Issue #1183

Summer is almost here and it's time to ease up on the newsletter throttle. I've got lots going on in my life right now, and perhaps you do too.

This time of year I try to spend as much time outdoors as possible because the summer WX in New Hampshire is incredible.

Dew points in the mid 50s F are common. We have maybe just a handful of days the mercury tops 90 F.

Lake Winnisquam water is crystal clear and warm. Kayaking is surreal in the morning. On many days, I'm the only person gliding across the water. It's just me, the loons, a few duck families, and the resident bald eagle may buzz over me looking for a tasty bass breakfast.

We've had an unusually cool spring but in just a few days, I'll be out in my orange kayak early each morning enjoying the solitude.

Here's what Lake Winnisquam looks like in the morning.

My Past Week

I did several fun phone consult calls. One was with Ed who lives in Cincinnati, OH. Oh how I wish he could have sent me a Skyline Chili 5-way through the phone line!!

He had a pesky leak in his garden window and once he sent me a specific photo, I solved the problem in seconds saving him huge money. Here's Ed's window:

I also accomplished a personal goal with the help of my amateur radio mentor, Jim Cluett.

A few days ago, a once-a-year event was held. It's called Military Cross-Band Exercise. On this one day, amateur radio operators can talk with a member of the military over the radio waves.

It's important for you to realize the electromagnetic spectrum used for radio communications is like a massive layer cake. Only a very few ultra-thin layers of the cake are given to amateurs like me.

The rest of them are in use by government agencies at all levels, common things around your home including your cell phone, that cordless phone in your house, your garage door opener, free commercial bands like I used as a train conductor, commercial businesses that pay the government to use some frequencies and the remainder are for military and secret use. You may find this simplistic description about the radio spectrum useful.

When I made contact with the serviceman, keep in mind I'm not allowed to transmit on his military frequency because it's not for use by civilians. I can listen on the military frequency and then respond on a frequency that amateurs are allowed to use. He has his radio set to listen on the amateur frequency.

Radio operators call this split operation.

Here's a graphic table of the radio frequencies amateurs like me are permitted to use.

I made contact with NSS in Annapolis, Maryland on the 40-meter band. It was pretty darn cool even though the conversation lasted about 20 seconds.

Another wish I had from decades ago came true. I had always hoped that I could help build or work on the homes that my kids bought. Version 1.0 of that came to pass on frigid December days in 2018 and through the spring of 2019 when I helped build my daughter's home.

Just yesterday version 2.0 of that dream came true! I started to help paint half of the inside of my son's new house. It was a market home and the builder already had painted every room battleship gray before my son's offer was accepted. The only things missing in each room were giant 6-foot-tall white numbers you see on the bow of all US Navy ships.

Who in their right mind thinks gray is a great color to use on every room in a house? Holy tomato. I'll share two video walk throughs next week. One will be what I call the Gray Tour. The second will be once the rooms are finished. SPOILER ALERT: Be prepared for some bold colors. I warned him!

It's my intention to record a few helpful interior painting videos as the project unfolds.

CRAFTSMAN Celebration

CRAFTSMAN tools is celebrating its 95th anniversary with a bunch of giveaways. This is made for you. I'm not allowed to participate because I'm a member of the media.

Go here and enter and I wish you the BEST of luck. Lots of great stuff is being given away.

To celebrate the past, present and future of this iconic American tool brand, CRAFTSMAN will host four social media giveaways beginning this week leading up to the brand’s 95th anniversary on May 20.

Giveaways and requirements for entry include:

• Day 1 - Vintage CRAFTSMAN T-Shirts: Share a photo of your oldest CRAFTSMAN tool and use #95YearsofBuildingPrideDay1 for the chance to win a vintage CRAFTSMAN t-shirt.
• Day 2 - Autographed CRAFTSMAN V-Series™ Tool Sets: Post a photo of your favorite project or job completed with CRAFTSMAN tools and use #95YearsofBuildingPrideDay2 to win a V-Series™ 3/8-In. Drive Metric 6-Point Tool Set signed by TV Host and auto enthusiast Cristy Lee.
• Day 3 - Commemorative 95th Anniversary CRAFTSMAN Sweatshirts: Show us your CRAFTSMAN red and use #95YearsofBuildingPrideDay3 for a chance to win a commemorative 95th anniversary CRAFTSMAN sweatshirt.
• Day 4 – V20* BRUSHLESS RP™ 1/2-In. Hammer Drill and CRAFTSMAN Hats: Show us the latest addition to your CRAFTSMAN toolbox and include the #95YearsofBuildingPrideDay4 to be entered for a chance to win a V20* BRUSHLESS RP™ 1/2-In. Hammer Drill and CRAFTSMAN hat

Rocket Man

Does your wife think you're ready for intensive therapy? How about your friends? Do you have the Peter Pan syndrome as I do? Do you do things like this?

Condo & HOA Consults

I've been doing an increasing number of consults for both Condominium Associations and other HOAs. Currently, I'm helping a small association on the NH seacoast wrestle with repairing an exterior deck water and rot issue. It was a very poor design. The architect that came up with the idea should have her/his license revoked in my opinion.

Another HOA Board is voting in the next few days on hiring me to help them make the right decision about a huge roofing contract.

The biggest reason they give for hiring me is "Tim, you don't have a dog in the fight."

They'll all attracted to my new transcribed and recorded phone call. This way they can concentrate on what I'm saying on the call and they don't have to take notes risking they didn't write down exactly what I said.

Within hours, I often deliver the MP3 recording AND the actual full transcription of the call. Both can be distributed to all association members. You can see how this can help the associations make better financial decisions.

You should absolutely consider doing this if your association is in the planning phase of a project. It's BEST for me to catch flaws in a project BEFORE it gets installed.

If you live in a condo or other HOA and want more details, reach out to me.

From Tim's Digital Sack

It was a light week for mail.

Bob confirmed what I've been saying for the past five months about inflation:

I purchased a gallon of Sherwin Williams Emerald paint. You say it's the best for outside work. I thought two quarts would do, but that size is not available.

After a 25% discount plus the sales tax, (I had not purchased a gallon of any brand for about fifteen years) the price was $80.

Ouch! I've got very bad news for you. Soon it's going to be over $125.00 a gallon. I've been talking about inflation for the past five months on my LIVE video streams. The inflation situation is not transitory. When you dump trillions of dollars into the monetary system, inflation is guaranteed to happen just as the sun will rise tomorrow.

If you want to know the truth about inflation and what causes it, I urge you to read this. You'll discover that inflation is by no means a modern-day phenomenon.

You also need to know that inflation is not going away soon. Spending money like a drunken sailor on the Federal level has consequences. Your money is a commodity just like wheat, soy beans, or chickens in cages. When there's an oversupply, the VALUE of the commodity drops.

I hope you have enough acorns squirreled away.

Trust me, the inflation storm clouds are just beginning to build on the horizon. An epic financial weather event is about to turn your world upside down.

That's enough for a Sunday.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
HILTON HOTELS Uses - www.StainSolver.com
Military Cross-Bander - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Do you live in the Southwest USA? Have you been paying attention to the water level in Lake Mead and Lake Powell?

Have you started to wonder about your source of electricity? Are you aware the entire generating capacity of the US electric grid is stretched tighter than a banjo string? It might be a good idea to wake up and figure out what you're going to do. Remember, it's all about self-sufficiency at the end of the day.

As a new subscriber you should be aware that you're entitled to lots of Ask the Builder perks. For one, you get top billing right here each week! You also get to hit the buffet line first. I highly recommend the buckeyes over on the dessert table. Just behind them are the dark chocolate pecandes. If you want to get your soulmate to smile, put one of those pecandes under their pillow.

But you, how long have you been a subscriber? Do you got back twenty, or more, years? If so, do you remember the column I wrote about DIY termite and wood-rot treatments? You can save THOUSANDS of dollars. With inflation raging at over 20%, you surely need help saving sweet moola.

My Past Week

I'm an extrovert. It drives my lovely wife Kathy crazy sometimes. No, most of the times. One of my favorite things to do is to chat up strangers on elevators. Such fun!

I also like colorful clothes that make a statement. My youngest daughter knows this and bought me a fancy fun socks subscription for my birthday last year. Every three weeks or so for about four months a new colorful pair of socks would arrive.

She continued the trend this past Christmas purchasing socks honoring several National Parks. Here are the Grand Canyon National Park socks:

She bought these and two other pairs when she visited the Grand Canyon last November. On that sunny cool day beginning at the Bright Angel Trailhead, she hiked 9.6 miles round trip to and from Indian Gardens.

I warned her it was going to be a grueling adventure because of the steep upward climb. She said to me the next day, "I burst into tears of joy when I got to the top of the rim just before sunset. I was so tired. I had to stop so many times in the last mile I didn't think I'd make it up by the time it got dark."

Just after my 20th birthday, I hiked down to the bottom of the canyon on the Kaibab Trail and back out the next day up the Bright Angel Trail. I was sporting a full backpack. It was August and quite hot.

I was in prime physical condition. After her adventure in cooler weather, my daughter said, "Dad, I can't comprehend how you did the hike up from the bottom in that hot weather. How did you do it?"

I replied, "Easy, sweetheart. You engage your critical-thinking skills and put your mind to the task. Step one is to deal with fear. Fear is so very powerful and causes mind paralysis. It prevents you from engaging critical-thinking skills.

I clearly remember kicking the fear of not making it up to the rim that simmering day over the edge of the trail as there was no curb. This happened early in the hike. I was still in the shade in the inner gorge and I was approaching the Tapeats Sandstone.

I distinctly heard that fear splash into the Colorado River as I put one foot in front of the other on the dusty trail."

Back to the socks - I wore the festive socks to church last Sunday. Because I'm the head usher and greeter, I get compliments each week on my socks. My Glacier National Park ones are a nice blend of blues, greens, and gray.

Do you want your own Grand Canyon and National Park socks? I thought so.

Don't you feel the socks go well with my brown loafers? I've always had a soft spot for brown shoes. Back in high school, I had these very distinctive brown shoes that were good looking and comfortable.

I tried finding these shoes to show you a photo but had no luck. They had the same basic stitched upper design as the penny loafer in the above photo but they weren't loafers. They had shoe strings and a slightly pebbled finish to the leather.

At least one of my high school girlfriends liked them so much she'd comment about them when I picked her up for a date. To the best of my knowledge of all the boys she dated and there were many, I had the best shoes. But that wasn't enough to snag her. Such is life!

The shoes were so comfortable I wore them working at Skyline Chili where I was on my feet all the time.

That's me circa 1971-72 working at the Clifton Skyline Chili. If I had a nickel for every coney island I made at that steam table, I'd be buying Twitter for $25 a share instead of Elon.

Did you see his brilliant 3D chess move this past Friday? No wonder Elon's the world's richest man.

What do you think of my wide tie? Today, I'd be sporting one of my chic-magnet bow ties. Mix a bow tie with C.O. Bigelow bay rum cologne and you can cast a spell on just about any one of the fairer sex who sports two X chromosomes. Add in a train conductor's hat and you've got some very powerful jujumagumbo. A red dragon tattoo might not be a bad idea now that I think of it!

Super Thanks Now On!

Halfway through last week, I received news that YouTube had activated a feature on all my videos. I've known about this feature that was in beta testing for six months. It's called Super Thanks.

The feature allows you to THANK a video creator for the help you received in the video. It's a great idea when you think about it.

You tip waitresses for great service. You possibly tip your barber or hair stylist. You tip valet drivers.

You can now tip me, if you feel I've saved you money or time after watching one of my 700+ videos on YouTube.

Look at this partial screenshot of the beginning of one of my videos. You'll see that THANKS text link under all of my videos:

The red arrow is pointing to a new text link called THANKS with a $heart. When you click it at the bottom of any video, you'll then see this box:

Your support of my work allows me to re-invest in my channel. My intention is to use any and all revenue to upgrade my video equipment and editing platform so I can make MORE videos for you.

Consider supporting one of my videos now as an experiment. Do it on this video and see what happens. I'm under the impression your comment STANDS OUT because you're helping support my channel.

Please let me know if you do this so I can see what it looks like from my end. Thanks!

PRO TIP: To find one of my videos on YouTube, all you do is enter the search phrase followed by my name. For example:

• 3 way switch tim carter
• deck post railing tim carter
• blacktop crack repair tim carter

I think you get the idea.

Corded vs Cordless Power Tools

Last week, I teased you about a column I was writing for the 60+ papers that still run my weekly Ask the Builder column.

If you've been a subscriber for quite a while, you know I'm cut from a different cloth. I have this tendency to tell the truth. I'm not a hobby blogger spouting off drivel that gives manufacturers warm and fuzzy feelings. Well, I do spout off sometimes for companies like Wall Control that make amazing products.

This new column is going to create some angst with power tool manufacturers. Let me know if you feel like Bill does.

The two saws in the photo pretty much deliver the same results. The one on the right is a cordless saw.

Kevin's A/C Bid

This past week, Kevin saved himself possibly $1,000 and GUARANTEED his new air conditioning system was going to keep him comfortable on the hottest day this summer.

How did he do this?

Simple. Kevin asked me to look over the quote he got from a company he liked. He wanted me to point out any things I thought should be in the contract or included in the quote.

I created a list of no less than five bullet points I felt were mission-critical. I suggested he have the company re-write the bid and include them.

What happens if you don't do this?

Well, you might be one of the fifty people each week screeching at me to throw them a digital life preserver as they flail about in the storm-tossed waves in the I-Trusted-the-Contractor Sea.

Just like so many things today that you shouldn't be trusting, the homeowners who reach out to me placed far too much trust in the contractor.

Financial LOSS is guaranteed.

Don't drown or lose money. Go here and let me help you review your bids NO MATTER what size the job is.

From Tim's Digital Sack

You might have been outdoors enjoying the spring weather and didn't have time to write me. Even so, I did get several interesting emails. Here are a few.

Rob asked this:

Can I mix a scissors truss and a regular truss in the same roof? By that I mean that only 1/2 the roof is vaulted, while the other part of the roof in a different room has a normal flat ceiling?

Yes! All that has to happen is the heel heights and pitch be the same of the two different trusses.

- - -

Stan wanted an update on my HOA atomic bomb debacle:

Tim, I have followed you for years and enjoy your straightforward information. I guess I may have missed an article. You were getting ready to drop an atom bomb on your HOA in May and I have not heard the results of that bombing. Did it happen? Keep up the good work.

Well, it almost worked. I opened the bomb bay doors, did a low-pass flyover, and got 18 other residents here in my HOA to vote against the wretched short-term-rental bylaw amendment.

The issue is, I needed 20 neighbors to do what I did in order to block the 2/3rds vote accepting the change. The bylaw passed with a vote of 41 for and 19 against.

Those that voted to infringe on my private property rights are now my enemies. How dare they tell me that I can't rent to senior citizens who just want to play bridge all day out on my deck.

I have no issues with tough bylaws that concern activity on common land. What's next? Will the idiots who voted for this bylaw start to say I can't clean my guns in my home? Will they say I can't own a German Shepherd dog? Will they stop me from putting up a flagpole to fly the American Flag?

Given the chance, I'd chase the 41 neighbors who voted for the bylaw amendment to the Gates of Hell.

The mills of the gods grind slowly but thoroughly.

That's enough for a Sunday.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
HILTON HOTELS Uses - www.StainSolver.com
POTA Activator - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. What do you know about deck railing post safety? Do your deck railing posts have this SERIOUS DEFECT?

P.P.S. Need help? Call me at 867-5309...

Chucky sent us. He knows all about lifetime guarantees...

Issue #1181

The first thing you need to know as a brand-new subscriber is this. It's never a bad idea to bring a pint or two of mocha-chip ice cream with you each Sunday morning when you and I get together.

It's also permissible to eat birthday cake in bed for breakfast. In fact, it's encouraged!

But you, you might have subscribed back in the days of yore when Trollocs roamed the land. By chance do you remember this column that will help save you money when painting interior surfaces?

My Past Week

First and foremost, are you a mom? It's your day today! Happy Mother's Day. Here's my mom at the tender age of 22 with her soulmate, my dad. How bright red do you think that lipstick was? WOWZA!

I'd be taking her out to brunch or dinner if she wasn't busy up in Heaven eating fried chicken and corn on the cob and then playing poker with her sister-in-laws, my dad, and the rest of the gang.

Once again, last week went by as fast as I did down the straightaway at Kentucky Speedway driving a 600 hp NASCAR car over 130 mph years ago.

What a rush that was!

I'm not a big fan of shredding sensitive business records. I'd rather be sure no one can ever see what was on the paper. I'm in the process of decluttering and had boxes of paper records and receipts that had to go.

I burned them in a failed outdoor kiln experiment my daughter and I built two years ago. This is a photo of the fire in the early stages of the process. No paper has been put in just yet. That happened a few minutes later in the upper chamber that has air slots to the fire below.

Using a hand-held leaf blower aimed at the openings in the kiln, I was able to burn thousands of pieces of paper in hours. I showered my yard, my deck, and myself with tiny ashes as the high-velocity air from the blower caused them to eject from the chimney like billowing ash from an erupting volcano.

Fortunately, the rain the following day dissolved the ash particles transporting the nutrients into the ground.

I also played my first golf league game on Thursday. As usual, I had some spectacular shots and putts. My issue is I don't have enough of them throughout the nines holes.

Pros string amazing shots together one after another. Hackers like me have a great drive followed by a second shot that goes 30 feet. Hackers like me that are 30 yards from the hole hit the ball perfectly so drops onto the green and proceeds to roll 2 inches past the hole but stops 50 feet away on the other side of the green.

But did I have fun? Yes!!! Will my game get better? Let's hope so if I just focus each shot.

As my teaching pro Joel Suggs taught me years ago, "Tim, it's mostly about distance, not aim. By default, the ball is almost always going towards the hole. Your goal is to have the ball stop within 2 feet of the hole if it doesn't go in."

I actually think the inventor of golf was a genius. She or he was a master at reciprocity. The few great shots a hacker like me makes each game are as sweet as a siren's soothing song.

Those tender notes lure you back to the vibrant green-carpeted course. You board your miniature ship at the golf course only to wreck once more upon the rocks. No wonder Groundhog Day is such a significant movie! Go here to watch the short Groundhog Day trailers and the remarkable ending.

My new logo golf balls arrived three hours before I had to leave. I left two of them as gifts to other golfers or scuba divers who might be on the course.

They look magnificent. The next batch may have a different message on them. See below in my digital sack.

Corded vs Cordless Power Tools

Speaking of siren songs, have you been lured into the sea of cordless tools? I've decided to do the usual wait-just-a-dag-burned-minute deep dive into this phenomenon.

I'll have that column and my thoughts next week. If you've been following me for years, I think you know where this is going to end up.

My new column will save you huge money if you're about to purchase new power tools.

Stamped Concrete Restoration
or
Cleaning Colored Concrete Pavers

Look at this photo:

You may like that look with the different colors. The homeowner was aghast after she had ruined her stamped concrete.

How did she ruin it? You'll discover the answer and so much more by reading this new column about what NOT TO DO with stamped concrete or traditional colored concrete paving brick and patio pavers.

From Tim's Digital Sack

I didn't get taken to the woodshed by any of the PhD economists that subscribe to the newsletter about my take on the upcoming harsh recession. That's a good thing!

Jack shared this:

I am not a golfer, but would be interested in an autographed golf ball. My father-in-law had a large metal trash can with balls he would find! I believe you are on to something!

Well, Jack, as Kenny Chesney says in his hit song, "Only time will tell, but it ain't talkin."

- - -

Michael is contemplating making the Root Beer Chocolate cake I made for Kathy's birthday:

I am not sure if you are familiar with the brand, but might I suggest Foxon Park Root Beer, made in East Haven, CT. They use real cane sugar. Their White Birch is one of their most famous flavors, and they ship nationwide.

I will absolutely consider that root beer. I went shopping for materials two days ago and found two craft root beers with cane sugar. I'll test both and circle back with you.

- - -

Barbara had a great idea if the golf ball sales soar:

How about a golf ball that says: "Do it Right, Not Over!" ... the saying applies to golf as well as construction!

How could I overlook that???? Jeeesh!! Great idea, Barbara! Perhaps:

Do (Hit) it Right, Not Over!

This suggestion from Barbara makes total sense because the person finding my ball is obviously didn't hit their ball correctly! She/he is in the woods looking for their ball and then stumble across my lost ball.

BTW, I had two do-overs this past Thursday. Two tee shots disappeared off the tee. Both were out of bounds. When that happens, it means a STROKE + DISTANCE!

If you're a non-golfer, that means you tee up a new ball again and wherever your second ball lands in play, you're lying THREE. YEOUCH!

That's enough for a Sunday.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
HILTON HOTELS Uses - www.StainSolver.com
POTA Activator - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Do you like to fly kites? I'll bet you never did what my best friend Richard did with his youngest son one day. Let me know if you have an amazing kite story.

Issue #1180

Hold it right there. Is this your first issue? It's great that you're here. Thanks for your trust. Did you by chance happen to bring any dark-chocolate pecandes?

This is a pretty long issue, but I feel you'll really like it.

But you, you might have subscribed about seventy-eight new moons ago. If so, you might remember this series of three videos. Earlier this past week, I asked Peter to watch them.

He reached out to me about an interesting radiant-heating floor project at his retirement community home.

Are you remodeling a bathroom soon? You may want to do what Peter's doing. I urge you to go here and watch the THREE SHORT videos down on the page.

My Past Week

Last week went by faster than the two juvenile squirrels who chase one another up and down the trees just outside my man-cave window.

Several new friends of mine on my LIVE video streams have been pounding on me. "Tim, when will you have some Ask the Builder merch? TAKE MY MONEY - I want ATB merch!!!"

One of these friends suggested I join a golf league this year so I can try to improve my game. I'm one of those golfers that requires a special scorecard that has bigger boxes on it to record my score for each hole. He sent me an email one morning:

"Why don't you get some cool Ask the Builder logo balls inscribed with your one favorite saying that you spew at least three times during each LIVE stream? That saying would make any future golfer chuckle when he finds your ball in the woods!"

Hmmmmm... That's a good idea! I love introducing happiness into your life and that of others. I never get angry when I hit a ball into the woods.

Why? If you've ever found a golf ball in good condition while searching for yours, it's like Christmas morning!

I've often said after watching my ball soar and slice into a forest, "Well, I just paid it forward and made someone really happy."

I ordered some custom golf balls a few days ago. Look at the design just below.

You don't even have to be a golfer to enjoy these:

Do you have ANY interest in owning one of these golf balls if I autographed it for you? Or maybe you want one sans autograph.

Please RESPOND to me if you might like an impish autographed golf ball so I can gauge how many I might need to order in the future. You can also order a sleeve of three.

 

I promised my new friends that t-shirts and hats are in the works. I need help from my good friend Amy who lives in Canada with this effort.

Just a few days ago, when I came down early in the morning from my man cave to answer Mother Nature's call, she had a surprise visitor sleeping on my front porch!

Kathy made it crystal clear to forget about shooshing this yearling away. "Call the Fish & Game people RIGHT NOW. Don't you dare open the front door. I don't want you to startle it and have it charge indoors responding to its fight response."

I made the call and they were here within 90 minutes. In fact, the Moose Project Leader for the entire state of New Hampshire was part of the three-person team that showed up.

The poor creature was on death's door suffering from an infestation of blood-sucking winter ticks. Once the team arrived, I brought them inside through the garage as the sidewalk leading to the front door is a box canyon. The last thing you want to do is pin a 300 to 400-pound moose in a confined space.

Just as Henry Jones, the NH wildlife biologist, reached for the front door handle to slowly go out and check on her/him, the moose got up and sauntered down the sidewalk.

It left behind lots of blood-engorged ticks on the porch that Henry subsequently collected for study.

"In a week, this moose will either be dead or it will make it. The ticks are indirectly consuming the fat and muscle the moose had stored last summer and fall. In the next few days, it desperately needs lots of new green leaves full of nitrogen." Henry proclaimed.

Once on the driveway apron, the yearling started to munch on some tender small green lilac-bush leaves. Let's hope this young moose makes it.

Never a dull moment at the Carter house. Maybe next week, I'll share the story about the bobcat that pounced on a tasty gray squirrel lunch on our rear patio about ten days ago. The circle of life...

Staining Your Deck, Fence, or Cabin?

If you're getting ready to clean and seal any outdoor wood, you may want to know what product I'm using that has done really well the past two years and counting. It's possible I'm going to get FOUR YEARS of service out of the penetrating wood sealer I've been testing.

Replacement Window Cost SIT DOWN!

Are you thinking about getting new replacement windows? I BEG YOU to read this BRAND NEW column.

What would you say if I told you I might be able to save you $10,000 or even $25,000?

Would that put your head on a swivel? Go here, read, and tell me what you think.

Inflation & the R Word

I try to stay tuned to economic news because it directly affects you and me. I do my best to try to share what I know in an effort to save you money.

If you're like most, you might want to improve your home. Perhaps you want to build a room addition, remodel your kitchen, or just put a new roof on your home. You need sweet moola to do that.

Each day the money you store under your rug, in a mattress, or in a savings account is eroding in value like the Vishnu Schist succumbs to the flowing waters of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Lately, the erosion rate of the value of your money is out of control

People that know me, especially Kathy and other close dear friends, know I'm the eternal optimist. I'm a the-glass-is-overflowing-and-flooding-the-kitchen-floor person, not a half-empty-glass guy.

That said, I'm deeply concerned about the future. Just a few days ago, I got my propane tank topped off for the rest of the year. I negotiated a great price last June of $1.99 per gallon for a total of 2,500 gallons.

I wanted to fulfill my contract and get the final 159 contract gallons put in the tank. However, it took 190 gallons to top it off.

The current market price for the overage propane I purchased was $4.34 a gallon. GULP!

It seems the price of everything is going up faster than a jack-in-the-box pops out of his dark creepy lair.

The single-digit inflation rate being reported in the news is a half-truth. Remember what I said last week about STOP TRUSTING what you hear from people/leaders/authority figures? That number is baked more than Kathy's root-beer chocolate cake last week.

The actual inflation rate is much worse for goodness sake. I peg the actual year-to-year number this past March to be kissing 17%. Heck, it could be as high as 20%. You know this to be true as you look at the double-digit price increases you're seeing in the things you buy.

Just a few days ago, I went to get materials at the grocery store. The price of North Country smoked turkey breast is only up 40% in the past nine months. Nothing to be concerned about, right? WRONG!

Do you follow stock-market news at all? Did you see the news about Amazon? Their shares dropped 9% a few days ago when they reported much lower earnings due to high fuel costs and increased costs to operate their distribution centers.

Did you see the news about the drubbing the one stock-market index suffered in the past few days? If you're not skimming stories like this each week, I recommend you consider doing it.

With energy and food prices taking more of our disposable income, we have less to spend on other things. As the sales of all those millions of products drop, the economy contracts or recedes. That's the R word - Recession.

I'm convinced we're going to experience a severe recession beginning in the next few months. This means you shouldn't overextend yourself. It means you need to be prepared to hunker down for months and months.

Another news story confirmed what I suspected. It contained the sobering news no one wants to hear. If you're to believe the report, the US economy contracted an annualized 1.4% rate in the first quarter of 2022.

Now is the time to stockpile dry foods and have three or four months of actual cash on hand. If you do all your finances electronically, there could be disruption in that system. If that happens, how will you buy anything?

The forces that are about to shake your personal economic snow globe are strong. Don't underestimate the severity nor the length of this looming financial event. You MIGHT be doing home repairs yourself because you can't afford to hire it out. If that happens, never forget I can help you save thousands of dollars.

I just bailed out Angel a few days ago as she got deeper into her attic-dormer project. Several days ago, I helped Mark save thousands of dollars coaching him over the phone with his DIY septic tank installation project.

Mark opted for my transcribed coaching call. Within an hour of the call, I sent him a recording of the actual call plus a transcription he can print out to read.

GO HERE if you want to see a FREE SAMPLE of a typical transcript. This sample is just the first few minutes of a call.

A transcribed call is the only way to go. Mark was so happy with the result, he scheduled a second transcribed call about building an underground shelter I mentioned in last week's newsletter.

Using my transcribed-call service, you don't have to take notes wondering if you forgot something I said during the call.

What About Gutter Guard Cost?

I've been seeing more smarmy TV commercials preying upon folks like you. I'm talking about a national company that sells gutter guards.

Did you know I did a survey on what they cost in different cities across the fruited plain?

Go here and be sure you don't get taken to the cleaners.

Do You Pay For Offsite Storage?

Do you rent one of those offsite storage rooms or spaces? What are you paying each month? $125, $150, $195?

How would you like to STOP paying those bills?

How would you like a material list to build your own shed? If you price out the materials today, you may be STUNNED to discover you can pay for the shed in less than two years based on what you're paying the storage-locker owner.

Go here and see if I can save you a shedful of cash.

Men and Their Tools

(Ladies too!)

Less than two years, after transforming from a full-time builder to a work-16-hours-a-day-to-stay-alive writer, my editor, Ms. Ann Haas, at the Cincinnati Enquirer called me up. Ann had a delightful light southern drawl and I loved hearing her voice.

"Tim, I've got a special assignment for you. Write a story about the love affair men have with their tools. It's going to be on the FRONT PAGE of the Tempo section. I need it in two weeks. Good luck." CLICK (phone hanging-up noise)

Ann was the Cincinnati chapter president of the Less-Said-is-Better Society. Her phone number was 513-222-2879 (BUSY) I believe. I may have that wrong as it could have been a past school teacher's number. But I digress.

Gulp! Front Page of the Tempo section! Yikes! This means I need to interview people! Who do I ask? What should I ask? The pressure was on.

I recently transferred this first-ever special-assignment story to my website. As I re-typed each word once more, I was stunned to see how my writing style has changed over the years. Oh my, I used to suck at writing - hells bells, maybe I still do and have gotten worse!

There's no doubt you're going to love the surprise ending to the story. I was unprepared for what the college professor told me as I feverishly copied his quotes word-for-word in my fancy official reporter's note book that day sitting in his office.

I feel the story I wrote is a great example of what journalism should be: gather all the facts, present all of them, and let the readers decide what they want to take out of the missive.

Let me know what you think of the story. Here's one of my reporter's note books. I still have a few from all those years ago with their special double-spaced lines on the pages. You may like one.

From Tim's Digital Sack

I thought I'd get more input from last Sunday's newsletter - especially the part about the first-ever cake I made. It's a good thing I didn't bet a box of dark-chocolate Aglamesis pecandes on my hunch!

At least I avoided being inundated with brickbat.

Kate found favor with my cake story and shared:

"Love the cake story! Most of my cakes turn out like that. A little short on the looks, but great on the taste."

I'm glad you liked my baking story, Kate. I'll bet your cakes look swell. Tell any brickbatters they can go buy a pack of Twinkies and stuff those wretched tubes of preservatives in their pie holes.

Beth, a very good friend of mine from California, offered me her protection the next time I reach for the Crisco shortening:

"Tim----Happy belated BD to Kathy! Next time you have a baking adventure, please feel free to call me. I've been baking and cooking all my life. People have said my food is good---but I don't like my own food."

Beth, are you sure you want me to call you at 4:30 AM? :-O If you don't like your own food, you may like a few cheese coneys I'd make for you! Or, we can meet in Cincinnati and go to Mr. Gene's Doghouse for the spicy cheese coneys. Yum!!!

OFFICIAL Root-Beer Chocolate Cake TASTE REPORT:

Kathy and I ate small pieces of the cake last Saturday night, hours before I had put the newsletter to bed and queued it up for sending. That's why last week I couldn't tell you how it tasted.

"The cake tastes great! It's moist and I really appreciate you making it." Kathy said.

SCORE! I did it - I made a cake from scratch - and didn't poison her!

The cake was moist, it was a little dense, and the star anise overpowered any root-beer flavor. The ganache icing was excellent. The cake looked horrible though. Go here to see a few photos and to get the recipe I used.

We're going to make the cake again for my birthday. I'm going to cut back on the sugar by 1/3rd and the star anise by 1/2. We're also going to try to locate a great craft root beer that contains no high-fructose corn syrup.

Try making the cake yourself and see what you think.

That's enough for a Sunday.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
HILTON HOTELS Uses - www.StainSolver.com
POTA Activator - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Do you think your deck might collapse? I mean detach from the wall at the house? I know someone who broke her neck and ruptured her spleen because this happened. Are you building a NEW deck? Do you know the RIGHT WAY to flash the ledger board to prevent it from rotting and to prevent leaks in your home? I'm sure you don't - no offense intended. Go here and become enlightened about all things deck ledger.