My shed project is coming along. It's going a little slower than I'd like, but that's because my helpers are no longer here.

Robert Moore was here early in the project for nine days. He and I transformed the site in that short time from eight holes in the ground to a structure with all the rafters in place.

My son Tristan helped before he headed back to school. If I was fortunate enough to have a helper every day for the past two weeks, I'd be painting the siding right now!

The roof was completed last week and looks superb. I used GAF Timberline HD shingles that match those on my house. They were easy to install, and are going to keep the shed dry probably until the year 2050. Asphalt shingles last much longer on steep roofs than they do on low-pitched roofs.

This past weekend, I installed the two magnificent Simonton ProFinish windows. One of the many things I love about these windows is they carry the AAMA seal. This means the windows are among the best ones made on the planet. I've written extensively in the past about the importance of having windows and doors that have the AAMA gold label.

I've lost count of how many videos I've taped, but it's going to be way past 100. Here's one I taped this past Saturday after I was completing the window installation. Many of the videos in the series contain one or more Secret Ninja AsktheBuilder tips like the one you're about to discover.

Click the video image below to discover a very important window installation tip.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you've already purchased my DIY Shed Video series - either in the past month or when the project was announced on Kickstarter, do NOT read the following. You've already paid for the videos. Go down to the next part of the newsletter.

Do you want to know all sorts of building secrets? Ones that can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars? Tips that can prevent costly repairs down the road? This is exactly why I'm building this shed! I wanted to document many of these tips in a real building situation.

You can have lifetime access to the videos now for just $69. That's less than one dollar per video!!! Hundreds of newsletter subscribers have purchased the video series at this price over the past three weeks.

But as I've said for over a month, the price is going up for the entire series as I get closer to the end of the project. Why? Because each day I tape more videos with more tips. The video series gets more valuable each day. It's not rocket science.

At midnight ET on September 2, 2012, the price for the entire series, purchased at one time, goes up to $89.

Click here now to purchase many AsktheBuilder.com Ninja Building Secrets for just $69!

Paid Tool Reviews

Last week, I had an email exchange with an employee from a major tool company. I had requested a few tools to review for you.

I was stunned when I got an email today from this person asking me if the review I was doing was a regular public relations review or a PAID review. Paid review? You mean there are other home improvement websites or magazines charging tool companies to write reviews?

Did you know that? I sure didn't. Can you tell me if you've read other tool reviews at other websites and seen small print at the bottom of the review saying the author was PAID to do it? I'd love to see that. I'd love to know who's doing this.

Getting paid for the review seems very unethical to me. It seems it would absolutely skew the review as the reviewer would be obligated to give a favorable review.

What other online reviews are like this? Holy molly, who can you trust anymore?

Ryobi ProTip Paint Sprayer Review

I can tell you for a fact I didn't get paid to review this Ryobi tool. I don't get paid for ANY product reviews I do.

I used this tool to paint some of the soffit boards on my shed. Go read my review now to see how it did!

Turning a Door Around

Russell Young from Maui, Hawaii emailed me with this question:

"We wanted out-swing double doors so we could have more interior grow space in our 12 x 16 greenhouse. Alas, our builder installed in-swing double doors and will not change it. My question is, can I turn the doors around?"

Russell also said he was a little handy which is why he didn't offer to fund a road trip for me to come to our 50th state and do this with him. But I digress. Heavy Sigh!

My reply to Russell suggested he could take out the doors and turn them around, but he'd have major leak issues when it rains.

I said this assuming the french door unit was made as a traditional in-swing door that was designed to shed water towards the exterior. Realize that doors and windows have sloped sills and the entire door system is made to shed water one direction ONLY.

You can purchase exterior doors that are outswing. They're made to shed water the right way.

Paslode Cordless Roofing Nailer

Building the shed is giving me an opportunity to test out lots of great tools. I just finished my tryst with the Paslode Cordless Roofing Nailer. Read all about the steamy details. It was hot and humid while installing the roof.

CLICK HERE to read the Paslode Review

Exciting Stain Solver News

I've been waiting for over a month to share this. It's going to dramatically change the Stain Solver business. CLICK IMAGE to discover more about Stain Solver

Are you part of a mommy buying co-op like Carolyn? Carolyn and a bunch of her young mom friends are buying multiple bottles of Stain Solver to make cleaning easier in their homes.

Do you give useful gifts away to your customers like Jack Cherco, a Chicago remodeling contractor who's going to give Stain Solver to his clients?

Do you want to give small containers of Stain Solver away to friends and family as gifts?

Do you own or work in a small business like one of these:

• Wine Shop
• Dress Shop
• Furniture Store
• Carpet Store
• Tile Store
• Hardware Store
• Pet Shop
• Motel
• Health Food Store
• Natural Products Store
• etc.

That's just a partial list of stores that should sell Stain Solver to their customers. Can you imagine the store clerk at a dress shop handing you a bottle of Stain Solver to you saying, "Here, take this as a gift from us. If you happen to spill anything on your new valuable dress, Stain Solver will safely remove the stain." Carpet salesmen, furniture salesmen, etc. can do the same thing when someone places an order for a large purchase.

I'm pleased to announce the 2.2-pound and 4.5-pound sizes of Stain Solver are now available in multi-packs.

It gets better - much better. They're DEEPLY DISCOUNTED so you can RESELL them if you own a business. Some business owners will give away Stain Solver. Others may just want to sell it for a profit. Either way is just fine. Whatever works best for you.

Sarah at the Cornacopia Bakery and Health Food Store in Bristol, NH is starting to stock Stain Solver. So are Julie and Gary Piehn at Gilcrest Cottages in Thornton , NH. Julie is going to sell Stain Solver to the people who stay at her cottages.

Craig Smith, a co-owner of Twins Ace Hardware in Fairfax, VA just placed his *second* order for twenty-four 2.2-pound bottles of Stain Solver.

Kathy and I have been waiting for this day for years. We've wanted to expand the Stain Solver business and make it available for you locally.

But we need your help. If you're a small business, order some to sell or give away to large customers.

If you don't own a small business but patronize them, suggest to the owner that she/he should be stocking it. That way you'll come in and buy it from them.

Now here's the problem. You knew this was coming didn't you?

Since we didn't know WHICH multi-pack would be the most popular, we only manufactured a certain amount of each size.

I already know we're going to sell out in HOURS in this Ultra-Soft Launch of these three new SKUs. This happens to businesses all the time.

When Apple launched the iPhone years ago, each store only had so many phones. I'm sure you understand I can't afford to make thousands of each SKU and have them sit in a warehouse *hoping* they sell.

This is why I need your help and your patience.

If you want one of the new multi-packs and you go to the store and see the message Out of Stock - Please ORDER it. You'll then be first in line to get yours once we fill all the back orders.

Don't leave the cart saying, "Well darn it. I'll just order when Tim get's more."

Order it *now* so we make enough to satisfy the demand. If you order now, I anticipate you'll have the product in your hands in five weeks or less.

I'm not going to run away with your money. As soon as we get a feel over the next few days how many of each size are selling, we'll get the machines mixing and packaging!

I hid these new SKUs in the AsktheBuilder.com shopping cart for this soft launch.

Don't go to StainSolver.com looking for them. You'll NOT see them there.

Go here:

6 pack of the 2.2 Stain Solver

12 pack of the 2.2 Stain Solver

6 pack of the 4.5 Stain Solver

Thanks so much!

I'm reading the book Valley Forge at night before I drift off to dreamland. Usually I can only get about six to eight pages done before I pass out. It's a fascinating book that goes into the enormous suffering and hardship the Continental Army was enduring at that time.

I'm not an early American warfare expert, but from what I can tell, armies usually took the winter off because it was hard to travel and there wasn't any food for the horses and mules that moved the armies' supplies from place to place. Warfare back then was a fair weather activity. It makes sense as muddy and frozen roads are not easy to navigate.

The British army holed up in Philadelphia just 20 or so miles from Valley Forge. From what I surmise, had they fought just one more battle before taking the break for the winter we'd have an image of the Queen of England on all our coins and paper money instead of past presidents.

George Washington's army was so out of gas, it would have not taken much to completely wipe out the starving and ill-equipped men. The other fascinating thing were the mercenary soldiers, including officers, that came to America looking for work, if that's what you want to call war. It's a good book, you should consider reading it. I didn't realize Washington was so tall!

The GE Dishwasher Recall

I sent out an emergency email to you last Thursday the moment I heard about the fire hazard recall on the GE Dishwashers. You may be in the group of many who reached out with a big Thank You. Here's one that explains why I send out those notifications. It came from Dan Colwell:

Thanks Tim,

We have one of those dishwashers and I don't think I may have known about the recall if I didn't read "Askthebuilder".

No sweat Dan. I'm just doing my job.

Tip of the Week - Clear Urethanes

Urethane floor finishes aren't all the same. There are superb commercial products that are used for gymnasium floors and other high-traffic areas. The urethanes you might find in your home perform really well under normal conditions.

You can still get oil-based clear urethanes. Water-based urethanes seem to be the belles of the ball now because they contain far fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs). That's what you smell when you put down an oil-based urethane.

Be aware that most water-based urethanes will not yellow over time. They truly stay clear. But oil-based urethanes almost always develop a patina that many people like. They tend to develop a light yellow to orangish coloration over time. This is really important to know if you're trying to match an existing floor finish.

We Have a Winner! - LE Johnson Pocket Door Contest

Congratulations to John Thompson! He got the most votes in the Pocket Door Hardware Contest. Alice Thompson came in second followed by Heidi Halvorson. Thank you for entering, thank you for voting, and thanks to LE Johnson for providing the door kit!

You should really take a look at this page at the LE Johnson website to see what John won. This page has great links to all the instructions that show how easy it is to install a pocket door. Pay particular attention to the trolleys or trucks that support the door.

Does your pocket door jump off the track? I'll bet it's because you don't have the right trucks. CLICK HERE to see what you need if you want your door to stay on the track at all times.

Tell me if you thought you'd see that many wheels on the truck?

50% Back-to-School Advertising SALE

Do you have a great home-improvement product, tool or service? During the month of September you might be able to catch the eye of the tens of thousands of homeowners that read this newsletter. Just reply to this message and change the Subject Line to: Ad Sale. Remember, I have to test the product first and APPROVE it before you can advertise. You know what that means - get me the product or tool pronto!

Deck Stain Test - Partial Results

I started testing sixteen different deck stains back in May of this year. The test pieces are down on my dock getting blasted by the sun all day until about 3 or 4 pm. I'm testing pigmented sealers as well as a few clear ones.

So far, three of the clear sealers have failed, and a fourth one is looking like it's not going to make it until September.

This test is going to run for at least two years. I put the sealers on both cedar decking and traditional treated lumber, as these are two of the most common deck lumbers used here in the USA.

Jeremy Wren and the DIY Shed Video Series

I had the distinct pleasure to have lunch with Jeremy Wren in Wake Forest, NC this past February. I was on my way to a conference and I always try, when I can arrange it, to meet with you and any other subscribers.

Jeremy owns a fantastic niche home improvement business in Wake Forest. He's been a subscriber to this newsletter for some time. I was amazed to hear that he incorporates my tips to help give his employees a competitive advantage.

Last week Jeremy wrote to me about the sale I had on my DIY Shed Series. You just have to read this:

"I missed the $50 price (I was too busy to be able to get to it at the time), but I did just get it at the $69 price level. I plan to use these videos for training videos for the company, so make 'em good! 🙂 "

I replied and thanked him for his purchase. As you might expect, he got back to me with:

"Thanks, Tim. Since I've been following you on Facebook & on your website for several years now that I felt 100% comfortable purchasing them. Your info is always right on, and I use your expertise to review our own procedures and methods.

And $69 is a pretty incredible price!"

Jeremy's right. It's an incredible price. I say this because I know what I've already taped during the past three weeks. What's more wait till you see what I taped over the past few days. If you purchase the video series, you'll be getting Secret AsktheBuilder Ninja Tricks about installing flashings for sun tunnels, plumbing vents, turbine vents, skylights and all the basic asphalt shingle roofing videos.

Just THOSE videos that I shot up on the roof are well worth the $69 I'm charging for the entire series. Tell me, if you goof up a roof flashing or make one little mistake when installing shingles, do you think it will cost MORE THAN $69 to repair the damage?

You know it will. Go here to see all the things covered in the shed building video series.

The price for the entire series is going to go UP next week to $79. When the project is finished, the entire series will absolutely be priced above $100. If you decide to purchase each of the videos a la carte', you'll pay well over $200.

I did get one hate mail from a subscriber who thought that paying that much for building tips was "insane, greedy, highway robbery, etc". This man said I should be providing all the information for free. I reminded him that I already have thousands of pages of free information at my website, and hundreds of free videos. His reply was "That's not enough you money hungry thief!" I'm serious - I couldn't make this up if I tried.

Handyman Online Class and Other Classes

A little over six weeks ago, I offered to teach an online class about starting up a Handyman business. You may have been one of the many that responded. This class would be held online much like live television.

You'd purchase a seat in the class and would be sent instructions on how to login and watch. If something came up or you couldn't attend at the live event, no problem! The class will be taped and you could watch it later countless times at your convenience. If you do attend the class while it happens, you can do live chat and ask questions. It's very cool. If you watch the class after it happens, obviously you can't chat or ask questions.

The reason the Handyman Class got sidetracked is because the shed project kicked in and I simply didn't have the time to pull it together. I'm now ready to prepare to teach the class, but I need to know exactly what you want me to cover. If you tell me what you want to know, I'll be sure to cover that in the class. Just click Reply but *please* change the Subject Line to: Handyman Class

If you want me to offer any other online classes, what would you want? Would you like a series on Basement Remodeling? How about a series on Kitchen Remodeling Pitfalls? Would you be interested in a quick series on Bathroom Remodeling?

Tell me what knowledge you want to extract from my brain!

Milwaukee 28-Volt Cordless Circular Saw - 0730-22

I've been using Milwaukee's sweet 0730-22 cordless circular saw on the shed project. It's a husky saw that's sized much like traditional corded saws. This bad boy has some power.

This cordless saw has 28 volts and is very well balanced. I love the hard plastic case that comes with the tool. While soft-sided cases may seem like a good idea, they don't protect tools in the back of a truck where other tools or materials can bang into them.

If you really want to test a circular saw, set it to cut at a 45-degree angle and then try to rip 2x material. I had to finish ripping a southern yellow pine 2x12 and the saw did great. If you've never cut southern yellow pine, let me tell you it's tough stuff.

This is a Special Alert! A regular newsletter will be sent next Tuesday.

GE Dishwasher Product Recall

A serious fire hazard has been found in certain GE dishwashers.

CLICK HERE to read the recall notice from the CSPC.

I hope you don't have one of the affected dishwashers.

I'll have a boatload of new tips and info next Tuesday for you.

Read my August 15, 2012 Newsletter for a subscriber's email about this news alert.