April 29, 2010 AsktheBuilder News And Tips

Posted on by Tim Carter

What's in This Issue?

Latest News
Deck Sealer Test
Sediment Clogging Faucets
Final Call on Gutter Guard Promotion
Annette Needs a Great Roofer
Washington DC Trip
Chain Saw Sharpening Test
Four-Pound Stain Solver Sale

I do product reviews frequently. Please read my Disclosure Policy to understand the relationship between me and the companies that make the products or offer the services I review.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER

Friendly Question Reminder!

If you have a question for me, don't hit the Reply button just yet. Go immediately to my web site and type in the keywords about your problem into my Search engine. The search box is at the top of every page of my web site. You could have your answer in seconds if you do this! Please pay attention to all links you see at my web site. The exact products and services you often need are right in front of you, and you might be ignoring them.

Latest News

I'll be bouncing back and forth between Cincinnati, OH and NH the next few months as we prepare to move Kathy and Kelly up here to NH. I'm pretty excited about that as you can imagine.

There are a few minor projects I'm working on here at the NH house to get it all spiffy for Kathy. We'll be doing lots of interior painting and the painting the exterior of the house as well.

My daughter Meghan is allergic to many things, and we recently tested the Harmony line of paint from Sherwin Williams. The odor in other paints really bothered her in the past, but she had no issues with this new Harmony interior paint. You may want to try it if paint fumes bother you or someone else in your home. Other brands that you may like surely have a similar low-odor paint. Check the labels.

Deck Sealer Test

Today I'm starting a test of three deck sealers. When it warms up, I'll be cleaning two boards way out at the end of my dock with my Stain Solver oxygen bleach. Look below for a quick sale on the four-pound size. It's a long story.

Last year, I cleaned and sealed the dock, but the sealer product I used failed miserably. It still blocks water, but the clear sealant didn't block the damaging UV rays of the sun. The gorgeous cedar turned gray within months.

This sealer was made by a company whose products have always been superior, and this was the new nano-technology clear sealer. I wondered if I got a bad batch.

I called the company and talked last week with the head chemist. We agreed that I didn't do anything wrong, and that the best thing to do is a side-by-side test to see if the same thing happens again.

The chemist thought that UV light bouncing from the water could have been extreme and caused the failure. I don't see how that's possible as the UV light bounces off the water at the complimentary angle it is hitting the water. Thus it goes back up to the sky or anything else it hits. I can see the reflected UV rays hitting the underside of the dock, but not the top.

He also thought that the moisture content of the wood planks was higher because the wood is only 14 inches or so above the surface of the water. I was quick to point out that six months out of the year the dock boards are up on shore stacked so that they are dry and protected from the sun.

I'll tape a video while we apply the sealers so you can watch me test two clear products and one that has a pigment. We'll know in about three months how the sealers are doing. I'll report back with a follow-up video.

Sediment Clogging Faucets

This past week, I've received at least three emails from people who did a plumbing repair that caused them to have to turn off the water in the house.

When they turned the water back on, all of a sudden water is restricted or stops flowing out of certain faucets or fixtures.

Sediment in the pipes is broken loose when you turn on the water at the main valve. This sediment then clogs the small ports in faucet cartridges, the flow restrictors in shower heads and faucet aerators.

You can minimize these issues by SLOWLY turning the water back on making sure ALL hose bibs are open on the outside of your home. This way some or most of the sediment is ejected out of these faucets. This trick works most of the time. Remember, open the main valve VERY slowly to minimize the hard rush of water through your pipes.

Unscrew all faucet aerators before you run water out of the faucets. Flush the lines, then re-install the aerators.

FINAL CALL on Gutter Guard Promotion

Earlier this month, I talked about a special promotion available ONLY to you, because you're a newsletter subscriber. Yes, that's one of the benefits you get by reading these manifestos! :->>>

I started testing gutter-guard products well over ten years ago. It's well documented at my website. All you have to do is go there and watch the videos, read the columns and look at the photos. Use "gutter guard" as your keyword phrase in my Search Engine.

The bottom line is I finally found a few that only let water in the gutter. Many, many other types of gutter guards do let small organic debris into the gutter creating a layer of muck over time.

The manufacturer of the one I chose to put on my own home has been running a decent promotion for this month. It's about to end in TWO days! You need to go to their website and just register to show your name was on the list by the end of business tomorrow.

This company doesn't have dealers in every city. If you get that kind of message, call the Mastershield company, their number is on the website below, and ask them for other options available to you.

Here's the actual text the president of Mastershield sent to me about the promotion:

MasterShield is offering your readers a Manufacturer's Rebate of $1.00 per foot off the purchase price of an installed MasterShield Gutter Protection system during the month of April.  If your newsletter readers fill out the form for a free estimate at our website, we'll immediately know this homeowner is one of your readers and that this special offer should apply.

That's a great deal, especially in these tough economic times. If you're looking for a gutter guard that works, I can tell you that nothing has gotten into my gutters the past three years except water.

Please be aware that I do get paid a small commission if you fill out the form at the Mastershield website AND they have a dealer in your city or town. I only do this type of arrangement for products I actually use and believe in.

Annette Needs a Great Roofer

Annette Rodgers of Wappingers Falls, NY wrote to me yesterday:

I need new siding & a new roof on my home.  Since my husband is deceased I have found that contractors tend to confuse and expect me to just follow their directions.  My home is almost 30 yrs. old. But has good bones so to speak. How can I find an honest contractor that will strive to do the best in quality and price without going overboard or too cheap?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Had Annette been a subscriber two months ago, she would have been aware of the Roofing Checklist I developed over 15 years ago that shows you how to find the pro roofer in your city or town.

The bottom line is that pros can be found in just about every town, you just have to go to where they buy their materials. For example, here in New Hampshire, I just discovered an amazing lumber yard / home-improvement center in Bristol, NH. It's R.P. Williams & Sons.

I was in there three days ago buying some 1/2-inch steel rebar. While I was in the store no less than four contractors stopped in to buy material. I was only there for 10 minutes! Imagine how many are there in a day.

If you talk with the manager or owner of the business, they know the best contractors. You just have to know the questions to ask. I cover all that in my checklists for every project.

Washington DC Trip

I'll be in Washington DC on June 14th and 15th as part of a initiative to help Congress discover more about how advertising really works on the Internet. I'll have a small opportunity to get together then if you live near or in DC. Contact me ASAP if you want to get together.

But I have a huge favor to ask. I'll be driving there from Cincinnati on my way back to NH. I'll have my Super Duty Ford F-250 4x4 towing a 6x10 utility trailer. Suffice it to say the total length is about 37 feet!

For obvious reasons, I can't park downtown where I'll be staying. Can I rent your driveway if you live close to the subway line? I figure I'll park in the burbs and take the subway into town for the two days, then come back and get the truck and trailer.

Suggestions, comments????

Chain Saw Sharpening Test

Today I expect to take delivery of a fantastic tool that sharpens chain-saw blades. If you do it by hand, you invariably change the pitch of the teeth causing the saw to cut in a curve. This causes the blade to bind.

Anyway, watch for that review SOON!!

Four-Pound Stain Solver Sale

Three weeks ago, we had the annual Spring Stain Solver Sale. All sizes were on sale. Stain Solver, for the 1,800 new subscribers here since the last newsletter, is my oxygen bleach that cleans anything water washable, especially floor tile grout. Read what Jennifer from Locust Valley, NY sent me last week:

I wanted to let you know that your product is fabulous!! I have kitchen tile that has colored grout and other than mopping it has never been cleaned. I used your product and let it sit for 1 hour. I was amazed the stained, dirty grout looks brand new!!!! I will recommend it to everyone!!

The new distribution company I use (they do a FANTASTIC job!), got ready for that huge sale looking at the sales figures from last year. The biggest seller last year was the 4-pound size.

Not so this year! Because I offered a bigger discount the more you bought, the 4-pound size came in last place. We have *tons* of 4-pounders waiting for a new home! They are afraid in the dark warehouse at night. I need you to adopt one of these packages.

So I'm offering a 20-percent-off promotion starting today on just the 4-pound size. This offer ends Tuesday May 4, 2010 at midnight Pacific Time. I'll be sending out reminders about this sale, so don't freak out.

AsktheBuilder.com

Firewood Splitter Choices

Posted on by Tim Carter
splitting firewood
The two extremes of firewood spitting tools are shown here. You can use a human-powered maul, or choose 27 tons of hydraulic pressure! PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: Now that the snow has gone, it’s time to cut, split and store firewood for next winter here in the Northeast. Can you tell me what type of firewood splitter you would use if you had to split many cords of firewood? When I was younger, I swung a splitting maul, but now my shoulders are not able to do it for long. I’m also interested in any advice you might have about the storage of firewood. Do you use outdoor firewood racks for your fireplace firewood? Jerry F., North Conway, NH

DEAR JERRY: Hello neighbor! I’m a new resident of New Hampshire and quickly adjusted to the ritual of firewood preparation each spring. Heating a home with firewood is commonplace here, and it can take many cords of split dried wood to heat a home for six months.

I’ve noticed that as I get older my joints aren’t as reliable as they used to be. A very good friend of mine just had to have the rotator cuffs in both of his shoulders repaired. He worked construction like me and the heavy work indeed takes its toll on the body. I have a lesser, though not insignificant, occupational injury to my left thumb that limits my gripping power, so I always look for a mechanical advantage when working.

I have taped videos about firewood splitters that play on YouTube. I show three different types starting with a standard maul. I constantly get comments from young bucks who say a maul is faster and better than any mechanical machine. They may not say that if they saw the power of a commercial log splitter that can actually split long lengths of firewood all at once.

Furthermore, a machine goes for hours and hours at the same speed without a need for rest. You can’t say that about someone swinging a maul. At some point they get tired, very tired.

Regular homeowners can’t justify the cost of those amazing commercial machines, so they have to pick between the other two firewood splitters I show in my video. The two machines both use hydraulics to split the wood, however one is human powered and the other one is powered by a gasoline engine.

The hand-pump splitter is a cute little machine that uses a standard hydraulic car or truck jack to split wood. The jack is mounted horizontally on an I-beam. You can load up to an 18-inch log into the splitter and then start cranking the jack handle back and forth. I’ve split massive oak logs that are up to 24 inches in diameter using this tool. This machine is not fast, but it absolutely can split wood, even log links that have knots in them.

The real powerhouse is the hydraulic log splitter that has a ram similar to those you might see on a backhoe, bulldozer or other piece of heavy equipment. A gasoline engine powers a hydraulic pump that pressurizes hydraulic oil in the ram.

The machine I have can exert 54,000 pounds of pressure on a log. That kind of force will split the most knotty and toughest wood you can find. All you have to do is press lightly on a simple handle that controls the back and forth motion of the hydraulic ram.

These wonderful machines come mounted on small trailers you can tow behind a truck or a car. The most versatile ones allow the hydraulic ram to rotate 90 degrees to the vertical position so you don’t have to lift log links. All you do is stand them up on the ground under the ram and watch the ram slowly push apart the wood as if it's on a Sunday picnic.

I don’t use firewood storage racks, although I can see how handy they are. I do place my firewood up off the ground on 4x4 pieces of lumber so the wood stays dry. At the ends of my stacks, I stack each layer of split pieces of firewood at 90-degree angles to one another. This tower usually produces enough resistance so the firewood doesn’t tumble to the ground at each end of the pile.

I’ve seen all sorts of firewood holders, some of which use discarded wood pallets. The pallets are stood up at the end of the firewood piles acting like elevated retaining walls. Diagonal bracing extends from the pallets to the ground locking them into position. This is a crude method, but it absolutely works if you can’t afford a metal firewood log rack.

It can take months for firewood to dry, so it’s a great idea to cut and split firewood in the early spring. I tested just cutting the logs to firewood length and stacked them to dry for over a year. When I split them, they were still filled with an enormous amount of moisture, even though the links were open to plenty of air and sun. I even had the top of the wood covered to prevent rain from getting on the links. It’s vital to cut and split the wood at the same time.

Be sure to know the correct length to cut your wood. I’ve known people who cut two or three cords of wood only to discover it was 2 inches to long to fit into a fancy wood stove. If you’re cutting up logs, use a long stick that has painted lines representing the correct length for your needs. Set the stick next to the log you’re cutting and simply make a quick starter cut with your chain saw on top of the log that lines up with the painted lines.

Column 828

April 20, 2010 AsktheBuilder News And Tips

Posted on by Tim Carter

What's in This Issue?

Latest News
Campbell Hausfeld Pressure Washer
Painting a Tile Backsplash
Humorous & Embarrassing Home-Improvement Moments
Stains on Siding from Nails
Grumblings About Sales
Applications for Smart Phones
Latest Columns

I do product reviews frequently. Please read my Disclosure Policy to understand the relationship between me and the companies that make the products or offer the services I review.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER

Friendly Question Reminder!

If you have a question for me, don't hit the Reply button just yet. Go immediately to my web site and type in the keywords about your problem into my Search engine. The search box is at the top of every page of my web site. You could have your answer in seconds if you do this! Please pay attention to all links you see at my web site. The exact products and services you often need are right in front of you, and you might be ignoring them.

Latest News

I've been on the road the past two weeks. It was a combination business/pleasure trip. The first week I spent with two great friends, Steve and Rusty, as we drove from Los Angeles, CA to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and then on to Albuquerque, NM. Steve, Rusty and I are members of a secret Internet entrepreneur group that meets twice a year. Our Spring meeting this year was at the Hyatt Tamaya Resort in Albuquerque, NM.

We also stopped and hiked through a slot canyon near the Glen Canyon Dam that forms Lake Powell. It was the Lower Antelope Slot Canyon near Page, AZ. The slot canyon was absolutely amazing. Here are links to a few Google Picasa photo albums of the first five days of the trip. Thanks Google for this great service!

But one of the best highlights of the entire trip happened this past Saturday at the end of the trip. You know that old saying, "Save the best for last." I did just that by planning a visit with one of my oldest subscribers, Ms. Patricia Allen. What I mean by oldest is the length of time Pat has been a subscriber. We tried to set the exact date, but couldn't. However, we know for a fact that Pat subscribed around 1998 or possibly 1997. That's just after I started this newsletter.

I truly enjoy visiting subscribers and try to go out of my way to have these meetings. Thanks Pat for allowing me to spend the afternoon and evening with you! My friend Rusty and his wife Ann were also at dinner with us.

Campbell Hausfeld Pressure Washer

A month ago I got to test a wonderful pressure washer made by Campbell Hausfeld. It was model PW2770. I found it easy to use and it started with ease. I did have to fill the engine with oil before I started it, but that was no big deal. Be sure you always check the oil level before you start any equipment that has an engine.

The machine comes with five different tips from 0 degrees all the way up to 40 degrees. It produced 2,750 PSI of pressure which can really blast away algae and dirt from masonry surfaces. I used the machine to clean my brick patios. I loved the easy way to connect the hose to the machine as well as the cleaning wand.

My only complaint was the design of the handle. It seems to me that it was on the wrong side of the machine. To move the pressure washer from point to point, you have to lift up on the handle like a wheelbarrow. I found that to be very awkward. I tested another Campbell Hausfeld pressure washer a few years back, and the handle design was completely opposite. You just had to tilt the handle back like a two-wheeled hand cart to move the machine. I found that older design much more user friendly.

All in all, I give this pressure washer two hammers up! It's a great buy and well made.

Painting a Tile Backsplash

Nicole from Teaneck, NJ emailed me asking:

"I would like to paint over the ceramic tile that makes up my kitchen back splash. The previous owners never grouted the tile so I'm wondering if I should apply the grout before I paint the tiles or after? I'd like to apply it after so I don't have to worry about painting the grout lines separately but I'm not sure if the process will scratch the newly applied paint. Please help. Thanks!"

Nicole, I would paint the tile first then grout it. Paint is very soft, especially if it's not cured. To protect the paint from the grouting process, I would apply two or three coats of water-based clear urethane before grouting. Allow the paint to dry for three days before you apply the first coat of urethane. Then allow the urethane to cure for at least a week before grouting. If you scratch the urethane while grouting, you should be able to touch it up with a small brush and not see the scuff mark.

Humorous and Embarrassing Home-Improvement Moments

I'm starting a new project. I want to collect hundreds or thousands of funny and embarrassing home-improvement moments. I don't know about you, but with the stress of everyday life getting worse, I feel we need more laughter each week. I'll share one of these stories each week with you in this newsletter and package all of them to share in different volumes as time goes on. I can't do this alone! I need your stories. Submit one here.

I'll start it off with this true story. Yes, even I have had my share of embarrassing moments.

When I first started my tiny remodeling company just after getting out of college in 1974, I was hired to do my first crown molding job in a tiny breakfast nook. How hard could that be I thought. It was obvious that you just cut the wood trim at 45-degree angles and nail it up.

Well, no matter how I put it in the saw and cut it at a 45-degree angle, the gaps where two pieces met in a corner were so big you could taxi a 747 jet airliner through them. Here's a photo of what one of the joints looked like. Ugh!! (Note: Photo to come. Link not available.)

After two hours of frustration, the woman who hired me politely asked me to pack up my tools and go home. I was mortified. Instead of going home with my tail between my legs, I went directly to the public library. In about ten minutes, I discovered exactly what I was doing wrong.

That event was the seed from which my Crown Molding Ebook grew, as I knew other people would make the same mistake I made that morning.

I would be honored if you would send me your stories of your embarrassing or funny moments. All I need is the story, but if you also have photographs of these funny or embarrassing situations, that's all the better! Share your story and any photos or videos. Thanks!

Stains on Siding From Nails

Speaking of photographs, I recently solved a problem for a visitor to my website in about five seconds. I was able to do this because he sent me a close-up photo of stains on his wood siding. This gentleman thought the stains were from the caulk or spackle used to cover the nails.

The photos clearly showed the stains were caused by rusting nails. If you want to use the best nails for exterior siding, invest in stainless steel nails. At the very least, use double hot-dipped hot galvanized nails. Here are links to a few past columns where I discuss the difference between galvanized and stainless-steel nails.

Grumblings About Sales

Over the past two weeks, I received several gripes about the extra emails I've been sending concerning the checklist sales and Stain Solver sales. While at my secret conference, I discovered one of my very close friends wrote a column at his website to explain why he has ads and such on his site and newsletter. It was one of those V8 moments, and I slapped myself on the head. Duh! So I wrote this column answering Dan, one of my subscribers. I'd be very interested in your feedback.

Before you respond, know that there were a grand total of four complaints about the excessive emails and there were thousands of people who took advantage of the promotions. If you want to know my opinion, that tells me all I need to know.

Applications for Smart Phones

Last week I received an email from Marvin Windows about their new application for iPhones. It's called Window Shopping. Here's what it said in their press release about the software:

The Window Shopping app is a tool to help homeowners plan basic designs for windows and doors, inside and outside the house. After taking a photo of an interior or exterior space that could use an upgrade, the app user can choose from nearly 50 resizable photos of Marvin windows and doors, arrange them over the photo, and save or send the photo to share with friends, family or a local Marvin dealer.

I downloaded it with ease on my iPhone. But I was in a hotel room in Phoenix and not able to aim it at one of my house windows.

Speaking of apps, I'm getting ready to develop some AsktheBuilder ones. Once again I could use your help. What applications for your phone would be helpful? Let me know.

Latest Columns

You may have some questions about Window Coverings. This column may help you.

Can you imagine opening a tub of premixed sanded grout? That's Urethane Grout!

AsktheBuilder.com

AsktheBuilder Funny and Embarrassing Stories

Posted on by Tim Carter

Funny and Embarrassing Stories

Do you feel the world needs more laughter?  I sure do, as it seems each day more and more stress is building. With your help, I can share some laughs.
 
I'll bet you have one or more funny or embarrassing home-improvement stories. I know I have my fair share!
 
I want to feature your story in either my newsletter or in a compendium of stories I'll collect. 
 
All you need to do is fill out the simple form below. 
 
Thanks for your contribution!
 

Tim Carter
Founder - AsktheBuilder.com

 




Name:

Email Address:

City, State:

Tell me your funny or embarrassing story.
MY Story:

May I have your permission to use your name or initials if I publish your story?
Permission: Yes, you may use my name and city
Yes, you many use my initials and city
No, just post my story anonymously
Use this feature to send me a photo.

For me to use your story, you need to agree to my Terms and Conditions.
Agreement: I agree.
I agree. You should do stand-up comedy.
I agree. You are a nut.
I agree. You need intensive weekly therapy.

Ads and Promotions in AsktheBuilder.com Newsletters

Posted on by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: I love your newsletter, but why are there ads in it for your products? You also send additional emails during a promotion to remind subscribers a promotion is about to end. I find these ads and extra emails bothersome. - Dan Rybicki

DEAR DAN: Thanks so much for writing to me. I can understand your frustration about extra emails in your Inbox, as all of us seem to be getting overloaded with messages. However, I'm hoping that you'll give me a hall pass because of the give and take of the situation. Let's look at the dynamic of my newsletter and what really happens.

Each time a newsletter goes out, you get hundreds, or possibly thousands, of dollars of tips for free. You get information about the best products for your home. You get suggestions on the best tools to buy. You get announcements about product problems and recalls. The most amazing thing of all, you pay nothing for my newsletter that contains all of this.

But look at it from my side of the fence. I have to spend a tremendous amount of money to actually send the newsletter. The service I use to host the list and send the emails does not do it for free.

My list is over 100,000 subscribers, so project what you think I spend each month to host and send the newsletter. I'll give you a clue: it could make a mortgage payment on a sizable home!

Add to that the lost opportunity cost. Instead of investing all the time testing and reviewing tools and products, writing the newsletter, etc., I could be writing columns and doing videos that make money. I'm like you; I have to support my family and pay my bills. If I didn't want to work on the newsletter, I could spend that time with my family, doing a recreational activity, reading a book or just relaxing.

With this in mind, I would think that you could tolerate promotions within newsletters for my products and reminder emails for those who want to buy them at a reduced price, but procrastinate and put off the transaction until the last moment. The money made for doing this is my reward for spending time producing the newsletter.

Add to this, I would think that you would welcome the opportunity to save money from time to time, instead of having to pay full price for my products. But perhaps I'm mistaken and you prefer to pay full retail all of the time.

You could always subscribe to an ad-free version. Would you prefer that?

April 12, 2010 AsktheBuilder Newsletter And Tips

Posted on by Tim Carter

You may not believe this, but I add about 150 new subscribers per day.

That means since I sent out the unusual Sunday announcement yesterday, there are now about 225 new members of the AsktheBuilder family. Welcome!

If you're one of the new subscribers, this is a very abbreviated newsletter.

Each year I have a massive sale on my Stain Solver oxygen bleach.

The sale ends in a few hours - at 8 a.m. ET April 13th, 2010. That's tomorrow morning for me.

You'll NOT see a sale of this many sizes at the same time for another year. When I say LAST CHANCE, you'll discover quickly I mean it. I don't mince words in my newsletters.

You can save up to 25 percent off the jumbo 50-pounder size. If you order the smaller sizes, the discount is less, but substantial:

  • 4-pound size = 15% discount
  • 8 and 16-pound size = 20% discount

But you only get the discount if you act now. I guarantee you a few will miss this sale and be upset. That's why I'm sending out this reminder. The prices go up tomorrow morning at 8:01 a.m. ET sharp. The only way they won't is if Roger, my assistant, calls in sick or the Internet is shut down.

But don't count on that happening. The last time Roger missed a work day for sickness, I believe, was back in 1982.

http://www.StainSolver.com

Tim Carter
Founder - AsktheBuilder.com

P.S. I forgot to add, if you're a new subscriber, that Stain Solver is one of the most powerful oxygen bleaches out there. It cleans anything water washable. Go watch the video at the home page of the site.

P.P.S. Oh, it's also an incredible deodorizer. When you're at the Stain Solver website, read just a few of the reviews or testimonials. They're real. Some will blow you away for sure. But here's one I got from Sarah H., who lives in Hollis, Maine. She sent it last night to me: "My son was lucky enough to get hand-me-down hockey equipment. The unlucky part was the odor. I soaked the equipment, gloves and all, in the washing machine with hot water and Stain Solver for a few hours. I was amazed at the dirt and grime that got "lifted" from the equipment. I also use Stain Solver regularly on my husband's work clothes. Wonderful product and I just ordered another 50 pounds. Thanks!"

AsktheBuilder.com

April 11, 2010 AsktheBuilder Newsletter And Tips

Posted on by Tim Carter

What's in This Issue?

Stain Solver Sale Almost Over
Chinese Drywall Update
Regular Newsletter

I do product reviews frequently. Please read my Disclosure Policy to understand the relationship between me and the companies that make the products or offer the services I review.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER

Friendly Question Reminder!

If you have a question for me, don't hit the Reply button just yet. Go immediately to my web site and type in the keywords about your problem into my Search engine. The search box is at the top of every page of my web site. You could have your answer in seconds if you do this! Please pay attention to all links you see at my web site. The exact products and services you often need are right in front of you, and you might be ignoring them.

Stain Solver Sale Almost Over

If you're a new subscriber, this is an unusual Sunday broadcast. If you've been around the block or two with me, then you know that it's Spring and that means decks, docks, patios, tile floors, etc. all have to be cleaned.

I have many columns and videos, too many to list, at the website showing you how to safely do all these tasks.

In each of these, you'll see me using oxygen bleach. Every Spring, I have an annual sale on my brand of this magical product, Stain Solver. Oxygen bleach is a green and organic cleaner that's been in my store for over ten years BEFORE this current fad of Green Products hit the market. Mine happens to be one of the most powerful made in the USA.

I did something different this year with my sale, and sure enough, it's working.

Last year, we sold more of the four-pound size than any other. But this year, because the discount increases the more you buy, the 16 and 50-pound sizes are flying off the shelves. In fact, a few days ago we set a new record for the number of 50-pound sizes shipped in one day. I can tell you the UPS truck's bumper was much closer to the ground when it left the shipping dock than when it arrived.

I announced this sale five days ago. There are only two days left before the prices go back up. If you're a long-time subscriber, you know I don't do these sales frequently. In these tough times, now's the time to react and save some real money.

The sale ends on Tuesday morning, April 13, 2010 at 8 a.m. ET sharp. If you arrive at the cart late, you'll miss the sale price. When the sale's over it's over. You can save up to 25 percent on the 50-pound size if you order before the sale ends.

Please go to the Stain Solver home page and watch the video there. You'll love the ending. It was totally unscripted.

Chinese Drywall Update

Last issue, I talked about the Chinese Drywall problems. I tried to create a link from the newsletter to a USA Today story, but the link would not work. Boy, did I hear about that!

You were probably one who wanted to know how to identify if you have this very bad product.

Within hours of the newsletter arriving in your email box, I had Roger create a Chinese Drywall page at my website for you. Go there and see all the outbound links to things that will help you.

If you want to see if you have Chinese drywall in your home, the only way I know how is to find a factory butt edge along the 4-foot side of a sheet of the product. See if the remaining part of the label shows it to be of Chinese origin.

These labels on drywall are shown at the page of my website, but understand that only part of the label remains after the drywall is installed. This remnant label is up against the studs, so you have to do destructive work to find one.

I suggest taking off the baseboard on a long wall. Remember, sheets of drywall are usually 8, 10 and 12-feet long. Look down at the bottom of the wall for a butt seam where two piece of drywall meet on the wall. If you don't have a long wall, then there's a great chance you'll find the label edge in a corner.

Make a small cut with a hand-held drywall saw to be able to get at a small piece of drywall. The piece needs to be at least 6-inches tall. Look at the back of the drywall for the label. See if it's a Chinese product or one made by a US Company.

Good luck!

Regular Newsletter

A regular newsletter will be out on Tuesday. In that one, I talk about my recent test of a Campbell Hausfeld pressure washer. You don't want to miss that review. Speaking of things NOT to miss, be sure you get your Stain Solver.

I'll also share some photos I've taken while on my trip out West. I'm sending this newsletter from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

AsktheBuilder.com

April 6, 2010 AsktheBuilder Newsletter And Tips

Posted on by Tim Carter

What’s in This Issue?

Latest News
Chinese Drywall
Plastic Shims
Annual Spring Stain Solver Sale
Faux Painting Kitchen Cabinets
Gutter Guards
Latest Columns

I do product reviews frequently. Please read my Disclosure Policy to understand the relationship between me and the companies that make the products or offer the services I review.

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Latest News

I'll be on a plane headed West in a few hours for two weeks of R&R mixed with some high-powered business. A week from today, I'll be attending the spring conference with many of my close Internet entrepreneur friends. This next week will be spent visiting some National Parks and other scenic spots in the Southwest that I've not been to in over 40 years.

At the end of the trip, I'll be visiting one of my original subscribers. I've communicated on the phone and via email with Patricia for over 13 years, but never seen her. For years, I've promised to stop and see her. She's given me permission to do a video together, so I can't wait for that. I'll upload that video and share it once I'm back.

If you're a new subscriber, I try to always carve out time when I travel to meet you. I'm doing it again in Albuquerque, NM next week. I had planned for next Monday at a Starbucks, but that was before I looked at my itinerary.

It's impossible for me to be at that location that early in the day. I'll not yet have arrived in town. Sorry for the oversight! If you do want to get together next week in ABQ, email me and we'll figure out a time and place.

Chinese Drywall

This past week, Dave, a subscriber who lives in Florida, gave me a second heads up about the severe issue with Chinese drywall. Dave first brought this to my attention many months ago, and I broke that story here in the newsletter.

The latest news  is that houses with this material need to be gutted according to the most recent directive from the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

This drywall contains fly ash from Chinese power plants. The trouble is some of these plants burn high-sulfur coal and the ash has way too much sulfur in it. It then off-gases hydrogen sulfide which corrodes copper wiring, and just about any other metal found in homes like air-conditioning coils, gas piping, etc.

This drywall streamed into the USA a few years back when there was a huge demand to rebuild from back-to-back natural disasters. The Southeast part of the USA seems to be the hardest hit.

What a mess. I sincerely hope you don't have this product in your home.

Plastic Shims

Last month I was in Cincinnati, OH, getting my house ready to sell. While I was gone, a manufacturer sent me a sample packet of plastic shims to my office in New Hampshire. They're called Handi-Shim.

While pretty pricey compared to a bundle of traditional cedar shims you'd pick up a lumber yard, these can come in handy if you need to space things evenly. A traditional shim is a long wedge that gives you infinite adjusting capability. These plastic shims don't have that. They are flat and come in different thicknesses. You can make adjustments to the 1/32nd of an inch.

They're great in places where you can't afford a shim to compress or rot over time. I'm sure I'll use them in any number of places.

Annual Spring Stain Solver Sale

I've talked about this for weeks, and it's now time! Each spring, I have the biggest sale of the year on my Stain Solver. Last year you nearly crushed us with orders. Every person who was associated with AsktheBuilder and could fog a mirror was in the warehouse mixing, pouring and packing. You and us together made a sizeable contribution to the UPS Pension Fund!

If you're about to clean a wood deck, a composite-wood deck, a dock, etc., this is the product you need. Maybe you're hosting a graduation party or a wedding event at your home and need to make that grout in your tile floors look like new. Stain Solver is the magic product to do that. In fact, a close friend of mine calls the product Uncle Tim's Magic Crystals. It cleans anything water washable.

Carpet stains, red-wine stains, chocolate stains, etc. are easily removed. A woman two weeks ago told me it saved a special embroidered shirt. Her husband had tried every other stain remover with no luck. My Stain Solver made it look like new in a few minutes. I have thousands of success stories, many are at the Stain Solver website.

This sale only lasts a week, and it only happens once a year. If you're a seasoned subscriber, you know I'm not yanking your chain. You'll regret not buying it now.

This sale is a little different than last year's. This time you get rewarded the more you buy. Here's the details:

  • You get 15 percent off the four-pound size
  • You get 20 percent off the eight and sixteen-pound sizes
  • You get 25 percent off the monster fifty-pound size

The sale ends Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 8 a.m. Eastern Time. I'll be sending reminders in case you don't open this email.

Faux Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Dixie Glover from Cowarts, AL emailed me a day ago. She asked:

I have some light-colored cabinets that are not real wood. I want to paint them to look like they are cherry wood. Someone has told me to use a rose/mauve/pink paint with a dark plum glaze over it. Do you think this will work or do you have any suggestions?

Dixie, faux painting like this can be done. I was lucky enough a few years ago to watch a master do this. His name is Gary Lord. There are many artists and master painters that can do what Gary does. Gary has several books you may want to read to help you.

The bottom line is you absolutely can produce this effect. How hard will it be? Well, it's absolutely going to take some practice. But that's the neat thing. You can practice on a cabinet door until you get the technique down, or choose to practice on a smooth piece of plywood. Once you get the colors and graining you want, then do all the cabinets. Take before and after photos so we can all see how it comes out. Good luck!

Gutter Guards

Several weeks ago, I mentioned that I'd be talking about spring tasks. You may think cleaning gutters is something for the Fall. In my experience of testing gutter guard products over the past 12 years or so, Spring is when most of them fail.

You see, deciduous trees produce flowers each spring that in turn, create the seeds. These flower blossoms rain down on roofs and end up in gutters. It created a huge issue at my Cincinnati house, and I was not alone. Over the years, I've tested MANY gutter guards, and I've never been paid to do a test. You can read all the columns about this at my website if you just type:

gutter guard

into my search engine.

For years, I tried to discover the gutter guard that wouldn't fail in this situation. I found it about three years ago. You can watch two videos that document this test. I apologize in advance about the tie-dye shirt in the one video. I happen to like bright colors and tie-dye.

Latest Columns

You want your interior steps to be the most unique? Look how you can paint them.

Cork Flooring Planks work well. I have had cork flooring for years.

Pedestal Sink Pluses and Minuses

Did you ever think of having drawers in EVERY kitchen cabinet? See my cabinet drawers.

AsktheBuilder.com

Asphalt Driveway

Posted on by Tim Carter

asphalt driveway

This asphalt driveway is eight years old and has survived punishing frost heaves with little cracking. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: I grew up with an asphalt driveway, but my husband had a concrete drive. We’re debating what type to install as our current drive is in horrible shape. My contention is the asphalt driveway cost will be less than concrete. But my husband doesn’t want to mess with asphalt driveway sealer every year or so. What would you install at your home? What are the pros and cons of a new asphalt driveway? Lisa G., Burbank, CA

DEAR LISA: Let’s start by saying I’ve had both types of driveways at homes I’ve owned as well as a third possibility that you didn’t mention. I’ve had great success with all the driveways with respect to their ability to withstand heavy trucks, wear and tear, and virtually no maintenance. Yes, I said little maintenance with an asphalt driveway.

Asphalt driveway paving is a huge business, and you’ll probably discover many different contractors in your area that specialize in this trade. Asphalt is fairly easy to install if you have the right machinery and a good crew that understands the material.

Asphalt is not too much different than concrete with respect to how it’s made. Both asphalt and concrete are made with stones and sand. But the binder that locks them together is completely different. Concrete uses Portland cement, while asphalt or blacktop uses asphalt cement. Asphalt is a very unique compound because at normal temperature ranges it can be flexible. This can be an advantage with paving.

When crude oil is low in price, the cost of an asphalt driveway is usually less than concrete. This is not always true as there are so many variables associated with each job. You simply have to get an asphalt driveway estimate along with one for concrete to make your decision, if it’s purely a cost issue.

But there are other things you should consider. Asphalt drives can contribute to staining of floors in your home if you’re not religious about taking off your shoes at the door. You can track in the oils from asphalt drives, as well as asphalt driveway sealer, if you leave your shoes on and walk around the house. My in-laws home had gorgeous white vinyl flooring in their kitchen that had yellow pathways created by the oils tracked in from the asphalt.

Sealing an asphalt driveway doesn’t have to happen as frequently as you might think. The current home I’m in has an asphalt driveway that’s eight-years old. It’s in nearly perfect condition, and has never been sealed. It’s absolutely true that sealers will help prevent water from seeping into tiny cracks in the surface, but I see none of those on my driveway.

Large asphalt roadways are not sealed, but they are sometimes coated with a rejuvenation product that helps extend the life of the asphalt cement that holds together the rocks and sand in your driveway. Ask your local asphalt contractors what they know about the rejuvenation coatings.

If you decide to go with an asphalt driveway, you need to understand where they derive their strength. Because the asphalt can actually move when it gets hot, the crushed gravel beneath the drive must be deep and well compacted. The soil under the gravel should be very strong, well drained and compacted. It’ not a bad idea to install a geo-textile fabric between the soil and the crushed gravel.

Asphalt driveway construction is a true science. I would install no less than 8 inches of crushed gravel under any asphalt drive I was installing. It should be installed 4 inches at a time and each layer well compacted. The gravel should extend at least 6 inches beyond the final edge of the finished asphalt if you want the edged of your drive to withstand heavy loads with no cracks.

If you’re considering asphalt driveway resurfacing, understand that you have several things that need to be thought out. Cracks in existing paving can telegraph through the new surface. If you want a perfectly smooth driveway for years, you may want to start over putting the new asphalt on freshly compacted gravel.

Adding one layer of asphalt on top of another can be problematic at sidewalks, garages, etc. The existing driveway may have great drainage away from these abutting surfaces, but the new driveway may create ponding issues. Be sure to discuss this possibility with your contractor. You want great drainage and no miniature ponds on your new drive.

Do NOT seal a new asphalt driveway for at least a year. You don’t need to seal it until it starts to turn gray or you see that the asphalt cement has worn off many of the small rocks.

You want a driveway that puts heads on a swivel? Go with a tar and chip driveway. It’s a hybrid asphalt driveway where liquid asphalt cement is squirted onto gravel and small colored stone chips are broadcast into the hot tar. Once it cools, you have a magnificent surface that wears like iron.

Column 827

Decking Boards

Posted on by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: I’m confused about which decking boards to use on my new deck. There are different wood species and types as well as the entire family of composite decking boards. What type have you had experience with and which ones are the best? Is there really a maintenance-free decking board made? What’s the safest way to clean a dirty deck? Should I use a pressure washer or elbow grease? Frank W., Bennington, VT

DEAR FRANK: If you want to get confused about deck boards, I suggest you attend one of the huge national shows I routinely attend. In one giant hall, there seems to be every flavor of deck board you could imagine. Each representative tries to cast a spell on you as you listen to their pitch about why their product is better than the rest. I’ve heard many claims over the years that don’t seem to stand the test of time.

These are composite decking boards that have been exposed to harsh sun for eight years. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

Let’s talk about the claims I distinctly remember about treated decking from 40 years ago. When the salesman told me about this material, he clearly said maintenance-free. Well, that was wrong. Granted, he may have not been trained properly, but anyone who’s ever had a treated-lumber deck knows they require periodic cleaning and sealing.

If you neglect a wood deck, small checking cracks eventually become giant fissures as the wood rips itself apart as it soaks up water and then liberates it when the sun comes out. Add to that the highly destructive effects of ultraviolet light from the sun and you can see why traditional wood is the heartache of many a homeowner. Just about everyone loves the look and feel of real wood deck boards, but I don’t know of anyone who looks forward to caring for it.

If you do start to lean towards real wood, pay attention to the different species that may be available near you. Cedar and redwood have natural rot-resistant chemicals in them. Different grades of these species sometimes are often affordable and look great. Clear boards that have no or tiny knots are almost always the most expensive.

Plastic deck boards are commonly called composite decking, so watch for that when you shop. You can get pure plastic or vinyl decking if you like. Be sure to view that on a sunny day at an outdoor exhibit where it’s been installed. The first time I saw white plastic decking, I got an intense headache because I didn’t have sunglasses with me. The glare was blinding.

Real composite deck boards are typically a mix of wood fibers and some type of plastic resin. Some of the plastic is recycled and some can be virgin resin. There are blends as well.

EB015 Cleaning & Sealing Deck eBoo CoverIf you do research, you’ll quickly discover there have been recalls, failures and rot problems with some of the composite decking. That’s not to say it’s a total failure. It’s an industry that’s still finding its way in many respects. The home I just bought has a composite decking that’s eight years old, and it has a very splotchy appearance. When you look closely it appears that the blend of wood fibers and plastic is not consistent through the product.

I’ve installed countless different decking boards and have to say at this point that real wood is still my favorite. Redwood, a species that is grown like corn or wheat, is a drop-dead gorgeous wood decking.

All decks have to be cleaned periodically. Airborne dirt, algae, mold and mildew can collect on these massive horizontal surfaces. I’ve seen many decks ruined by pressure washers that blasted away much of the lighter-colored spring wood that’s found between the darker bands of summer wood grain. You may be able to use one of these powerful machines without damaging the wood, but pay very close attention as you work. Do the same if you hire a professional.

CLICK here to order Stain Solver Oxygen Bleach

I prefer to use elbow grease and oxygen bleach. Do not use chlorine bleach and water as is recommended by many others. Chlorine is toxic to all vegetation around the deck, it takes the natural color out of the wood, and it can accelerate the corrosion of any nails, screws, and framing connectors used to construct the deck. Oxygen bleach will not cause any of these problems.

Oxygen bleach can be safely used on all decking boards except redwood. In certain instances, it can make redwood darker. All composite decks and vinyl decking can be cleaned safely with any oxygen bleach.

Some homeowners confuse decking defects with deep mold or mildew in their decks. Recently a homeowner sent me photos of his deck that he had just cleaned with oxygen bleach. He felt the product was inferior as the deck was not an even color when dry. The photos clearly showed that the decking suffered from the same defect as mine - there were uneven splotches of dark plastic resin and then areas of wood fibers. I pointed this out and the homeowner said I was the first expert to have noticed this.

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