Dimmer Switch Fire

Posted on by Tim Carter
dimmer switch fire

This switch looks somewhat normal, except for the soot around the edges. Wait until you see the back. ©2016 Tim Carter via anonymous friend contribution.

Dimmer Switch SAFETY TIPS

Plugged in Space Heater

Several weeks ago a very good friend of mine and his wife almost became a grim statistic compiled monthly by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). He was trying to keep his wife warm in her home office and plugged a simple electric space heater into a wall outlet at her request.

Although it appeared to be a normal duplex wall outlet where you could plug in two cords, it was anything but normal. The outlet happened to be a split outlet. What's that? Keep reading as you probably have a few in your home.

My friend had a 50/50 chance of everything going just fine, but he chose poorly.

CLICK HERE to get FREE BIDS from electricians in your city or town to safely install a dimmer switch.

He plugged the heater into the one receptacle that happened to be controlled by a wall switch. The other half of the receptacle was wired directly to the circuit breaker and not controlled by a switch.

But it wasn't just any wall switch, it was a dimmer switch.

Switch on FIRE!

The instant current began to flow through the dimmer switch, it began to heat up.

Most common dimmer switches you install in a home have limited function. They can only handle about five amps or 600 watts.

The space heater my friend was using drew, at a minimum, 1200 watts!

CLICK HERE to get FREE BIDS from electricians in your city or town to inspect your wiring and switches now.

Heat From Unused Electric

Here's what you need to know about dimmer switches. If you turn the dimmer knob or use one with a slide control like the one you see above so the lights get dim, the current that was supposed to flow to the lights is kept in the dimmer and transformed into heat.

600 Watts Usually

But the heat sink in the dimmer can only handle so much current. Almost all dimmers come with a CAUTION warning on the back of the switch telling you that you should not have more than 600 watts flowing through the switch.

That only person who sees that warning is the electrician who installs the dimmer. Once the switch is in the electric box and the cover plate is on, regular people like you are oblivious to the danger.

dimmer switch back fire

You can see how much plastic burned. You can also see some of the letters from the CAUTION warning label. Dimmers are time bombs waiting for their next victim. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter via anonymous friend who is still breathing along with his beautiful wife.

It didn't take long for the fire to start in the electric box. Within minutes of plugging in the heater and turning it on, my friend luckily saw small flames coming from the switch.

dimmer switch for LED and regular lights

Here's a dimmer switch for LED and regular lights. I believe it works for CFL bulbs to. CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO ORDER IT NOW.

Empty Room = Death

But what would have happened had both of them left the room? What would be the outcome had they gone to bed?

We both know what would have happened.

Be sure you never overload a dimmer switch.

NEW Technology Protects You From Dangerous Arcing

Are you terrified of burning up in an electric fire at your home? You can install in minutes a sophisticated device called Ting that plugs into an outlet in your home. Look below at the photo caption for a SPECIAL promo code. It connects to the Internet via WiFi. The device sends data about your electrical system to a company that monitors your entire home.

ting

This is the Ting Arcing monitor. It plugs into any outlet, connects to the Wifi in your home, and then starts to protect you, your family, and all your possessions. CLICK or TAP HERE for a Special Discount exclusive to Ask the Builder newsletter subscribers and website visitors. IMPORTANT: Use the promo code TIM10 (note UPPER CASE) at checkout for exclusive savings. Note that Tim Carter gets a very small commission from TingFire should you purchase using the above link. Tim only promotes products he trusts and uses in his own home.

An app on your smartphone allows you to check the condition of your home's wiring at any time. Here's a screenshot of the app on my phone showing all is well:

ting app

This is the home screen of the Ting App. The green bar at the top shows all is well. If Ting senses an issue in your home's wiring, you get an instant push notification on your smartphone app as you see above, the red #1 above Notifications. In addition, the Ting service center CALLS you on your phone should it detect hazardous arcing! In my case above, that notification told me that I had a minor power outage at my home. CLICK or TAP HERE to purchase one priced with a special AsktheBuilder discount. Don't forget to use the promo code: TIM10 for a big savings

Warning Label on Outlets

If you have outlets in your home in any room that are controlled by wall switches, PLEASE go to the outlet cover plate and use a RED Sharpie fine-point permanent marker and write a WARNING on the cover plate. You can write this:

If this outlet is controlled by a dimmer switch, do NOT plug in a heater, hair dryer or any other thing that draws more than 500 watts.

I suggest the 500 watts because you might as well have a slight margin of safety.

20-Amp Circuits

Electric space heaters should be plugged into circuits wired with 12 gauge cable that's rated for 20 amps. When I built my last home, that's all I used. I didn't have one piece of 14 gauge wire in my home. I refuse to use that size wire.

But remember, you can't mix and match cable sizes! Don't think you can add a piece of 20-amp 12-gauge cable or wire to an existing 15-amp circuit that is wired with 14-gauge cable! The amp rating for any given circuit is dependent on the SMALLEST SIZE cable in the circuit.

15-Amp Circuits

14-gauge wire is only rated for 1800 watts or 15 amps. 12-gauge wire is rated for 2,400 watts or 20 amps.

Are you worried about your dimmer switches? Are you wondering if you and your family are SAFE?

CLICK HERE to get FREE BIDS from electricians in your city or town. Let them come over and inspect your dimmers and circuits to make sure you don't die in an electrical fire.

Walk In Shower Drain

Posted on by Tim Carter

I'm a master plumber as well as a builder. Crazy but true. I've been one for over 35 years.

Gary, who lives in West Memphis, Arkansas, is remodeling his bathroom and has a question about walk-in shower drains.

"I removed a bath tube and going to install a walk in shower. Do I need to move the drain to the center or maybe just a little?"

Well Gary, it all depends.

If you have a pre-formed shower pan that has a drain hole in it, you need to work your magic to connect that drain hole to the existing plumbing drain lines.

If you're creating your own shower pan using a waterproof membrane, cement-mud floor, tile and or stone, then you might be able to make the existing drain location work.

Your big issue is that most tubs have a 1.5-inch drain line that branches to them.

Guess what? Most codes require you to run a 2-inch drain line to a shower.

Ouch......

If you're in over your head, then you can CLICK HERE to get FREE BIDS from plumbers in your area that can do the required rough in work.

 

Granite Top Supports

Posted on by Tim Carter

Granite Top Supports TIPS

DEAR TIM: My husband and I are just about at the end of an arduous and stressful kitchen remodel. Originally in the planning phase, the general contractor said we didn’t need a support under a long peninsula countertop made with solid granite. Now the field construction manager feels very uncomfortable with the 50 inches of unsupported granite that spans between a cabinet and two decorative posts at the end of the peninsula. I like the clean look we have now with no supports. How would you solve this problem? What suggestions do you have? Linda H., Broomfield, CO

DEAR LINDA: I’d like to think that you’ve come to the right place for advice because I’m cross trained in a few disciplines that converge in this situation. I feel we can solve your conundrum and keep everyone happy. But with most things, there’s going to have to be some compromise.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local countertop contractors in your city or town.

Geologist Builder Tim!

My college degree happens to be in geology and granite is by far my most favorite rock of all. I love everything about granite, most of all the varied colors and crystals you can get. Believe it or not, my house is built on what’s considered to be the most attractive rock in all of New England, the Meredith Porphyritic Granite.

This is the Meredith Porphyritic Granite next to my driveway. You can't see the huge orthoclase feldspar crystals in this wide view, but they're there! © 2016 Tim Carter

This stunning bedrock contains massive white feldspar crystals, some the size of giant cocktail shrimp, in a fine-grained black matrix. I have a huge block of this ledge exposed right next to my driveway.

I cut this rectangle using my diamond wet saw. It started out as a baseball-sized piece of the Meredith Porphyritic Granite. You can see the monster orthoclase feldspar crystals and the shiny mica too. © 2017 Tim Carter

Form vs Function

I’ve had discussions like yours with quite a few customers that focused on form versus function. That’s what we’re dealing with here. You mentioned that you’re attracted to the clean look of the current top with nothing underneath it. I respect that, but function is paramount in my mind.

My decades of job site experience cause me to look at situations like this differently. The vision I have in my head is not quite unlike the classic movie and play Scrooge where the main character gets to look into the future.

I see in your future a party at your house attended by quite a few teenagers and one of them decides to sit on the countertop at the center of the unsupported span! I also see some painter standing on the top because he’s too lazy to move his ladder. Both visions end up with large chunks of granite on your gorgeous hardwood kitchen floor.

This granite top is doomed for failure the moment someone decides to sit on it unless a support is put underneath it. © 2016 Linda Hewing Perpetual license to publish it granted to Tim Carter - AsktheBuilder.com by Linda

Granite is Strong One Way

You probably think that granite is extremely strong, after all, it’s granite! Just about every stone product, including artificial stone like concrete, is very strong in compression. This means if you squeeze it it requires thousands of pounds of force per square inch to cause a crack.

While your granite has great compressive strength, it’s very weak in tension. Tension is the opposite of compression. A stone is subjected to tension when it’s stretched. If you were to load the center of your granite peninsula countertop right now with a given amount of weight, the bottom of the granite starts to stretch or pull apart.

While I can’t say exactly what the tensile strength of your granite top is for its current thickness, it’s usually only ten percent of what it exhibits in compression. The bottom line is that your granite top could crack and tumble to the kitchen floor with as little as 100 or 150 pounds that’s loaded at the center of the 50-inch span.

Here's another view of Linda's countertop. That's a wide expanse of unsupported granite. How many pounds of weight loaded in the center do you feel it will take to crack the top? Enter your guess in the comments below. ©2016 Linda Hewing - Perpetual license to publish it granted to Tim Carter - AsktheBuilder.com by Linda

Repair Scenario?

I often talked to my customers about cost. What would it cost to replace a broken countertop? Would it be possible a year or two down the road to get a matching piece of granite? Remember, granite is a natural product and the colors, crystal structure, etc. can vary in the quarry. You may not even be able to get a matching slab six months from now much less two years from now.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local countertop contractors in your city or town.

I feel you need to install a support that runs down the center of the peninsula. It can be very narrow and provide the necessary bracing to prevent failure when someone loads the center of the top.

Support Options

Here are a few options that popped into my mind. I’m sure that a kitchen designer might have some additional ideas swirling about in her/his head.

You can purchase a thin sheet, no more than 1/8-inch thick, of plate steel that would be epoxied to the underside of the granite. It should really rest on the cabinet and the two legs supporting the granite. The steel doesn't have to extend to the edge of the granite top. It can be just 18 inches wide and do the job. After it's installed and the epoxy is cured, paint it a color that's close to the primary color of the top - or just flat black.

Tingler Trick?

A more complex solution was suggested by a friend of mine, Robert Tingler. He thought it could be a good idea to install a small steel beam down the center of the underside of the granite. It needs support at each end and it likely may be visible. This is my least-favorite option not because it won't work, but it's hard to incorporate into the cabinet and the two post supports at the end of the peninsula.

Nagler's Notion

Tim Nagler happened across this column after it was published. Here's how he'd solve the problem. "To keep the open look (your suggestions did not do this) why not support the top with two steel angles running parallel to the length.  A 1" x 1 1/2" angle would be invisible to someone over 5'-0" tall if the angle were back as little as six inches from the edge."

The simplest idea is to have a custom panel made that’s about an inch or so thick that matches the look of the two end posts at the corners of the peninsula. I see from the photo you provided there’s a recessed flat area in between the thicker material at the corners. This would provide you with the maximum space under the top in case you thought about putting low stools at the counter.

If you’re willing to give up a little more legroom space you can have a thin cabinet made that has glass doors on both sides. I see in your one photo that the cabinet facing your front door has glass doors so that you can see what’s in the cabinet. You might display decorative items in this narrow cabinet under the granite. With glass on both sides you’ll be able to see through and it would help preserve that clean look you like.

You might also have a narrow open bookcase installed under the granite. Many books are just six or eight inches deep and this would not take up too much space. The bookcase wouldn’t have to be packed full of cookbooks and if you do this, once again, there will be open space that helps satisfy your desire to keep the look sleek and simple.

You’ll not lose a moment of sleep once you have support under that granite. My vote, in case it counts, is to go with the thin cabinet with the glass doors. I’d put a bunch of my colorful granite rock samples in it!

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local countertop contractors in your city or town.

Column 1175

Shawn Harris Hearst Castle Guide

Posted on by Tim Carter

On December 9, 2016, just before 11:30 am, my daughter Kelly and I were pulling into the parking lot at the Hearst Castle on the California coast.

We were in California for a week of vacation, visiting my older daughter and her husband and going to an epic Christmas open house down in Montrose, California.

It was a foggy day and the drive down from Morgan Hill, California offered scant views of the mighty Pacific ocean. When we did see the water and surf, it was dismal gray.

However it wasn't so foggy as to block the view of the ginormous elephant seals just north of our destination.

The elephant seals were sleeping, well some were. I'd hate to have one of these lay on me! (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

A volunteer at the elephant seal viewing area obtained this vanity license plate. She has the same passion about seals that Shawn has for his job. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

I had been there before but it was Kelly's first time. Unbeknownst to us, we were to about to hit the lottery when it comes to tour guides.

In just ninety minutes we were going to be paired up with Shawn Harris to tour the expansive cottages and the kitchen of the Castle.

The fog got worse as the tour progressed. If you've never been to the Hearst Castle, put it at the top of your bucket list. It will take your breath away. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter - Image published in order to raise awareness of Hearst Castle and to encourage you to visit to help preserve this national treasure.

I've been led on lots of guided tours at many historic locations, but never have I been captivated as I was by Shawn's stories, quotes and facts about William Randolph Hearst and his family.

It's said that if you practice something enough you get pretty good at it.  I'll add that it helps to have a passion for the thing as well. Your experience on the tour is off the charts should you have Shawn as your guide.

Think back to what you were doing in 1979. Shawn was just arriving at San Simeon and the Hearst Castle to start his first day of work at this national treasure. I'll do the math for you. It was thirty-seven years ago. 

See that smile on Shawn's face? It's not a fake one. This is a man that was destined to be a tour guide at the Hearst Castle. (C) Copyright 2016 Kelly Carter

I'd never met Shawn before. I'm not related to him and I'm only writing this because I feel his family and friends need to know about his love for the Castle and all things in it. You could feel that while he sprinkled tasty morsels of little-known facts about the construction and back story of the Castle.

How strong is his passion for the Castle? What if I told you that he still visits the library within the Castle to glean facts from books and other resources. I'm quite sure Shawn is hunting for facts, figures and little-known facts that he can use to mesmerize you when you follow him around the grounds.

 

Can you imagine what it takes to create a ceiling like this? Are there master craftsmen alive today that can do it? You can see Shawn answering a question from one of the other visitors. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter - Image published in order to raise awareness of Hearst Castle and to encourage you to visit to help preserve this national treasure.

If you're going to visit the Hearst Castle, I urge you to try to see about arranging to meet Shawn. See if you can't make it that he's your guide. Perhaps see if you can get a special VIP tour with just you and your friends. Better yet, see if you can have dinner with Shawn down in Cambria and have him tell you some tales over a glass of wine.

Shawn, bravo my friend! Mr. Hearst would be so proud of you and what you do each day at the Castle.

CLICK HERE to get more information and to purchase tickets to visit the Hearst Castle.

Matching Heat Pump with Generator

Posted on by Tim Carter

ac units HVAC York A/C Tim's

Matching Heat Pump With Generator

Sheryl lives in Charlotte, NC.

She's got a unique issue with her heating system. Let her tell you all about it.

"I have a very old generator which is not matched with the heat pump that was installed in my two-story town home in 2008. All works well with cooling and heating, but upstairs gets all the heat in winter.

I'm thinking of installing a Carrier Infinity 16 SEER unit however I've been told that I can't do up and downstairs zoning because my duct work is in the flooring.   The downstairs has vents in ceilings. The bedrooms on second floor have vents in floor.

This problem home was built in 1970 with old ductwork. If I replace the heat pump and generator to match, how could I have new duct work installed to make the equipment run optimally since there are probably lots of leaks etched in the old duct work. I was told by one installer that duct work in Florida can not be upgraded. Can you help me out? Thank you so much."

Well, Sheryl, you've got me pretty confused! You said you live in North Carolina, but then you mention Florida ductwork! Alas, I don't feel that's an issue.

There are many houses that have vents and ductwork blowing forced heat and cooling down from the ceiling that work fine. All the houses I built for all my customers, and even my own home, had the vents in the floor blowing up.

Even if there are tiny leaks in the joints of the ductwork, that air is still within the house envelope and it's not really being wasted to a large degree.

The point is, you can have a comfortable house with vents in either location.

I feel the biggest issue is that you've not taken the time to get THREE independent bids. You MUST DO THAT.

CLICK HERE to get FREE bids from local HVAC contractors.

When they come, do NOT tell them what the other ones have already told you.

Print out the following and hand it to each contractor that shows up:

Bid Specifications:

  • One Carrier Infinity or York equivalent heat pump with a SEER rating of 16 or better
  • Perform new heat gain/ heat loss calculation to make sure that enough heating and cooling Btus are making it to each room
  • Provide recommendations as to what needs to be done to make sure each room is within 2 degrees of the thermostat setting
  • If new ductwork is required, please provide a simple drawing of the new ductwork layout including sizes of duct and trunk lines

Let me know what all the contractors say. The professional contractors will LOVE the specifications you print out above. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if one says, "Are all the other contractors providing you with this information?" The reason they'll say that is because then they know their bid will be taken seriously.

If you’re interested in learning more about cost estimates for heat pump replacement I have an article here.

If a contractor REFUSES to give you all the information above, that tells you they're not professional.

 

December 9, 2016 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

This is a quick Friday blast.

I'm in California and my body is still on East Coast time. I've been up for nearly an hour and a half and it's just 5:25 am here as I type this.

Yesterday, my youngest daughter Kelly and I went on an exciting canopy tour through giant redwood trees at the Mt. Hermon Adventure center very close to Santa Cruz, CA.

There are six zip lines that are part of the adventure. It was raining, cool and we were the only people out on the course. Our guides, Josh and April, were amazing and kept us safe the entire time.

Wait until you see me hang out over the edge of one of the platforms that are well over 100 feet in the air and I let go of the lanyards that are attached to the steel cable. GULP!

I HIGHLY recommend going here if you're within easy striking distance of Santa Cruz, CA. I'll have a FULL STORY for you when I get back to New Hampshire and can upload the Go Pro video we shot of the thrilling time up in the canopy!

Best Romance Novel EVER

Every Christmas I try to tell you about the best romance novel I'm aware of. It's perfect for small kids as it teaches them all about loyalty and love.

Do you have grandchildren? Do you have your own young kids?

Are you looking for a delightful Christmas gift idea for a young child?

Then get her or him the book I still have. My mom got this for me years ago, and everything in the book is relevant to what's going on in today's throw-away world!

What is this magical book?

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

The illustrations in this book are timeless.

CLICK HERE to order a hard-bound copy that will delight that young urchin for many years.

Electric Heat

I'm about to write a column on heating with electricity. This time of year, I get lots of questions about it.

First, using electricity at your home to create heat is 100 percent efficient - meaning all the electricity passing into the heater gets converted to heat. Nothing disappears up a chimney.

If your electric rates are high, it's costly.

If you are by yourself and you just want to be warm and you don't really care about the air temperature in a room, then a radiant electric heater is best.

But realize they can cause fires as the heating element gets quite hot.

I'll have more about this soon when I get back to New Hampshire.

Do you NEED a heating contractor to give you a FREE bid right now to keep your house warm? CLICK the graphic ad just to the right and under my daughter Meghan's photo above!

New Columns for You

Have you ever wondered why your house doesn't collapse when the wind blows?

CLICK HERE do discover WHY.

Is it SAFE to drink water from a gas line that's been converted to a water supply line?

CLICK HERE to see what I'd do. I've been a master plumber for over 35 years.

Okay, time to go. My oldest daughter Meghan is up and it's time to visit with her before Kelly and I head off to the Hearst Castle this afternoon!

I'll be back with lots of photos and other treats soon!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Copper Gas Line Used for Water

Posted on by Tim Carter

Kathy bought a house in a suburb of St. Louis. 

Here's what she sent me:

"I purchased a home and the previous resident used gas line to run water thru the house from the main line.  Is this safe for water and does it leach any chemicals? Should I have my water tested?

We plan in the next three years to change all the plumbing lines, but I am worried about safety between now and when we do. Also if testing, is necessary who do you suggest?"

I might add that Kathy sent a photo of this strange circumstance.

The top pipe is a 3/4-inch copper water line. The one below it and brighter, is also copper. That must be the gas line Kathy is talking about. © 2016 Kathy H. but giving Tim Carter a perpetual free license to publish it.

The top pipe is a 3/4-inch copper water line. The one below it and brighter, is also copper. That must be the gas line Kathy is talking about. © 2016 Kathy H. but giving Tim Carter a perpetual free license to publish it.

I've been a master plumber for over 35 years and I don't see any issues at all. The gas line was copper and my guess is the previous owner wanted to save some money.

I happen to wonder what new gas line he installed!

If the water tastes fine and there's no odor, then all is well. Copper is an excellent material to use for water supply lines.

Reference: December 9, 2016 AsktheBuilder Newsletter.

Diagonal Bracing for Walls

Posted on by Tim Carter
temporary diagonal wall brace

See that angled board nailed to the vertical wall studs? It’s a temporary diagonal wall brace used to stabilize the framing while the house is built. © 2016 Tim Carter Builder

DEAR TIM: Yesterday I stopped by my new house that’s under construction. I go there at the end of each day to take photos. I saw a strange board nailed across the wall studs that surely is a mistake. It ran at a diagonal from the bottom wall plate up the wall to one corner of the wall.

I don’t see how the builder is going to install drywall over this. What’s it for and is it important? I was tempted to remove it thinking that the carpenters made a mistake. Would you install this board as you build a new home? Dan V., Austin, TX

DEAR DAN: I want to congratulate you on checking on the progress of your new home each day. That’s a smart idea. By doing this, you can catch errors and omissions in the construction process. Taking photos, thousands of them, is also very smart. Even though you have no idea what you’re taking a photo of, still do it. These photos can be very handy down the road should someone need to look at how your home was put together.

Years ago, it was expensive to take lots of photos. Now it’s nearly free because storing the digital information in the cloud or on other memory media is so simple. I’d also recommend that you start taking video and talk about what you see as you have the camera aimed at something. Take closeup shots of critical elements like plumbing connections, structural supports and beams, etc.

Holy potato! I’m sure glad you didn’t remove that temporary diagonal wall brace. You could have caused a wall to collapse hurting or killing someone, including yourself. My suggestion is to never touch one thing on the job site when you go visit. Things are done by carpenters and other workers for a reason. Believe me, no one wants to do extra work so if you see something that looks unusual, it’s best to talk to the builder or job superintendent.

When a carpenter builds a wood-framed wall using regular lumber and nails, the wall may be able to support lots of weight on its own, but the wall is not stable unless it has some form of bracing.

What would you say if I told you that a house could collapse if a gust of wind hit it? My guess is you’d say that’s hogwash because you don’t regularly see houses flattened after each windstorm in your town. But a house could easily collapse without some form of diagonal bracing in walls.

Here’s an easy way to prove it. If you are so inclined, take a few 2x4s and build a simple wall that’s 4 feet tall. Nail the studs every 16 inches on center like a real wall. Stand the wall up, nail the bottom plate to the floor and then go to one end or the other of the wall.

I want you to start to push on the top plate of the wall at either end. You’ll discover it doesn’t take much effort at all to make the wall start to fold down on itself. The top wall plate will remain parallel with the bottom plate, but the wall studs will start to all tilt at once as the top plate travels to the ground with you pushing it forward.

Straighten the wall back up making all the studs plumb and then nail another stud on the face of the vertical wall studs that’s at a diagonal from one bottom corner of the wall to the upper corner of the wall at the opposite end.

Now try to push the top plate and see what happens. No matter how hard you push, the top plate will not budge. The diagonal brace you saw at your job site was a temporary brace to keep a wall from moving. When I built I’d do this on interior walls that connected with an exterior wall. This braced wall would help prevent the exterior wall from blowing over as the house is being built.

You probably noticed the exterior walls of your new home have wood sheathing on them. It’s probably oriented strand board (OSB) or it may be plywood in rare instances.

Just one sheet of this material at each corner of a wall will provide the same bracing as the single piece of wood you saw on the other wall so long as the OSB or plywood is fastened to the wall studs with the correct nails in a distinct nailing pattern. The nails must not be over driven into the OSB or plywood. It’s best if the head of the nail is flush with the wood.

Years ago, carpenters would put in the diagonal brace you saw by mortising it into the wall studs. This is very time consuming but it gave the walls enormous strength. Metal T-shaped diagonal bracing can be put in walls that accomplishes the same goal. The carpenters set their saw depth so it cuts a kerf in each wall stud to accommodate the metal brace. If you ever see one of these braces in a wall, never ever cut into it.

Pay attention to the way the exterior OSB sheathing is applied to your home. If you want to download a helpful guide showing you how it should be done, just go to the APA - Engineered Wood Association online library for lots of great information. Here’s the URL: http://www.apawood.org/resource-library

This popular column was featured in the January 14, 2014 AsktheBuilder Newsletter.

Column 1174

December 6, 2016 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Last week you may remember I was off to Chicago for a quick insertion business trip. I flew there around noon last Thursday and was back at Midway airport the following day around 3:30 pm.

I had gone to my favorite big city to visit the True Value Hardware paint factory near Cary, IL.

HOLY POTATO!

I discovered that True Value Hardware is quite serious about making great paint and stains and they've been doing it for quite some time.

After Christmas, I'm going to share a paint with you that you'll not believe. I can tell you that I was so impressed with the test results that it made my head hurt.

Why did my head hurt? Simply because another national brand has beat on you and me for decades saying *they* have the best paint for your projects. You know when you hear something enough times, you tend to start to believe it.

When you see what I saw after the Christmas season ends, you're going to be shaken to the core. I'm convinced you're going to race to the closest True Value Hardware store to get this magic potion for your projects.

Yes, you can only get it at a True Value Hardware store!

But that's a good thing because for decades I've told you that I prefer to shop at small hardware stores rather than the behemoth box stores painted orange and blue.

While in Cary, IL, I also got to eat my first-ever serving of Italian beef at Portillo's! Yummy!

You may not know this, but I'm a trained and certified train conductor. I rode the Metra train - the UP-NW line - out of downtown Chicago towards Cary.

What FUN! Here's a photo of the train I was on.

To handle the tens of thousands of commuters streaming in and out of Chicago each day at rush hour, perhaps five or six trains are spaced out on the 40-mile line at any given time. For all I know, it can be ten!

The train two ahead of us hit a car at the grade crossing in Mt. Prospect. No one was killed, but it brought train traffic on all three Union Pacific rail lines to a grinding halt.

I got off my train as it sat at the Cumberland stop. Friends of mine who were going to True Value with me picked me up and we drove to the hotel.

I didn't see one smiling face on that train. It's quite the opposite on the train where I've been a conductor. Smiles abound on my train! Click Here to see why.

FREE Contractor Hiring Tips

I created this new page on my website I'm going to link to from now on in each newsletter.

It's got five simple Hacks that allow you to make sure you don't get SCREWED when hiring any contractor.

Under the last hack are some links you can use to get FREE BIDS from several contractors at the same time.

Yes, you just fill out a form and magically you get FREE quotes. Try it and let me know how it works out for you!

CLICK HERE for the Hiring Hacks!

Heating With Firewood

Many, many people here in New Hampshire heat with firewood. We have billions of trees here and they grow like weeds in the sandy continental glacial soil.

I had the pleasure of using a few weeks ago the MOST POWERFUL log splitter I've ever put my hands on.

Oh my was it wonderful to use. It had a bunch of very cool features that SAVED MY BACK.

CLICK HERE to behold the machine that had 35-tons of log-CRUNCHING power!

Doghouse Commercial

Christmas is just weeks away. It's a magical time of year for many, but for you it could be stressful.

That's why you need to watch TWO VIDEOS to put you in a good mood.

NOTICE TO ALL MEN: It's REQUIRED you watch these videos before you buy ANYTHING.

CLICK HERE and be prepared to laugh - especially if you're a woman.

Get FREE BIDS

Yesterday I had a phone conversation with a widow here in New Hampshire. She's about to embark on several major remodeling projects in her home.

I shared with her the Contractor Hiring Tips I gave you just a few moments ago.

She needs a great remodeling contractor to make sure her bath remodel, kitchen redo, second-story garage finish and several other things happen without a hitch.

I told her about a new service I offer using Home Advisors.

She's about to get FREE QUOTES from architects to draw the needed plans, then she'll use my links to get FREE BIDS from contractors to do the work.

No matter what job you need done around your home, be it plumbing, siding, roofing, handyman work, etc. you can get FREE BIDS from now on.

In the RIGHT COLUMN of this newsletter, you'll see the two graphic ads. I'll also be including another banner ad in the copy of the newsletter.

TRY the FREE SERVICE and let me know how it goes for you. I want to hear about any positive experiences and if you have any problems let me know.

CLICK HERE now to get a FREE BID on any job.

Shopping at Amazon.com

This time of year you can REALLY HELP me. Each issue of this newsletter I try my best to help save you time and money.

If you shop at Amazon.com for Christmas gifts - or at any time of year for that matter - you can help support this newsletter by always going to Amazon using one of my affiliate links.

It doesn't make any difference what you buy there once you click one of my links. You don't have to buy home improvement things.

For example, CLICK HERE to see a bunch of cool power tools.

When you shop at Amazon using a link I provide, I get a tiny fraction of the profit they make. It does NOT cause your price to be higher.

I added a helpful giant ad at the BOTTOM of every column on my website to make it easy for you. The ad often has products in it that are related to the TOPIC of the column.

For example, if I write a review about power tools, you might see an ad like this at the bottom of the review:

Please consider using my affiliate links and I thank you in advance!

That's enough for today. I'm sure you're busy. I'm leaving for an eight-day trip with my youngest daughter so I'll have another newsletter for you soon, but maybe not until I get back!

Remember, take a deep breath this time of year and think about all you have to be thankful for.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Doghouse Commercial

Posted on by Tim Carter

Doghouse Commercials


This is a video every man should watch - three times. I can tell you I made this mistake the second Christmas I was married to Kathy. I saw she didn't have a clothes hamper and I grew up with one. How could anyone survive without a clothes hamper I thought. What an IDIOT!

This video was made by JC Penny and it was brilliant.

It was so popular that they made a sequel to it a few years later.

Here's the sequel:

These were featured in Tim's February 14, 2019 AsktheBuilder Emergency Alert Newsletter!!