December 11, 2015 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Tim Carter

I'm starting to get pretty excited for Christmas. It's just two weeks from tomorrow!

I've got a bunch of direct links for you just below in case you're looking for some affordable and quirky home improvement gifts for that someone.

A couple are great stocking stuffers.

It's going to be a Merry Christmas for sure here and I hope so at your home.

Here's why I don't say the HH phrase - yeah, I can't even type it. UGH!!!!

First and foremost the day is called Christmas day. That's its official name. Period.

You may celebrate something else on or around that day so you pretty much understand that when I say Merry Christmas to you I'm wishing you the best the season has to offer no matter what you call that day or what you do in your home to celebrate the season.

If You are Hot Under the Collar about Merry Christmas, CLICK HERE to serve up a juicy piece of your mind.

! ! LIVE CHAT Update ! !

Do you want to try something different? How about a LIVE online event where I answer your questions about roofing, roofing contractors, what to do to get ready BEFORE a storm, how to make emergency repairs, etc.?

On Friday, December 11, 2015 at 6 pm ET, I'll be LIVE online doing a chat.

You can WATCH and/or participate right on my website!!! Cool technology indeed. CLICK HERE to see it.

You need to be at that page of my website to sign in and participate or watch.

My codename during the chat will be srchat.

That stands for Spokesman Review, the newspaper sponsoring the live event. I have to sign in under their account so I see the all-important Moderator's panel.

You can just WATCH the chat happen in real time and the questions and answers will scroll before you!

Or, you can sign in as a Guest and ask me a question.

The chat room is limited to just 100 people, so if you can't sign in, you need to just watch.

Let me know if you like this event. Maybe we can do other ones.

Letter to the Editor

Do you ever write letters to your paper?

Perhaps you got scammed by a contractor and you want to warn others. If you do write a letter, just don't mention the company name or names of the workers in the letter as the paper doesn't want to get involved in a libel lawsuit.

You could really help other homeowners in your community by sharing your story.

We have a local paper here in central New Hampshire that will print just about anything. It's the Laconia Daily Sun. It's a great idea for them to print all the letters fit to print for any number of reasons.

A little over a month ago, I wrote a letter to the editor that has a cool story in it about what I did one day while I was eating lunch on a job site many moons ago.

I think you'll chuckle at the story.

If you own or manage a company there are TWO very valuable lessons in the letter that you should be aware of. If you're involved in sales for a company, you MUST read the letter.

If you're in charge of keeping employees happy, then CLICK HERE NOW.

With Christmas just TWO WEEKS away it's very important for you to read the letter.

CLICK HERE to see the letter.

MYSTERY LINK! Do you really know what's under your feet? CLICK TO DISCOVER!

Arlo HD Security Camera Review

Two days ago, I installed the absolute COOLEST HD WIRELESS COLOR security cameras ever.

I'm thrilled with these cameras!!!

CLICK HERE to read the review.

WARNING: I had just finished off two giant cups of strong coffee made with beans I ground moments before letting my fingers stroke the keyboard.

Can you tell after reading the review?

Bosch HD18-2 Hammer Drill Review

I also published my review about a very nice tool you should consider.

READ all about this sleek hammer drill that can be a REGULAR drill too!

CLICK HERE for the drill review.

GREAT Gift Ideas

Here are the Christmas Gift Ideas as mentioned in the December 18, 2015 Newsletter.

Just click the links and be amazed.

I love this LED Flashlight.

I use this headlamp to walk in the dark. Note how the beam works / focuses!!!!!

Here's the personal grinder I use to get a BUZZ going.

Here's a screwdriver I've used five times in the past 72 hours! LOVE LOVE this tool.

How about a killer DeWALT socket set? Woo Boy this is a dandy one.

Do you want the framing nailer I'd buy if you asked me to do it for you? Click HERE.

Everyone needs WATERPROOF note pads!!!

I have almost this watch. I can't find now an exact match, but I LOVE this brand and it's so accurate!

This is the LAST Framing Square you'll ever buy.

I use this calculator when writing this newsletter!

Here's a dandy alternative calculator.

Star Wars Laser Distance Measurement Zot Thing.

That's quite enough to keep you busy!

I'll have more on Sunday.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

How to Hire a Roofer

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Tim Carter

How to Hire a Roofer

missing shingle

Did a storm damage your roof?

Are your shingles wearing out prematurely?

Do you have a new leak or a chronic leak that won't go away?

You need a roofer unless you have skills like I do that allow you to do your own roofing work.

But you want to hire a PRO, not some bottom feeder that's unskilled and might rip you off.

Just how do you hire a roofer that will do the work properly and for a fair price?

It's going to take a little work on your part to find this professional, but believe me he's there in your city and town right now.

In fact, there may be more than one.

Step One:

Look for a roofer long before you need one. The worst thing to do is to be in a situation where you need immediate help and are in a position of weakness.

It only takes a few hours at most to locate a real pro, so budget the time long before the storm clouds gather.

Understand that when a storm happens and many are affected, it's impossible for all the roofers in your town - even the BAD ones - to do all the work at once. The law of supply and demand kicks in.

You need to establish a relationship with a great roofer long before you need him.

Step Two:

Understand the marketplace.

Here's the reality: Not all roofers in your town or city are true professionals just like not all attorneys, car mechanics, doctors and accountants are the best in their fields. Every profession has losers, middle-of-the-roaders, and the real pros who are exceptional.

Only a small fraction of the roofers treat their jobs as a vocation, not a paycheck. You want a person who's proud of their work and looks at their career as a vocation.

Step Three:

Perhaps the best roofers are ones who have a small crew and will be up on your roof with their crew. Yes, there could be larger roofing companies that just have employees do the work and you may get lucky to have a stellar crew, but don't count on it.

Step Four:

Don't count on those Internet websites where you can get FREE QUOTES. Do you know how those work? The websites sell your name, address and phone number to five, ten or more roofers at the SAME TIME. These roofers are usually desperate for work, why is that?, and they claw at each other to get to you as soon as possible.

Realize that great roofers rarely need to advertise and they RARELY are out of work. Because they have such good reputations, the pros almost always have a BACKLOG of work. There's no need for them to pay for a lead. The pros' phones ring constantly from referrals.

Step Five:

You should try to become familiar with how roofing and flashing is done before you talk with a roofer. For example, you can watch my Plumbing Flashing Video to understand how it needs to be installed.

Or, you can watch my Bathroom Vent Flashing video to get a handle on what the roofer should do at your home with these unique flashings.

If you never want leaks after you re-roof your home, then you should watch these videos about the underlayment I used on my own home:

First Ice and Water Shield Video

Second Ice and Water Shield Video

Third Ice and Water Shield Video

Grace Ice and Water Shield Video Review

You should also spend time reading many of my past Roofing columns that will help you discover at least one right way to have a leak-free home.

CLICK HERE to view all the roofing columns and videos on my website.

Step Six:

You should ask the roofers coming to your home lots of questions that they need to answer correctly. This tells you if they know what they're doing.

If you don't know the questions to ask after reading all the above and looking at my videos, I've assembled the most important ones in my hiring guide for Roofing Contractors. CLICK HERE to get it.

My Hiring Guide contains four SECRET videos that show you how to find the pro roofer in your town in less than two hours! Yep, it's possible. You'll see me do it in the four videos that are part of my Roofing Replacement / Repair Checklist!

Ask the Builder LIVE CHAT with Spokesman Review

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Tim Carter

On Friday, December 11, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (3:00 p.m. Pacific Time), you can join in a live chat about roofing issues.

This real-time online event is being hosted by the Spokesman Review, one of the many papers my syndicated newspaper column appears in each week.

Recently, the eastern part of Washington state has been raked by vicious wind and rainstorms causing lots of damage.

The purpose of the chat is to allow you and other homeowners to ask any and all questions about your roof.

If you don't want to participate in the chat, you can just watch the questions and answers scroll below.

If you want to ask a question, then just sign in as a Guest. You don't have to open an account or reveal who you are.

Below the giant Question and Answer chat window, you will see these buttons:

You need to click on the Guest icon (on the right) below the chat window, and you will be logged into the chat, but you don't have to give any information.

I'll see you BELOW on Friday, December 11, 2015!

Chat Software

Bosch HD18-2 Hammer Drill Review

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Tim Carter

How many drills do you think I've owned?

How many do you think I've tested?

More than you can ever imagine to both questions.

Is there a perfect drill?

No.

Different jobs require different drills. You have to consider exactly how you're going to use a tool nowadays because years ago you had just a few choices in drills.

With the explosion of cordless drills, you may feel cordless is the way to go.

Well, just realize that the management teams of power tool companies that are thrusting cordless power tools into the marketplace may be taking a page out of the Gillette and Schick razor play books.

You know how you have to keep buying replacement blades to shave? Well.......

Wink, wink.... 😉

But I digress.

I mention the above only because the Bosch HD18-2 is like a drill from the past.

It's got a 120-volt power cord!

You get unlimited power from this to work all day non-stop.

It's got two speeds.

You can operate it in the hammer mode to drill masonry and stone, or you can put it into the non-hammer mode to bore clean holes through metal, wood, or plastic.

This bad boy weighs 5.8 pounds and pulls 8.5 amps.

With it's 1/2-inch chuck, it takes all the bits you'll ever need for this small handy drill.

It's perfect for a homeowner or a contractor.

As long as your local utility is cranking out power, you're able to work.

BUY this bad boy right here.

CLICK HERE to BUY.

Arlo Camera Review

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Tim Carter

Here's my story about my Arlo HD Security Camera install, and I'm sticking to it. You need to know that I'm an official NETGEAR Ambassador and that they provided the Arlo HD Security Camera kit to me at no cost in exchange for just one thing.

My HONEST and IMPARTIAL opinion.

Believe me, I've TRASHED products that are pieces of junk, so don't even think I'm a hired gun for NETGEAR.

CLICK HERE to see a review of a pocket knife that the COAST PR person was none too happy about!

You need to know that I drank lots of strong coffee before writing the following.

I've got the time stamps on everything to prove the following, so don't even think about being a doubter or truth rejector.

Timeline on December 8, 2015:

2:17 p.m. - Fedex truck arrives and drops off Arlo camera kit. I yell through office window if a signature is required. No. I go back to work.

2:46 p.m. She Who Must Be Obeyed arrives home with groceries. I run down from office above garage, bow to my goddess wife and proceed to unload re-useable bags from her carriage. I walk past the cardboard box on the porch that contains the cameras and all other goodies.

2:58 p.m. - Lackey work is complete, I grab the box and open it.

3:01 p.m. - I take photo of the stunning packaging. Way to go Arlo marketing team! Who would think the box would be such tantalizing eye candy?

You can't believe how cool the packaging is. Wait until you get yours. Photo credit: Tim Carter - Man Who Can't Wait to Have Arlo Protecting Him and his Family

3:04 p.m. - I have the SMALL Arlo Quick Start Guide in my hands and have it read in less than 90 seconds. No way can it be that easy to get these working.

3:07 p.m. - Batteries are installed in the Arlo cameras. Time to go plug the base station into my wireless router.

3:21 p.m. - Base station shows the two green lights indicating we are go for throttle up.

3:26 p.m. - Arrive back in house basement from trip to garage man cave to retrieve cameras. Dolt mistake not taking them with me with the base station. Precious minutes LOST.

3:28 p.m. - Seamless synchronization of both cameras to the base station begins.

3:38 p.m. - Second camera synchronization complete. Camera grabs shot of Arlo looking up at me while my son is holding the camera finishing up the synchronization under the window seat where base station is hidden.

Arlo wants out. Arlo wants to go out and see the outdoors. Hold on boy, we'll be out there in a moment. Note tiny Quick Start Guide in my hand. Photo / Video credit: Arlo the All-Seeing

3:40 p.m. - Log online to view cameras to test if they're recording. VICTORY!

3:45 p.m. - Climb 8-foot stepladder next to garage to mount first Arlo.

Arlo sees all. His cousin must be Sauron. Photo credit: Arlo the All-Seeing

3:47 p.m. - First Arlo installed. It's surreal it's so simple.

3:50 p.m. Second Arlo camera is installed on the back deck. All bad people and creatures who wish to trespass on my land, beware. Arlo never sleeps, unless you let him. More on that below.

More Truth

What's the magic of this Arlo system?

Simple. NO WIRES.

Arlo is wireless. Arlo is about easy. Arlo is about fast, even if you're a Certified Klutz.

I've NEVER had a security camera install go this fast. Never.

The Interface

Once you've set up your account at the Arlo website, you're ready to make any adjustments to the settings.

You can pick plans that suit your appetite for storage. I'm sure with time these will change, so there's no use telling you now the terms, prices, storage allowance, etc. Just go look for yourself when you're ready to buy.

There is a FREE storage and access option. I decided to start with that to see if it works out for me.

You get to control when Arlo is watching and when he sleeps.

You click and drag the green borders to tell Arlo when to be on the lookout. This is easier than eating a piece of pecan pie.

You get to control how sensitive Arlo's feelings are and how long he will record a video.

I realize you can't read this, but TRUST ME the interface is user friendly and intuitive.

You get to control if you want an email sent when Arlo sees something suspicious.

Arlo does everything for you but wash your truck or your queen's carriage.

The image below is the webpage interface. You can see what's going on from ANY computer or your smart phone.

You can see I can have up to FIVE cameras on this page if I want.

Arlo is my new best friend.

Arlo should be YOUR new Best Friend. CLICK HERE to make it happen in minutes.

Since I just put the cameras in, I can't comment about battery life.

If you want to know all about the specifications, just CLICK the link above.

Arlo can see in the dark too! He's got the infrared eyes of Sauron so he'll spot whatever's moving at night.

Is Arlo the best camera for the money? Maybe not, but remember, it's completely wireless.

Be SURE you compare apples with apples when you compare systems. If you want to be able to control the cameras remotely, then you'll not be getting a battery-powered system and good luck to you running all those wires.

December 8, 2015 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Tim Carter

What's that old saying?

Don't let grass grow under your feet.

It means don't waste time or dilly dally.

I think you can say none is growing under my feet, especially after the Sunday eBlast I sent out to you.

Remember the vegan woman who didn't like me telling you about the juicy and delicious turkey Kathy made on Thanksgiving?

CLICK HERE if you're a new subscriber to get up to speed.

Well, I want to thank you for responding to me. I was swamped all day Sunday with your response.

The result is now AsktheBuilder.com has an official

COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT

Yes, you can complain, gritch, grouse, protest, grumble, whine, cavil, bellyache to me about anything!

From now on, I'm going to give you plenty to vent about. Who knows, you may become famous! Wink, wink.....

Oh, ladies - and gentlemen cooks too - I'm going to have the two brine recipes for you on Friday. You may have been one asking me to stop teasing you.

Just you wait to see how juicy the brining makes the turkey! Yummy!

Oh, one important thing. One subscriber reached out on Sunday and said I need to put my Amazon Shopping link FRONT AND CENTER each issue.

You clicking this link to go shopping HELPS support this FREE newsletter. Remember, it doesn't cause the price of any item you purchase at Amazon.com to be more.

Spokane, WA LIVE CHAT

Yesterday I contacted my editor at the Spokesman Review. That's the newspaper in Spokane, WA.

I'm getting RECORD replies to my Defective Shingles survey from people who read that paper.

If your asphalt shingles are #FAILING, you need to complete that survey ASAP.

On Friday, I'm conducting a LIVE CHAT that will be on their website. I don't have any other details just yet.

I'm working with the Spokesman Review IT people in the next 48 hours to work it all out. You'll be able to JOIN IN once I share the URL with you and the time.

You'll be able to ask questions about roofing, hiring roofing contractors, etc.

WATCH for more news as soon as I get it about this live online event.

Disposable Caulks

Kathy, my wife, asked me a question last night about these products.

She saw someone on TV talking about them and wanted to know the truth.

You need to READ the STORY. CLICK HERE.

GO AHEAD - TELL ME OFF. CLICK HERE for the AsktheBuilder.com COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT.

UpThere Update

I shared with you a new website and project that my son-in-law is working on last issue.

I'm taping a video today about one aspect of it.

The video is about the UpThere Camera.

This can help you if you, and a group of friends, co-workers, relatives, etc. are attending an event together.

Let's say you go to the annual Builders Show. It's massive. It's impossible for you to go to every booth.

But if you have friends going to the show, or co-workers, you can split up and go visit different booths.

How cool would it be that EVERY TIME you take a photo with your smart phone of a new product, that photo is automagically uploaded to UpThere (the cloud) and ALL PHOTOS taken by all your friends who are at the show and running UpThere on their phones get uploaded to the same folder?

All the photos are in one location for you, or anyone in the "Loop" to see.

Imagine how you can use this with a home improvement project, or other family event where multiple people are taking photos of the SAME THING / EVENT.

Here's a SECRET LINK you can use to join the FREE BETA so you can play with this exciting new technology.

Settlement CRACKS - Truth or Myth?

I just wrote a column yesterday that touches on this subject.

I URGE you to READ IT. I guarantee you'll discover something you didn't know.

MYSTERY LINK! Click here and discover something about your KITCHEN SINK you had no clue about! I DARE YOU!!

That's enough for today.

Remember, if you shop at Amazon, you can REALLY HELP ME by CLICKING HERE to shop.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Caulk Energy Savings

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Tim Carter

Last night while helping my wife Kathy get dinner ready she said, "I saw one of your peers on a national news morning show today." (This was from my December 8, 2015 Newsletter.)

"Really? What was he showing?"

"He was talking about these caulks where you can actually caulk your window to the frame to stop air leaks. Evidently in the spring, you can then remove the caulk. Is that a good idea?"

I started to do a slow burn inside.

Why?

For most of my career as Ask the Builder - and even back in my building career - I've had to fight against questionable information being broadcast by many.

"Well, if the 'expert' was saying people should do it to save money, you need to step back and do the math. I maintain it's a foolish idea. What's more, was there a close-up camera shot of the caulk he was using? It's entirely possible he got PAID over four figures to go on the show and hawk that product."

What's the Truth?

You can go to Amazon.com and you'll discover several of these disposable caulks. CLICK HERE to see them.

Regular caulk is just a glue. Some are very strong glues. The chemistry of caulk can be easily modified so the glue is weak or strong. In this case, the manufacturers just want the caulk to barely stick so you can "peel" it off in the spring.

One manufacturer even names it that. Look at this image.

CLICK HERE to discover more about this product. But BE CAREFUL before you buy it. Read the rest of this article! Image credit: Amazon.com

The question you need to ask yourself is this:

"Is it a good financial decision to use caulks of this type?"

The Math

I've always stated you need to do the math.

If you're trying to use a caulk to caulk other cracks around window and door frames and other gaps in your home, then the math is a little harder to do. That's because you save some energy each year the caulk stays in place in the crack and continues to block air infiltration.

But in this case, it's somewhat easy. We have to do a little speculation, so hang with me.

When you decide to use a disposable caulk that you REMOVE in the spring, you're only looking at a tiny window of energy savings. Four, maybe five, months of energy.

Here's where you start.

What percentage of your energy loss is through just the gaps you're caulking? Unless you're a rocket scientist, you'll never be able to guess it correctly.

Here are facts we know. We know you have a fixed energy loss through:

your ceiling
your walls
your floors
through the glass in your windows
other cracks you're not caulking
other spots I didn't mention

So let's just make a simple assumption that you're losing maybe two percent of your energy through the gaps where the window sash meets the frame.

Remember, you should NOT caulk all the windows in a room - especially bedrooms - as you might need to use one as an emergency exit in a fire or attack from a radical Islamic terrorist during a home invasion. CLICK HERE if that offends you. But I digress.

Now let's look at your heating bills. What do you spend per heating season to keep warm?

I'd say, on average, you might spend $1,500.00.

You can figure this out somewhat easily by looking at your energy bills.

If you heat with natural gas, look at your bills from May through August for your baseline gas usage when you don't have your furnace on. That gas on those bills is for your hot water, cooktop, dryer, etc. You use all of this in the winter too.

Now look at your October - April bills and SUBTRACT your baseline average gas usage amount from each of those months.

That's roughly what you pay for heating your home if you live north of the equator.

Add up those monthly amounts. Is it $1,500.00, or less?

Now, let's apply the two-percent savings.

Two percent multiplied by $1,500 equals $30.00.

Each of the tubes of caulk above are selling for $5.60 or so now in December of 2015.

Do you think you'll use at least five of these tubes around your home to caulk all the windows?

If so, you don't experience a sizable energy savings.

You LOSE money by wasting your gasoline and time to go get the caulk.

If you PAID someone to do it, then you're really in the hole.

Remember, you NEVER save a PENNY on any energy improvement until such time as you RECAPTURE the money you spent doing the improvement in actual energy savings. If you disagree with that, CLICK HERE.

Backsplash Grout Cracking

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Tim Carter

This grout line crack on top of the granite top is quite normal in a new home. Photo Credit: Dave Waters

DEAR TIM: The granite countertops in my kitchen seem to be moving away from the wall or at least they are moving around a bit. The attached picture shows the results. The house isn't even one-year old yet. Is there a way I can secure the granite to keep it from moving? Or, is something else going on that’s causing the problem? How do I achieve a permanent repair? Dave W., Simpsonville, SC

DEAR DAVE: The photo you sent tells the tale. You do have a problem, but I’m not so sure it’s the granite moving around. I’ve carried granite kitchen countertop slabs from the delivery truck into my jobs before. Multiple people were helping they were so heavy. It would take lots of effort to slide those around on top of your kitchen cabinets.

That said, if the granite does move if you push against it or bump up to it, then you can try to carefully lift up the front edge and get some epoxy to bond it permanently to the cabinet(s) below.

My money is on the lumber that was used to build your new home. You gave a very important clue saying you’ve not yet been in your new home one year. What’s more, you live in the deep south of the USA where it’s very humid. Read my How to Repair Cracked Backsplash Grout column to find out more about the lumber now vs the last 1800's

Just a few days ago, I received an email and photo from a woman in California who had major cracks in her ceiling. She wanted to know if they were settlement cracks. That’s a very over-used word by homeowners to describe cracks like yours, the CA woman’s and many others out there.

Here’s what you need to know about wood. It’s a hygroscopic material. That means it’s shape and size change in response to changes in moisture content. Granite, steel, copper, plastics, etc. are not hygroscopic. When they get wet, they don’t swell like wood does.

In your case, I’d say the framing lumber was wet even though it was probably kiln-dried. It can soak up water from the air and from rain that falls on it during construction. This water eventually leaves the lumber, especially when folks like you run your air conditioning down in your humid climate. The air conditioning is like an invisible vacuum cleaner pulling water out of the lumber by the gallons.

As this happens, the lumber shrinks. The tile above the granite top is indirectly attached to the wall studs. The tile is glued to the drywall that’s attached to the lumber. When the lumber moves, so too the tile.

How bad can this lumber shrinkage be? More than you could ever imagine. Years ago when I built my own three-story Queen Anne Victorian home from lumber, I also installed the counter flashing on the chimneys. This flashing is connected directly to the brick and mortar. Other pieces of step flashing lace between each course of shingles on the roof deck and are covered by the counter flashing. The pieces that are laced between the shingles are not connected to the brick or mortar, but can slide up and down as the roof moves.

About five years after building the home, I was up on the roof checking it and cleaning out the gutters. The gap under the cut angled edge of the counter flashing was 2 inches away from the shingles! When I installed them five years prior, the gap was 1/4 inch.

Believe me, the brick and mortar chimney weighing tons did not go up in the air. It can happen in places where chimneys are built on expansive clay soil, but that’s not what happened at my house. The lumber accounting for all three stories shrank collectively 1 and 3/4 inches!

Here’s what I would do if I were you. I’d carefully cut away the old caulk between the granite and tile. Use a straight-edge razor scraper that painters use to get paint off window panes.

CLICK this image to get this perfect scraper. Image credit: Amazon.com

Wash the granite first. Be sure to use a new blade. You can wet the granite to help reduce friction as you carefully slide the scraper under the caulk at a low angle. Wear a leather glove on the hand that’s not holding the scraper.

CLICK HERE to see an assortment of great scrapers for this job.

Be patient and don’t get aggressive with the scraper. Just do small areas removing all the caulk. You can often soften acrylic caulks with isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Try that if you are having issues.

Once the caulk is removed, I suggest you leave the crack open and monitor its width. Use a small piece of a wood paint stirring stick under one or more places under the tile. Do whatever you have to do to match the thickness of the wood piece to the width of the crack. You want the wood to be snug under the tile but not so snug you can’t pull it out.

Every month check to see what’s happening. Keep a journal with notes. Take photos too. It’s possible the shrinkage is not yet complete. You’ll know if this is the case because it will be easy to pull out the wood and there will be a larger gap.

I’d wait at least nine months to see what’s going on. As long as you’re not seeing any significant growth in the width of the crack, I’d say you’ll have success caulking.

The best time to caulk in my opinion would be the end of February as you’re dealing with less humid air outdoors and your lumber should be as dry as it’s going to be for the year.

Column 1121

December 6, 2015 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Tim Carter

Lots of funny stuff happens when you have a newsletter like this.

I wish I could share with you all the email replies I get from some of the subscribers like you.

Just a few days ago, I was still in the afterglow of Kathy's scrumptious Thanksgiving cooking. It's my FAVORITE meal of the year.

I shared how juicy the dry-brined turkey was.

Well, in this insane world of out-of-control political correctness - to which I do not subscribe (I do believe in being polite), I offended at least one vegan.

A woman told me in no uncertain terms the following:

"I am a vegan and don't particularly want to hear about your family's habit of eating muscle and bone and blood and nervous and connective tissue."

I won't bother you with the short back and forth emails we exchanged.

Maybe I need to start collecting all of the crazy responses I get and put them in a book.

I'll bet you'd be one who would LOL like I was when I first read her reply. Boy when she read that I was laughing out loud in my office, she was none too happy.

Should I start this crazy book?

Do I offend you from time to time?

If so, let me know! I need more pages in the book.

😉

My eBay Auction Items

! ! - LAST CALL - ! !

Tonight at 8 pm PT, THREE auctions end for some great stuff of mine. Here it is.

GO BID NOW or you'll MISS OUT!!!!!

RARE Boston Marathon EMT / Paramedic Hat

Gold Plated 2004 Craftsman Socket Set

75th Anniversary RIDGID 10 and 14-Inch Pipe Wrenches - VERY RARE!!

I'll have more great loot for sale this coming week.

MYSTERY LINK! So you think you know everything about those flipper switchy things in the gray box? THINK AGAIN!!

Tool Reviews

Go look at these two FRESH Tool Reviews.

Both are excellent gift ideas.

Pay ATTENTION to the LED Light - NOTE the dual POWER supply option. VERY VERY COOL.

Kobalt Socket Sets

Milwaukee LED HP Flood Light

There are MULTIPLE great photos in the LED review.

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That's enough for a Sunday.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Milwaukee LED HP Flood Light Review

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Tim Carter

Are you old enough to remember the corded automotive trouble lights?

You know, they had an aluminum housing, you put an incandescent bulb in it behind the protective wire cage and then you hooked it onto something so you could have light while you work?

In the past few years, LED lights of all types, shapes and models have replaced that ancient technology.

Milwaukee has done it again.

Here's their latest LED HP Flood Light - model 2360-20.

The light head rotates to numerous detents so you can provide direct or INDIRECT light!

Just yesterday, I was able to test out the new LED HP Flood Light that takes either one of their M18 lithium-ion batteries, OR, a traditional 120-volt extension cord!