Pink Tool Belt Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Hi, thanks for stopping by. I am Tim Carter from AsktheBuilder.com. I am doing a little bit of work on my deck today. When I work on projects like this, I prefer to have all my tools with me. So I want to talk a little about tool belts and how they can save you a lot of time.

This particular tool belt reminds me of the one I have 35 years ago when I first got in the business. This one is made out of leather and has four primary pockets, two on each hip. It also has the center pouch typically used for a tape measure. This pocket makes the tape nice and handy.

The hip pockets normally have the front pocket slightly smaller then the back pocket. The front pocket is ideal for nails and screws or smaller tools. The bigger pockets work great for your standard tools, like a level and pliers.

On this belt, there is a leather loop on the side for holding a hammer. And two slots for nail sets and a pocket for a carpenter’s pencil. On the other side, there is a special pocket for a cell phone. Okay, that wasn’t on my tool belt from 35 years ago. Cell phones weren’t around.

Tool belts will save you a lot of time and money by having a lot of your tools handy.

Wait a minute! Are you laughing at my tool belt? It's the color. Don't be a color hater. It is just lightish-red.

Read the story behind this tool belt.

September 28, 2010 AsktheBuilder Tips And News

Posted on by Tim Carter

What’s in This Issue?

Fall
Crazy Survey
Sleek 2-Foot Level
Toilet Repair
Ghost Closing Door
AsktheBuilder Live Event
Screwpop Tool
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.

 

Fall is here, unless of course you're below the equator and you're celebrating spring! Here in New Hampshire, the trees are putting on a show. The next two weeks should be glorious. Right now we're getting much-needed rain here so that means Mt. Washington should have a crown of snow by weekend.

Last week I captured the most glorious sunrise of my life. I wanted to share the photos with you hoping that you're blessed one day to see something like I did.

There's lots to cover in this issue, so let's get to work.

Crazy Survey

I moved myself, my family and my business to New Hampshire over the past two years. Kathy finally made it up here a little over a month ago. Part of our decision was based on finances. New Hampshire has no personal income tax and no sales tax. Imagine if you're a small business person and had that extra income at your disposal each week/month.

If you're a small or medium business owner, would you consider taking this quick ONE-question survey that will help me? Thanks, it will only take you about 30 seconds, then you can get back to the rest of the newsletter. (Survey is closed.)

Sleek 2-Foot Level

I recently tested a consumer-grade level made by the Empire Level Company. It's a box level, and on their own website they clearly state that it's at the bottom of their food chain. I found it to be a really decent level on par with some of the pro models I've worked with in the past. I can't talk to it's durability over time, as it hasn't bounced around in the back of my truck or fallen off a ladder several times. But if you get this level and take care of it, it should work well for you.

Toilet Repair

Last week Kathy asked me to repair the pesky flapper valve in the master bathroom toilet. It recently started to stay in the up position causing the toilet to run. While I was at it, I decided to replace the filler valve as it was original and looking worse for wear. I've had great success with Fluidmaster products for years and selected them for this job.

The tip I wanted to share was that I also replaced the supply tube or hose that runs from the wall valve to the underside of the toilet. All too often I see people try to reuse the existing supply tube. This can sometimes lead to chronic leaks as the seal at the toilet end of the tube doesn't seat well with the new filler valve. I prefer the newer stainless-steel braided hoses for the supply piping. They're virtually foolproof.

Also, if your shutoff valve works, great. But when you turn the valve back on to fill the toilet, you may have a leak around the valve stem. Tighten the nut on the valve stem about 1/8th turn and that should solve the problem. Always place a dry paper towel under the valve and the filler valve to use as your leak detector. Check on the toilet every 15 minutes to see if you have a drip.

Ghost Closing Door

While I was fixing the bathroom toilet, Kathy also asked me to fix the door to the master bathroom. It had this annoying habit of slowly closing itself. It's a good idea to leave it open so that you get air flow into the bath thus keeping the humidity as low as possible. This helps stop mold growth.

To solve the problem, I just removed the center hinge pin, took it out to the garage and laid it down on the concrete floor. I then took a hammer and whacked the center of the pin putting a decent bend in the shaft. This bent pin created enough friction to stop the door from closing. You may need to do this to all the pins in your door if it's a heavy one.

AsktheBuilder LIVE Event Soon!

I'll be in Lebanon, NH on Saturday October 16th, from 10-Noon at Cabinetry Concepts.

I plan to answer all of your home-improvement questions that morning. We'll talk about the top three questions I get day in day out to start things off. If you live within a couple hundred miles of Lebanon, NH, you really should attend. Why? Get a load of some of the FREE prizes we'll be giving away:

  • Tools from TomBoy Tools courtesy of Cindi Dugger
  • Two Campbell Hausfeld air compressor kits
  • Extreme Defy Deck and Masonry Sealer by SaverSystems.com
  • Workshop Metal Pegboard Kit by WallControl.com
  • Gorilla Glue and Gorilla Glue Gear!
  • Worx 16-inch Electric Chain Saw
  • Bosch Power Tools
  • Dremel Tool kits
  • Free Ceramic Tile Books courtesy of Matt Seillig
  • and possibly more!

It gets better. Plato Woodworks, a very fine cabinet line in the Cabinetry Concepts showroom, is offering a coupon to those who attend the event. This coupon alone, depending on the size of your new kitchen, could be worth thousands of dollars. If that isn't worth a trip to the gorgeous upper valley of New Hampshire and Vermont, I don't know what is.

I'm sure I'll add in a special secret promotion as well for all my products, including Stain Solver. But you'll have to be there to get it.

I'll have links to all the great prizes next issue. Just be aware that I'm giving away some amazing things. You really should come to this event. Wait till you see the Cabinetry Concepts showroom with all the cabinets, tops, flooring materials and the lighting showroom next door. You'll really love what you'll see. If you don't live nearby, but have friends or relatives who do, you should tell them to stop by. They might go home with some great loot.

Screwpop Tool

Tool manufacturers send me tools all the time to review. Some are fantastic and others are ho hum. Two weeks ago, I was sent this tiny screwdriver tool. It has one removable bit in it that works for slotted or Phillips screws. The round handle of the tool has a tab that allows you to open capped bottles that are not equipped with screw threads.

Anyway, I wasn't impressed by the tool as it only will allow you to remove short screws that don't require lots of force to turn. A company representative contacted me about my thoughts and I told him he probably wouldn't like the review. He said to publish the review and was quick to point out that you can use the slotted screw tip to open paint cans. Well, maybe a new paint can, but not one with paint in the rim. You'll ruin the lid using such a tiny tip.

Just the other day, I saw a jar filled with them at my local hardware store in Meredith, NH. I asked Rich, the manager, if they are selling well. Rich replied, "Oh, maybe we've sold one or two." Ho Hum......

Latest Columns

Garage Door Opener

AsktheBuilder.com
100 Swain Rd.
Meredith, NH 03253, USA

Rock Wall

Posted on by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: While peeping at the colorful autumn leaves in New England, I saw more than one rock wall. I was so impressed with them and wonder if rock retaining walls really hold up over time. What are some of the best practices used when building these natural wonders that seem as strong as they are beautiful? How do you lift the heavy rocks and stones? Beverly W., Erie, PA

DEAR BEVERLY: Dry stone wall construction has been a standard practice in New England and other parts of the world for centuries. I’ve been told that the original settlers used tree stumps at first to create fences that kept livestock from wandering. They then replaced these temporary walls with rock and stone as they started to clear their fields. There are stone walls in New England that date back hundreds of years. Built correctly, they’ll last many generations.

This rock wall tilts backwards and is held in place entirely by gravity. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

This rock wall tilts backwards and is held in place entirely by gravity. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

Thousands of miles of rock and stone walls exist in New England. History tells us that as recently as the 1850’s approximately 80 percent of the land area of New Hampshire was cleared of most trees. The land was used as pastureland for sheep. The wool from the sheep kept the textile mills, one of the primary industries of New England in the 1800’s, at full capacity as the fiber was transformed into garments.

The farmers needed to control where the sheep grazed and soon discovered rock walls were the way to go. I’m convinced this technology came with the settlers from across the Atlantic Ocean as you can find stone walls in farms all over the United Kingdom.

In my opinion, there are two types of stone walls. One is free standing that creates a fence or boundary. The other is a stone retaining wall. The method of construction for both is somewhat similar, however a stone retaining wall requires some engineering if you want it to last hundreds of years.

A free-standing stone wall can be made by stacking a single row of stones that interlock with one another. You’ll also find walls that are much wider and have multiple rows of interlocking rock. Both will work, but the thicker walls often will last longer especially if they are wider at the bottom than at the top.

PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

Rocks that are more angular than rounded stack easier and are more stable. The angular rock resist movement induced by gravity and frost heaving. The severe frost heaving, which causes the stone walls to move up in the winter then back down in spring when the ground thaws, often doesn’t cause damage to the walls because they’re dry stone wall construction. This means no mortar or cement is used to bond the rocks together. Friction and gravity are all that keep the stones from tumbling down.

One good practice to follow is to use larger stones as often as possible for the lower courses. As you go higher building the stone walls, use progressively smaller stones.

Retaining walls that are higher than 3 feet should tilt backwards into the hillside. This is commonly referred to as battering. It’s not uncommon for you to see 6 inches of backwards tilt for every 4 vertical feet of height. Some structural engineers may call for even more tilt.

Drainage is also very important. Fortunately, stone walls that are laid dry with no mortar allow water to pass right through them. But you need to be sure the backside of the rock wall is filled with smaller stones, rounded gravel or crushed gravel that allows any groundwater to easily flow and not get trapped behind the wall. Trapped water just adds to the overall weight of the soil that the retaining wall is trying to hold up.

You can lift the heavy stone any number of ways. Many tool rental businesses will rent you an excavator that has a thumb as part of the bucket. This extra feature works just like your own thumbs allowing it to grab and hold onto a large stone while it’s carefully placed. Before hydraulic equipment was used, I assume that the stones were put in place using the simplest machines of all, the inclined plane and lever.

Working with heavy rock and stone can be highly hazardous to your health and well being. You can quickly crush hands and feet. Broken bones are also not uncommon if a stone tumbles and strikes your arms or legs. Use extreme caution when working with heavy rock.

If you’ve never installed a stone wall, talk to an installer, watch them work or study existing walls in great detail to see how they were constructed. Take photos of what appear to be walls well over a hundred years old. Copy the pattern and methodology as best you can.

Be aware that some stones are set in the wall with the long axis pointing back into the wall. Doing this frequently allows you to interlock those rock with ones behind the wall you can’t see.

Realize that taller stone retaining walls may be as thick as three or four feet at their base. There are hidden rows of rock and stone you can’t see that are integral to the structure and success of the wall.

Column 850

Concrete Foundation

Posted on by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: I’m going to be building a new house, even in this tough economy. I’m leaning towards a concrete foundation, but I’ve seen all sorts of alternative foundations such as concrete block, wood, and even rock. What can you tell me that will help me decide? I’m looking for strength and energy efficiency. What would you install in your own home? Connie W., Athens, GA

DEAR CONNIE: Oh boy, your question is more dangerous than walking through a minefield. All of the foundation types you mentioned have the characteristics that are important to you, so each contractor or trade group that makes the products that goes into each foundation could argue a very strong case. You can build any of these foundations and make them very energy efficient.

This concrete foundation should last for hundreds of years, if not longer. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

This concrete foundation should last for hundreds of years, if not longer. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

I tend to look at history when faced with questions like yours. It’s important to me to see what materials last when put to the test against Mother Nature. Look at things that have lasted thousands of years and you’ll always come back to rock or masonry. Wood, even treated lumber, doesn’t fair as well as rock. Granted, you can find wood that has lasted for thousands of years, but there are almost always special conditions that have allowed it to resist decay.

While on the subject of wood, I’d personally never used treated lumber as a foundation material. About 18 years ago, I built a playset using treated lumber. Five years ago, I took it down to build a storage shed. Much to my surprise the posts that were in the ground were attacked successfully by termites. These posts were treated for below-ground burial. Perhaps some error happened at the factory such that the lumber didn’t get the correct chemical or it was mislabeled. Whatever, I don’t want to hope my foundation will last.

A residential concrete foundation is actually rock. There is an actual rock type that looks just like concrete called conglomerate. Man-made concrete is artificial rock. Mixed, poured, finished and cured correctly it can last for thousands of years. Add steel to the concrete and you get additional strength.

You may not care that the foundation lasts for even a hundred years, as you may move or otherwise vacate the house. But you want strength so that while you occupy it you’re able to live in the house never having to worry one moment about the foundation moving, cracking or failing.

You can achieve the energy efficiency you want by building an insulated concrete foundation. For over a decade you’ve been able to use foam forms that are filled with concrete. Some allow you to create ledges that allow you to install a natural stone veneer wherever the foundation is exposed above ground. I’m fairly certain these are the exact concrete foundation forms I’ll be using on my own new home.

Concrete block is technically a poured concrete foundation, as each block is made from concrete that contains small pieces of rock. If you decide to use concrete block, be sure the inner cores are filled with concrete after the block are laid. You also need vertical and horizontal steel in the concrete block to resist stresses that Mother Nature will exert against the block.

If you decide to go with concrete, you’ll need some great concrete foundation specifications. Don’t hope that your contractor will do it correctly. Remember that hope is the emotion of last resort. Never ever make a decision based on hope.

The written specifications will address the thickness of the foundation walls, the need for horizontal and vertical steel bars, the size, spacing and placement of the steel, the strength of the concrete, etc. You live where it rarely gets cold, but if you were in a cold climate, there are additional specifications that must be followed if the foundation is poured in cold weather.

The concrete foundation mix will usually contain stones, sand, Portland Cement and water. To allow the concrete to flow in the forms, it needs to be fairly plastic. This almost always means that more cement is added to the mix at the ready-mix concrete plant.

If you blend the concrete as you might for a driveway or sidewalk and then add water at the job site to get it to the proper consistency, the cured concrete may not be as strong as it should be because the Portland cement in the mix was diluted too much.

Be careful about placing dirt against the freshly poured concrete foundation. It can take at least a week under ideal curing conditions for the concrete to achieve 75 percent of its design strength. You can easily crack a new foundation if you backfill too quickly.

Don’t forget concrete foundation waterproofing if there is any chance that the space on the other side of the foundation might become finished living space. I would apply the best waterproofing compound even if the interior space was going to be just used for storage. Who wants wet and damp belongings?

Column 849

September 14, 2010 AsktheBuilder Tips And News

Posted on by Tim Carter

What's in This Issue?

Fall is Near
Wall Control Special Offer
Tomboy Tools Tool Belt
Rally Driving School
Last Week's Survey Results

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.

Fall is just around the corner here in New Hampshire. It's my favorite season by far. The swamp maples are the first trees to change color, and that's starting right now. I'll be doing my best to get some photos for you and will share them.

Unpacking is still happening as a result of the move. It's my hope to complete that this week. All I can say about that is Ugh. Some of the things I brought with me from the workshop in my Cincinnati house were the hardware hangers that were on my metal pegboard made by Wall Control.

The real estate contract treated the actual metal panels as fixtures as they were permanently attached to the wall in my workshop. But the hangers, shelves, tool holders, etc. are not permanent as you can easily move them from one position to another. Because I LOVE the Wall Control system so much, there was no way I was leaving that stuff behind.

I contacted Rich and Richard Grove, the owners of Wall Control, to see if they would create a special offer just for my AsktheBuilder.com readers. I wanted you to see for yourself why I love this garage, workshop, laundry room, etc. storage solution. The said Yes!

Richard came up with three complete kits for you. The trouble is they have limited inventory. That makes sense because of the economy, prudent business financial money management, and just-in-time product flow. Bottom line: If you want the wall storage solution I have at a great discounted price, then you need to act now. Here's the link to the three special offers.

Tomboy Tools Tool Belt

Whew, try to say that three times fast! This weekend I tried to tape a video of a very cool tool belt sent to me by Cindi Dugger. Cindi is a rep in the Midwest for TomBoy Tools.

For any number of reasons it didn't happen. We absolutely are going to tape the video on Wednesday morning if the weather cooperates. I've got a perfect outdoor location to show it off.

Wait till you see this video. I promise you'll love it as will Cindi and the management team at TomBoy Tools. Once the video is complete, the tool belt will be shipped to a young woman who's anxiously awaiting its arrival.

Rally Driving School

This is not home-improvement related, but it may be of great interest to you if you have a driver’s license. I've been invited to attend this Thursday the TeamO'Neil Driving School in Dalton, NH. This is a unique driving school that can teach you how to be a better driver. I'll be there at a Ford Motor Company event, and will share video with you as soon as possible.

This could be a great gift idea for you or a loved one in your life.

Last Week's Survey Results

In the last newsletter, I asked you to please partake in a survey to help guide what's going to happen at the LIVE AsktheBuilder.com event a month from now here in New Hampshire. We've picked the day, October 16th and it should start around 10ish in the morning. I'll be at Cabinetry Concepts located at 227 Mechanic Street, Lebanon, NH 03766. We are giving away some really great prizes, and everyone will walk away with fistfuls of coupons worth thousands of dollars. It really will be worth you driving hundreds of miles to get there.

Now, back to the survey. The results were astonishing.

It appears I'm going to talk about the top five questions and requests I get week in week out about building and remodeling. What's more, I'll also run the event like my radio show of 12 years. We'll spend at least one hour answering your question(s) about whatever problem or dilemma you have at your home. If you can bring photos or a drawing to help describe the situation, do so.

When you look at the survey results, the "Other" choice was enlightening to say the least. What I discovered is that my AsktheBuilder.com website needs a redesign. There were hundreds of questions in the survey responses that I've already answered at my website in great detail.

You seem to be having trouble finding these answers that are right there waiting for you. If you have a question or problem, use the Search Engine on every page of my website and work it to death. Type in a word or phrase describing what you need.

When reading through all of these "Other" responses, I shook my head as time after time I had a column, video, ebook, checklist, etc. already finished that answered the question. Here are some examples of the actual questions you might have asked. I had Roger, my assistant, go find answers that were already there for you. You'll see those links just below each question:

I Love Your Fire Pit and Would like to Know How to Build One, I Have a Lot of Space.
https://www.askthebuilder.com/fire-pit/

or, were you asking about my other Fire Pit????

How to Get an Honest Contractor, the Do's and Don'ts What to Look out For; Thanks
We Plan to Build a House Soon. Tips on Finding a Home Contractor.
Discuss How to Pick a Contractor
https://www.askthebuilder.com/how-to-find-a-professional-contractor/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/the-contractor-selection-interview/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/50-contractor-interview-questions/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/find-a-pro-by-asking-the-right-questions/

Note: Everyone of my Checklists has FOUR secret videos that show you exactly how to find the pro!!!

Ice Dam & Gutter Covers
https://www.askthebuilder.com/causes-of-ice-dams/
http:/www.askthebuilder.com/preventing-ice-dams/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/gutter-guards---do-they-really-work/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/gutter-guard/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/gutter-guard-video/

Installing Hardwood Floors
https://www.askthebuilder.com/hardwood-floor/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/hardwood-floor-installation/

Unfinished Basements--where to Start!
https://www.askthebuilder.com/basement-remodeling---what-happens-when-/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/basement-remodeling-video/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/basement-unfinished-space-finishing-construction-tips/

Chimney Crown Crack Repair
https://www.askthebuilder.com/cracks-in-a-new-chimney/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/chimney-crown-repairs/

New Green Energy Heating & Cooling Systems That Are Viable in this Economy, Thanks
https://www.askthebuilder.com/heating-cost/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/solar-energy/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/energy-savings-video/

Hardscapes. It's the Only Reason I Get this Newsletter.
https://www.askthebuilder.com/landscape-design/

Cleaning Grout Easily
Cleaning Floor Tile and Grout
https://www.askthebuilder.com/how-to-clean-grout/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/easy-tile-grout-cleaning/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/easy-tile-grout-cleaning/#Video

Drainage
https://www.askthebuilder.com/category/qa/outdoor/drainage/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/a-simple-trench-drain/

Stain Removal
https://www.askthebuilder.com/cleaning-concrete-oil-spots/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/removing-mildew-from-grout/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/mold-removaloxygen-bleach/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/rust-removal-from-concrete-pavers/

Stains? You got stains? That's what my Stain Solver is all about.

Grout Sealing Materials (Best)
https://www.askthebuilder.com/grout-sealer-video/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/tile-grout-sealing-caulking/

Pressure Washing
https://www.askthebuilder.com/pressure-washers-work/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/deck-pressure-washer-video/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/how-to-clean-a-deck/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/pressure-washer-basics-video/

How to Find Someone like You. I Live in Bowling Green, Ohio 43402
Tim Clones - Not available at the Big Box Stores!!

Hmmmmmm. This could be a major opportunity. Did you see the movie Multiplicity?

How to Plan a Multi-use Garage Building
https://www.askthebuilder.com/garage-plans-construction-costs/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/the-dream-garage---it-has-lots-of-room/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/ideal-garage-plans---tips/

Resurface Concrete
https://www.askthebuilder.com/resurfacing-concrete/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/concrete-resurfacing/
https://www.askthebuilder.com/concrete-overlay/

See what I mean? There are thousands and thousands of answers at the website. You just might be shocked at what you discover if you use that Search Engine of mine!

AsktheBuilder.com
100 Swain Rd.
Meredith, NH 03253, USA

Tile Grout Sealing / Caulking

September 8, 2010 Newsletter Boo-Boo

Posted on by Tim Carter

Dumb Mistake!

In yesterday's newsletter, I asked you to partake in a survey. You'd be stunned to discover the results that are continuing to stream in.

I would've NEVER guessed in a million years what the most popular topic is at this point. I'll publish all the results next issue, but that's not why I'm reaching out to you. If you want to see the topics in the survey, a link is just below.

It turns out I made several mistakes when asking you to take the short one-question survey, that's right - ONE question. And with today's economy the way it is, it was a BIG boo boo.

Here's what I forgot to tell you:

1. The survey has ONE question, and will take you about 20 seconds to complete.

2. I failed to tell you what you'd get if you took the survey.

3. I goofed up and forgot to tell you the thing I was giving away had an expiration date.

As Napoleon Dynamite would say, "Idiot!"

It's this simple: Take the survey, and you get a 10-percent-off promo code to use at my shopping cart. This means you can save money now on all checklists, bundles of checklists, a 15-minute phone consult with me, all my eBooks, DVDs, and of course Stain Solver!

The worst part is that my assistant Roger set the promo code to expire tomorrow night (September 10, 2010) at midnight Pacific Time. (Yes, I told him to do that, but that's not the point.) Let's just focus on the fact that it expires, and SOON.

Please go take the one-question survey now and take advantage of the promo code that's about to disappear.  Here's the link to the survey:  Tim's One Question Survey

Thanks! More AsktheBuilder.com news next week.

AsktheBuilder.com
100 Swain Rd.
Meredith, NH 03253, USA

September 8, 2010 AsktheBuilder Tips And News

Posted on by Tim Carter

What’s in This Issue?

Latest News
Roofing Checklist & Telephone Seminar
Shopping Cart Rewards Program
Trex Decking & Spots
AsktheBuilder October Event
Fall Tool Storage Tip
Latest Columns
Fire Pit

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.

The unpacking continues up here in New Hampshire. I have days/weeks of work ahead of me, but I'm making progress. Now that we're past Labor Day, the lake is tranquil. I know those who come up here for the summer are sad to go home, but there will be next season! Two months from now, we'll be cranking my dock out of the water. We wait for the last possible day to do it, because it's a sad day for us.

Before starting that process we have a humorous ceremony at the end of the dock. We ask Mother Nature to cast a protective spell on the lake and all creatures in and above it who enjoy its splendor. This all makes sense if you could come up here and see the lake, or loch as we call it here at the Looney Bin.

Roofing Checklist and Telephone Seminar

I promised you that I'd have the information about the exciting live seminar where I get to answer your questions about roofing. Well, I'm working out all the details in the next few days. Watch for the actual announcement next week. Oh, it's going to be tons of fun and you'll come away with a ton of information about your roof!

Shopping Cart Rewards Program

Roger, my right-hand virtual assistant, set up a few months back a great Rewards program at the shopping cart. Your loyalty and repeat purchases enable you to get automatic future discounts. We feel you should be rewarded for your allegiance to AsktheBuilder.com! You can get the complete rundown at the shopping cart.

Here's the Executive Summary: When you complete your fifth purchase, you get 10 percent off your next few purchases. If you continue to patronize the store, after you complete your ninth purchase, your discount jumps to 15 percent. Tell me that isn't a sweet deal. To qualify for these discounts, you must create an account at the store. Be sure to use a password you remember.

Speaking of the cart, this Sunday we have to work under the hood. Sometime between 4 am and Noon ET on Sunday the cart will not be available for about an hour.

Trex Decking and Spots

Two days ago, I wrote a column about a real issue on at least two decks I know of, mine and Trish's in Connecticut. If you have a composite deck, especially a Trex one, you should read this column. It may explain why your deck is not looking like you remember it on the day it was installed.

AsktheBuilder EVENT in October - Plan to Attend!

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Ro Wyman, Lauren Collins and Abbey Taylor of Cabinetry Concepts in Lebanon, NH. Kathy and I visited their wonderful showroom so we could start to finalize the details about redoing our kitchen here at our NH house. We've decided to use Plato cabinets, and they're a distributor for these amazing cabinets.

Last week, Ro asked me if I'd consider doing a live presentation at their showroom on an upcoming Saturday in October. I jumped at that chance as these events are a ton of fun. I get to meet you and you get to walk away with some free knowledge, possible prizes, and some very sweet deals. Even though you may not live in NH or VT, you may want to do a road trip to come to the event. There's great scenery and everyone is going to walk away with either prizes or unbelievable coupons. Keep reading.

But I'm need your help to determine what we're going to do that day. In other words, if you had a magic wand and waved it, what would you have me say or do? What would motivate you to come to Lebanon, NH that crisp Saturday in October?

If this event attracts the crowd I believe it will, it could turn into a road trip across the country. I did five city road show about ten years ago for the wood industry. It was a blast. Please complete this survey (survey now closed) to help guide what we're going to do together. You get a sweet treat from me after you finish the survey. Read the Boo-Boo Newsletter about this survey.

I'm arranging to have some great tools and other things to give away as door prizes. The fine folks at Plato have agreed to give away, to those who walk through the door, a special coupon good for a whopping 10 percent discount off their cabinets. That one coupon could be worth THOUSANDS of dollars alone should you have a new or remodeled kitchen happening soon at your home!

If you're a PR person and want me to give away one of your client's tools or products, email me immediately.

I'll have the exact date for you next week, but it's looking like October 9th. Remember, that's tentative. I'll lock in the date no later than next week. I'd love to see you at this event!

Remember, there's a SURPRISE for you after you take the survey.

Fall Tool Storage Tip

If you're getting ready to store yard tools like shovels, rakes, etc. after their final use, be sure to clean them and apply a light coat of oil to any steel surfaces. The oil helps prevent rust from condensation that will form on the tools before you next use them.

Don't forget about garden hoses! Remove them from your frost-proof hose bibs and TURN the water on briefly after disconnecting the hose. This allows the bib to drain so it won't freeze over the winter.

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Tim Carter's Fire Pit

This past week we had two great fires at the fire pit next to the lake. Part of the chatter as the flames illuminated the darkness at water's edge drifted to what I routinely talk about at my other NON-home-improvement website. You may like what you see there.

AsktheBuilder.com
100 Swain Rd.
Meredith, NH 03253, USA

Live Clinic Survey Thank You

Posted on by Tim Carter

Thank you for taking part in the AsktheBuilder Live Clinic Survey.

As a thank you for your time, we are offering you a 10% discount on any and all items in the AsktheBuilder Store. This discount is good on any purchase. But hurry, the discount code ends Friday, September 10, 2010 at midnight, Pacific Time.

To receive your discount, use the code Survey10 when checking out at the AsktheBuilder Store.

Trex Decking

Posted on by Tim Carter
dark spots on composite decking

These dark spots on the composite decking are a mixture of algae, mildew or some other mold growth. Oxygen bleach almost always will restore the original look. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: We have Trex decking that we put down in 2008. The Trex lumber has developed dark spots all over it. It started with a few and has multiplied over the two-year period. What, in your opinion, is causing the spotting? How can it be removed? Is there anything that can be done to prevent the ugly spots? We purchased this material thinking it would be maintenance-free and are very unhappy. Trish A., Bristol, CT

DEAR TRISH: You’re not the first consumer to reach out to me with this issue about Trex composite decking. You’ll not be the last. What’s more, I have personal experience with this decking material as it’s on two very large decks and my front porch at my New Hampshire home. I didn’t install it, the previous owner did when the house was built eight years ago.

 

My own Trex decking has spotting issues, algae growth, and uneven coloration issues. As you might imagine, I’ve got lots of experience with decks of all types being involved with them for over 36 years. Believe it or not, it’s highly unlikely that the decking material itself is causing the entire problem. The issues you’re having can happen on just about any decking material. However, your deck and mine might be more prone to issues for a number of reasons.

The dark spots on your deck, based on the photo you sent me, appear to be mold and mildew. This spotting can happen on any deck. Mold and mildew feed on natural materials such as wood fiber, natural sugars, dirt, dust, grease, oils, and food. If you have trees or other vegetation near your deck shading the decking, these might be manufacturing airborne sugars that coat the deck.

Some trees produce more of this than others. Perhaps you’ve seen this sap coat a freshly cleaned car that’s parked under a tree. The spots show up easily on the high-gloss surface of a car paint job, but are tough to detect on a flat finish such as your deck boards. The sugars can float through the air from trees near the deck.

The mold and mildew can also feed directly off of the wood fibers in your Trex decking. The FAQ page at the Trex web site clearly states that “ ... most of the materials used in making Trex are recycled ...” They go on to state that “ ... the materials are carefully processed to ensure the highest level of quality and performance.” However, it’s possible that mold and mildew spores could be already present in the raw recycled wood material that’s used to make the decking.

Add to this the possibility that the wood fibers in the decking may not have any preservative added to them at the factory. If this is the case, then the wood fibers, or concentrated areas of them in the decking could easily support the growth of mold and mildew. I see it happening on my own Trex deck.

A visit to the Trex decking web site reveals they have a comprehensive cleaning guide that may help you. They are quick to point out that a powerful pressure washer, one that delivers a pressure stream greater that 1,500 pounds per square inch (psi), is to be avoided. What’s more, never hold the pressure wand closer than 12 inches from the decking surface. A concentrated stream of high-pressure water can erode the wood fibers that’s in the decking.

EB015 Cleaning & Sealing Deck eBoo Cover

No deck is maintenance free, not even the expensive composite decks. All will have to be periodically cleaned from time to time.

I personally have had the best luck cleaning my Trex deck with oxygen bleach is that it removes the gray coloration from the small wood fibers in my Trex making it look like new. The sun’s UV rays cause the wood fibers in the decking to turn gray.

I apply the oxygen-bleach solution and allow it to sit for 15 minutes never allowing it to evaporate. It’s best to work early or late in the day when the decking is in the shade. After the wait period, use a stiff scrub brush to clean the decking. Rinse with clear water from a garden hose. You’ll be amazed at how clean and new the decking will look.

Some spotting you see may not be mold or mildew. I see that on my own Trex decking. I’ve studied this very closely with a magnifying glass and believe it to be a manufacturing characteristic. It appears that the dark spots are areas where there is a higher concentration of the recycled colored plastic.

Stain Solver Bottle with scoopIf this is the case, it make sense that over time you’ll see uneven coloration as the thin film of plastic wears off those areas nearby that have more wood fibers than plastic.

I’ve visited a manufacturing plant where composite decking is made and saw how the wood fibers and plastic are kept separate until just before they enter the extruding machine. Although the manufacture makes every effort to mix the ingredients evenly, I can see how it’s possible that this doesn’t always happen.

Referenced: September 8, 2010 Newsletter.

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