinset that you can cover in 90 seconds.

It must be remembered the bottom of the Mexican tile should also be damp before it's placed in the wet thinset.

Hot sunny days are the worst weather to do this job. Overcast days with no wind and temperatures in the 60s F are preferred.

CLICK HERE  to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local tile contractors who can do this job.

How to Grout Mexican Tile

Posted on by Tim Carter

How to Grout Mexican Tile Video

Grout Mexican tile - it's a simple job if you do it in the right conditions and understand how water is both your friend and foe.

Mexican tile is a unique product that by its very nature absorbs water very fast. If too much water leaves the grout too fast, it can become weak.

Grout will become weak if you add too much water while mixing it. Grout that resembles moist applesauce is perfect. 

Related Links

Grouting Regular Tile

Deep Clean All Grout Using Magic Oxygen Bleach

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local tile contractors who can grout your tile.

Grout Mexican Tile While It's Damp

A point often overlooked is the weather while you grout. You may feel that sunny warm days with a breeze are best. 

The best weather to grout Mexican tile is when the temperature is in the 60s F range and the skies are overcast with no wind.

Hot sunny and breezy weather suck too much water from the tile and grout too fast.

If you must grout in these conditions, then be sure the tiles are very damp with water as you install the grout.

Use a Grout Bag

The best way to grout the lines in Mexican tile is to use a grout bag like you see below. A simple plastic food-storage bag from your kitchen will work too as you see me use in the video above.

Grout Mexican Tile

This is a high-quality grout or mortar bag. The small stainless-steel funnel slides into the bag. The grout must be like wet applesauce to flow out of the bag with minimal squeezing. CLICK THE PHOTO OF THE BAG NOW to have it delivered to your door.

Squeeze the Sponge

A special grout sponge is needed to smooth the grout joints. Squeeze out all water before you run it over the grout.

Grout can be ruined if you allow water to pond on the fresh grout. The water dilutes the Portland cement in the grout. This causes the grout to crumble and crack especially in cold climates.

Keep Grout Damp for Two Days

A point often overlooked is wet curing. You want to cover your new grouted patio with a sheet of plastic to stop water evaporation. Do this for at least 48 hours.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local tile contractors who can grout your tile.

How to Use a Spade Bit

Posted on by Tim Carter

How to Use a Spade Bit Video

A spade bit is an affordable drill accessory you'll come to love. These paddle bits, their old name from years ago, can devour wood in seconds.

Screw Tips and Teeth

I've used spade bits for decades. The old one just had a pointed tip like an arrow and the flat part of the bits had a tilted sharp edge.
The best bits I've used recently have a screw tip that pulls the bit into the wood so you have to work less.

It's important to realize you need to conserve energy when working. The bits that have sharp cutting teeth at the outer edges prevent even more fatigue.

Related Links

How to Drill Into Ceramic Tile

Fast-Changeout Drill Bits

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local finish carpenters who can demonstrate how to use a wide bit.

Many Spade Bit Sizes

These bits come as small as 3/8-inch and I've seen them up to 1 and 3/4 inches. You must work carefully if you're using a large-diameter bit.

Spade Bits

Here's a set of high-quality spade bits. The smallest is 1/4-inch and the largest one drills a 1 and 1/2-inch hole. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW to have these delivered to your door in days.

Drilling Two Holes

In the video above I had to drill a big hole and then a small one. It's best to drill the large hole first. The second smaller bit will not wobble in the tiny cone-shaped hole at the bottom of the larger hole.

Blowouts Out Back

A bit like this can cause wood to splinter out the back of what you're drilling. For this reason you need to stop drilling once you see the tip of the bit pop out the back of what you're drilling.

Reverse the drill and back the bit out of the wood. Insert the tip of the bit in the tiny hole on the back of the wood and start to finish drilling coming in from the back side.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local finish carpenters who can demonstrate how to use a wide bit.