Hot Water Recirculating Pumps

Posted on by Tim Carter
hot water recirculating pump

This is a reliable hot water recirculating pump you can install on top of your water heater. The weird threaded fitting goes under the sink that's farthest away from the pump. CLICK THE IMAGE NOW TO ORDER THIS PUMP.

"To get instant hot water as you often find at hotels and other institutions, you need to have a loop in the piping system that circulates hot water back to the water heater."

Hot Water Recirculating Pump TIPS

  • Loop needed to get cold water back to the heater
  • Can be created easily under a sink - See Below
  • WATCH my Video about Recirculating Pumps BELOW
  • Gravity loops work great but must be done in a new home or large remodel
  • CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter!

DEAR TIM: I believe I need a recirculating pump. It takes about 30 seconds for hot water to reach my shower each morning. It's frustrating to wait that long.

Is it possible to have hot water within a second or two after I turn on the valve? I have seen different recirculating systems that promise hot water instantly and they talk about huge energy and water savings.

Is this true? Is there a way to get hot water using simple gravity instead of a pump? Chad G., Birmingham, AL

Related Links

An Easy Hot Water Recirculating System

A Gravity Hot Water Loop - No Pump Required!

DEAR CHAD: Many people wait for hot water just as you do each morning.

What Plumbing Fixtures Waste Water?

Here's a list of plumbing fixtures that waste water waiting for hot water to show up:

  • vanity sinks
  • kitchen sinks
  • dishwashers
  • washing machines

Fortunately, this problem can be solved one of two ways depending upon how your plumbing system is designed.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local plumbers to install a recirculating pump.

Can a DIYer Install a Hot Water Recirculating Pump?

A DIYer probably doesn't have the skills needed to install a hot water recirculating pump.

Keep in mind that the work to achieve your goal is not something the average do-it-yourselfer can tackle. If you've not worked with water supply lines, you could get into trouble fast with a water leak. 

What's more, certain cities and states have strict regulations with respect to modifications made to water supply systems that are connected to public water systems. Be sure to call your local plumbing inspector before you cut into your piping system.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local plumbers who will install a recirc pump.

Is It Okay to Waste Water?

Clean water is a valuable natural resource and it should not be wasted. The trouble is, in many localities, water might be a very cheap commodity. When prices are low, people tend to waste. The trend is for higher and higher water and sewer bills if you get water from a city or county supplier.

I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and the Cincinnati Water Works constantly ratchets up the cost of water. In Cincinnati, your sewer bill depends on how much water you buy, so if you water a lawn or plants, you pay more even though you're not allowing that water to go into the sewer system.

You have to add in the cost of your sewer bill when you try to calculate what water is really costing you. Don't forget to do this.

For example, a cubic foot of water used to cost me just a little over 1.6 cents. Once again, it's a moving target so you have to look at your water bill and see what you pay per cubic foot. Don't forget to take into account your sewer bill.

How Much Water is Wasted Waiting for the Hot Water?

There is a very good possibility that you waste less than a tenth of a cubic foot of water each morning. To prove this, assume that there is 25 linear feet of three quarter inch piping between your shower faucet and water heater.

Do the math and you will find out that there is just .076 cubic feet of water inside the water pipe. When I was paying just 1.6 cents per cubic foot of water, to waste one dollar's worth of water, I'd have to take over 800 showers.

How Do You Get Instant Hot Water?

You need to have a loop in the piping system that circulates hot water back to the water heater to get instant hot water as you often find at hotels and other institutions.

Most houses do not have a dedicated loop as the hot water pipe typically dead ends at the plumbing fixture that is farthest away from the heater.

Can A Recirculating Loop Be Added to an Existing Home?

It's possible to install an effective return loop in single-story houses that have a basement or crawl space where the water supply pipes are visible below the floor joists. Two-story houses make this task nearly impossible, as the piping system is typically hidden in the walls of the home.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local plumbers to install a recirculating pump.

Is it Easy to Install the Loop in a New Home?

Yes, it's very easy and inexpensive to add the return loop leg in new construction.

If you're building a new home or doing a major remodel where you can expose the water lines going to the second floor, you can install the second half of the return loop in less than four hours in many cases. 

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local plumbers who will install a recirc pump.

What is the Alternative to A Piping Loop?

The alternative to a hot-water piping loop is to use the existing cold water line to a sink as the return leg of a loop.

But, you don't have to install a return loop if you choose to use a modern recirculating pump system. These products employ a nifty temperature actuated bypass valve that connects the cold and hot water supply lines at the fixture that is farthest away from the water heater.

The bypass valve uses the cold water line as the return loop back to the water heater.

Are All Recirculating Pump Systems the Same?

Not all recirculating pump systems are the same. One system places the pump under the sink at the farthest fixture. You have to push a button to start the pump.

The trouble with this system is that you still have to wait for hot water. What's more, this pump needs high voltage electric to operate. It can be a huge challenge to install an outlet under a sink.

Another system activates a remote pump that can be near the water heater. The trouble with this system is that it pumps water through the system whenever the temperature drops at the activation valve. This system wastes energy dollars as it pumps hot water while you sleep and are away.

What Does the Best Recirculating Pump System Have?

Perhaps the best pump system is one that has a temperature controlled bypass valve under the farthest fixture sink and a timer on a pump that can be conveniently located adjacent to the water heater.

The timer can be set to go on and off at 15-minute intervals depending upon when you feel you need hot water at the fixtures. CLICK HERE to see this great pump with a timer.


The pump is equipped with a handy extension cord that can be plugged into a convenience outlet near the pump. There is no water waste with this pump and it also minimizes energy waste since it only sends hot water into the water supply lines during the programmed times.

Can I Just Install a Gravity Hot-Water Loop?

Gravity hot water recirculating loops that do not require a pump can sometimes be installed after a house is built. They will only work when the water heater is below the water supply lines in a basement or crawl space. This system requires that the hot water line return back to the heater after it services the farthest fixture.

How Much of the Piping Needs to be Insulated?

The entire hot water pipe, plus the return piping must be well insulated for the loop to work. The last 15 feet of the return line must not have insulation on it for the convection to happen.

Modern water heaters have a pesky rubber flapper on the hot water outlet pipe and sometimes the incoming cold water inlet. These must be cut out or a large hole drilled in it. If you don't do this, the hot water can't float up through the gravity loop.

The rubber flapper works well when water pressure forces it open when you call for hot water. But it will not open if water is trying to gently float up the pipe.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local plumbers who can do this job for you.

The pump shown above was the one recommended to Cynthia in the November 25, 2008 AsktheBuilder Newsletter to solve her slow hot water.

Column 413

Best Windows

Posted on by Tim Carter
best house windows

Best House Windows: These are Marvin double-hung windows in a new home. It's a Queen Anne Victorian house Tim Carter built in 1986 but it looks like it was constructed in 1890. Copyright 2020 Tim Carter

Best House Windows TIPS

  • Buy windows with the AAMA Gold Label - simply the best
  • Look for the NFRC energy-rating label - study it closely
  • AAMA gold label is attached to the side of the window - not visible after install!
  • A higher price is a secondary barometer of quality
  • CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter!

You may not realize it, but the windows in your home are the weakest link when it comes to energy efficiency. This is why you should strive to get the best windows when you go to build your new home.

If you’re remodeling, you should look for the best replacement windows for your home. But in the long run, it’s more than energy efficiency at stake. You should also want a window that will not fall apart in ten or twenty years.

Old Up-Down Sashes

When I first got into the construction business, I worked exclusively on older homes in Cincinnati, Ohio. There were tens of thousands of old homes that had simple up-down sash wood windows.

These were very common windows in houses built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. To this day, thousands of these wood windows are in use and in great shape. The primary reason is the lumber used to build them was old-growth timber that had tight wood grain with lots of dense summerwood in them. Homeowners over the years cared for them and painted them regularly. It’s possible to have windows that last generations.

Maintenance-Free New Standard

In my lifetime, I’ve seen a huge shift away from maintenance. Newer materials have become available that have practically eliminated the need to paint windows. Perhaps you’re on the hunt for the best vinyl windows for your home. Vinyl is indeed an attractive material as it never needs paint, it doesn’t rot, and it’s easy to clean. My own home in New Hampshire has vinyl-coated windows.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window companies that can supply the BEST windows.

Trust Independent Sources

If you want the best windows for your home, no matter if they’re wood, vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum, or a combination of these materials, you can get them. But the first thing to do is to temper what the window salesman says and stick to the facts. There are two primary independent testing associations that should act as your North Star as you shop for the best window.

AAMA Gold Label

The best new windows and the best replacement windows are ones that have been certified by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). AAMA is the golden standard as they test the actual quality of the materials used to make the window and how those materials are assembled.

Their testing is rigorous and random. Once a manufacturer has a window certified, they have to sign a contract with AAMA that allows AAMA to come to the factory unannounced so they can take a window from the assembly line to test. That total transparency works in your favor as the manufacturer constantly must be producing quality windows.

The best AAMA certification is their Gold Label program. CLICK HERE to discover more about this topic.

NFRC = Energy Efficiency Focus

The NFRC focuses more on energy efficiency, so they do testing for air infiltration, R-values of the glass and assembly, etc.

IMPORTANT TIP: To get the best windows possible, you need both certifications. Be aware that the AAMA certification is a special label usually found on the side of the window frame. You can’t see it after the window’s installed.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window companies that can supply the BEST windows.

NFRC Label Somewhat Confusing

The NFRC label can be misleading. They’ll install the label on windows that meet their minimum standards, but some windows are much better at saving energy than others.

This means you have to be able to interpret the numbers and values you see on the special label. They provide a guide, but it’ll be up to you to determine what the highest values are in the marketplace.

Higher Price = Better Quality Usually

If you’re looking for the best wood windows, not only look for the two labels, but use price as a barometer. The best windows will typically cost more.

This isn’t always true, but you can shop feature for feature and see what you discover. More often than not, the higher-priced window will be better. Be sure to factor in support after the sale. That’s really important.

Beware High-Pressure Sales Tactics

When it comes to the best vinyl replacement windows, be very careful of the sales pitches you might get from a person who visits your home.

Don’t fall for any Jedi mind tricks, and ask for written verification that the windows you’re being pitched have the AAMA and NFRC certifications.

The salesman may say Yes, but you want to see the letters from the two associations that prove the manufacturer indeed has up-to-date certification. Get it in writing. Remember that you can contact each association to verify that a manufacturer is indeed certified and in good standing.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local window companies that can supply the BEST windows.

Column Q&A

Old vs New Construction

Posted on by Tim Carter
Old vs New Construction

Laconia's Public Library. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Old vs New Construction TIPS

  • Complex question - not easy to answer in limited space
  • Many old materials superior to modern substitutes
  • Workers today not as dedicated to quality
  • Regulations, laws, wage packages put downward pressure on quality
  • CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter!

Less than two hours ago, I was having breakfast with a reporter from our local daily newspaper, The Laconia Daily Sun. It’s a wonderful small newspaper published in central New Hampshire. He was preparing a story about my new book Roofing Ripoff and asked me a fascinating question, “Are new homes built better than older homes?”

Complex Question - More Complex Answer!

Ten minutes later, I still hadn’t finished my answer. It’s a complex question and the answer requires lots of thought and examples. As I drove home from the interview I thought, “This would make a very good column topic.”

I could probably write a small book about this question so please understand this tiny column will not do the topic justice. Let’s get started.

Break Down Question

You need to break the question down into at least three parts to get to the answer. I maintain you need to look at the labor aspect, the materials and the overarching economics of the building industry to drive towards the correct answer.

Always Substandard Construction

Let’s start off by saying that years ago you could absolutely find poorly built homes. There were some builders and contractors back then that did bad work and the houses have since decayed.

I have no proof or data to back it up, but I have a feeling that low-quality contractors didn't last long years ago.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local builders. Visit their work and judge their quality.

High Quality Is Everywhere

I can also take you to downtown Laconia, NH and show you a building that’s right next to the old train station. It’s our public library. (See photo above.) This magnificent stone structure is in excellent condition and it’s now approaching 120 years in age. It was built to last. Great magnificent buildings like this are in abundance in smaller towns and larger cities all over the USA. They might be homes or public buildings.

There are many older homes still in magnificent shape that are not as extravagant as the Laconia Public Library and they might be built with a mixture of stone, wood and stucco.

Growing Poor Quality Trend

It’s my guess my email Inbox would be considered by a PhD mathematician to be a statistically relevant sampling of the problems most homeowners face here in the USA. I get vast amounts of emails from homeowners who suffer from poor workmanship. I’d venture to say that today’s workforce in the residential construction industry, as a whole, is not as concerned about quality as the craftsmen from 150 years ago.

Vocation vs. Job

Back then many workers considered what they did a vocation. They made it a career choice and took lots of pride in what they did. Today it seems that many workers treat what they do each day as a job. There’s a vast difference between a vocation and a job.

Old vs New Materials

Let’s touch for a moment on materials. Look at the end of a piece of dimensional lumber like a 2 x 10 and note the width of the growth rings of the tree. You may shrug your shoulders. But those of us who have decades of remodeling experience can tell you that the lumber used in older homes was very much different than what you can get today.

I have pieces of old lumber taken from buildings built in the late 1800s. The light-colored growth rings that represent the wood added to the tree in the spring of each year are much narrower than those from modern trees.

Old vs New Construction

New lumber is nothing like the lumber of old. Look at how wide the lighter-colored spring wood bands are in the timber to the left! (C) Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

The percentage of darker bands, summer wood, to lighter bands - spring wood in older lumber is almost equal. Today there’s much more spring wood in the hybridized lumber grown by the timber companies. Dark summer wood is more rot resistant and it’s stronger.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local builders. Visit their work and judge their quality.

Plaster vs. Drywall

The reporter and I talked about plaster. You can take your fingernail and press on a modern wall made from drywall and create a depression. Try it. Forget about doing that to an older plaster wall.

A properly mixed plaster with a white lime finish coat has a compressive strength that approaches 3,000 pounds per square inch. In other words it’s rock-like material not something similar to cardboard.

Cast Iron Drains vs. PVC

I’ve been a master plumber since age 28. While there are many positive qualities to modern PVC drain pipes, I’ll take cast iron all day long.

Cast iron is soundproof, it’s fireproof and it’s much stronger. When you flush a toilet and the water cascades down a cast iron stack, you don’t hear Niagara Falls in your walls as you do with modern PVC pipe.

Great Modern Materials And Tools

Please don’t misunderstand me. There are many modern materials that are far superior to the materials of old.

We have better tools today that make us more productive and more accurate. But you need to have them in the hands of the people that are interested in producing the best product.

Complicated Economics

The overall economic issue is far harder to discuss and digest for us mere mortals who aren’t trained economists. The ever-rising standard of living here in the USA has put intense pressure on trying to keep the labor costs of building in check.

Regulations, laws, benefit packages, etc. that didn’t exist one hundred years ago add to the cost of building. To keep a job affordable something has to give. You can imagine what that might be.

High Quality Can Be Had

Fortunately if you have the budget and the time, you can build a home today that will last for centuries. It doesn’t have to be the Biltmore or some other extreme mansion.

There are still some builders and craftsmen that still know how to take available high-quality materials and create a home that will be far better than the baseline standard home I see being constructed today.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local builders. Visit their work and judge their quality.

Column 1198

Outdoor Lighting Tips

Posted on by Tim Carter

Outdoor Lighting Tips

Outdoor lighting is a huge topic.

Think of all the different types of outdoor lights you could have:

  • post lamp at driveway
  • porch lights
  • spot lights
  • low-voltage patio or deck lighting
  • landscape highlight lighting
  • Christmas or other seasonal holiday lighting

A book could be written about each of those areas there's so much to cover.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who can help you with any outdoor lighting projects or troubleshooting.

Post Lamps

Post lamps are very handy. They can help guide people to your home when it's dark outside.

Consider getting one that incorporates a powered outlet to it so you can add extra Christmas lights to decorate the post lamp.

outdoor post lights

This is but one of HUNDREDS of different outdoor post lights. Every style, finish, etc. is available. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW TO SEE ALL OF THEM AND HAVE ONE AT YOUR HOME NEXT WEEK.

Porch Lights

You can get wall-mounted sconces or if you have a covered porch, you can install a light or two in the ceiling.

These same fixtures work well beside a garage door or on a shed.

If your front door is distinctive and you have a grand entrance, it's usually best to put a light on each side of the door.

wall sconce fixture

Here's a wall sconce fixture next to a garage door. It would work next to any door. There are HUNDREDS of styles and finishes. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW TO SEE THEM ALL AND HAVE ONE OR MORE DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME NEXT WEEK.

Spot Lights

These are handy lights that work like the lights at an outdoor football or baseball field. They're designed to illuminate a LARGE area.

You can use them for security or you can use them to play sports outside your home at night.

I love the newer ones that have motion detection, a built-in video camera, a speaker and an alarm! You can TALK to people that are walking outside your home no matter if you're inside or 3,000 miles away as the video and audio portion work through the Internet and your smart phone.

Low-Voltage Patio or Deck Lights

While many of these are advertised as DIY friendly, they're not.

There's much to understand about how these systems work and how to run the direct-current cables so you don't overload the network you've set up.

If you're a serious DIYr, then you may have good luck. Start with a small project and cut your teeth on that before starting a massive project.

If you're doing a giant install around a new patio, you'll want to plan ahead and install underground conduits to make installing the lights so much easier.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who can help you with any outdoor lighting projects or troubleshooting.

Landscape Up Lighting

While the use of up lighting to highlight trees in your yard is dramatic, it adds to light pollution in the area and it could upset your neighbors.

I urge you to read up on the Dark Skies project and be sensitive to outdoor lighting and how it affects others before you embark on some massive up-lighting project at your home.

Seasonal Outdoor Lighting

If you make a habit of installing outdoor seasonal lighting of any type, you might consider installing several strategically located outdoor receptacles which are controlled by an indoor switch.

Many people struggle with extension cords which have to be draped through windows or doors. These cords have to be plugged in and out each night. The indoor switch makes the job easier and safer. Extension cords are major sources of electrocution and fires. Avoid using them at any expense.

With a little extra effort, these outdoor receptacles can be wired in such a fashion that one socket is hot all of the time. In other words, it operates independently of the switch.

This is often referred to as a split receptacle. This way, if you want to plug in a hedge trimmer, or any other electrical appliance when the lights are not in use, you will not have to go indoors to turn on the switch. It is easy to do. It just takes a little preplanning.

Lightning Arrestors

Consider installing a lightening arrestor in your main electrical panel. These devices have the ability to capture massive voltage surges that enter your service entrance cables which power your entire house.

The devices, when installed with a first class grounding system, bleed the voltage surge to the ground. These devices must be used in conjunction with point of use surge protectors that are commonly sold with sensitive electronic equipment in order to provide the highest level of protection for electronic equipment.

These devices can be installed by a homeowner who is familiar with service panel wiring. Do not install these devices unless you are 100 percent positive you know what you are doing. If installed improperly, they are ineffective.

GFCI's (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters)

These devices are highly sensitive circuit breakers which can protect you from electrocution hazards. They can sense extremely small current leakages across the circuit long before you would begin to be electrocuted.

The National Electric Code continues each year to expand the locations where these devices should be used. Generally speaking, any location where water is likely to be present with an electrical device is a candidate.

Bathrooms, kitchens, basements, garages, outdoor receptacles, swimming pools, etc. are examples. They are inexpensive and they work. Don't hesitate to install them in as many locations as you can afford.

These devices are manufactured so that you can protect several outlets that are downstream from the GFCI. This makes it possible to protect different locations with one device.

These devices can be installed by an amateur with success. Simply follow the directions carefully and all should go well. Consider installing them today, as they can be lifesavers!

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who can help you with any outdoor lighting projects or troubleshooting.

Related Terms: electricity literature, circuit breakers, more on circuit breakers

Column B48

Hydraulic Cement

Posted on by Tim Carter
hydraulic cement

This is just one brand of hydraulic cement. CLICK THE bucket to have this brand at your home in days.

"You'll also get the best bond if you slightly dampen the concrete that will be in contact with the fresh hydraulic cement."

Hydraulic Cement Checklist

  • Hydraulic cement expands as it hardens
  • Surfaces must be dust-free
  • Dampen surfaces that will contact the hydraulic cement for best bond
  • Sets very fast - mix only as much as you can use in a few minutes

Related Links

Concrete Crack Repair Tips

Repair Concrete Block Cracks FAST!

Does Portland Cement Shrink?

Many homeowners don't realize that ordinary Portland cement shrinks when it dries. The shrinkage is very little, however, it does shrink.

This means that if you patch a crack or a hole using normal Portland cement or bricklayer's mortar, a very tiny leak may form after the cement dries.

Does Hydraulic Cement Expand as it Hardens?

Hydraulic cement expands as it hardens.

It expands because the cement contains expansive clays such as bentonite and a few others.

Expansive clays start to puff up when in contact with water. The best analogy is adding yeast to flour to make bread. The dough starts to rise increasing its volume.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen who work with hydraulic cement on a regular basis.

Does Hydraulic Cement Stay Enlarged?

Yes, hydraulic cement retains its expanded size once it's hardened.

When the bread is baked, the larger size is permanently locked into place.

The same thing happens with the hydraulic cement. And it happens fast usually within minutes. The Portland cement sets up and the larger volume of the mixture is locked in place permanently.

Can You Slow the Setting Time?

Ice water will slow down the setting time of hydraulic cement. You can even freeze the hydraulic cement powder before mixing it to get a few more minutes working time.

Where Can I Use Hydraulic Cement?

In new construction I use hydraulic cement to

  • fill the void areas in foundations around water pipes
  • electric wire sleeves or conduits
  • foundation form holes
  • deep cracks in foundations
  • any hole in a foundation

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen who work with hydraulic cement on a regular basis.

Is it Best to Remove Dust?

Get rid of all dust from the surfaces that will be in contact with the fresh cement. The dust will prevent a good bond between the old masonry surfaces and the fresh mixture.

Should I Dampen Existing Concrete or Masonry?

Dampen the concrete that will be in contact with the fresh hydraulic cement to get the absolute best bond. It doesn't need to be dripping wet, just spritz it so some water soaks into the dry concrete or masonry surfaces.

Author's Note: The following email comment was received from Art, a Cement Manufacturer's Representative in Southern California.

Hi Tim,

I hope you take this in the spirit in which it is intended and that is to just help your site be better. Your definition of a hydraulic cement is misleading. According to ASTM (American Society for Testing & Materials), a hydraulic cement is a cement that creates a chemical reaction when it comes in contact with water (hydration) and will cure under water.

Being a hydraulic cement in itself has nothing to do with expansion, although some hydraulic cements will shrink less than others, but this is due to them being a sulfoaluminate based cement, not a Portland cement and has nothing to do with them being a hydraulic cement. Being a sulfoaluminate cement is also the reason you have the shortened working times.

Thanks,
Art / Cement Mfg. Rep.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen who work with hydraulic cement on a regular basis.

Column B119

May 26, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

I've waited for this day for over eighteen months.

My Roofing Ripoff book is NOW AVAILABLE in paperback as a print-on-demand via CreateSpace.

CreateSpace is a cool company that Amazon.com owns. It allows authors to bypass the traditional publishing rat maze of getting a book printed and distributed.

Years ago if you were going to self-publish, that's what I'm doing, you'd have to go to a printer with a finished book design and they'd run off 5,000 or 10,000 copies.

You have no idea how complex it is to create a file for a printer to publish a book. Not to mention the cover design!

Then, the printer would print your book, put them in boxes, ship them to you and they end up in your garage for YOU to sell and distribute.

Many an author has dust-covered cardboard boxes of her/his book stacked up in their garage.

Technology was developed about ten years ago that allows CreateSpace to print one copy at a time much like you'd use a copy machine to make a copy of a letter.

But the QUALITY of the one copy is the same or BETTER than what a traditional printer would do printing 5,000 at a time.

Wait until you see the glossy COLOR photos in the book.

Wait until you see the full-color GLOSSY cover to the book.

Wait until you see the very cool COLOR graphic that's at the bottom of each page.

It was originally only going to be at the end of each chapter, but my book designer Sheridan Stancliff insisted it be at the bottom of each page of text. She was so right and I was so wrong!

CLICK HERE now to order your copy of my Roofing Ripoff book.

Want to read the first three chapters of Roofing Ripoff for FREE? CLICK HERE.

My Discovery

STOP AND READ THIS

Do you own a home or commercial building with an asphalt shingle roof?

If you answered YES, then keep reading.

While writing my Roofing Ripoff book, I was the FIRST PERSON in the world to make a discovery.

I discovered that copper ions prevent asphalt molecules in shingles from connecting to one another.

If too many asphalt molecules link together like a LONG freight train, then the shingles:

  • become brittle
  • they curl
  • they loose the ceramic colored granules

You don't want this to happen because it means you have to put a new roof on your house SOONER.

Introducing copper to your asphalt shingle roof can allow the shingles to last DECADES LONGER - like shingles USED TO LAST.

Here is what I saw when I made my discovery on December 26, 2015. You're looking at the roof of the old Tilton, NH post office below.

Unfortunately, I was unable to patent my discovery. You can't patent a *benefit*. You have to patent the thing that CREATES the benefit.

Copper sheets have been patented for years.

So I spend nine months trying to figure out the MOST AFFORDABLE copper to use, the easiest way to apply it and to set up a simple distribution model so you could get all you need at one place.

I wanted copper Made in the USA.

I wanted copper nails Made in the USA.

I wanted a USA distribution partner.

That's why it took so long to get the book out. I didn't want to publish the book and then have you all FRUSTRATED not being able to get the BEST copper.

You can BUY the copper from me right now.

CLICK HERE to see and ORDER IT.

You WILL NOT find a cheaper price anywhere for the copper AND the CORRECT NAILS you need to install it.

I GUARANTEE THAT.

You MUST USE solid copper nails, they must be ring-shanked and they must be 2.5 inches long.

You can use stainless-steel nails if you want, but wait until you see what those cost if you go out looking for them!

But if you're foolish and try to use galvanized roofing nails then the nails WILL CORRODE once they get wet.

Where Does The Copper Go Tim?

CLICK HERE to see where the copper goes.

It goes up on the top of your roof or along the hips.

Your asphalt shingle roof is going to FAIL MUCH SOONER than it should if you don't install my copper on it.

Okay, that's enough for today.

I explain EVERYTHING in my Roofing Ripoff book WHY your shingles are falling apart.

I explain how shingles USED TO BE MADE so they'd last for 30, 40 or more years.

I explain WHAT the manufacturers might be doing to pre-age the shingles.

Have a great weekend!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Flagpole Tips

Posted on by Tim Carter
The American Flag

Be patriotic. Display an American Flag at your home. CLICK THE PHOTO OF THE FLAG NOW AND HAVE ONE DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME IN DAYS.

Flagpole Tips

I wrote the column about flagpoles as a result of the tragic September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on our country. Within days of the events, I was flooded with emails from people just like you who were flush with renewed patriotism.

I think it is wonderful and am so happy that so many people have decided to install a flag pole to fly Old Glory.

"Both Buildings Are Going to Collapse"

Firefighting happens to be a hobby of mine. The morning of the attack my wife frantically called down to my office and told me to come upstairs and look at the live TV coverage.

I knew that firefighters were rushing to the scene and I knew they were going into both buildings to rescue people and try to extinguish the fires. But I also knew something else.

I knew both Trade Center Buildings were going to collapse. I said that within a minute of seeing the rerun of the video of the second plane striking the second World Trade Center building.

The structural steel that supports the buildings was severely damaged. Load bearing columns were ripped out by the planes. Other columns had the fireproofing material scraped off. It was just a matter of time before the steel would soften and collapse under the weight of the floors above.

But yet, I knew that firefighters and police officers were climbing the stairs knowing the same thing. They were in a race trying to cool the steel before the collapse would happen. As we know, they lost both races. And we lost hundreds of heroes.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen who can install a flagpole for you in one day.

Some Flagpole Facts

The wind exerts a very strong force on flags. Simply hold up a flag on a windy day and you will see what I mean.

This means that poles need to be sized for the wind speed and for the size of the flag(s) to be flown on the pole. Tall poles need to be large diameter to offset the pull of the wind.

Be sure to match your flag to the size of the pole you buy or make. Most good flag pole manufacturers have sizing charts to help you do this.

telescoping flag pole

Here's a telescoping flag pole. It's perfect for most homes. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW TO HAVE THIS DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME IN DAYS.

In-Ground Pole Drainage

If you decide to do a ground-set pole be aware that the sleeve needs to be able to freely drain collected rain and ground water. If it can't do this, then the pole may rust away over time.

The danger is that the pole can weaken over time and blow over and hurt you or someone else. You can minimize corrosion by making sure the pole is not surrounded by water.

Cut slots in the bottom of any pole sleeve. Set the sleeve on a metal plate and have it welded if possible.

This sleeve sits on a poured concrete footer. Before you pour the concrete that holds the sleeve in place, pour three inches of washed gravel on top of the footer. This is done after the sleeve is in place.

Any water that goes down around the pole drains into the sleeve, exits the sleeve through the slots and then passes through the gravel to the soil. The concrete is simply poured on top of the gravel and it will not clog the gravel passageways. This drainage is very important. Don't overlook it as you build the foundation for your pole.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen who can install a flagpole for you in one day.

Homemade Flagpole Parts

If you are on a tight budget there is no reason why you can't make a pretty nice flagpole on your own. The most challenging parts to get are the truck (flagstaff cap) that sits on top of the pole and the sleeve that is placed in the ground. In reality, only the sleeve may present a problem for you.

Different Truck Designs

The truck I saw that works perfectly for a homemade flagpole was sold at a local flag shop in Cincinnati, OH called Flaggs U.S.A.

At this store, I held in my hand a cast aluminum truck that would fit perfectly over the end of a 2 inch diameter galvanized iron pipe.

The cost was about $20.00. If you decide to look at other truck assemblies, you must determine if they fit inside a tube or over the end of the tube.

It makes a big difference! The ones that fit inside a pipe or tube must fit very snugly or you will have all sorts of problems. The one that I saw has mounting bolts that you tighten around the outside of the flagpole pipe. Once tight, the truck will not move on top of the pole. The manufacturers listed below also sell truck parts.

The Sleeve

In the column about flagpoles, I tell you to make a sleeve with a steel plate base. This makes it easy to install the sleeve but the plate is not necessary.

You simply need a pipe sleeve that has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the flagpole pipe. This pipe can rest on the concrete footer at the bottom of the hole.

The challenge is to keep it plumb as you pour the concrete. One method is to tap a slightly oversize square peg into the end of the sleeve. This peg can stick up about a foot or so.

Then extend two pieces of wood over the hole in the shape of the letter X that are nailed to the square peg. Drive stakes into the ground and nail the X pieces to the stakes once the sleeve is plumb.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local handymen who can install a flagpole for you in one day.

Column B381

May 23, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Last Thursday my youngest daughter Kelly helped me finish installing the dock here at the lake. It lifts up and down like a castle drawbridge that crosses a moat.

You have to lift the dock out of the water in the fall so the lake ice doesn't destroy it. Cedar wood panels that create the walking surface need to be lifted out, carried up some steps and set on a patio for the winter. You reverse this process in the spring.

It was a HOT day, with the temperature pushing 92 F. Just five days earlier, on Mothers Day, it was 36 F and raining.

You gotta love New Hampshire WX! Today and tomorrow are going to be perfect diamond days with temperatures at 72 F and sunny skies.

My oldest daughter Meghan, just to the right - see her photo?, coined the phrase diamond day. When the sunlight reflects off the small waves in the lake, they look like thousands of twinkling diamonds.

My Trex Transcend Deck

Last summer was consumed with me rebuilding two massive decks and constructing a new giant deck that's slightly lower than my upper deck. Here's a photo I shot in the fall.


Today after sending out this newsletter to you, I'll be starting to finish the project. Cold WX set in and I couldn't finish the deck.

I have to build a very cool set of platforms and built-in bench between the two decks you see in the photo above.

I'll be shooting lots of photos of this aspect of the project as it might create some inspiration for you. I'm a huge fan of multi-level decks for a number of reasons.

In my case, I wanted the new deck to be lower so when you sit on the upper deck in the chairs with the yellow cushions you get an unobstructed view of the lake.

CLICK HERE to see how to best clean a wood or composite deck. You know I'm always trying to look out for you!

High-Quality LED Flashlight - LOW Price!

I published a review yesterday of a new Coast LED flashlight I had the chance to try out.

This is a very cool one because it's got a rechargeable lithium-ion battery as well as a conventional alkaline battery pack.


Do you need a laugh? Most people need more humor in their lives.

I BEG you to CLICK HERE and read the expanded captions under each photo in the review. By the time you get to the last photo, I'll bet I've put a grin on your face.

If not, I want you to email me and let me know.

Prevent a FIRE at Your House

There are over 100 electrical fires per week in the USA. Many of these fires can be prevented by you. People DIE in these fires.

To prevent many of these sinister fires, all you have to do is install a few special AFFORDABLE circuit breakers in your electrical panel.

Here's what one of them looks like:

These special circuit breakers can SENSE a SHORT CIRCUIT and arcing in a switch or outlet BEFORE it turns into a fire.

My friend Steve should have had these breakers in his home. If he had, he would have prevented the fire he had but CAUGHT IN TIME before it did lots of damage.

He and his wife might have died had this fire broke out when they were asleep. Thank God they were in the house and near the switch that melted.

CLICK HERE to see what happened to Steve's dimmer switch.

CLICK HERE to read more about circuit breakers and this special arc-fault breaker that will protect you and your family!!!

How would you like to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local electricians who can come over and install these breakers in your home in just MINUTES?

Yes, it takes about two minutes to remove an existing circuit breaker and install this new arc-fault breaker.

I'm serious. You can get FREE BIDS - no obligation at all.

CLICK HERE to get the Free Bids that could save your life.

Roofing Ripoff Book Update

Today I'm supposed to get my proof of the PRINTED paperback Roofing Ripoff book.

If the printing process recreated in atoms what I saw in the digital PROOF, and I feel it will happen, then I click a button at Amazon Create Space and the book is instantly available for purchase by you.

You're in for a treat because my book designer, Ms. Sheridan Stancliff, took a suggestion I offered up and made it so much better.

It's at the bottom of just about each page of the book. I've never seen this done before, and I have to tell you in color it's stunning.

I'll send out a SPECIAL announcement to let you know if you can finally purchase a paperback version of the book.

You can get a PDF or Kindle version NOW if you want.

CLICK HERE to get a digital copy RIGHT NOW.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT - Pay Attention!!!

Here's the big announcement about the book you need to know about.

If the statistics I uncovered while researching the book are accurate, you may be one of the eight out of TEN subscribers to this newsletter that have an asphalt shingle roof.

Or maybe one is on the light commercial building you work in or own.

Are you one of the 8 in 10?

If so, you don't necessarily have to read the book but you DO NEED something up on top of your roof I'm now selling.

I'll share what you need when I tell you the paperback is available.

Watch for that imminent announcement.

Suffice it to say that each day you wait to install what I'm selling you're one day CLOSER to WASTING THOUSANDS of dollars.

Yes, your inaction is going to cost you THOUSANDS of dollars.

CLICK HERE if you want to get an idea of what Roofing Ripoff is all about and to download the first three chapter for FREE.

That's enough for today. I need to get outdoors on the deck.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Coast HP8R LED Flashlight Review

Posted on by Tim Carter
Coast HP8R LED Flashlight

Here it is. She's a beauty. If you misplace it, I guarantee you'll never get it back. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW TO HAVE ONE DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME NEXT WEEK.

Coast HP8R LED Flashlight

I've had more flashlights than I care to remember.

Thirty years ago, I remember the craze swirling around the aluminum Mag flashlights.

They were the belle of the ball in the early 1980s as it was introduced in 1979.

I owned several and I have to admit, they were a vast improvement over the unreliable flashlights of old.

Fast Forward

It's hard for products to stay at the top. Such is competition.

In my opinion, Coast has far surpassed Maglight. Yes, there are lots of LED flashlights out there, but when you hold a Coast flashlight in your hand, you'll admire every part of it.

They're very well made. I LOVE the ones I own.

Specifications

I don't waste my time copying and pasting all the specs for products. I concentrate on the subjective aspects of the tool and judge it against all that have come into my hands before it.

If you want the specs on the Coast HP8R flashlight, CLICK HERE.

Coast HP8R LED Flashlight

The barrel of the flashlight is the perfect diameter for me. It's got a handsome knurled finish grip. Great on wet nights when you're in the graveyard. CLICK THE IMAGE NOW TO MAKE ALL YOUR FRIENDS JEALOUS. YOU'LL HAVE THE BEST FLASHLIGHT AROUND.

Coast HP8R LED Flashlight

I didn't want to fully grasp it or I'd cover up the great logo. Believe me, it's going to fit in your hand, especially if you're a woman that wants lots of light but not a monster flashlight. Note it's got a slide focus for wide light or a tight beam. You can lock that function so it doesn't move. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW AND HAVE THIS FLASHLIGHT AT YOUR DOORSTEP IN JUST DAYS. LIGHT UP THE NIGHT AND CREEPY BASEMENTS SCARING AWAY ALL GOBLINS.

Coast HP8R LED Flashlight

This is a rechargeable flashlight!!! It comes with a wonderful lithium-ion battery pack as well as one that holds four AAA batteries as a backup in case you deplete the lithium-ion pack. Very handy! CLICK THIS PHOTO RIGHT NOW. ORDER IT AND WIPE THE GRIN OFF YOUR FACE.

Coast HP8R LED Flashlight

It's BRIGHT. Blinding bright. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW AND BE THE BRIGHTEST BOY OR BELLE ON YOUR BLOCK! IT WILL BE DELIVERED BY A SPECIAL COURIER.

Coast HP8R LED Flashlight

It's hard to take photos at night showing what it can light up. Your local airport might want to have you on a list of people to contact if they need you to replace the visual approach glidescope lights to help planes land in a power outage. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW. JUST BUY THE DARN FLASHLIGHT. RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.

Coast HP8R LED Flashlight

You get the charger that has a mini USB plug on it. This is the same plug that usually is for most Android cell phones and many other electronic items. CLICK THE PHOTO NOW. GET OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD.

Coast HP8R LED Flashlight

You use this case on your belt to transport the HP8R to its assigned duty. It's best to put the flashlight in the case with the lens facing the sky. Just do it that way and worry about other things. ARE YOU SERIOUS? IT TOOK YOU THIS LONG TO DECIDE TO BUY IT? CLICK NOW. QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED SERIOUSLY!!!!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THIS MAGNIFICENT LED FLASHLIGHT.

Belt Sanding Tips Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Belt Sanding Tips

Hi, I'm Tim Carter and I want to show you how to use a belt sander to take the finish off a piece of furniture or a piece of wood.

The problem I have right now is it is about 47 degrees outside. I wanted to use a chemical stripper, but the instructions say the working temperature should be between 60 and 80 degrees. Well, I have to get the job done, so I am going to treat this the same way you would refinish a hard wood floor.

All a contract does that sands hardwood floors is he just uses his sander with different grits of sandpaper. Let's get started.

Free & Fast Bids

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local painters that can do the sanding for you. You've got more important things to do!

Right now I have 60-grit sandpaper on the belt sander. It's pretty rough and it is going to really good job to make the initial cut through the finish.

Wait!! Before we get started, there is an important tip. If you don't know this, you will probably ruin the piece of furniture. You don't just put the sanding machine down on the surface and hold it in position.

Not only do I have to run the sander back and forth slowly, but I also have to move it in a circular motion. Doing this ensures that you don't cut a line or a pattern in the surface.

Let me show you. Well you can see that it does a great cutting into the finish. In just a matter of seconds, the finish has been removed and it is down to bare wood.

Common Belt Sander Uses:

  • sand peach fuzz from recently cleaned wood decks
  • sand small patches of hardwood flooring
  • sand flat slab doors and large baseboard
  • sand any larger flat surface

So now to finish the job, is to do the entire top with that first pass with the 60-grit sand paper. Then go back and do it over with different grit sandpapers - 80 grit, 120 grit, etc. - getting finer each time until the table top is as smooth as a piece of glass.

And that's how you can take a finish off a piece of furniture.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local painters that can do the sanding for you. You've got more important things to do!

Referenced in the November 20, 2012 AsktheBuilder Newsletter.