This past weekend was windy but wonderful here in New Hampshire. Both days were sunny and chilly because of the wind. I started a fire both days to take the chill out of the air. It's funny as I looked at the weather map, so many places down in the South had their air conditioners on!

This coming week I'm going to be donating a day's work to some friends, Gary and Julie, who suffered from flooding due to Tropical Storm Irene last fall. She blew right over my house, and places north and west of me in central New Hampshire suffered from very severe flooding.

Gary and Julie own Gilcrest Cottages, a nice little retro motel and some cute storybook cabins that make for a perfect vacation getaway because it's so close to the center of the White Mountains here in New Hampshire. If you want to get married on a whim, Julie is a Justice of the Peace and can do it right there on the banks of the Pemigewasset River!

My job is to pressure wash a large blacktop parking area that's still covered with silt from the flooding. I've learned over the years to make this task go faster, you need to scrape up as much of the mud first as you can with a shovel. Otherwise, you're just moving the same mud farther and farther down the drive.

Tip of the Week - Washing Windows

Spring cleaning is in full swing now for many. Washing windows could be on your list. There are quite a few myths out there about cleaning windows. Let's start this tip by going backwards. I'll tell you what professional window washers DON'T do. They do NOT:

• use old newspaper to clean and polish the glass
• use blue liquid from spray bottles
• use rolls and rolls of paper towels
• use ammonia

Remember, window-cleaning professionals avoid all of the methods above. If you want to see how easy it is to wash windows and get professional results, all you need to do is read this past column of mine:

Be SURE to watch the video that's inside the column at the website.

Technology Alert!

Google announced last week a new service called Google Drive where you can store files from your computer on Google machines.

But the tech world was not happy at all with the Terms of Service that you must agree to. Evidently the wording is sort of fuzzy, and from my nonlegal standpoint you basically are giving Google a license to use your content. No way. No way would I EVER do that!

That's all I'm going to say, since I'm not a lawyer. All I want you to know is that before you use this Google service, you BETTER make sure you understand what you're signing up for.

Recovering Heat from Waste Water

Think about all the hot water you and I send down the drain each day. Arrrrrggggghhhh!

Wouldn't it be nice to recover some or most of that heat before it went down the sewer or into your septic tank? You might be able to do just that with this device.

WARNING! : I have not tested this device, and I can't back any of the claims about saving money or payback periods. But it seems the technology would absolutely work and recover some heat.

In fact, I think it would work far better on a horizontal run of piping rather than a vertical stack. I'd love to see independent test data comparing the two methods. In a vertical stack lots of the hot water may never even touch the drain pipe.

Cleaning Tip of the Week - Algae on a Patio

Yesterday I got an email from a woman who lives down in Florida. Her condo development is amongst some mangrove trees. They need to clean off algae from the patio areas and some walls, but do not want to harm the mangroves. That's smart! She knew that using chlorine bleach would be a mistake as it's highly toxic to all vegetation.

I suggested that all she has to do is mix up some Stain Solver with warm water, stir till dissolved, apply it with a hand-pump garden sprayer, allow to soak for 10 minutes, then lightly scrub and rinse. Ta Da! Victory!

You can have clean concrete and brick with no harm to the mangroves when you use Stain Solver. The same is true with ANY vegetation around your patio, deck or sidewalks. Buy some now to clean up the algae and mildew on your outdoor siding, patios, garden walls, etc.

Smelly Plumbing Vent Pipe

Bryan Miller from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada emailed me about offensive odors wafting from his roof plumbing vent pipe. He and his family can't open their windows or sit on their patio it's so bad. This problem started after a new sewer pipe upgrade project was completed in front of his house.

My advice to Bryan was to relocate the plumbing vent stack where it exits the roof. For starters, I'd put it up as high as possible on the roof and make sure that the top of the vent pipe is higher than any other point on the roof. This allows the wind to carry the odor horizontally.

I'd make sure the new location where the pipe pops through the roof is as far downwind on the house as possible. Bryan was aware of the activated charcoal filters you can put on vent pipes. That could be very problematic for him in the wintertime as the filters can choke off with ice in a very short amount of time. He lives in a coooooooold part of Canada!

Be aware that roof shapes, surrounding trees, other nearby buildings can cause downdrafts at your home. By putting the vent stack up as high as possible, you at least can eliminate any invisible air eddies that are happening because of your roof design.

Major Price Reductions For . . .

You're a WINNER! Why? Because the price of Ebooks at Amazon.com and other electronic marketplaces has DROPPED, I've lowered the prices drastically on all my Ebooks and Contractor Hiring Guides at my store. Just $7 each for any one. What a deal! My Contractor Hiring Guides help you find the pro for ANY job around your house. Wait till you see all of them.

P.S. If you, or someone you know is looking to buy a house - not a new house - I have a great checklist they can use. My Whole House Inspection Checklist is for a rookie that doesn't know much about houses. It forces you to look at things to see if there is a glaring defect.

This is NOT meant to replace a professional inspector. It just helps you decide if the house might have too many issues. It's just $7. Here's a link to it.

I'm creating an Apartment Rental Inspection Checklist next week in case you're renting an apartment or you're doing it for a son or daughter going to college. The last thing you want is to be blamed for damage you didn't do!

The Shed Project

Oh my goodness, I sure received lots of replies last week about my upcoming shed project. You may have been one who wants in on this exciting project. There's no doubt about it - sheds are popular. I've known that for a long time.

Maggie, who lives not too far from me in Franklin, NH, wants me to build the shed, hook it to my truck and then tow it over to her house! Maggie, I've got a better idea. You come over here and help me so I can inject you with all my shed-building skills and magic! That way you can go back home and build the shed of your dreams.

Here's the deal. I'm going to put this shed project up on Kickstarter.com. Oh are we going to have some fun there. I hope to launch this on Kickstarter by this weekend. I'm building a scale model of the shed this afternoon so you can see exactly what we're doing.

The way Kickstarter works is that you pledge certain amounts of money, starting at $1, and then you get something in return. If the project does NOT meet its published goal, you pay nothing. So if you want the project to happen, you then try to get others you know to participate so we get to the goal. I know we can do this.

Here's the problem. Once it's live on Kickstarter.com, the entire world can participate in the project. Some aspects of the project have limited availability. For example, I'm doing actual workshops here where you can come and learn how to do one part of the job in person, just like Maggie!

If you want to be part of this, you'll have to act QUICKLY. There's no way for me to just give you access to Kickstarter.com BEFORE the rest of the world sees this.

I'll be sending you a special announcement the moment this project is LIVE on Kickstarter.com. Please watch for this. Pay close attention to your email beginning on Friday. I don't want you to miss out on some parts of this project.

If this is successful, guess what? We're going to start doing a bunch of other projects. Wouldn't you love to be part of a bathroom or kitchen remodeling project? We can do it if we all work together.

Sincerely,
Tim Carter

I'm pretty excited. Yesterday, I picked up the building permit for a new large shed I'm building here at my house. This is not going to be just any shed. It's going to have special new concrete piers, 10-foot-high walls for lots of storage, an attic, skylights, sun tubes and sun tunnels, a turbine vent, a regular staircase to the attic, a ramp to drive tractors up into the shed, an overhead door, a regular door, interior shelving, etc.

Each and every step of the building process will be documented along the way with who-knows-how-many videos and photos. I estimate there will be no less than 100 videos that come out of this process. If you were to watch every video, you should be able to build a similar shed just like mine knowing what to do each step of the way.

The videos, photos and text will all be put in short documents that you can consume in just minutes. They'll become part of a new category I'm debuting today here in the newsletter: AsktheBuilder Answers. You'll read more about that below.

I'm also turning this shed enterprise into a fun event where you can become part of the project if you want. I intend to even put up a webcam. You'll have the option to gain access to the live camera feed over the Internet. You'll also have an opportunity to become a partial underwriter of the shed project. That will get you all sorts of goodies. I'll be announcing that next week. If the response is positive, then you and I might be doing all sorts of cool projects together as the year progresses!

Tip of the Week - Patching Spalled Concrete

This past winter was really pretty mild for most parts of the USA. You may have some concrete where the top surface has come off revealing the ugly stone core of the concrete.

You can repair this pretty easily with either a patch of cement stucco, or you can do a thin overlay over the entire surface to make it look like you've poured a brand new slab.

There is a secret step you must do to ensure the new stucco or thin concrete bonds to the old concrete. Discover that magic by reading this short past column at the AsktheBuilder website!

Cool Tee Shirts - I Mean Keep-You-Cool Tee Shirts

Last week I began testing some newer technology tee shirts designed for hot weather. We did have a few warm days last week here in New Hampshire, and they were a dream to wear. They are so soft, much softer than cotton.

Last year I switched from wearing 100-percent cotton tee shirts to ones that are 100-percent polyester or a blend of cotton and polyester. I have to tell you that I'm now a huge fan of the polyester or polyester/cotton blends.

This fabric technology does keep me cooler, and when they get wet, they sure seem to dry faster. What's more, the CoolMax tee shirts I tested last week from Duluth Trading Company also have built-in sun-blocking technology with a SPF of 40+.

I love the longer tail as well. If you tuck in your tee shirt, the longer tail keeps you from sharing too much information when you bend over, if you know what I mean.

These shirts come for both women and men. The folks at Duluth Trading Company told me there's a limited supply of these CoolMax tee shirts, so don't put it off if you want to try one.

I don't get a penny from Duluth Trading Company for this write up. I just tested the tee shirts and wanted to let you know what I thought. I'm not a paid shill for them.

Fun Video - Steam Whistle of the Steamboat Natchez

I made a quick trip to New Orleans this past weekend. It's a long story as to why I was there, but I did see lots of the French Quarter, and on Sunday morning I shot this video of the steamboat Natchez paddle-wheeler pulling away from the dock. Each time she does that, she tells everyone at river's edge that she's leaving. Listen for yourself. Turn your speakers UP!

Oh, and I had way too many beignets at the Café Du Monde. One more serving and I'd been in a diabetic coma for sure. If you live in NOLA, I'm sorry but there was absolutely no time for me to schedule a meet up. Next time I'm there, I promise we'll do one.

Another Update on the Washing Machine Valves

Celia S. wrote to me last week after I briefly mentioned the Watts Automatic Shut-Off valve. Please keep in mind I did not test this valve, I just did a quick web search for auto shut-off valves. What I failed to mention was a great point brought up by Celia:

"The Watts valve got bad reviews on Amazon. Even the guy with the good review had a terrible experience with this product, and later updated his review."

Excellent advice Celia! Be sure you take the time to read reviews on Amazon about all products before you buy. Throw out the best and always the worst review and look at the others. Remember, there are always haters and competitors that leave bad reviews. If you see lots and lots of bad reviews, that's a warning flag indeed.

Do You Need a New Roof? Maybe Not!

Installing a new asphalt shingle roof on your home can be expensive. But, do you *really* need a new roof, or can it just be repaired buying you time and saving you money right now?

You may be stunned to discover that you can get by with repairs. An unscrupulous roofer may try to take advantage of you telling you that you need a new roof, when a repair could be all that's required to keep you and your possessions dry.

I created a short document titled, Do I Need a New Roof, that has three videos in it that help show you examples of asphalt shingle roofs that may or may not need to be replaced. This document will give you the confidence you need to make an informed decision. At just under $3, you can't go wrong! Please buy a copy now and tell me what you think.

If you want this document on your Kindle Fire or your iPad that has the Kindle software on it, click here.

This document is part of a new series of electronic products that I'm starting to create. It's called the AsktheBuilder Answers series. They're short, they're to the point and they answer very specific questions. My goal is to create hundreds of these answers about different aspects of projects. I know you frequently get to a fork in the road at times on a project and just need to be pointed in the right direction.

Here's a link to the other AsktheBuilder Answers I've completed.

Many, many more documents are being developed. I hope to have one up about How to Prevent Gravel Drive Washouts completed tomorrow. Later in the week, I hope to be working on - Crown Molding in 60 Minutes - or Less! Oh my gosh, wait till you see the videos in that one!

Video of the Week - French Cleats

Have you ever wondered how to hang a heavy item in such a way that you can just lift up on it and it comes off the wall? The best part is when the object is on the wall, there's virtually no way it can fall or tilt forward by using a method I discovered years ago. Watch this video to see how to improve your home improvement skills and magic! Oui Oui!!

Cleaning Tip of the Week - Horrible Grease-Covered Oven Racks

New oven racks are often nice shiny chrome. Caustic oven cleaners can dull this chrome. What if I told you that you can soak the oven racks in a special solution and a few hours later the caked-on grease comes off with mild rubbing using a Dobie pad? The best part is this special solution is just Stain Solver and water!

I place our oven racks in our utility sink and fill it with about five gallons of hot water. Then I add in one cup (8 oz) of Stain Solver. I let the racks soak for about three hours before I scrub and rinse. You can see a side-by-side photo of my oven rack right here.

Do you need more proof that Stain Solver is the miracle cleaner? Here's an email that Sal sent me last week:

"It really does work on beige floor grout. Stain Solver even removes black hair dye after it was dry!"

Sal carefully and wisely avoided the topic of who was using the hair dye!

Q & A of the Week - Chimney Top Construction Tips

DEAR TIM: My chimney needs some tender loving care. I had a few contractors come to assess the repairs, but none of them made me feel very comfortable. They all talked about how my chimney top, some called it a crown, was in bad shape. What they disagreed on was the method to repair it. Each contractor has a different solution. If you were going to repair or rebuild the top of your chimney, what would you do? Wanda M., Gig Harbor, WA

DEAR WANDA: I sympathize with you. The reason you're getting back all the different types of quotes for the work is because you let each contractor drive the bus. If you want really great quotes, you have to ......

Need to read the rest of this column? Click here.

Sincerely,
Tim Carter

It was an epic day at the Boston Marathon. If you're a new subscriber, I'm a ham radio operator. Approximately 117 other ham operators, and I, worked the race providing mission-critical communications behind the scenes. It was record heat with a searing temperature of 87 F. Based on what I saw in an article on USA Today, yesterday was one degree hotter than in 2004.

The situation was so serious that the race organizers told anyone that was registered this year, they don't have to race. They can just come back next year. The organizers were terrified of mass casualties from runners that were not prepared for the heat.

Runners were dropping from exhaustion like leaves from a tree on a windy autumn day. I was the ham operator at First Aid Station 12 located at 1400 Commonwealth Avenue, in Newton, MA, at mile 18.3. My job was to shadow the station supervisor and call in for ambulances and provide him with any other information.

My next public service ham radio event is the NH Seacoast Bike Ride in May. It's a two-day event on May 19-20, 2012. My call sign, if you're a ham, is W3ATB.

Tip of the Week - Two 16d Sinker Nails Equals ...

If you're trying to anchor a treated 2x4 to a concrete floor, or say a treated 2x2 to a concrete wall for a shelf cleat, you don't need expensive anchors.

You can just use two 16d sinker nails and a hammer. You need to drill a 1/4-inch hole in the wood and into the concrete first.

Then you drive both nails side by side at the same time into the hole. Use nice, firm and square hammer strokes so you don't bend the nails.

You'll be stunned how well this works. If done properly and you have strong concrete, you'll need a crowbar to get the wood off the concrete!

Here's a video showing you how to do it.

Bathroom Remodeling Questions

Are you thinking of remodeling your bathroom, because you can't move? You're not alone.

I'm going to try to demystify the project so you can save lots of money. I can't begin to tell you the number of bathrooms I've remodeled. The last job was at my Cincinnati, OH house. Oh my, when I redid our master bathroom three years ago, it was a monster job. Every plumbing fixture was relocated to a totally different spot! I added a window. I relocated a closet and installed a sweet pocket door.

Please reply to this email with a list of questions you want answered so you can tackle your bathroom remodeling project with minimal help. I'm looking for very specific questions.

Try to avoid asking broad questions like this:

• How do I install ceramic tile?

Instead, you might ask the parts of a process you don't understand:

• What kind of glue is used to install ceramic tile?
• What should the consistency of the wall grout be like?
• Where do I install blocking for wall fixtures?
• Where does the fan exhaust to?

You can ask as many questions as you like. I'll have the answers available soon!

Hail Damage

This past weekend, more people died in the mid-section of the USA because of severe weather. Springtime provides all the necessary ingredients for weather conditions that produce massive thunderstorms that create hail and tornadoes.

The AsktheBuilder.com team created a new page at the website with some dramatic photos of hail damage to a tile roof in Nichols Hill, Oklahoma. DaVinci Roofscapes was kind enough to provide the photos for this page.

DaVinci Roofscapes manufactures a polymer roofing product that looks like real slate or shakes. It's pretty safe to say hail isn't going to break a DaVinci polymer product.

Lonnie, a subscriber from southern Colorado, contacted me about his asphalt shingle he had put on his house from Malarkey Roofing. It was a shingle that has the Class 4 Impact classification, the highest rating possible.

I have had GAF shingles on all my homes, and they have a Class 4 shingle as well. It's their Timberline ArmorShield II. Most of the major asphalt shingle manufacturers have a Class 4 shingle.

If you're getting ready to install a new roof in a part of the nation that regularly gets large hail, you might want to look into a tough roofing material that can take a beating from Mother Nature.

Burst Washing Machine Hoses Follow Up

Randall Perry, a subscriber, took notice of last week's mention about the burst washing machine hoses. Several other subscribers also contacted me. Many thanks to you!

He wanted me to mention that you could go one step further and install a special valve that automatically shuts off the water supply to the washing machine.

Good catch Randall! Thanks for bringing that up. There are any number of devices that will prevent flooding. Here's just one from WATTS.

Use any search engine and just type: washing machine auto shut-off valve

Before and After - Ground-Level Deck

Mike Rignola is an avid DIYer. I'd hire him in a New York minute if I needed help. Take a look at the superb ground-level deck he built so he could watch fish.

I'd LOVE to feature your Before and After photos. Submit them by clicking here.

New Feature - Cleaning Tip of the Week

Last week, I offered up a cleaning tip to Kathy C. in Pensacola, FL. She needed to know how to remove oak tree blossom stains from her white Honda Acura. I was flooded with requests from subscribers to start offering a tip each week. So be it! In case you missed it, here are the Before and After shots of Kathy's car.

Here's this week's cleaning tip. Are you spring cleaning ceramic tile floor grout? Most people get a migraine headache over the thought of that chore! It's easy! Just mix up some of my Stain Solver Oxygen Bleach with warm water, pour it on the grout lines, let it sit for 15 minutes, and lightly scrub, rinse and you're good to go. A five-pound pail of Stain Solver will be plenty to clean the floors in the average house.

Stain Solver in Your Store!

You could be one of my great customers that want Stain Solver to be put in your local hardware store. I can do it with your help! Let's start up here in the Northeast where I have a connection to a local chain. If you help me get it on the shelves in this chain, then we can march quickly across the nation!

If you live in these states: NY, MA, CT, RI, VT, NH or ME, I need your help now. PLEASE reply to this email and change the Subject Line to: Stain Solver in my Store

Then just tell me quickly why you want Stain Solver in your local hardware store.

Video of the Week - Urethane Paint Video

Watch this video and I'll give you a crash course on the glues in paint. The WeatherBeater ULTRA paint in this video was made by Sherwin Williams. Sears no longer carries paint, but Sherwin Williams makes Duration which is a urethane-resin paint.

Sincerely,
Tim Carter