August 23, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on August 23, 2017 by Tim Carter

I've been back home a week now from my out West little-man self-discovery trip. It didn't take me long to get back in the swing of things!

Just four days ago, I connected up lots of low-voltage wires to power up my Trex Transcend deck lights. It really adds a distinctive touch to the deck.

All of the deck railing posts have a light cap at the top. There are four LED lights in each cap so the entire post is aglow and washes soft light down to the deck. All of the stair risers have a recessed light bored into the riser.

What do you think about how it looks? You'd think it was daylight based on how bright the lake water is in this photo. Believe me, it was pretty dark out there!

Trex has really done a fine job of making this lighting system plug 'n play. It was caveman simple to install them. The stair riser lights are ideal and make all the steps very safe to use at night.

CLICK HERE to discover more about Trex Transcend decking.

Attention Juicer and Vitamix Users!

Do you have a juicer machine or a Vitamix blender? After using it for a few months, does it look sort of like you ground up old car engine parts?

Want to know how to clean one EASILY? Are you part of an online Vitamix or juicer users group? If so, can you please spread the word through that group about this article I just wrote?

If you have any food-stained containers or appliances in your kitchen, you want to read this.

CLICK HERE to read it.

Build Your Dream House Here

How would you like to own three large waterfalls? I've got something for you where you can construct your dream home.

The photo below was taken by my very talented neighbor Bob Broadhurst. These falls are on my land and would make a great source of hydroelectric power.

There are two other major waterfalls, the second one about 35 feet tall and straight down. The third cascade drops into a private swimming hole that's ideal for those warm summer days when you want to cool off.

My good friends Bob and Loreli Rankin made their dream of owning land like this come true about ten months ago. They found a one-in-a-million lot in upstate New York not too far away from New York City.

Kathy and I have decided to sell the 90 acres we own in central New Hampshire. It's a stunning piece of land to put it mildly.

If you don't want or need it, perhaps you know someone who is looking for that RARE find. The new buyer may keep this land in his and his family's possession for the next hundred years.

Now is the time to get it.

CLICK HERE to discover more about the property and to see stunning photos and VIDEO of the waterfalls. Wait until you see the fall color photo. Holy smokes, I did NOT do any color enhancement with that photo.

Brass Polishing Secrets Revealed!

Have you struggled to polish brass? Do you know once it's polished, the brass is very ANGRY at you?

CLICK HERE to discover how to easily polish brass and keep it shiny.

Great Powerful Scissors

Fiskars sent me some scissors and shears to test. I have to tell you I was impressed.

It's important to match a pair of scissors / shears to the task. If you don't, you run the risk of springing the scissors or just overworking your hand.

What you see above are the PowerArc series. These are the 10-inch PowerArc shears and great for cutting multiple pieces of paper at once without tearing.

I also used them to cut postcard stock and they did a magnificent job.

CLICK HERE to see many different Fiskars Powerarc scissors.

I'm confident you'll like these.

If you're a new subscriber, you need to know I only talk about products that I LOVE and would use in my own home.

I test everything BEFORE I share with you.

Building a Deck Seating Bench

Want to see some pretty good step-by-step photos of a deck seating bench I built?

CLICK HERE.

Jamie in Bermuda

Back two months ago, I got to do a rare international AsktheBuilder Meet Up. It was with Jamie in Bermuda.

Jamie is a structural / civil engineer on the island. He also does high-end house inspections I believe.

We had lunch close to the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship and unfortunately Jamie had to scoot to an appointment. We could have chit chatted for another hour with no trouble.

Somehow in a fit of uncontrolled idiotocy, I DELETED the photo taken by a stranger of Jamie and me outside the restaurant. DANG IT!

That's quite enough for today.

Try to help me find the best buyer who will appreciate the 90 acres in NH!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over! (this includes spelling *right* rigt)

Cleaning Brass DIY

Posted on August 23, 2017 by Tim Carter

Cleaning Brass DIY TIPS

You must use a bench buffing machine
Different polishing rouges and compounds polish in seconds
WATCH Polishing Video below
Coat with clear acrylic urethane to preserve shine
CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter!

DEAR TIM: I've been trying to clean some tarnished brass exterior light fixtures. I've purchased several different brass cleaning products and the results are ho-hum. It's a lot of work and no matter what I do I can't get a mirror-like finish like the brass had when it was brand new. What's the secret? What am I doing wrong? Gayla T., Barre, VT

DEAR GAYLA: Been there, done that.

My Front Door Brass

I remember thinking I could completely polish and re-coat a brass door handle set in an afternoon. After rubbing and rubbing for hours, I got parts of the brass very clean, but small cracks and crevices were either full of cleaning compound, tarnish or a combination of the two.

My frustration forced me to contact a professional metal polisher. It was one the best time and energy saving ideas I think I have ever had.

How Pros Polish

Converting a tarnished piece of brass to one that shines like a beacon can only be done with professional tools, equipment, solvents, polishing compounds and coatings.

The good news is you can purchase a simple bench buffer, the polishing compounds and special secret clear sealer to get pro results.

Here's a great bench buffer that has long shafts. Those can come in very handy when trying to polish longer or intricate items. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW to have this buffer delivered to your home in days.

A vast majority of those shiny new polished brass candlesticks, door hardware, and accessories that you see at stores have all been polished and finished by automated equipment. Some of the new brass fixtures available in stores today actually have a tarnish free alloy skin.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen that should be able to polish your brass the way pros do. Have them read this column.

Brass Polishing Video

Here's how the pros polish brass. Some have much bigger buffers and buffing wheels.

A Simple Chemical Reaction

Tarnished brass is happy. If you remember your high school chemistry, you'll recall that freshly polished brass that's exposed to the air is very unstable.

Brass likes to grab oxygen out of the air to restore the chemical balance it had before you buffed it. When oxygen ions connect to the brass, it discolors it. The brass is happy, but you're not. The oxidation or tarnish is actually a natural process. The brass is simply creating its own stable protective finish, albeit an unattractive one to many!

Clear Finish Erosion

Years ago some brass producers noticed if they coated the brass with a clear finish, it would stay shiny much longer. But these finishes break down when exposed to sunlight and the elements if your brass is outdoors.

Older brass suffers once the protective clear finishes erode and the brass is exposed to air. Contaminants in the outdoor air or indoor pollutants from aerosol products can also rapidly tarnish brass.

Pros Are Fast

Professional metal polishers can polish, buff and colorize brass fixtures very quickly, efficiently and affordably. The first step is to remove the old protective clear finish as well as the tarnish.

Removing tarnish requires that you actually remove an ultra-thin layer of the brass metal. When done by hand, this first step is very hard. This is why you and I struggled!

Rouges To The Rescue

The clear protective finish can be very difficult to remove. Once through it, then you need to rub and rub to break the molecular metal bonds. A high-speed polishing wheel that has special polishing rouge can cut through these films in seconds. This first step almost always produces fine scratches in the brass.

This is one type of brass polishing rouge. There are many and affordable. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW to have this delivered to your home.

Remove Fine Scratches

The buffing stage removes these scratches. Another high-speed buffing wheel coated with a different polishing rouge compound removes the scratches and creates a mirror like finish. To accomplish this by hand could take one hours while a professional can do it in less than a minute.

IMPORTANT TIP: The final step employs another high speed spinning pad that burnishes the brass and gives it the deep luster and color that is so characteristic of true polished brass. Achieving these results by hand is nearly impossible.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen that should be able to polish your brass the way pros do. Have them read this column.

Body Oils = Bad

All of this work needs to be done wearing gloves. Perspiration and body oils on your skin can leach into the freshly polished brass.

In fact, even harmful chemicals from food spices can be transmitted to the brass via perspiration.

Clean After Polishing

Once the brass is colorized, it is time to clean it with industrial strength lacquer thinner. This removes all contaminants and traces of the polishing rouge.

SAFETY TIP: Working with lacquer thinner is extremely hazardous and dangerous because it's highly flammable. Do not even think of doing this yourself.

Best Clear Coating

You might think the best clear coating is clear lacquer. The metal polishers that are on the cutting edge have found that acrylic urethanes are far superior.

Here's but one clear acrylic urethane to preserve your polished brass. This stuff really works. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW to have this delivered to your home.

Once a brass item has been coated with an acrylic urethane, it can remain tarnish-free for many years, even when placed outdoors. This is the only clear coating I would use to protect my brass pieces.

Pro Metal Polishers

Metal polishers can be found in most areas. Some of them offer mail order service.

You simply send them a photo or series of photos and they can give you a quote to perform the work. You ship them the items and the craftsmen begin the transformation task. Once complete, the brilliant brass objects are shipped back to you in perfect condition.

It's affordable and allows you to spend your time doing what you are good at.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen that should be able to polish your brass the way pros do. Have them read this column.

Companion Articles: Cleaning Brass, Brass Cleaning Companies, Brass Cleaning Tips. Cleaning Brass Products

Senco F-15 Finish Nailer Review

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Tim Carter

Here's the tool I tested. It drove nails perfectly. CLICK THE PHOTO now to have one delivered to your home.

Senco F-15 Finish Nailer

I've driven hundreds of thousands of nails with many different nail guns since the late 1970s. This fact should be of great interest to you.

Why?

That deep experience allows me to give you a pro's opinion about a new tool so you don't waste your money.

Here's another fact. You might come across other tool reviews written by hobby bloggers who've never set foot on a job site nor have ever worked inside or outside the home of a paying customer.

Always be sure you check out the reviewer's About Me page so you can judge their qualifications when it comes to evaluating a tool. How can a person who's not used tools on a job site for years render an opinion you can trust? It's your money at stake when you buy, not his for goodness sake!

But I digress!

A Senco Neighbor

I grew up in Cincinnati, OH and my entire construction experience was in and around Cincinnati.

My first nail gun was a Senco SN-4 I believe. It was a large gray gun that shot 16d sinkers and 8d nails for roof and wall sheathing and thicker subflooring.

That gun never failed me. I don't believe it ever jammed. If it did, I have no memory. At the time, I had no idea that Senco was based in Cincinnati. What a small world.

Within five years, I owned no less than five pneumatic Senco guns. They made me lots of money.

The F-15

Over the past five years I've been to countless editors conferences where tool manufacturers ply their wares to the members of the media. I've witnessed the amazing transformation of cordless tools and ever-increasing battery chemistry and performance.

Perhaps the biggest advancement has been micro-processor technology built into power tools to protect the tool and the battery.

It only made sense to bring this magic to finish nailers.

Fast Recharge

I continue to be impressed by the rapid recharge time once you've depleted a battery. The F-15's battery can attain 80% recharge in just 15 minutes and a full charge in just 45 minutes. That means after a long lunch you can get back to work and not fear running out of power.

The Specs

I don't waste the time repeating specs. If you want them, CLICK HERE.

Weight and Performance

There are pros and cons to every tool. I've reviewed hundreds of them. The same is true for this gorgeous finish nailer.

I love the fact that I don't have to mess with a compressor and a hose. I grab the tool, push it against the wood, and squeeze the trigger. Kerchunk - it fires!

I may have put up five pieces of trim in the time it takes you to get your compressor and hose set up making sure you don't mess any surface up.

However, you pay a small price for this convenience.

The tool with the battery weighs a little more than I'd prefer. It's not much, but it could be enough to cause some fatigue later in the day.

My Rating

I'm a sucker for bright red and blue so this tool already had an inside track. Just kidding!

In all honesty, I'd give this nail gun 4.5 stars. I love the convenience of no hose and no compressor.

Senco can get the other half star when the next version of this tool goes on a diet.

You'll not be disappointed using this nail gun and I feel you'll agree with me about the convenience.

Let me know in the comments below.

Build Deck Bench Seating

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Tim Carter

"Benches are just very wide chairs in my opinion. I don’t like hoping something is going to work so I always look at existing benches and take measurements."

Build Deck Bench Seating Checklist

A bench is just a series of small walls
Copy dimensions from favorite chairs in your home
WATCH cheeky building video below
Use straight treated lumber and coated screws
CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter!

DEAR TIM: This past weekend I was at a party and sat on a bench that was built into the deck. It was such a clever idea and it had handy armrests that were perfect to set food plates or drinks on.

I want to build bench seating on my deck. What are the most important things to consider?

Although I’m not a great do-it-yourselfer, I can follow directions. I want it to be strong and durable. Aimee P., Carbondale, IL

What is Comfortable Deck Bench Seating?

A few years ago my wife purchased a free-standing teak bench that was seven feet long and about 24 inches wide. It came with a cushion. I loved laying down on that bench in the warm sun like a lizard would on a rock.

Last year I completely remodeled two decks on my home and I constructed a new deck that attached to the posts that support my upper deck. I knew when I was planning this new deck that I wanted to put in a new built-in bench as the teak bench had seen better days.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local deck builders that can build a bench for you.

What's the Best Plan for Deck Benches?

The best plan for deck benches is to go sit on a few existing benches until you discover one that's comfortable. Take photos and measurements so you can copy the design.

I used the teak bench dimensions as a basis for my plan, but I ended up altering it to a degree to fit bench cushions we could find online that were a standard size. You don’t have to have cushions to sit on, but I recommend it.

Find the cushions you like at an affordable price and then size the bench seat to fit the cushions. If you order custom-sized cushions made to fit a bench you make, the price might take your breath away.

What Are Deck Benches?

Benches are just very wide chairs in my opinion. I don’t like hoping something is going to work so I always look at existing benches and take measurements.

I’m sure you have a favorite chair in your home that’s extremely comfortable. Measure how high off the floor the top of the seat is and how deep the seat is from front to back.

What are Common Chair Dimensions?

My guess is you’ll discover the seat is usually about 19 inches up off the floor. The front to back measurement will be about 22 inches. If you build a bench too high your legs dangle. If it’s too low, you end up squatting uncomfortably. The front to back dimension is also critical so you don’t end up leaning back too far.

I built my bench with a 90-degree orientation to the seat and the back. The reason is the back of my bench does double duty as it’s a wall that supports a long shelf my wife wanted me to make for potted plants.

Build A Bench Video

This Australian has got the right idea about a few things. I think his video should help you.

What is an Adirondack Deck Bench?

An Adirondack deck bench is one that has a sloped seat and sloped back at the same angles as those on an Adirondack chair.

If you’ve ever sat in an Adirondack chair you may want to mimic this design for your bench. It’s more work to create the angled back and seat, but the long-term comfort of sitting on the bench may be worth it. The only disadvantage to this design is you can’t lay horizontally on the bench without getting jammed into the corner where the seat meets the back of the bench.

The other issue with the Adirondack style is the armrests on the typical chair help you get up out of the low chair. People sitting on a bench would not have these and it could be problematic for older folks to get up. Just keep that in mind as you plan.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local deck builders that can build a bench for you.

How Long Does It Take To Build a Bench Frame?

I built the framework for my deck bench in less than an hour. If you looked at the different components after they were built, I just had four small rectangles that were various lengths and widths.

One of the rectangles formed the seat and I screwed the long edge into the tall vertical wall that formed the back of the bench. You might end up screwing your seat to your deck railing posts or to the wall of your home.

You can clearly see the seat coming into form. It's just a rectangle wall built with treated 2x4s. I have a block supporting it until I finish the tiny wall under it that will support the seat and any people. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

I'm using my handy Bosch impact driver to drive the coated timber screws. It's a bad idea to use nails. They'll loosen over time. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW to have the Bosch impact driver delivered to your home.

I built a tiny long wall that was the same length as the seat. This wall was inset from the front of the bench about 5 inches. This wall provided plenty of support so the seat would never collapse. The inset is easier on your legs as some people tend to tuck their legs back a bit when sitting in a chair or on a bench.

Here's the tiny wall under the seat. You can see how it will make the bench as strong as the Rock of Gibraltar. Note the coated timber screws driven by the amazing Bosch impact driver. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

What Supports the Ends of the Deck Bench?

At each end of the bench, I had small walls that were the same height off the deck as the arms on several chairs I measured around my house. Once again, don’t guess. Find chairs that have arms on them and decide which height is the most comfortable and make your end walls that high.

You can see the two end walls. I ripped down the 2x4s to a specific width so when I cut my Trex Transcend decking to cover it, I'd be able to do it with one piece of decking. Look at the next photo and it will make perfect sense. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

I capped my end walls with 1 x 6 material so it would serve as a great place to put smaller dessert plates and glasses or mugs. So far it’s been perfect.

Look closely at the mitered piece of Trex Transcend. I cut the maximum width of a piece of decking on my table saw. The smaller back dimension of the decking is what the treated wall thickness had to be. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

I’d avoid using any nails when assembling all the components for this bench. You can purchase wonderful coated timber screws that take the place of regular 16d nails. All the framing lumber should be treated to resist rot. CLICK HERE to see an assortment of the timber screws.

The other two pieces of Trex Transcend decking have been ripped with a miter joint and applied. All this work produces a look that the end of the bench is made from a solid piece of wood instead of just overlapping the pieces at the corner. It's more work to do it this way, but I feel it looks better. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Be sure to purchase treated lumber that’s nice and straight. Store it inside in the shade if you can’t use it right away. You need all the pieces to be nice and straight as you go to assemble all the parts.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local deck builders that can build a bench for you.

Column 1210

STIHL Electric Chain Saw Review MSA 120 C

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Tim Carter

Here it is doing what it does best. Yes, I should have had a glove on for the photo. Yes, I should have had on safety boots with kevlar uppers. Yes, my left hand should have been on the black ring to balance the saw. Guess what? It was being used to take this photograph. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW the safety instructions found in the owners manual. NOTE: The saw was NOT in use as this is a beauty photo of the saw. The chain was not in motion while the camera captured this shot. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

STIHL Electric Chain Saw Review

I took ownership of a STIHL electric chain saw about three months ago. It's the battery-powered MSA 120 C.

Over those ninety days, I've used the saw extensively on all sorts of different jobs around my home.

To the best of my knowledge, I'm one of a very few tool reviewers that puts a tool through rigid testing before sharing the news about it's performance.

I know of one tool reviewer that publishes some tool reviews within hours of the UPS truck pulling away from his apartment. You can't evaluate a tool in just a few hours.

Period.

Sharp & Sassy

This handy STIHL chain saw really surprised me. When you first pick it up, you think it's a toy. It's that lightweight.

It's a great example of the old saying, "You can't tell a book by its cover."

While this micro saw doesn't pack the power found inside its gas-powered big brothers that work in the deep forest all day in the hands of professional loggers, this saw is able to cut down a sizable tree with little effort.

I know as I did it in my own backyard.

The 40-Foot Oak

I decided to go big with the first job. I had a 40-foot-tall oak tree that needed to come down. It's trunk just a foot off the ground was 7 inches in diameter.

After making the suggested cuts in the trunk to fell the tree, it came down exactly where I wanted it to fall and the little STIHL saw never flinched. It's sharp teeth bit into the oak wood like a bald eagle's talons grasp onto a fish from the lake I live on here in central New Hampshire.

Wood chips were flying in all directions, and within a minute the tree was on the ground.

Trimming Branches

This saw is now my go-to tool for trimming any branches on the many trees at my home. Since it weighs so little, you have excellent control and rarely experience fatigue.

Sips Oil

As with any chain saw, you need to fill the oil reservoir with lubricating oil. I prefer to use the oil from STIHL because I know it's been formulated to work best with the saw and chain.

The Battery

This is a battery-powered saw. It's new technology for STIHL. The battery should last you long enough that you need a break. It charges fast and you can get back to work. If you want to keep working, then purchase a second battery.

Five Stars

I've owned STIHL chain saws for decades. It's the first saw I ever used. This new addition to the line rates five stars. If you care for it, it's going to work hard for you for many many years.

How to Clean Vitamix

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Tim Carter

Your Vitamix blender will look BRAND NEW like this one after using Stain Solver.

How to Clean a Vitamix Blender

I get questions all the time about how to clean a Vitamix blender. (August 23, 2017 Newsletter)

But the most interesting thing I've received is an email from Molly a year or so ago. Read this:

"I never, never write manufacturers.... Did I say never??? I have a Vitamix I have used once a day for about 7 - 8 years. The blender looks like I had blended car parts in it...

Stained, cloudy, just plain yuck. I had read many websites, including the Vitamix site, saying clean with lemon juice , vinegar etc. None of them worked at all.

Then I stumbled onto your Stain Solver product. I have a new blender after just a one hour soak!!!

I am just non-plussed ... Truly miraculous. Thank you!!!! You should contact Vitamix and partner with them. Their remedies don't work. Good luck!"

My wife and I developed the fantastic product called Stain Solver Molly loves so much.

Stain Solver is made with FDA-approved food-grade-quality ingredients. There are only two and both are made in the USA.

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

Stain Solver is certified organic, so it's safe to come into contact with your valuable Vitamix blender.

It's very simple to clean a Vitamix mixer and requires NO SCRUBBING.

Step One: Purchase a 2.2-pound container of Stain Solver Certified Organic oxygen bleach.

Step Two: Fill the blender with HOT tap water to the top and set on a level surface.

Step Three: Add two tablespoons of Stain Solver powder and let sit overnight.

Step Four: Wake up to clean blender! Rinse well and make a smoothie!

August 16, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Tim Carter

I'm sitting at gate 54A here in the San Francisco airport waiting to get back home. I've been out here on the Left Coast of the USA for over two weeks.

Two weeks ago, I was just starting a very interesting tour of the KEEN shoes and boots factory in Portland, Oregon. CLICK HERE to read that story and watch a video of me making boots!

I then had to be in San Francisco yesterday for a small conference at Google's offices at 345 Spear Street. Here was my view from the 7th-floor roof deck as I ate lunch.

In between the two business events I wandered down through Oregon and Northern California. This past weekend, I was blessed to stay with my oldest daughter Meghan and her husband Brent.

We had dinner on Sunday with some of their friends. Tanya was there and she came to the USA from Vietnam about forty years ago. She told us the harrowing story about how she and dozens of people were rescued minutes before their leaky boat sank in the Pacific Ocean. It was a riveting story of survival.

Two days ago, I received a second blessing and got to meet Beth, a long-time subscriber. She uses my Stain Solver for all sorts of cleaning chores around her home, and for several years, I promised to stop by as I drove past her in Palo Alto, CA.

I'm so happy to be going home to see Kathy and get back into a normal routine! My guess is Lady the dog is going to be quite happy to see me tonight.

Steel Beams & Wood

Overnight Dan emailed me. He's building a home in Crown Point, Indiana. Look at a photo he sent me. Pay attention to where the red arrow points. What's wrong there?

What you're looking at is a treated lumber sill plate and an untreated block of wood under the steel I beam. There are some thin steel shims on top of the untreated wood.

Dan wanted to know if this was acceptable.

The answer is NO!

Steel beams must be placed on solid masonry or something else that can't compress or ROT.

Yes, treated lumber ROTS. CLICK HERE for proof.

Building On Solid Rock

Topsoil is often not too thick. You may have to build on solid rock.

What are the challenges and what should you avoid at all costs?

There are quite a few things you need to know when faced with rock.

My college degree is in geology and I was intrigued with hydrogeology while in school. What's that?

CLICK HERE do discover more and how to protect yourself when faced with bedrock.

It's getting close to boarding time. I'll have more news and photos probably this weekend.

Oh, you may want to read about the most exciting thing that happened to me last week! I was deep in a redwood forest in California.

CLICK HERE and tell me what you think about this story!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Bath Remodel Pictures

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Tim Carter

Bath Remodel Pictures

Matt works for Ranger Roofing, a roofing company in Oklahoma. Someone hired his company to complete a bathroom remodeling project. I'm not quite sure how a roofing company got into bath remodeling, but you can be the judge if they should get back up in the hot sun or stay inside!

Free & Fast Bids

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

Below is Matt's story, in his own words. Matt submitted the photos, but he transferred the copyright ownership to me by asking me to publish his story.

"We were tasked with renovating this bathroom and decided to write a bit about it in case you want to do the same.

Remove Old Tub

Starting from the bathtub, we placed a waterproof layer beneath, to prevent any leaks. After making sure it was waterproof, we proceeded to put the tub and started securing it and making sure it was in place.

Silicone and Mold

Later we waterproofed the edges with silicone to prevent the leakage of water beneath; this could cause mold and the structure of the house to become compromised, which we obviously want to avoid.

Test For Leaks

After we tested everything and made sure it's waterproof we installed the faucet and set up the drainage system.

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

Tile going up. They made a HUGE mistake not protecting the tub with tarps during the install. A dropped tile can CHIP the tub. #FAIL Remember, this job is being done by Ranger Roofing, not me Tim Carter. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Trouble Time!

For the shower, we had a bit more trouble, after making sure all of the installations are working we started by leveling the floor. After leveling it we placed a waterproof layer and started layering tiles, we filled the space between the tiles with waterproof silicon made for showers.

Silicone Curing

We left the silicone to dry while we installed the faucet and the shower head, making sure everything is waterproof. A small leak could mean you have to go under the tiles and dig up the whole thing. In these critical steps, it's better to triple check than to have a mistake force you to dig up everything and start over."

After - the finished shower. It's hard in photos like this to see extreme detail. We have no real idea how well the tile joints are and if everything is excellent workmanship. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

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

Thanks for sharing Matt.

August 9, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Tim Carter

If you're a new subscriber in the past two weeks, this is not a normal newsletter. Don't judge my newsletter on what you're about to see.

I'm in the middle of an extended vacation that had a business meeting last week in Portland, OR, and in six days I have another one in San Francisco.

I've been wandering down through Oregon and Northern California since last Friday afternoon.

Here are a few photos. The first one is at Crater Lake in southern Oregon. I had always wanted to see the deep blue water in the crater, but the smoke from giant forest fires in Canada and right in Crater Lake National Park thwarted that dream! This was the best photo I was able to capture but it's still quite smokey.

The next photo was taken yesterday at Humboldt Redwoods State Park in Northern California. That's an old-growth redwood tree just behind me. It had to be over 200 feet tall.

The next one, I took yesterday at Point Cabrillo Light Station along the Pacific Ocean. If you want to see what I was doing sitting at the picnic table with that crazy lime string, CLICK HERE. The story is about me doing radio at the photo below, but I was doing the same thing among the majestic redwood giants.

Roof Ventilation Myths

Ninety minutes ago, I had a fascinating conversation with a man in Canada about what he *thinks* you feel about roof ventilation.

I decided I'd go to the source - that's you - and find out.

Would you humor me and please take a two-question survey?

It will take you LESS than 30 seconds.

CLICK HERE to get to the survey.

KEEN Shoes and Boots Factory Tour

Last week, I was in the record HEAT up in Portland, OR. Let me tell you it was HOT. I think it got to 105 F last Wednesday.

I was invited there to visit the fascinating KEEN shoe and boot factory as well as their headquarters and infamous KEEN Garage.

CLICK HERE to read my story about the adventure. There are TWO videos in the story and one of them is me working on the assembly line!!! How cool was THAT???? Three people are going to be wearing boots that I helped make!!!

CLICK HERE to see what I think of KEEN boots. Read my review of one of their boots.

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I had to write four columns before leaving on this trip. Here they are:

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SELLING Used Building Materials - Not Donating

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Okay, that's enough. I need to scoot out the door to do more amateur radio today.

I'll report in when I get back to New Hampshire.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

KEEN Factory Tour Summary

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Tim Carter

This is the company canteen side of the KEEN Garage. On the other side of those garage doors with the glass panels is the retail store. CLICK HERE to read a story about the amazing restoration of this historic building built in 1907. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

KEEN Footwear Factory Tour

The first week of August, 2017, I found myself in Portland, Oregon. As fate would have it, I arrived in the midst of an historic heat spell.

I had been invited to visit the KEEN Utility factory, headquarters and epic KEEN Garage where they have a retail store in downtown Portland's Pearl district. About ten other hobby bloggers and one or two full-time professional members of the media like myself were part of the tour group.

Best Tour Ever

I hate to admit it, but I've been a member of the working media for so long that I've lost count of the number of factory tours I've attended. The reason is I cover an industry that makes lots of tools and products.

The company owners are always proud of what they make and they invite media to see and share with their audiences how things are done. Some tours have been fascinating as you sometimes don't realize how many aspects of building a thing are still done by humans. That may change moving forward, but that's a story for another day.

This KEEN tour was the best ever for a number of reasons. KEEN is a family-owned business. Rory Fuerst, Sr. started the business just a mere fifteen years ago in 2003. Two of his sons work each day in the factory, Rory Jr. and Connor.

Connor Fuerst is holding his arms up praising the members of the media. No, seriously, I caught him at an awkward moment. His brother Rory, Jr. is in the blue t-shirt opening the door to lead us out to the factory. Marshall Alexander, a member of the KEEN marketing team is on the left against the wall. The woman between Connor and Rory, Jr. runs the quality control lab at KEEN. I forgot her name! Sorry! Copyright 2017, Tim Carter

I got to spend lots of time with them and they are as friendly and normal as can be. Both were wearing t-shirts and you'd never know they were part of the business if you just happened to see them walking around the factory.

On a selfish note, I felt it was the best tour I've ever attended because they allowed me to work on the assembly line! How silly is that, but it meant so much to me.

Three people are going to wear a pair of boots that I helped work on. I was able to fit an upper onto the form before it goes into the assembly line, I got to load two soles into the forms and I got to trim off the urethane flash from one boot.

Connor had to do some extra trimming because my workmanship didn't meet their standards, but he was very understanding of my first attempt!

The Process

Watch this video to get an idea of what it's like to be in a factory that makes amazing boots and shoes. I could write about it, but it's better that you just see it.

The People

At the end of the tour everyone gathered in a conference room at the factory. It's somewhat normal for this to happen. The purpose is for those on the tour to ask follow-up questions.

A few of the hobby bloggers asked some tech questions, but I then jumped in with my over-arching question I always ask. I pointed the question to both Connor and Rory Jr.

"If you could wave a magic wand that would allow you to communicate to all consumers messaging you feel they don't really know about KEEN Utility and what you do, what would that message be?"

You could hear a pin drop. Connor and Rory, Jr. looked at each other and with their eyes said, "Dude, you go first!"

I think Rory, Jr. finally said, "Boy, that's a great question." He shook his head and then said, "Connor, you go first."

Connor thought for a second and replied, "I really would love consumers to know about the dedication and values of the entire team that assembles here each day to make our boots and shoes. These people love to come here and they work hard. They take real pride in what they do and I feel it shows when you open the box and try on your boots."

Rory, Jr. then jumped in. Rory runs the Fuerst Innovation Lab where all the conceptual ideas are born about all new products and processes. They often look at failure points of products made by others and try to solve them with a new KEEN product.

"I think that our customers need to know that money doesn't drive all decisions. We try to remember that all the time. I'd like them to know that we thrive on doing things that are challenging. It's easy to do easy things.

What's more, I'd love for them to know that sometimes you have to ignore the experts and consultants who say you're going to lose money on something. In certain situations you need to do what's right, not what's going to make you the most money. Finally, I'd like our consumers to know we have fun here."

The Takeaway

I think Rory Jr.'s comments hit the nail on the head for me. After all, the AsktheBuilder.com motto is:

Do It Right, Not Over!

I could see the workers at the factory trying to do it right. Everyone was diligent that I saw. They want your boots and shoes to fit perfectly, be comfortable and last a long time.

It's also about fun. What a dream to have a job that's fun. I've got that with my AsktheBuilder.com vocation and it's obvious Connor, Rory, Jr. and the other dedicated employees at KEEN Utility in Portland have this rare gift where work is fun.

What you see under the signs is a tiny fraction of the KEEN product line. CLICK THIS PHOTO now, buy a pair and you'll get them delivered to your home in days. You'll have a similar smile on your face once you try them on!

CLICK HERE now to purchase a pair of KEEN shoes or boots and put a similar smile on your face when you insert your foot into the cocoon of pleasure. That's what I call my KEEN boots!

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