Blowing Air Through a Shower Valve Video

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Tim Carter

Hi, I'm Tim Carter and I want to show you how to get water out a tub or shower faucet that has a modern cartridge. This is needed when you are winterizing a home. That way you won't come back in the Spring and find your cartridge blown-up by water that expanded inside the valve.

Here is a little gizmo I made out of some clear plastic tubing and some parts from a hardware store. One end is a simple Schrader Valve, like on a car or bicycle tire. This allows you to get air into the plastic tubing.

The other end has a half-inch female coupling, that will attach to the little goose-neck where your shower head comes out of the wall.

To use this device, the first thing you need to do is turn off the water in your house. Hopefully, down next to the water shutoff valve, the plumber installed a boiler drain on the house side of the valve. If not, you will have to find the lowest water faucet in your house. Once the water is off, open up both the hot and cold water valves on that fixture or open the boiler drain.

Now go around the entire house and open every cold and hot water valves. You have to flush every toilet and go outside and open every hose bib. Once all the fixtures are open, water will flow by gravity down to the lowest faucet or the boiler drain. If you do have a boiler drain, be sure the discharge water is directed to a floor drain. You might need to attach a hose to it.

Once the water is out of the system, there is still going to be some small amounts of water left in the faucet cartridges in the tubs and showers. Go to those rooms and take off the shower head. Make sure if it is a tub / shower combination that the diverter is in the up position. This will cause the air to go through the shower head.

Take off the shower head and attach the half-inch coupling to the goose-neck. Hand tighten it. Attach your bike pump or air source to the other end of the tubing. Turn the shower valve to the hot position and pump the pump a couple of times. Repeat this step with the valve in the cold position. Three or four pumps in each position should be good.

Next, adjust the valve to the center or warm position and pump some air. After doing this, you should have blown any small amounts of water out of the cartridges.

If you meet resistance when pumping the air into the system, this would indicate that the diverter is in the wrong position and you aren't getting any air through the faucet.

This will keep your faucet cartridges from freezing up over the winter while you are gone. You will be ready to hit the shower without having to replace the cartridge.

September 19, 2012 AsktheBuilder Newsletter & Tips

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Tim Carter

Fall is coming in like a lion. Last night was rainy and very windy. The shed's all weather tight, so that's not an issue. The week started out with Jason, from Overhead Door Options here in Meredith, NH, doing a professional install of the 6-foot-wide overhead door on the shed.

I had a Liftmaster opener put in that has the latest MyQ technology. I'm able to control the door from anywhere in the world using my phone. I'll do a video this week to show you this fantastic technology that's being integrated into many products like thermostats, alarm systems, lighting, basically anything that has an on/off switch.

Pay attention when you buy anything electronic from now on. Look to see if the product sports this technology that allows you to control things from your smartphone. You'll be amazed at what you can do.

Why Your Roof Doesn't Collapse

Have you ever wondered why your roof doesn't come crashing down on top of you? Think about all the weight up there with shingles and snow if you live where it's cold.

Watch this video I taped as I was building the shed. Leave a comment once you watch it. Tell me in a comment if you discovered anything new!

Handyman and Other Online Classes

Next week, here in the newsletter, you'll be able to sign up for the Starting and Running Your Handyman Business class - it's actually going to be three classes because there's so much to cover. Watch for that announcement, as there is LIMITED classroom space.

I'm going to start offering many other classes this fall and winter, but I need your input. Can you take this three-question survey and tell me:

What online classes would you like to see me do?
What day would be best for you?
What is the best time for you to attend the class?

I'm going to try to do the live classes at a time that's most convenient for you if at all possible. I know you might work, we're in different time zones, and you could have other commitments, but I'm going to do my best to do the class live for you.

Here's the best part. I'll be recording all the classes. If you sign up and can't make it for some reason, NO PROBLEM. You can watch the recording at a later date. The only advantage to watching the class as it happens is you can ask me questions as the class happens. You can't do that if you're watching a recording.

Near Dryer Disaster

Last Saturday, I was working one of the last public service ham radio events of the season. It was a 10K run in gorgeous Jackson, NH. During the race, I got an email from Julie. I met Julie and her rambunctious and cheerful daughter Eliza back this past summer when I was working another ham radio event - the New England Forest Rally. Julie was a crowd marshal in charge of making sure spectators stayed in the safe zones so speeding rally cars would not hit them.

Julie just moved into a home and was having a nightmare getting her washer and dryer into a very tight closet. She asked if there was anyway I could come to the rescue. She sent a photo of the dryer vent pipe she started to take apart and it was CLOGGED solid with lint.

The previous homeowner had used the correct smooth pipe, the run from the dryer to the exterior wall was only 13 feet, and there was only one 90-degree bend. But even still, the pipe was totally clogged. Julie told me that she had used the old dryer when she moved in and it took forever to dry some thin sheets.

Slow or extended drying times are your first clue that the dryer vent pipe could be clogged or partially clogged. This is a real fire danger.

NOTE To Architects: Don't ever design something that you haven't installed yourself in the field. I would pay any architect to come to Julie's house and install the washer and dryer by her/himself. In fact, I'd love to tape a video of you doing it. The only way we got everything connected was because of Eliza the Wonder Woman! She was tiny enough to squeeze behind the dryer as it was lifted up on top of the washing machine.

You can see her smiling just before I got her to crawl up on top of the dryer so I could extract her from the tiny closet. She did a fantastic job connecting the electric cord and the dryer vent pipe. Julie may rent her out if you need her!

Milwaukee Router Video Review

I tested a fantastic router about a week ago. I think you'll like the video review. It's a heavy duty Milwaukee router and I sure did like it! After you watch the video, I have a convenient link there to buy the router at the best possible price! Go watch the video now.

Poor Quality Search Results

Lately I've been getting many emails about why my past columns are not showing up in Google searches. Have you noticed that really good quality content is getting harder to find on Google?

I've tried to be coy about this for the past eighteen months, but Google punished AsktheBuilder.com and thousands of other websites back in February of 2011. It's a very long story, but I've lost about 80% of my traffic. You can imagine the impact on my revenue.

I discovered a website that's got quite a bit of information on it about how Google is manipulating search results. I attended a quick one-day mini conference in Washington, DC, last Thursday, and was shocked at the data, numbers and stories I heard. You can watch three videos at this website, including one I taped for the mini conference.

I urge you to go to the FairSearch.org website and watch the three videos. You'll see them on the home page. I guarantee you that you'll have a very different opinion of Google and what's really going on after you listen to the experts in the two videos.

Wait until you hear Patrick Lynch, the former Attorney General from Rhode Island tell his story! Susan Athey, who teaches Economics at the Stanford Business School, will rivet you to your monitor. All of the experts had amazing facts and stories to share.

Fall Checklist

Several subscribers, you may be one, have asked me to do a Fall Checklist. Well here's one I cobbled together quickly. This checklist applies to all, but especially people who live where it gets cold.

Remove hoses from hose bibs. Failure to do this could result in burst water pipes in the spring. You'll NOT know about the leak until next spring. To make matters worse, you'll be outside washing your car when hundreds of gallons of water are flooding the inside of your house.
If you heat your home or water with oil, be sure the nozzle in the burner is clean.
Get your wood-burning fireplace and chimney ready for burning wood. Get them inspected!
Paint any bare wood outside that's exposed to the weather.
Clean your gutters after the last leaves have fallen.
Don't cover your AC unit. It's not necessary.
Stockpile all supplies to keep you alive in case of extended power outages.
Replace the air filter on your furnace - seriously, do I need to remind you of that? You must do that regularly!
Start your snowblower BEFORE you need it. Make sure it's running well now. Buy extra shear pins.
Caulk any obvious air leaks. Air leakage is a major energy suck on your pocketbook.
Get warm clothes together, hooded sweatshirts, fleeces, wool socks, etc. Wear these around the house so you can LOWER your thermostat temperature to save money on fuel.

I'm sure there are many other things, but that should get you pretty prepared.

Power Tools are DANGEROUS

A young woman was very lucky she didn't get killed in shop class. Read what happened to her and her hair.

When you work around any power tools, you have to make sure clothes and hair CAN'T come in contact with moving parts. You could get seriously hurt like this poor woman.

Exterior Trim Molding Secrets and Tips

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: I have some rot happening on the flat trim boards next to my windows, doors and all around my house. Some of the rot is severe and some is minor. The actual wood boards appear to be glued together with funny V-shaped joints. I kept the trim painted. What can I do to repair it, and if I decide to replace the trim boards, what are some of my options? I'm really disappointed in the quality of the wood trim as it's less than ten years old. Eliza Q., Franconia, NH

DEAR ELIZA: Just last week, I spoke with another person who has the exact same problem with the exterior trim boards on his home. I know it's a widespread problem that's keeping many carpenters busy with repair work. The problem, in my opinion, can be traced to both material and installation defects.

Based on your description the lumber is fingerjointed trim that's glued up using many small pieces of scrap lumber. The glue that's used is waterproof, but the actual lumber often comes from trees that grow quickly. This causes the lighter colored spring wood in the lumber to be very porous and plentiful. As such, it easily absorbs water which is the source of the wood rot.

This exterior trim may look plain, but one things for sure it will never rot. Photo Credit: Tim Carter

Trim lumber on many old homes was taken from trees that had tiny growth rings of both spring and summer wood. Summer wood is the darker band of wood you see at the end of a log or on a flat piece of lumber. It's very dense and does not readily absorb water. The more summer wood you have in a given piece of lumber, the less likely it is to rot.

If your trim lumber had been painted on all sides and edges before it was installed and all cut ends painted, it's possible it could have lasted much longer. My guess is you'll discover only the parts of the trim lumber you can see are actually painted. It probably came from the factory with a thin coat of paint primer on it.

Where the rot is not too severe, you can repair this with chemicals that soak into the wood and revitalize the wood. You then remove any loose wood and add a special epoxy that's formulated to stick to the fortified wood. Once the epoxy hardens, you can sand it like wood. It accepts paint very well.

If you're faced with replacing entire trim boards, you have a multitude of options. Let's say you want to stay with real wood. There are certain species of trim lumber that have natural preservatives in them. Redwood is one. I've used redwood for years as trim lumber, and it can last generations if cared for properly.

The trick with redwood, and any real wood for that matter, is to prepaint it on all surfaces and edges before it's installed. When you cut it, you must paint the cut ends to stop water from soaking into the end grain.

I recently had the opportunity to work with some plastic exterior trim. It should appeal to you because it will never rot. It cuts cleanly and easily with a standard miter saw. It's easy to nail with standard exterior fasteners.

But plastic exterior trim has one minor flaw that you need to know about. It has a significant expansion/contraction coefficient. This means it grows and shrinks in response to temperature changes. You can paint this plastic trim, but it's best to stay away from darker colors that absorb heat from sunlight.

The manufacturers of the plastic trim have clear instructions on what kind of paint to use, how to paint it, the acceptable colors, etc. Be sure to read these instructions before you purchase the trim to ensure that you can work within the restraints of the material.

There are composite trim boards that are a mix of plastic and wood fibers. You can also purchase fiber cement trim boards that are very durable and accept paint quite well, even dark colors.

Whatever exterior trim boards you decide to purchase, be absolutely sure you read the installation instructions. Don't make a mistake and use the wrong fasteners. All too often homeowners don't use nails that are long enough, or they use ones that corrode and cause staining.

It's not hard using the wood epoxy repair compounds, but I would absolutely practice on some small areas first. Be careful about using too much epoxy at one time as it could droop on vertical applications. It may look great as you apply it, but as you walk away to take a break or put away tools, it could droop creating a massive mistake.

You can watch a video that shows painting exterior wood trim. Simply type "exterior painting video" into the search engine here at www.AsktheBuilder.com.

Column 953

Milwaukee Router 5616-21 Review Video

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Tim Carter

Hi, I'm Tim Carter and I want to talk a little bit about routers, specifically about a high performance and heavy duty routers. This is a Milwaukee router and it is a beefy boy.

It has 2-1/4 horspower, 13-amps and it goes from 10,000 to 24,000 rpms, variable speed. It has both a 1/4" and 1/2" collet. The casing has a soft grip. The router features a soft start so it doesn't jerk when you power it up.

This unit has an onboard computer-circuitry that will adjust its power load so that is it cutting at its maximum if you encounter some tough spots in your material. All this is done automatically.

Be sure when you are buying a router be sure to get a router that is big enough for your job. If you are doing a lot of routing, get one with lots of horsepower.

Test drive time. This router has some real power. It is the Milwaukee 5616-21 Heavy-Duty Router. It's a champ. I really like it and I can tell it will last for years.

This router was featured in my September 19, 2012 Newsletter.

The above is an affiliate link. I get a tiny commission if you purchase this item from Amazon.

Storing Building Materials – Keep Them Dry

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Tim Carter

"Using all of the above things speeds up the construction process allowing you to get a roof on your new home faster."

DEAR TIM: I'm getting ready to build a new home and the weather will start to get colder and wetter. My wife and I are really concerned about materials left out in the weather. What are some best practices we can put in place with our builder so that our house does not suffer any more than it has to? What are some reasonable expectations that we can expect from our builder? What's not too important? Randy P., Racine, WI

DEAR RANDY: It's really smart for you to think about storing building materials before you start your new home. It's even better to include provisions in your contract about storing building materials and wet construction situations. Storing new building products safely preventing damage and them getting wet is important.e Many people freak out about their houses getting wet during the construction process, but they need to realize that water and construction go hand in hand unless you're building in the Atacama desert.

Is It Okay For Lumber to Get Wet?

Yes, it's okay for lumber to get wet. But getting lots of rain on framing lumber for extended periods of time is not a great idea. This is why it's a fantastic idea to build using:

Using all of the above things speeds up the construction process allowing you to get a roof on your new home faster.

CLICK or TAP HERE for FREE BIDS from local builders who will use wall panels and build FAST!

Should I Specify Materials Not Harmed by Water?

The first thing to do is specify materials that are not harmed by water. Traditional oriented strand board (OSB), a material that's supplanted plywood as the primary floor, wall and roof sheathing material, has a bad reputation for swelling when it gets wet. You can now purchase an OSB product for subfloors that's guaranteed not to swell, even if it's got standing water on it.

Are Products Available With Plastic Coatings?

Wall and roof sheathing products are available that have plastic coatings that repel water. These are good products so long as they allow water vapor to pass through them with ease.

Don't worry about traditional wood wall studs, floor joists and roof rafters getting wet. This solid lumber will not be harmed by repeated periods of rain. Many people think that the wood will rot in a short time. This will not happen.

Is it Important to Have a Great Builder?

It's imperative that you have a great builder who has fantastic subcontractors. You want the builder to get the house frame up as rapidly as possible and get the house under roof so that rain becomes a non factor. Have a serious talk with your builder and get firm commitments as to what's going to happen to ensure work is happening on any good weather day.

CLICK or TAP HERE for FREE BIDS from local builders who will use wall panels and build FAST!

To this end, when building late in the season with bad weather a possibility, I'd seriously consider looking at manufactured housing options. It's possible to have your house delivered to the building site nearly completed. A crane can lift the house sections together and in a matter of hours, or a few days, the entire house is weatherproof.

At the very least, consider prefabricated walls that could shave a week or two off the building schedule. Within a week or two, your house could be under roof as many walls can be tilted in place or set by a crane in hours.

Materials delivered to the job site need to be protected from the rain and sun if possible. Stacks of lumber should not rest directly on the soil. Try to get an air space of 4 inches under the wood. Cover lumber with waterproof tarps, but allow two ends to be open so air can pass through the covered lumber pile.

Will Wood Twist and Bow if Left in the Sun?

Wall studs and timbers can twist and bow if allowed to be stored in direct sunlight. It's best to store lumber in the shade if at all possible. This is not easy to do, and it will add to your construction costs if you move the lumber into the structure.

Will Hunting Season Slow Construction?

Understand that hunting season can have a detrimental effect on your house project. In some parts of the USA, hunting season is more important to people than just about anything. Construction workers can suddenly disappear into the forest. They'll sit for hours in the rain waiting for an animal, but they'll rarely work in the rain for money to pay bills. Hunting manifests strange human behavior!

What Should I Do If My House Gets Soaked by Rain?

If your house gets soaked with water as it's being framed and as the roof goes on, be sure to slow the construction process until the lumber dries well. You can make a huge mistake by allowing the builder to install insulation, vapor barriers and drywall over lumber that saturated with water.

If mold and mildew have formed on the lumber, clean it off with certified organic Stain Solver. It's a USA oxygen bleach you mix with water.

Stain Solver black background yellow scoop

Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality.

Is Standing Water in a Basement a Good Thing?

Standing water in a basement is not a good thing. Be sure that drain lines are in place or pumps are used to prevent your basement from turning into an indoor swimming pool.

Can I Erect a Tent Over My New House?

If you have a sizeable budget, you can actually erect a large tent over the construction site and create an artificial environment for the builder. You can do the same thing with pipe scaffolding and simple floor trusses that are used to create a temporary roof over the site.

It's all about money at the end of the day. In certain instances, it may make financial sense to go to these extremes to create a dry and pleasant work environment for those working on your home.

Column 952

Thermal Underwear

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Tim Carter

With colder weather fast approaching, here is a warm tip from Sandra Lee. She offers a tip on staying warm and still having freedom of movement.

"Thanks, I have been receiving Duluth Trading Catalog for many years. I was a mail carrier and I found that wearing "Damart Thermal Underwear" enabled me to wear far less heavier and far less bulky clothing over it.

This allowed more freedom of movement that I needed in carrying a mail bag up and down steps. Check it out, just Google "Damart "USA".

For women, I recommend getting the men's small, if you want them long enough to cover your wrists and ankles."

Sandra Lee

Use Butter To Clean Caulk From Your Hands

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Tim Carter

Marj Oleske of Martin, SD, provided this tip on how to clean up after using non-water-soluble caulk.

"I just read your newsletter about the caulking that is not water-soluble. I just discovered a great solution.

I'm in the middle of a BIG house addition project. The caulking is also non-water soluble, and of course gets all over my hands. When I am done, I smear butter on my hands, work it in well, as a massage, then add a generous amount of baking soda for a gentle scrub. Wipe with a paper towel, and then wash off the butter.

Works very well. Not bad for a girl...."

Marj Oleske

September 6, 2012 AsktheBuilder Newsletter Update

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Tim Carter

Yesterday I shared news about the cool Duluth Trading Company Last Pants Standing Contest. Click the link for that if you missed it and want to win some great Fire Hose work pants (they have them for men and women).

However, you may be one of many that brought to my attention there was a problem with a different link I shared. That link was supposed to allow you to get FREE SHIPPING if you just wanted to buy something from Duluth Trading and not enter the contest.

I got numerous emails about the link NOT WORKING.

After hearing about the problem, I reached out to my contact and was told that you just have to enter the following promo code during the checkout process to get FREE SHIPPING:

ELPSASKCrazy promo code, but it is what it is. I just tested it and it worked for me. If you want to see all the great stuff Duluth Trading has, just click this link that will take you to the Fire Hose pants page. You can surf the entire site from there.

They do have a magnificent line of products for women.

If you do decide to purchase something from Duluth Trading Company, would you kindly email to me what you purchased? I'd be fascinated to see what caught your eye. Maybe you saw something I need.

NOTE: You may have to purchase a minimum amount to qualify for FREE SHIPPING. I can tell you this is so from all the Stain Solver oxygen bleach I sell. Shipping has gotten expensive. It routinely costs me nearly $10, often lots more, to ship a container of Stain Solver to you.

Understand that Duluth Trading can't sell a blouse for $10, that costs them perhaps $4 to make and then have to pay $6 for shipping. They'd go out of business.

If you ever want to have a discussion about shipping costs and running a business that involves shipping products, let me know. Kathy and I have been doing it since 1996. We know much about shipping and handling costs!

September 5, 2012 AsktheBuilder Newsletter & Tips

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Tim Carter

It might be summer just about all the time where you live. You could be in south Florida, Tucson, Phoenix, or just east of San Diego. Yes, I'm leaving out all the international places like Singapore where several subscribers live and stay warm year round.

But for many here in the USA, as soon as the football season starts, that's Mother Nature turning on the yellow light announcing that winter is just around the corner.

This means you need to start to batten down the hatches and get any outdoor work done soon. This is especially true if you only can work on projects on the weekends. You can't count on that many great days before the weather turns. Keep that in mind.

Oh, and I think this is the Contest and Save Money AsktheBuilder.com newsletter. Wait till you see below all the money and loot you can win in different contests!

Toughest Work Pants Contest

I have no idea how many pairs of work pants I've consumed over the years. How about you? I wish I had a photo of the pants of mine that caught on fire one day. That's a story!

Duluth Trading Company, I've used their products for years, is sponsoring a really unique contest to promote their tougher-than-nails Fire Hose pants. If you know a fireman, he'll tell you the fabric used to make fire hoses is TOUGH. Imagine what it has to endure!

This contest is open to men and women because Duluth Trading makes products for both genders!

Do you have a well-worn pair of work pants? Did they save you one day? Do you have the world record for longest lasting work pants? No matter who made the pants, and believe me Duluth Trading doesn't care, they want you to tell your story about how you have the most incredible work pants. You could win free Fire Hose pants and possibly some sweet cash.

In the past year I've started to test and wear the Fire Hose work pants made by Duluth Trading Company. The last two times I was wearing them on top of Mt. Washington. The tough fabric, comfortable fit and the multitude of pockets, slots, for my gear were perfect.

I'm a huge fan of these work pants and I know you will be too. I'm really looking forward to my new pair of fleece-lined ones for this upcoming winter here in New Hampshire.

Go now to Duluth Trading Company's Facebook page, read the current entries and enter the contest. HURRY as it ends quite soon! You really need to go here and read some of the incredible stories about work pants. Can you guess who I voted for?

If you don't want to enter the contest, but want to know more about the neat Fire Hose pants and other great products I'm now using I urge you to go to the Duluth Trading website. They have an enormous amount of great gear, clothes, etc.

I've been told that you can get FREE SHIPPING with your order by just entering the code word ELPSASK during the checkout process. This is a sweet deal and I urge you to take advantage of it.

NOTE: CLICK HERE to read an update on the above Duluth Special.

Product I'll Not Use Again! - DAP SIDE Winder Caulk

Last week I had to caulk a few places on my shed where my fiber cement siding touched up against trim boards. I was at the local lumber yard and walked over to the massive DAP caulk display. There in front of me were tubes of SIDE Winder caulk - it clearly said it was for caulking fiber cement siding and windows. Just what I needed. SCORE!

I read the label and it said it was paintable. Good. That means it's water washable, right? Hah! Wrongo.

I started using the caulk and noticed it was sticky like pure silicone caulk. Hmmmmm, that's odd.

Prior to caulking I got my bucket of water and my favorite tile-grout sponge out so I was ready to tool the caulk joints.

I ran the sponge over the caulk and it didn't work like it normally does. Well, that's really odd I thought.

It turns out this caulk is not water friendly. Puzzled by what was happening, I removed the tube from the gun and read the fine print on the label. (I can hear you women now, "Oh, you read the label AFTER you get in trouble, Tim. Typical man.") The instructions said it would clean up with soap and water, but I couldn't get my sponge clean using soap and water.

The next day when the caulk dried, it looked great and I'm sure it will perform well. But if you decide to use it, be aware you better be an expert at caulking. There's no margin for error when it comes to smearing.

9-Volt Battery Fire Hazard

Each week I get a newsletter from our local town government. This part of the newsletter I thought was very fitting to share with you:

In July, a fire broke out in a kitchen "junk" drawer which the resident stated she had just cleaned and organized. The fire produced smoke throughout the first floor of the home. In the drawer were spare keys, a cigarette lighter, paper clips, eyeglass cleaner, and some batteries in a baggie along with everything else that you find in a "junk" drawer.

The local fire department determined the cause of the fire to be from a 9-volt battery stored in the same baggie with other batteries. The 9-volt battery rubbed against another battery and ignited the fire. In the homeowner's words, "We were fortunate not to have been away for the weekend!"

A 9-volt battery is a fire hazard because the positive and negative posts are on top, right next to one another. If the ends come in contact with anything metal such as aluminum foil, steel wool, paperclip, other batteries, etc., this will cause the battery to heat up and ignite a fire.

To store, keep in original packaging or keep ends covered. For disposal, make sure the positive and negative posts are safely wrapped in electrical tape.

Online Handyman Class - Just Around the Corner!

The past few newsletters I've told you about the online class I'm conducting that covers starting and operating a Handyman business. The outline is almost complete. Watch for news on this class VERY soon.

Why should you consider attending this class? Read this article I just saw in USA Today. I'm not really surprised by this. Years ago, I nudged a good friend of mine into the Handyman business, and he makes this kind of money.

You Need Tires to Get Home Improvement Supplies, Right?

A close friend of mine, Chuck Eglinton, is an expert at many things, one of them being how to get great deals when shopping online.

I follow Chuck on Facebook. The other day he promoted a website called TireRack.com. Chuck says that you can buy from them and they will ship the tires to a local affiliated dealer who does the install. The bottom line is you can save money.

A follow-up comment from another person indicated that they just take in a printout of the best price from TireRack.com, and the local tire dealers will match or beat it. Either way, you can save precious moola that you can use to improve your home!

Write a Catchy Slogan and Win $1000, $500 or $250

If you've got a creative mind, you might be one of three people that can win three gift cards. If you come up with the best new slogan for ECOBUST, you win $1,000. The second-place winner gets $500, and the third-place winner gets $250. That's not bad for about five minutes of work.

All you have to do is go to EcoBust.com and follow the instructions. ECOBUST is a product that allows you to break up concrete and rocks without using TNT or heavy jackhammers.

Wall Control Sale

If you've been a subscriber to this newsletter for some time, you know that I had the good fortune years ago to discover, what I feel, is the best pegboard known to man. It's called Wall Control.

I ran into the inventor at his tiny booth in the basement of the monster National Hardware Show many years ago. When the show was in Chicago, the basement was the place to visit if you wanted to see the new up and coming products from the inventors. Why? It's simple. They often can't afford the prime show real estate and have limited budgets.

All you need to know is you can get some great kits on sale right now at Wall Control. I use this product in my own home and love it.

The kits they have on sale right now only work with all the Wall Control hangers and accessories. Wall Control has panels that have both the slots AND traditional holes for old-fashioned pegboard hanger accessories. Just be aware of what you're getting.

To see everything that Wall Control has, be sure to click the navigation links at the top of this page.

Fantastic DIY Gutter Guard Coming SOON!

Oh, do I have some news for you! I've been waiting for years for this product to be available!

Over ten years ago I started testing all sorts of gutter guards. I had hundreds of feet of gutters at my home and needed relief. Early in my testing of just about every gutter guard, I discovered most failed in the spring.

They all did well in the fall to keep big leaves from gutters, but many designs failed in the spring and summer when tiny pieces of trees, seeds, blossoms, needles, etc. rained down on roofs.

It's a long story, but I finally discovered the Holy Grail of gutter guards. Now this company has a DIY product and it should be available to you in 30 days or less.

Just HANG IN THERE. Don't reply to me asking what it is. I'll have a website for you that you can order from the moment they're ready! Please be patient and be sure to open all upcoming issues of this newsletter.

Exterior House Painting Tips and Secrets

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: I just got bids to paint the exterior of my home. Ouch! I'm a little afraid of being on a ladder, but am determined to do this job myself to save money. Can you share any tips on what I can do to be more comfortable? I'd also appreciate any and all tips you can share from the type of paint to use to ways to apply the paint. Remember, I'm on a limited budget, but do intend to stay in my home for many years. Sally T., Lawrence, KS

DEAR SALLY: You're not alone when it comes to fear of heights. Two members of my family freeze solid with a death grip on ladders when they're only five feet in the air. When they see me go up to the top of a 32 foot ladder, they can't even stand to look at it. Fortunately for you, you've got alternatives, lots of alternatives.

Let's talk about ladder options first, then we'll jump into some sweet tips that will get you professional painting results. Please understand it's impossible in this short column to cover everything there's to know about painting and all the great painting aides that exist.

You can get professional painting results and work safely if you use some of the things you see here. Photo Credit: Tim Carter

If you have a fairly level lot and good access around your house, you can rent a motorized man lift from a tool rental business. This is a hydraulic work platform similar to utility company cherry picker trucks. The platform allows you to stand on a wide level surface that goes up, down, left, right, in and out. Working controls at your fingertips while standing on the platform, you can get to every part of your house to safely paint it. The platform has sturdy guardrails and you'll be very safe.

If you decide to rent one of these machines, be sure to get training on how to use it and be sure that you don't come into contact with any overhead wires or cables.

If you can't afford to rent one of these amazing machines, perhaps you can affordably rent iron-pipe scaffolding. Bricklayers use this to work and it comes with all sorts of sloped stairs, wide platforms, guardrails, etc. You can erect it with help from a friend and create very safe work platforms 20 or more feet in the air.

You might be able to hire a neighborhood handyman at a much reduced rate to paint just the areas that cause you to feel queasy. You can work side by side with him to provide support and materials so the job goes faster.

Many years ago, the first home improvement company I started was with a college friend named John. We painted houses in the summer. He later went on to become a chemist that worked for one of the major paint companies. When he was studying to get his PhD, you know what he told me one day? The chemical formula for most paints is strikingly similar to that of glue. John said, "Paint, for the most part, is just colored glue. Don't forget, glues come in all sorts of strength!"

That has stuck with me my entire life, no pun intended. Your takeaway from his simple quote should be two things. First, glue sticks best to surfaces that are clean, dust-free, oil-free, and in great condition. Second, not all paints are created equal and some will not adhere well because the glue component in them is just not that sticky.

All too often most homeowners never read the label on the paint can. They skip over the part about surface preparation, or they think they know intuitively what to do.

Let's exorcize the pressure washing demon right now. Pressure washing is not a bad thing, but it does not entirely clean a surface. You can prove this easily by washing a dirty car with a pressure washer. After the car dries, there's always a slight film of dirt left behind you can wipe away with a damp paper towel or your finger. The same is true for your home.

I prefer to apply a solution of oxygen bleach to the painted surfaces with a hand-pump garden sprayer. I allow that to soak for a few minutes and follow behind with a soapy solution of water using a brush made to clean the outside of RV's. I immediately rinse the scrubbed area with clean water.

Purchase a paint that has a blend of urethane and acrylic resins or glue. These paints are more expensive, but they last and last. I painted my last house with this paint over twelve years ago and it's never peeled, the color has not faded, and the paint looks like new when it's periodically washed with regular liquid dish soap and water.

Avoid cheap brushes and paint tools. Great brushes and rollers allow you to apply more paint faster with professional results. Get your brush damp first before using water-based paint. This helps keep the paint from drying up high on the brush. Never turn a brush upside down in a stream of water to clean it.

Avoid painting on hot, windy days. It's best to paint on overcast days with no threat of rain if at all possible. Do not paint in direct sunlight if possible, especially dark colors. Blisters can form as the paint dries too quickly on the surface trapping water under the paint skin.

You can watch multiple exterior paint videos that contain secret tips at www.AsktheBuilder.com. Simply type "exterior paint video" into the search engine at www.AsktheBuilder.com.

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