Pay Contractor In Advance

Posted on by Tim Carter

Paying a Contractor in Advance

Yesterday I received an email from Marie who lives in Massachusetts.

She asked the following question:

"I have been getting quotes to clean and stain my decks. In the quotes, they have all been saying that they want money up front (1/3 or 1/2).

I don't like this idea. Is this the norm?

They are protecting themselves, but I'm not protected at all. They are companies from HomeAdvisor."

Marie Nailed It

Unfortunately, it appears it's becoming the norm, Marie. Your observation is spot on because as soon as you give up money in this situation, you're hoping the contractor is going to come back and start the job.

You hope for things you can't control like the weather, if you might get rescued from a deserted island, etc.

You can and should negotiate the CONTROL of your home and your money.

IMPORTANT TIP: Money is the only leverage you have. It's foolish for you to base your actions on hope.

Contractors Have Rights

The contractor you're thinking of hiring and material suppliers have strong and tough rights in most states. They can put a lien on a piece of property for nonpayment of a bill for work performed or material supplied. It's NOT HARD for a contractor to place this lien on your home. It costs very little.

If you sell your home before the lien expires the contractor or material supplier AUTOMATICALLY gets their money at the real estate closing. You can't stop this from happening.

On the other hand, if you forward money to a contractor and he fails to show up or he fails to perform as promised, you have to pursue expensive legal action.

You NEVER WILL GET BACK YOUR MONEY PLUS legal fees. The law in all states puts you at a horrible disadvantage if you have to sue a contractor.

Keeping possession of your money until the promised work is complete is the only protection you really have.

Ask These Questions

When a contractor asks for a deposit in a situation where no special order materials are required for the job, you can short circuit his request by asking these blunt questions.

Don't hesitate to ask them and do it in a calm and collected manner. There's no need for confrontation. I feel these will make sense and they're fair questions to ask:

Mr. Contractor, do you pay your subcontractors in advance for work they do?

Mr. Contractor, can you tell me if you pay your employees in advance?

Mr. Contractor, do you have a charge account at local supply houses where you'll buy the materials for the job?

Mr. Contractor, do these supply houses require you to pay for my materials in advance or will you have to pay the bill in a month or so?

Mr. Contractor, when you get your truck worked on, do you pay the repair shop owner in advance? If "Yes" is your answer, what's the name of that business?

Mr. Contractor, since you don't have to pay anything in advance for my job, why are you requiring me to pay in advance?

Trust Is A Two-Way Street

A bold contractor may actually answer the last question saying to you, "I don't trust you. I don't trust that you'll pay me once the job is done."

Your immediate reply is: "Trust is a two-way street. You're asking me to trust you and your workers with my most expensive asset. If you goof up the job or don't produce the promised results, I'll be able to hire someone else who can and not be out anything but time. The money you're supposed to get will go to them."

Pros Have Little Fear

A true professional is only worried about a deposit in situations where the materials for the job are custom and non-returnable. It's reasonable for you to forward a deposit in these cases. If you want complete protection, then pay the money directly to the material supplier or buy the materials yourself and have them on site before the contractor arrives.

A professional contractor knows he'll deliver the quality you deserve. He knows you'll pay them. The professional has no fear. He's got plenty of money in his business account. He just wants you to pay him as soon as you two agree.

The Compromise

Remember, everything is negotiable. You can negotiate a fair payment plan to quash the trust barrier both you and the contractor are feeling.

Break the job into small parts and pay that part at the end of the day when the work is done to your satisfaction.

Prewrite out the checks to the contractor in his presence and show them to him. Put them in an envelope and say, "When you get each of the parts of the job done, I'll hand each check to you, even if it's at noon."

You can compromise and you need to show good faith that you have every intention of paying. Writing out the check(s) in advance is a good way to do this.

How To Hire A Pro and Pay Them Videos

Watch these four videos to see how to completely protect yourself, your home and your money. Video #3 is very important.


Trust begets trust. 

 

Concrete Finish Options

Posted on by Tim Carter
Concrete Finish

This splotchy new concrete should look good in a week, but the finish might not be what it should be. (C) Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Concrete Finish Options TIPS

  • Communicate clearly what you want in the first place to avoid nightmare
  • Stamped concrete is dramatic - can be slippery around pools
  • Stenciled concrete is unbelievable. Not as hard to do as stamped
  • Too much curing compound can cause splotchy white haze
  • CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter!

DEAR TIM: I’ve got a big problem. Concrete was poured around my new swimming pool.

I wanted a colored sanded finish that resembled cobble stones. It’s been four weeks now and the concrete has a milky splotchy appearance and the finish is really rough to walk on with bare feet.

What, if anything, can be done to salvage this job? How could the mistake have been prevented?

What’s causing the milky appearance? The contractor has said all will be well in a few months. Tom H., San Jose, CA

DEAR TOM: Oh my! The photos you sent me are excellent and tell the tale. Believe it or not, from what I can see the concrete finishers did a remarkable job. They used the correct sand in the mix to produce a nice sandy texture and they washed just enough cement paste out to produce a gorgeous exposed aggregate finish.

How Do You Describe Cobblestone?

But I realize this is not what you had envisioned in your mind for the final product. I’ve got granite cobblestones in my own yard that actually look quite similar to the color of the exposed coarse sand in your new concrete! If you hired me as an expert witness, and I’ve done this type of work for many years, I’d testify that you got a sanded finish that has a cobblestone coloration.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors who specialize in stamped concrete.

Can you see the problem? What you picture in your mind and what another person envisions based on your verbal description can be miles apart. You may have wanted a stamped concrete look that resembles actual cobblestones. For all you know the contractor may have never seen a cobblestone alley, street or sidewalk.

Stamped Cobblestone Concrete

To achieve a stamped cobblestone look, concrete finishers broadcast dry pigments into the wet concrete, mix these into the top layer of the wet concrete and then lay rubber mats onto the concrete that have the cobblestone texture and outline.

These mats are tamped into the wet concrete and then peeled off. The concrete then looks just like cobblestone. Based on your email to me, I don’t know that this is exactly what you wanted. It’s a classic case of miscommunication.

Concrete Finish

Here’s a closeup shot of the sandy texture. It’s expert workmanship but could be rough on tender feet. (C) Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Prevent Miscommunication

You could have prevented this situation doing any number of things. You could have given the contractor a few excellent photographs of what you wanted. If the exact concrete finish you wanted was at some local business like a restaurant, park plaza, or a giant patio outside some business that you’ve walked on, you could have taken the contractor to this location showing him exactly what you wanted. There are countless videos on YouTube that show patterned and textured concrete. You could have found one or two and shown them to the contractor to communicate what you wanted.

Tear Out If Stamped Is Desired

If you wanted actual stamped concrete as I described above, you have to start over. You need to tear out all the concrete and replace it.

If you just want a different colored finish that’s not as rough, you might be able to produce the finish you want with a very thin cement stucco overlay that’s no more than one-eighth-inch thick.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors who specialize in stamped concrete.

Thin Overlay May Work

Your big issue is you can’t add much thickness where the concrete slab touches up against the cast border of the swimming pool. You need positive drainage away from the pool.

You can create a very unique cobblestone finish using the thin overlay, stencil templates and some dry pigments. I’ve seen it done and the look is stunning. Not only can you create the look of cobblestone, you can create flagstone, tile or even brick. Shaded coloration is very possible so it’s not just one uniform color when complete.

An expert concrete mason can make up the thin overlay cement stucco and he can colorize it. They apply this over your new concrete, smooth it and then overlay heavy paper templates that might resemble brick or the cobblestone outline.

Stenciled Concrete Video

Watch this video to see the process of stenciling concrete. Note at the beginning of the video how you can have different color tones in the concrete.

These are lightly pressed into the wet stucco and then an additional dry pigment is broadcast onto the stucco. The paper template prevents the second color from touching all the stucco. The concrete mason floats the pigment into the stucco and then may use a few special rollers to create a unique texture to the overlay. After all this is complete, the mason peels up the paper templates revealing the gorgeous workmanship.

Curing Compound Splotches

Your current milky splotchy appearance looks to me like too much curing compound was applied to the wet concrete. Curing compound is an excellent product and it prevents the concrete from releasing too much water into the atmosphere. Water is needed inside the concrete slab for many many weeks after the concrete gets hard so it achieves its design strength.

The curing compound could have been defective or far too much was applied. Over time sunlight will remove the milky appearance, but it can sometimes take a very long time.

College Of Hard Knocks Tuition Payment

The contractor should not be penalized for this mistake. The photos tell me he did a great job and the final finish you wanted didn’t happen because you failed to clearly communicate what you wanted.

Before you tear up the existing concrete, do a small test to see if the stenciled overlay will produce the finish, texture and coloration you want. I think it’s possible to get very close and the work could be done in just one or two days.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors who specialize in stamped concrete.

Column 1199

June 4, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Good morning! It's an unusual late spring here in central New Hampshire. I'll be wearing a jacket to church this morning! Monday and Tuesday are forecast to be 55 F and rainy!

Come on Mother Nature!!! Give us a break. It's time for 75 F and sun!

Photo Gallery Eye Candy

I need you to click the following links and look at some very fascinating doors that use LE Johnson hardware to allow them to slid sideways.

You're going to be STUNNED by what you see and I guarantee you'll get some inspiration.

After you click the links, I'll have a few questions for you to answer and I'm quite sure you'll get a smile on your face. If not, I want to hear from you.

It's important that you click each of these following links:

Wine Door

Strange Bedroom Door & Brick

Mystical Blue Glow - Help Me Guess Cause!

WOW - Sliding Castle Door In Your Home!!!!

Sliding TV - NO KIDDING - You've GOT TO SEE THIS!

Okay, now you need to go answer five simple questions. It's super easy:

CLICK HERE to see the simple questions.

Do Not Click This Secret Button!

You need to ANSWER the simple questions to test your skills and magic.

CLICK HERE do to do that.

PLEASE DO NOT CLICK THIS BUTTON - 😉

I need to know. Did you click the two buttons that said not to click them?

Why???

Thanks for clicking the photo links above.

If you're a new subscriber I do this on occasion to introduce you to stunning new products and to provide you with INSPIRATION to help you create the perfect dream home you desire.

Some people are very creative with their decorating and combining different materials.

That's what you should have seen in the photos above.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Brick Wall Leakage Repair

Posted on by Tim Carter
Water is leaking right through the tight mortar joints

Water is leaking right through the tight mortar joints between these brick. Photo credit: Goran Latkovic

Brick Wall Leakage Repair TIPS

  • Water can't pool against brick walls
  • Create positive drainage using a thin concrete overlay
  • Use cement paint for permanent repair - WATCH VIDEOS below
  • Silane-siloxane sealers can prevent water from entering brick
  • CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter!

DEAR TIM: There's an area in our garage that's leaking water. The water is coming from the brick wall which is causing a small amount of flooding when heavy rain.

Outside there are steps that lean against the this wall. It appears there has been some concrete or some form of elastic that has been used to patch this issue by the previous owners.

What can we do to stop the leakage and if we decide we can't do the work ourselves, who would have the best skills to complete the job? Goran L., Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia

DEAR GORAN: I'm sorry to see you've got this leakage problem, but it's comforting to know that gravity and physics work the same down under in Australia as it does here in North America! With that in mind, I'm confident I can help you achieve a nice dry garage.

Negative Drainage

Based on your description, there are at least two dynamics in play here. First, you say that the steps are leaning towards the outer wall. This means that water is being directed right at the wall. I happen to call this negative drainage.

This is unacceptable and must be changed. You have no hope for success if the contact point between the steps and brick wall is like a small river valley where the water flows when it rains.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen that can patch your concrete and apply brick sealers.

Wind-Driven Rain

The second issue you're dealing with could be wind-driven rain assuming this wall is open to the weather and rain does hit the wall. Rain showers are often not the problem.

Brick walls take on water in powerful gusty rainstorms. When rain blows against brick walls like the golfing-in-the-lightning-storm scene in the funny movie Caddyshack, water can pour through a brick wall like it enters a sinking ship.

Raindrops Like A Hammer

The best way to visualize how water would get through a seemingly solid masonry wall is to think about how nails are hammered into wood. Each time you strike a nail with a hammer, it penetrates deeper into the wood. Think of each raindrop that strikes a brick-wall mortar joint as both a hammer and a nail.

Weight Of Water Is Significant

When the first drop hits the mortar, it soaks in just a bit. When the second drop hits where the first one did, it pushes the first raindrop water a little farther into the mortar.

Each successive pounding raindrop pushes the one before it deeper into the wall. Before long, you have water streaming down the inner side of the brick wall just as you show in your photograph.

Step One - Positive Drainage

Here's how I'd solve your problem. I'm going to assume you have some sturdy concrete steps that can't be lifted so they tilt away from the wall. If this is the case, then you're going to have to do a wedge-shaped overlay of concrete and cement stucco mix to make each stair tread slope away from the brick wall with a minimum one-eighth-inch fall per foot.

The overlay mixture where it's over 3/4-inch thick must contain small pieces of stone no larger than a green pea that you'd eat for dinner. As the wedge of overlay gets thinner, use just very coarse sand in the mix. At it's thinnest point, the sand should be quite fine.

Add plenty of Portland cement to the mix so it bonds well with the existing concrete. When you're mixing in the gravel, add three parts gravel, two parts sand and two parts Portland cement. When you're not using any stone, just mix two parts sand to one part Portland cement.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen that can patch your concrete and apply brick sealers.

Secret Cement Paint

Be sure the concrete steps are clean and just before applying the overlay mixture, spritz the concrete with clear water to get it damp and then paint on a layer of cement paint. Cement paint is just a mixture of Portland cement and water that is blended to the consistency of regular paint.

Concrete Repair & Cement Paint Videos

Watch these three videos to see how to mix up the repair compounds.


Concave Shape - No Pooling

Where the overlay contacts the brick wall, I'd add a little extra to give it a concave shape like the inside of a shallow bowl. This means the overlay mixture laps up onto the brick for about three-quarters of an inch. You create this so the water running down the steps in a storm never contacts the brick wall.

Curing Compound For Permanent Repair

As soon as you finish the surface of the overlay so it looks good, spray it with a concrete curing compound so it dries slowly. This is very important so the overlay never separates from the older concrete.

curing compound

This is a typical concrete curing compound. They're liquid you spray or roll onto stiff concrete. CLICK THE PHOTO TO SEE A VARIETY OF THESE AMAZING LIQUID PLASTIC MATERIALS. THEY DRY CLEAR.

Step Two - Repair Mortar & Sealant

The second phase of the repair job is inspecting the outer mortar joints for missing mortar. Be sure the mortar joints between the brick are in great shape and repair as necessary.

Once you have the mortar in great shape, apply a silane-siloxane brick water repellent to the entire brick wall. Pay close attention to the written instructions with respect to air temperature and the amount of water repellent to apply.

penetrating sealer

This is a magnificent silane - siloxane water repellent that soaks into concrete. CLICK THIS IMAGE NOW TO ORDER IT.

Some products require two coats but the second coat must be applied within a few minutes of the first coat. If the instructions say this, be sure you follow these instructions to the letter.

The reason for this is simple. If the first coat dries, it repels the second coat! Remember, the sealant is much like the raindrops and you need it to penetrate as deep as possible into the mortar joints to prevent water from entering your garage.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen that can patch your concrete and apply brick sealers.

Featured in April 21, 2015 AsktheBuilder Newsletter.

Column 1088

How To Drill Hard Steel Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

How To Drill Hard Steel Video

Drilling steel or metal is harder than drilling wood. If you don't know how to drill steel, you can dull your drill bits quickly. Be sure to use a drill bit designed for steel, such as a cobalt bit. Wood drill bits have a special point that were not work with metal.

This column was SO GOOD that I shared with the 31,000 subscribers who read my September 17, 2014 and the  January 13, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter.

Use a little oil on the steel to lubricate and cool the drill bit. Heat will dull the drill bit rapidly. Drilling in steel requires a slower drill speed. Too fast and more heat is generated.

Place a block of wood under the steel workpiece. This will allow the drill bit to go into the wood, instead of dulling the bit on a piece of concrete.

As long as you have the proper sharp bit, a little oil and a variable speed drill, you can drill through steel or sheet metal without damaging the drill bit.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen that can drill through steel for you.

Best Drill Bits For Metal

Here are some amazing bits that will drill through steel or any metal. Remember, go SLOW!

These are great cobalt drill bits for metal. Always get cobalt. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW FOR A VARIETY OF COBALT BITS. YOU'LL HAVE THEM AT YOUR HOUSE IN DAYS.

Author's Note:

I received the following tip from John Gibbs of Ontario, Canada. Based on his years of experience as a tool and die maker, John provides this excellent tip.

"Hi, I am a retired 71 year old tool and die maker ... worked at my trade for 53 years.

I recently saw the video on how to drill through steel. It was very good. But if you needed to enlarge that hole, then the larger drill bit will often vibrate and produce a chatter which gives a terrible 5 or 6 sided edge instead of a smooth accurate edge to the hole.

The solution is to simply use a piece of emery cloth. Fold about a 1 X 2 inch piece of emery cloth in half, with the smooth side on the OUTSIDE, to avoid scratching the work piece. Place it over the hole to be enlarged, place the drill bit on the emery cloth over the hole and begin drilling. It will automatically center itself. The emery cloth will let the drill bit through smooth and easy, and produces a beautiful smooth edge without a trace of chatter.

Works every time. This is a tip I learned as an apprentice in England. I hope that you find this interesting. It's one of the best tips I was ever taught. Would make a nice little 2 minute video probably."

Drill Hard Steel

DRAWING CREDIT: John Gibbs

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen that can drill through steel for you.

Black Roof Stains

Posted on by Tim Carter
Black Roof Stains

Much of this roof is covered with black cyanobacteria streaks. But two areas are not because of the metal that washes onto the roof each time it rains. Photo credit: Tim Carter

Black Roof Stains TIPS

DEAR TIM: My newer roof is turning black. It's got ugly black streaks that look like someone poured used motor oil on my roof. What's causing the problem?

Are the shingles defective? Is there a way to clean my roof and salvage it?

Once clean, is there a way to prevent the ugly stains? Carly S., Chilmark, MA

Ugly But No Harm

But don't worry, your roof will go bad long before the cyanobacteria, Gloeocapsa magma, stops gorging itself on the tasty shingles. The black stains are merely the dead cells of the tiny pesky microscopic creature. The algae doesn't hurt the shingles. It's just unsightly.

Water & Limestone = Blech!

The algae thrives in humid climates like yours. If you travel to just about any part of the USA that gets a fair amount of rainfall, you'll observe quite a few roofs sporting these horrid black streaks. Many houses have lots of roof visible from the ground so your pain is shared grief by many homeowners just like you.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local companies that will clean the black stains from your roof.

The Backstory

The cause of the black streaks is quite an interesting story. Years ago shingles were made with felt paper as the base material. One of the ingredients of the felt paper was cotton. Cotton scraps from clothing factories were given or sold to shingle manufacturers.

The primary material was coarse wood fibers much like cardboard. The issue was this mat could only run through the shingle plant at about 300 feet per minute. Any faster and the paper would tear.

Roofing Ripoff eBook cover

This is the cover of my Roofing Ripoff book. I cover in GREAT DETAIL in this book how shingles used to be made so there was NO STAINING or deterioration. CLICK THE IMAGE NOW TO ORDER IT.

Two Changes At Once

But in the 1970s there was an explosion of new synthetic fibers, like polyester, that started to flood into the clothing market. This meant fewer cotton scraps so the roofing product manufacturers had to scramble for a replacement material for the felt-paper base mat that made up the foundation of a typical shingle.

Fiberglass is what came to the rescue. A smaller Midwest shingle manufacturer decided to try to use fiberglass as a base mat and quickly discovered that the mill rollers could crank up to about 900 feet per minute without tearing. That's a HUGE INCREASE in productivity.

I clearly remember early in my career when fiberglass shingles hit the market. They were marketed as a revolutionary product, but the manufacturers were only telling part of the story.

Not Enough Weight

The manufacturers quickly discovered they had a problem using fiberglass. The thin mats wouldn't absorb enough asphalt to meet the minimum requirements of weight per square. It was decided the best way to add weight was to boost the amount of powdered limestone mixed with the liquid asphalt.

Powdered limestone had been used for decades before the 1970s, but in smaller amounts. It was needed to make the shingles stiffer so they could be handled on a warm day. Without the limestone, the shingles were like holding a cooked fettuccini noodle!

It worked. The shingles got up to weight much like a prize fighter.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local companies that will clean the black stains from your roof.

Ruh Roh

However, the scientists at the shingle manufacturers didn't look around at limestone buildings down in the southern part of the USA. Most of them had black streaks.

If the scientists did look, they must have assumed it was dirt. It wasn't. It was our friend Gloeocapsa magma. It turns out this cyanobacteria loves to eat limestone.

Possible Defect

Your shingles may be defective, I just recently had to replace my own 30-year-guarantee asphalt shingles that only lasted 12 years, but believe me the roof algae is not the cause of deteriorating shingles or granule loss.

I wrote a revealing expose' book called Roofing Ripoff that tells the truth about why asphalt shingles don't last as long as they used to and they stain faster.

Clean With Ease

Oxygen Bleach

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

The good news is you can clean your roof and make it look like new. I've had great success using Stain Solver oxygen bleach.

IMPORTANT TIP: Do NOT use chlorine bleach as it will kill any vegetation that it comes into contact with around your home.

Watch the following video showing exactly how to use Stain Solver to clean algae from asphalt shingles.

Work in the morning in the cool part of the day.

The longer you let the Stain Solver soak and foam on the shingles, the LESS you have to scrub.

Clean Asphalt Shingles Video

The key is working on an overcast day with cool temperatures. If the shingles are HOT, the solution will evaporate before it can do any good.


Copper Coated Granules

A few decades after the new fiberglass shingles were brought to market and roofs started to turn black the manufacturers came out with a cure. They noticed that some roofs, or parts of them, were NOT turning black.

Anyplace above the roof where there was copper or zinc, the roof looked great. Copper produced better results than zinc.

This is nothing new as it's been known for hundreds of years that copper is a natural biocide. This is why copper plating was put on the hulls of many wooden clipper ships and warships to prevent barnacle growth that increased drag on the ships' hulls.

Copper is a great flashing material for roofs and each time it rains some of the copper atoms erode away and wash onto the roof killing the cyanobacteria.

Not Enough Though

You can purchase shingles that have copper in the colored granules, but some manufacturers skimp on the amount and there's not enough copper to give great results. I know as I had an asphalt shingle with algae-protection granules on my own garden shed that turned black within two years.

Install Copper Strips At Ridge

The best thing to do is to install strips of copper high up on your roof at the ridge line.

Black Roof Stains

The black stains on this roof will disappear soon. This homeowner JUST INSTALLED the copper strip you can barely see at the peak of his roof. The red arrow points to it. 

I'd leave at least 6 inches of copper exposed to ensure the black roof stains never appear again. The copper will weather quickly to a gorgeous nut-brown color adding a distinctive touch to your home.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local companies that will clean the black stains from your roof.

Column 1095

June 2, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

I hope you had a great past week. I've been crazy busy!

Lots of news to share and a new look for me!

Surprise news too!

Bermuda Meet Up

Two days ago, I got a text from my very close friend Dan:

"How would you like to go to Bermuda on a cruise? Cancellation has created an empty cabin. It's yours if you want. Completely FREE."

Here's the ship:

I've NEVER BEEN on a cruise! My answer was an immediate, "YES!"

So what are you doing three weeks from today? The Norwegian cruise ship Dawn leaves Boston at 4 pm on June 23rd and gets back just after sunrise the following Friday June 30th.

Be IMPULSIVE! Let's have a party! Come with me on the cruise!

Book the cruise and let's do an Ask the Builder Meet Up on the high seas or the beaches of Bermuda!

The cruise packages are not too bad. CLICK HERE to see what I mean.

I do NOT get a commission or anything from Norwegian Cruise Lines. I'm just inviting you to come and relax on this magnificent vessel.

If you live in Bermuda, get in touch with me so we can get together. If you book the cruise, ABSOLUTELY get in touch with me so we can meet on the ship.

New Look

I've been putting off getting an eye exam for a few years. No reason other than pushing it off.

BIG MISTAKE!!! I'm STUNNED how clear things are now. My entire visual experience is so much better.

My eyes are fine but I didn't realize my eyes had changed and I wasn't seeing as CLEARLY as I could with new glasses.

If you've not had an eye exam in the past two years, SCHEDULE ONE!

My youngest daughter Kelly had gotten some glasses online from Warby Parker and I liked the look. I decided to move away from my old-man wire rims to a different frame. I think it makes me look smarter. Kathy HATES them.

Oh well! What do you think? Sorry my eyes are in the shade from the bright sun.

That's a new Diablo Demo Demon Amped saw blade on my shoulder.

CLICK HERE to get one of those bad boys!!

Cool Klein Cooler

Are you looking for a Fathers Day gift idea? Here's a fantastic smaller cooler.

This cooler from Klein Tools, of all people, has really solved lots of the problems with small coolers.

It's taller, it's stronger, and it's got better insulation.

CLICK HERE to see all the amazing features of this cooler.

I guarantee you'll be impressed.

Cleaned Teak Table

Yesterday afternoon I cleaned our outdoor teak table.

I used our Stain Solver certified oxygen bleach. It did an amazing job of removing the sun-damaged sealer.

Stain Solver will CLEAN ANYTHING outdoors:

  • decking
  • boats
  • furniture
  • umbrellas
  • awnings
  • kayaks
  • docks
  • COMPOSITE decking
  • etc.

Here's a photo of the table after I rinsed it off. The reason the center of the table is bent is simple. It's an ingenious design where the table extension folds up and tucks under the other two sections should you want the table smaller.

It's a very clever design.

CLICK HERE to see a similar table made by the SAME COMPANY that made mine. It's very high quality.

I've had this table for over eight years and it LOOKS BRAND NEW. It's NEVER BEEN STORED INSIDE during the winter!!!

I'll have a photo for you Sunday of the sealed table.

Father's Day Gift? Or Other Occasion?

Here's another gift that keeps on giving if you need an idea for Fathers Day or you just want to surprise someone.

I'm STUNNED at how the price is DROPPING for the Amazon Fire tablet.

Look at the colors you can get as well as the ad-free option.

New & Revised Columns

If you're a new or newer subscriber, I'm revising ALL of the past columns at my website. It's a massive project.

To SEE ALL THE REVISED columns, just CLICK the Q & A icon link at the top of any page.

Scroll down and look for a topic that interests you.

CLICK HERE NOW to see all the new and REVISED columns.

Sunday Photos

I've got a bunch of photos I want you to look at on Sunday.

After looking at them, I've got a few questions I want your opinion on.

WATCH FOR THIS on Sunday!!!

That's enough for a Friday for goodness sakes!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Whole House Fans and Attic Fans

Posted on by Tim Carter
Whole House Fan

Whole house fans - This is not one. This is an attic fan but can also be called a powered attic ventilator (PAV). They are often visible on the outside of a house either on the roof or on a side wall of an attic gable. Whole-house fans are located inside homes. Both perform entirely different functions. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

"A whole-house fan is a fixture that is often located in the ceiling of a home. In rare occasions, they can be located in a wall."

Whole House & Attic Fan Checklist

  • Whole house fans cool you AND your attic
  • Attic fans only cool the attic - AVOID solar attic fans!
  • Both fans need lots of NET FREE AREA to push out hot air
  • For best cooling, you need both types of fan in your home
  • CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter!

DEAR TIM: What's the difference between a whole-house fan and an attic fan? Which is the best one to have in a home?

What's the best way to cool a home using these fans? Can either of these fans cause problems? Renee H., Littleton, CO

DEAR RENEE: Whole-house fans and attic fans are as different as apples and watermelons.

What's the Difference Between a Whole House and Attic Fan?

Both fans move air just as apples and watermelons are both fruit, but the similarities end there.

What are Whole-House Fans?

A whole-house fan is a fixture that is often located in the ceiling of a home. In rare occasions, they can be located in a wall.

whole house fan

It turns out the motor was the issue! Copyright 2018 Tim Carter

Where are Whole House Fans Located?

A whole house fan might be in a hallway or some other central location of the home. The fan is always located on the highest ceiling or wall and oriented so that it blows air directly into an attic space.

whole-house-fan

This is a typical whole house fan. It can be set horizontally as you see here or vertically in a side wall. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW TO SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES YOU CAN HAVE DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME IN DAYS.

The whole-house fans cool you because they pull air through open windows and doors in your home. The breeze in a house can be significant depending on how many windows you open and where they are in relationship to the fan.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local fan contractors. They can install BOTH fans in your home.

Does a Whole House Fan Move Lots Of Air?

A typical whole-house fan moves vast amounts of air. The blades of the fan can be large, and they can have significant pitch so they can move thousands of cubic feet of air per minute.

Turn one of these bad boys on inside an average-sized ranch home that has 2,400 square feet of finished floor space, and you can replace every bit of stale, hot inside air with cooler outside air in less than five minutes.

Do They Push Air Through an Attic?

These fans are designed to pull air through a house and exhaust the air by pushing it through an attic space. Since you live in an area that has low humidity, they are superb and highly efficient cooling devices.

They work best when they are operated in the early evening or night hours as outdoor temperatures start to nosedive and the inside air temperature of a house is still high. As outdoor humidity rises, the cooling effect from whole-house fans drops.

What are Attic Fans?

An attic fan is completely different. These are smaller fans designed to move hundreds of cubic feet of air per minute out of your attic area only. These are mounted to the surface of your roof in most cases looking like a small space ship has landed on your home.

attic-fan

This is a typical attic fan. It just mounts up on your roof. You need to run 120-volt electric to it to power it. Do NOT get the solar-powered fans. They're WORTHLESS as they don't move air when you really need it late in the day. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW TO SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ATTIC FANS SO YOU CAN HAVE ONE OR TWO DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME IN DAYS.

In some cases, the fans can be mounted INSIDE your attic on a vertical gable wall. You then see a louvered vent in your gable wall.

Do Attic Fans Move Air Through a House?

No, these fans are not supposed to move air through your home. They only move air through an attic space above where you are.

The cooling principle here is simple: If you replace the extreme hot air inside an attic that might be 140-160F with air that is 85-95F, the inside of your home should also be cooler.

How Long Does it Take To Cool the Attic?

The issue is it can take many many hours before the attic lumber and insulation cools enough that you might feel a difference down inside your home.

The heat gain from extremely hot ceilings adjacent to hot attics can stress air-conditioning systems, and push them to the limits of their ability to cool a home.

Where do the Fans Exhaust the Air?

For both fans to work properly, they need to easily exhaust the air to the outdoors. The attic fans do this by default, as you typically have to cut an opening in the roof or a side wall of an attic to mount the fan. When installing a whole-house fan, you need to install several static pot vents in the roof that allow air to get out.

You can also install very large gable vents if your home design permits this. The whole-house fans come with instructions that tell you how much NET FREE SPACE of ventilation you need so the fan works properly.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local fan contractors. They can install BOTH fans in your home.

Do the Fans Need Lots of Intake Air?

The attic fans also need lots of intake air vents along the lower edges of the roof. Continuous soffit venting is the best and the air from the outdoors needs to be able to easily enter the lower reaches of the attic where the roof passes over the outside walls of the house.

Since most attic fans are located high up on a roof, this design allows for excellent cross ventilation of the entire attic space.

Can Attic Fans Can Rob Air From Home?

If you don't provide enough intake air vents for attic fans, they can draw air from inside your home. This happens because the moving blades of the fan create a partial vacuum.

It's not a good idea to send cool air from the inside of your home up into an attic, since you are paying good money to cool inside air with an air conditioner.

Do Whole House Fans Need Lots of Vent Space?

Whole-house fans also need plenty of exhaust air vents through the roof or through side gable walls of attics. Each whole-house fan manufacturer tells you for each size fan how much net-free area of exhaust ventilation the fan requires to work properly. If you don't provide this exhaust ventilation area, the fan blades will spin, but not move the maximum amount of air.

Do Both Fans Remove Hot Attic Air?

Whole-house fans serve double duty as they remove hot air from the attic as they work. But you do not necessarily want the whole-house fan operating in the middle of the day as your attic heats up.

IMPORTANT TIP: For this reason, it makes sense to have both types of fans in a house. They operate at different times of day and night, since they are designed for two different purposes.

Whole-house fans work so well, they are often equipped with timers. If you operate one all night long, you might need to sleep with blankets. They often can cool a house to a comfortable temperature in just several hours.

What Windows Should Be Open With a Whole House Fan?

You can get concentrated cooling with a whole-house fan by opening the windows in selected rooms. As the fan operates, it creates a comfortable breeze in the rooms with open windows.

Should You Close Fireplace Dampers?

Be sure you do open windows before you turn on a whole-house fan. If you don't and you have a fireplace with ashes in it, you will create an ash storm as air is sucked down the chimney and rushes across the dry fireplace ashes.

The dirty ashes are then broadcast through the house as they are sucked towards the whole-house fan. How do I know this? It's the voice of experience talking.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local fan contractors. They can install BOTH fans in your home.

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Failed Deck Sealer

Posted on by Tim Carter
Failed Deck Sealer

Here are the side-by-side before and after wood samples. The faded pieces of wood were out in the weather for only six months. CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE to see all of the Before and After Photos of the deck sealers. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Failed Deck Sealer TIPS

  • Deck sealers and stains fail in just a few years
  • Sun's UV light blasts apart the resins or glue in the sealer
  • Darker stains tend to last longer, but it's not a guarantee
  • Link below to my own TEST RESULTS
  • CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter!

DEAR TIM: I put my wood deck to bed for the season about a month ago. Suffice it to say I was really upset.

Back in the spring, I went to great lengths to clean the deck and reseal it. I purchased an expensive semi-transparent sealer that did have a small amount of pigment in it.

However, after several months the wood started to gray and then the mildew set in. Now I have to start over when spring arrives. This time I want to do it right.

What advice can you offer when purchasing wood deck sealers? Brandy S., Albany, GA

DEAR BRANDY: This is no consolation, but you're in a large group of consumers that are deeply disappointed with the performance of certain deck sealers.

My Own Failed Sealers

I've been interested in this topic for years, both as a contractor and a homeowner. I've also been on the short end of the stick several times as sealers have failed on my own wood deck surfaces.

Wide Variety Creates Confusion

Wood deck sealers come in all flavors. There are water-based sealants as well as a few oil-based products. Some are heavily pigmented while others have just a hint of pigment. Many homeowners love the look of the lightly pigmented products as they tend to really show off the wood's natural color.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors who clean and seal decks. They'll put on whatever stain you want.

Sun Destroys Sealers

The trouble is these nearly clear sealers and water repellents are ill-equipped, for the most part, to deal with the harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Five percent of the sun's UV rays contain active photons.

These high-energy particles are like miniature cruise missiles. Whatever they hit, they destroy. They're so powerful they can break the atomic bonds of certain metals like copper and zinc. You can imagine that a deck sealer resin is no match for these powerful photons.

 

Sun & Skin Analogy

The best analogy I can offer up is what happens to me every spring.

Without fail, I go outdoors on the first balmy spring day and shed my shirt that's been on all winter. I really enjoy the warmth of the infrared rays of the sun on my pasty white skin that's been hidden all winter from any sunlight.

While I'm basking like a seal on a rock, the invisible UV rays are causing sunburn.

You can prevent sunburn by using a sunscreen lotion. The pigments and other nano particles in wood sealers act to block damaging UV rays. They can't stop it, but some sealers can slow down the damage.

More Pigment Is Better

However, lightly pigmented wood sealers simply don't have enough pigment to block the UV rays of the sun that turn wood gray in color. Heavily pigmented sealers and water repellents that are deep in color are akin to applying a sunscreen to your deck that might have a SPF value of 100 or higher!

My Own Huge Test

This past year I decided to do an extensive side-by-side test of about sixteen different wood sealers. Some were heavily pigmented and others were nearly clear. I carefully followed the instructions with regards to cleaning the wood and applying the products.

Furthermore, I created two sets of wood samples. Each set contained treated lumber wood and cedar. Both sets were sealed at the same time inside a garage out of the sun. The samples were allowed to dry.

Control Pieces In The Dark

One set never left the garage. Once dry, I boxed up one set and set them aside so they could be the control samples. The other set was attached to pieces of wood to simulate how they would be applied to a real deck.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors who clean and seal decks. They'll put on whatever stain you want.

Test On The Dock

These samples were then taken down to my boat dock where they are punished by the sun from sunrise until mid-afternoon. I can't think of a better way to test deck sealers than a dock setting where the wood has no place to hide from the sun.

Dock Stain Videos

I taped the following two videos two years BEFORE I did the extensive deck sealer test. I just wanted to show you how wide-open it is down at the dock. 

 

Some Failed Within A Month!

The shocking thing, and you'll not be surprised based on your experience, is that I started to see failure in some of the finishes within a month. What's more, the sealers and water repellents on the cedar performed worse than those same sealers applied to pieces of treated lumber.

Severe Mold & Mildew

Some of the cedar samples developed severe mold and mildew even though they were inches away from the treated lumber samples. I suspect the copper used to make the treated lumber rot resistant was leaching through the sealers. Copper is a natural biocide.

Medium & Dark Pigments Performance

The sealers that have medium to dark pigment are doing the best so far. My test has only been going on for seven months, so I'll have more data as we approach summer. But suffice it to say that the lightly pigmented products on cedar have already failed my test.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local contractors who clean and seal decks. They'll put on whatever stain you want.

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