Home Plumbing

Posted on June 29, 2009 by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: Home plumbing is the main task I’m tackling on my vacation since money is tight. I have several home-improvement plumbing jobs, the largest a bathroom I want to completely remodel where I change the location of fixtures. Various home plumbing repair projects like dripping faucets and toilets that seem to flush on their own are also on my list. What tips can you share so I can hopefully avoid hiring home plumbers? My building department has given me the go ahead so long as I install the piping to code. Kevin S., Bangor, ME

DEAR KEVIN: I’m quite sure you can use lots of home-plumbing help. I’ve been a master plumber for years and can tell you that while much about plumbing is somewhat easy, you need to have a crisp understanding of the physics of water movement as well as some specialized tools to get professional results. There are many great resources available that may turn you into a fine home plumber of your own right!

The first obstacle you’ll have is reading and understanding the plumbing code. You’ll discover words and terms that simply won’t make too much sense. However, you need to glean enough information from it so you successfully pass the inspections that you’ll need as you’ll be relocating drainage and venting piping. Be sure you talk to your inspector about how you’ll pass the rough-in inspection as it will be difficult to put an air test on that bathroom while the rest of the house is in use.

This maze of drain and vent pipes is just the tip of the iceberg as to what lurks behind your walls and under your floors. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

If you get into trouble, you may have to hire a home plumber. They need work in these tough economic times, and you may be surprised to discover they are affordable. Perhaps you’ll have them do the most technical aspects, and they will gladly let you set and connect the fixtures. You can usually get quotes for free, and the quotes will be very realistic if you open up the walls as much as possible so they can see what needs to be moved where.

If you’ve not done much plumbing before, I recommend you practice completing joints in both drainage and water lines before you start on the real pipes in your home. If you’re using plastic PVC piping, try priming and gluing some joints together. You’ll discover that the pipe will sometimes pop back out of the fitting socket a little bit after it’s glued. This means you need to hold the pipe in position until the weld resists that force. Often this means holding the pipe in place for five or ten seconds.

If you need to solder copper pipe, you really need to practice that. Be sure the copper pipe is clean an well as the inside of the fitting. They need to have all oxidation removed. Apply a small amount of soldering flux and then heat with a torch. Wait about 15 seconds before applying the lead-free solder. Pull the torch away as you solder. The copper pipe and fitting should be hot enough on their own to melt the solder. Wipe excess solder from the joint and clean the joint with mineral spirits after it’s cooled to remove any flux.

Your dripping faucets may be very simple things to repair. If the faucets are less than 25-years old, there is a good possibility they have washerless cartridges in them. You can replace the cartridge by taking off the faucet handle and then removing the decorative bonnet that holds the cartridge in place. Use a rubberized strap wrench to remove the bonnet as a pipe wrench will ruin it. Some faucets have a hex-head shape under the handle that allows you to use an adjustable wrench.

The phantom flushing toilet may just need a new flapper valve in the tank. If water is slowly leaking past the existing valve, the tank will suddenly start to fill with water as the float drops down. Be sure you orient the new flapper valve so that its moving parts don’t hit anything inside the tank. The instructions on the package are usually pretty good, so be sure to read them.

Connecting new plumbing piping to old piping can be a significant challenge. You absolutely must use approved connectors. You can get these parts and fantastic advice from businesses that sell plumbing supplies to plumbers. These are not the big box home centers. Plumbers typically only buy emergency parts from a home center when their normal supplier is closed. You may have to hunt in your city or town for these specialty businesses, but it will be well worth it.

Be very careful soldering in an older home. Wood chips, lint dust, dried-out wood can ignite rapidly. Typically you have the water shut off while soldering, so there is nothing to use to extinguish the fire. Be sure you have buckets of water on hand, a fire extinguisher and even a filled, pressurized hand-pump sprayer ready to go in the area where you’re working. Always check for smoldering fires before you leave the work area. Use pieces of sheet metal to protect combustible materials from the intense torch flame.

Column 785

Brick Mortar

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Tim Carter

Brick mortar was smeared onto the brick. It’s been there for over two years to test the strength of the cement in the mortar. The climate is the Midwest USA with harsh winters with lots of freeze/thaw cycles. You can see the mortar is holding on like epoxy. That's a US quarter and a dime on the brick for scale. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

Brick and Mortar - The Perfect Marriage

DEAR TIM: Brick and mortar and I don’t get along. At my house, the brick & mortar are falling apart. It’s happening on the walls and in a brick patio in my rear yard. I desperately need a brick mortar how-to course so I don’t end up with a huge mess.

What are some of the important steps in brick mortar repair? Are there special tools that make the job go faster and look more professional? Steve T., Morris Chapel, TN

DEAR STEVE: Bricklaying mortar is a fantastic product when you stop and think about it. For all intents and purposes, it’s just glue. You use it to stick two or more things together into one object. You may not believe it, but there’s an enormous amount of science that’s involved in mortar for brick. I can’t begin to scratch the surface in this column.

What is Brick and Mortar?

Bricks are solid rectangular blocks made from fired clay or cast concrete. Mortar is a mixture of sand, Portland cement, and hydrated lime if you're able to find it. The mortar has the consistency of apple sauce and it's used to bind the brick together as one solid unit.

This is a typical installation of brick and mortar in the wall of a house or commercial building. The brick on the right was added years later and it's more orange in color than the brick on the left.

There are many different types of brick mortar, many with different strength properties. A standard mortar used with bricks in a wall often is a mixture of Portland cement, hydrated lime, and some form of clean, washed sand. Note that the sand can have a significant impact on both the strength and final color of the weathered mortar joints. Not all sand looks the same, because the small rock particles that make up the sand are different colors.

How does hydrated lime help mortar?

Many old masonry buildings were made with a mortar that had abundant quantities of hydrated lime or just lime and sand. Typically the more lime that’s in a mortar, the weaker the mortar is. You may think you want a strong mortar, but the lime in the mortar offers a unique self-healing property that may be of great interest to you. If tiny cracks develop in a mortar joint, the hydrated lime can actually grow crystals that seal the crack.

In my opinion, one of the most important steps is to match the mortar to the job. You don’t use the same mortar for your brick walls as you would to patch the mortar joints in your brick patio. The patio mortar needs to be far stronger than the wall mortar as the patio is subjected to more wear and tear, and if you get freezing weather, the mortar must be able to withstand countless freeze-thaw cycles.

David Kullander who hales from Libertyville, Illinois shared this heart-warming story about how he used hydrated lime as a young lad:

"As a 12-13-year-old lad, I labored for my bricklayer dad who belonged to the local mason's union. He made extra money for the family on regular weekend scab jobs for friends and neighbors building garages/fireplaces/additions. I soon was their go-to guy for mixing mortar in a mortar box-trough, using a big hoe with large holes in it. My instructions were 2 shovels of Portland cement, 1 shovel of hydrated lime, 10 shovels of sand, and the needed water to make it the consistency of apple sauce. My dad told me the lime was to make it easier to clean the brickwork when the work was all set and finished. According to him, the muriatic acid solution we brushed the bricks with wouldn't work to get off mortar smears unless the lime was in the mortar to react with the acid. This may be an old wives tale, but who knew- THEY WERE STRENGTHENING THE MORTAR!! Thanks for the article."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The addition of the hydrated lime did little to aid in cleaning the smears off. Lime makes the mortar stickier, to be honest. It's always smart to add hydrated lime to the mortar mix.

How do you make a strong mortar?

To make a strong mortar for your brick patio, you just use pure Portland cement, sand and water. I would make the mixture very rich meaning that there is lots of cement in the mix. Try a mixture of two parts sand to one part cement.

Be sure you have all loose mortar out of the joint, and that it’s dust-free. Spritz the joint to be repaired with a little water and add the mortar. Make the mortar stand up a little higher than the brick. Wait until the mortar gets a little stiff and then scrape off the excess with a small pointed trowel. If the mortar smears onto the brick, you’re not waiting long enough.

When repairing mortar, check out the existing mortar joints

To repair the mortar in your brick walls, look very carefully at the existing mortar joints. Pay attention to the small colored grains of sand that are visible. When mortar is first installed and it dries, it’s a uniform gray color. This happens because all of the sand is coated with the mortar-cement paste. But over time, Mother Nature erodes the mortar-cement paste from the sand exposing the different pieces of small rock that make up the sand. You may see brown, red, gray, white, and even green pieces of sand!

You'd do well to read my repairing brick mortar column for additional information.

The trick is to visit a local sandpit and look at the different sands. Note that there can be a difference in both grain size and color. You want to match both as closely as possible. This will be well worth the effort if you intend to restore your brick walls so the repairs match the original work.

You can purchase bags of premixed brick mortar from a business that sells building supplies. Avoid the home centers as they usually will not have a selection of different mortars. You want to match the color of the mortar as well as the strength. The older your home remember that you want a mortar that is weaker.

Get FREE BIDS from local bricklayers to repair your brick and mortar.

Are special tools needed to work with mortar?

You don’t need too many special tools when working with brick mortar. I find that a medium pointed trowel, a small pointed trowel, a narrow pointing trowel that’s only as wide as the width of the mortar joint, and possibly a mortar grouting bag will commonly allow you to do most repairs. You may need a mortar chisel to help you remove crumbling mortar from between brick.

It’s really important to make sure the brick joints are clean, dust-free, and damp before you add the new mortar. The water that you spritz on the brick and old mortar helps make your new mortar that much stronger. Without the spritzed water, the dry brick and old mortar will suck out the water from the mortar too quickly. If this happens, the new mortar will never get as strong as it could be.

Take your time to avoid smearing the mortar on the brick face. If you do make mistakes, try to scrape off as much excess mortar as you can that day. Then wait 30 days before you attempt to clean the mortar paste from the brick. Use a solution of muriatic acid and water mixing one part acid to ten parts water. Dampen the brick to be cleaned with water and add the acid solution. Wear rubber gloves, goggles and old clothes. The acid is very toxic. Allow it to sit and fizzle on the mortar pastes, then scrub the area with a scrub brush after ten minutes. Rinse with plenty of water. Repeat if necessary until all mortar paste is removed from the brick.

This column was mentioned in my January 5, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter.

Column 784

June 18, 2009 AsktheBuilder News

Posted on June 18, 2009 by Tim Carter

If you're a new subscriber in the last 72 hours, this has to be one of the strangest initial email newsletters you'll probably ever get. Please understand there are tens of thousands of subscribers who get my newsletter on a regular basis who've been waiting to hear this sad news.

Two hours ago, I had to send my Mom back to Heaven to be with my Dad. She hasn't seen him in over 33 years. I'm sure by now they've gotten reacquainted and are gathering up a deck of cards and stacks of poker chips to play five-card stud poker one-eyed cards wild with their brothers and sisters.

I'll share that grand story when the numbness goes away.

I want to thank you now in advance for any sentiments you send to soften the pain of today. My sister and our family deeply appreciate it. I also want to thank the Hospice nursing staff here in Cincinnati.

Rest in Peace Mom, you'll be missed more than you'll ever imagine.

Tim Carter

June 16, 2009 AsktheBuilder News And Tips

Posted on June 16, 2009 by Tim Carter

What’s in This Issue?

Saving Sweet Moola
Mom
Summer To Dos
Nail Guns and a Pocket Door
Clean Instead of Repainting
Surfing Safely
Wind Turbines
Recent Columns

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Saving Sweet Moola

A few days ago, I was reading the Cincinnati Enquirer and saw my column about Old Windows (A link to this column is at the end of the newsletter). In that column, I talked about being very careful about buying new windows just because you're told you'll save money. On the next page of the Enquirer was a column about tankless water heaters. Some of the statements made in the water-heater column were very misleading. The theme of the column was all about how you'd 'Save Money' getting one of the fancy heaters. I grimaced reading it. I have several columns at my website about Tankless Heaters. Use my search engine to get to them. Type into my search engine: "tankless heater" with the quotation marks.

Because of the misleading column about tankless heaters and other promotions for other products, I'm worried that you might become a victim of flashy marketing in these desperate times. You can't afford to make a mistake with your hard-earned money. Have you seen the latest unemployment numbers? They are at a staggering 9.4 percent. I predict it will rise to 10 percent. A USA Today story had even more troubling news.

Here's a direct quote from the story:

"The employed worked fewer hours in May -- an average of just 33.1 hours a week -- than at any time since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began counting in 1964. Part-time work is at a record high. Overtime is at a record low."

What's all this have to do with saving money? I'll tell you. Perhaps now more than any time in your life - unless you're Extra Crispy (over age 75) - you must not waste a penny. If you were alive and old enough to remember the Great Depression, you know what I mean. You and I can't get suckered by some fancy sales pitch or a column that only tells half the truth. You know the old saying, "Half the truth is a whole lie."

Here is a quote from my Old Windows column:

"Always remember that you never begin saving money until such time as you have recaptured the money you spent on the improvement plus any and all interest that money could have generated in your savings account."

Does that make sense? Let's say that new tankless water heater will save you perhaps 50 cents per day on your energy bill. That's not far off by the way. In one year, you 'save' a little over $180.00.

But do the math. To get that savings you purchased a heater that costs perhaps $800 more than a regular heater. Frequently there are extra installation costs that could run as much as $1,000.00. So you're $1,800.00 in the hole before you start! Your 'energy savings' must repay you that extra money before you start to SAVE.

Bottom Line: Always, always take the time to do the calculations. You must be sure that your decision is not based on hope. You don't ever want to 'hope' you'll save money. Never sign a contract the night a salesman is in your home. Stop, take your breath and do the math.

Mom

I first want to thank you for sending your prayers and wishes to me about my dying mother. As you might expect, I was overwhelmed with emails and cards. As I write this, my mother is still alive, albeit very weak. So far, she's outlived the Hospice care. As soon as she started to really circle the drain, the hospice nursing switched to 24/7 care. They told us that Medicare only does this for seven days. I can understand that. The Hospice nurses pulled up their tent stakes several days ago and went on to other patients who might not have as strong a will to live as my mother.

When it does come time to send mom back to Heaven, the message will be:

Game, set, match to the Grim Reaper. Don't think I'm making light of the situation, I just like to report facts.

Please understand that I'm at peace with all that is happening. I was fortunate to make it back from New Hampshire to talk with Mom and whisper in her ear. You should have seen that smile and how hard she squeezed my hand. That was priceless. I didn't get to do that with my Dad when he passed away so many years ago back when I was 24.

If your parents are still alive, call them, go out to dinner with them, visit, etc. I love the old Native American saying that applies here: "Your heart may never be as soft as it is today." We all need softer hearts. Have you noticed that as you get older you tend to hold grudges, take a stand, and not give in? That's insane. Go buy a packet of meat tenderizer, lay on your bed or couch and pour it onto your chest.

Summer To Dos

I was cleaning the outside of my garage doors over the weekend. At the same time, I inspected the hinges, track and hardware to make sure all was well. You should do the same, as garage doors are frequently the heaviest mechanical object in the home. They weigh hundreds of pounds, and you don't want one crashing down on you. Make sure the moving parts are lubricated and all hardware is tight. NEVER mess with the spring or the cables that attach to the bottom of the door. Leave that to a professional.

I also checked the air filter in my furnace. If you want your air conditioner to work at peak efficiency as the hot weather begins to happen, the filter must be clean. Make sure the outdoor compressor coils are clean. Don't use a pressure washer to clean them as the powerful stream of water can bend the fragile cooling fins.

Nail Guns and a Pocket Door

I'm getting ready to start a major bathroom remodeling project. There are going to be many videos shot of this job that I'll be sharing with you very soon. You don't want to miss upcoming issues of this newsletter where I'll have the links to the videos.

I'll be installing a pocket door as part of this project. As that begins to take shape, I'll share some tips as I actually rough in the opening and set the frame. I discovered years ago that if you want a trouble-free pocket door, you must go with a top-quality frame that has great trolleys and hardware. I want a door that's going to glide effortlessly for years. You should want the same thing.

Three years ago, I injured my left thumb while doing a similar bathroom project. For some idiotic reason, I decided to hand nail a small piece of 2x4 onto a joist. I was too lazy to go get my Paslode cordless nailer from the basement. Well, the hammer slipped off the head of the nail and hit the bone that connects to the saddle bone in your wrist. This same injury happened countless times over the years, especially if I was using a chisel and the hammer glanced off the head of the chisel.

As a result of the repeated injuries and early-stage arthritis in this joint (missing cartilage), I've lost about 70 percent of the gripping power of my left thumb. I just got back from a visit to the hand surgeon, and his treatment, along with a custom splint made by Chris and Julie at his office, will get me back in the game. However, Dr. Stern suggested to me "No more hand nailing!"

That's okay as I really prefer to use all the Paslode cordless guns I own. Take a look at their new and improved website to see if an air or cordless nailer is in your future. You can get a pneumatic gun if you want, but I've grown to love my guns that require no noisy compressor and no hoses! All I have to do is open the case and insert the battery and my cordless nailer is ready to fire. That process takes less than ten seconds. I've already installed 20 or 30 nails with my cordless nailer before you have your compressor started and filled with air!

Clean Instead of Repainting

This past weekend, I did an experiment on my own home. We'll be selling the house soon as Kathy is coming up to New Hampshire. One of my projects this summer is to make the outside of the house look like new. Our home is a gracious Queen Anne Victorian that I build myself in 1986. Many people who visit think it's a house I rehabbed as Kathy and I went to great lengths to copy all the traditional interior and exterior details.

About eight years ago, I painted my house with a fantastic paint - Sears WeatherBeater ULTRA. Read my past column about this amazing paint.

Six months ago, I mentioned that I had installed our Christmas lights over the Thanksgiving holiday for Kathy. The house was covered with grime and black powder. I thought it was dust from tires, but you convinced me it was soot from the tens of thousands of diesel trucks that are rumbling around the city here both on Interstate highways and local traffic.

Add to that black grime, a light coating of mildew in places that's feasting on aerosol sugars released from the many trees around my home, spider poop and you have a mess. Just washing with regular soap doesn't cut through the mildew and spider doo.

I decided to test my powerful Stain Solver oxygen bleach on the painted siding and trim to see if I could use it to clean and restore the paint instead of having to repaint the house. You may wonder why I would even hesitate to use it, based upon all the great things I've said about it in the past. Understand that Stain Solver is such a good cleaner that it will remove oxidized paint pigments and any paint pigment and resin that's damaged by the sun's ultraviolet light.

When I cleaned one of our exterior doors back by the garage eight years ago, the Stain Solver removed about 80 percent of the paint! That's a good thing when you're repainting, but not so good when you just want to clean.

I'm happy to report that the three areas I tested look spectacular! It looks like I repainted them yesterday instead of just cleaning. All I did was mix my Stain Solver as I would to clean a deck making sure I mixed the powder with warm water. I then poured the solution into a hand-pump sprayer and squirted it onto the painted surfaces. After waiting about five minutes, I then washed it off using a large brush that's used to clean the exterior of RV vehicles. The bristles are softer than a scrub brush and are about 2-inches long. It's a magnificent brush. I just dipped it into soapy water made with regular liquid dish soap. It's important to always keep the surface wet with the oxygen-bleach solution, the soapy water and then rinse with clear water. Don't let the surface dry between any of those steps.

Since money is tight for all of us, you may discover that you can make your house look like new this summer without having to repaint. Try cleaning a small portion of your home and see what it looks like. If you do decide to repaint, be sure you use a paint that has urethane and 100-percent acrylic resins in it.

Surfing Safely

A few days ago, I got an email that was triggered by my Google Alerts. I have that set to tell me about any web site that publishes any text that has AsktheBuilder or Ask the Builder in it. Much to my surprise I got sent a link to a Norton web site that tells you if a website is safe to visit.

While there, please note in the right column that you can add a review. There was only one at this point. I'd sure appreciate it if you could say a few kind words about my web site in case a new visitor uses this tool to make a decision whether or not to come to AsktheBuilder.com.

You may want to start using this helpful web site if you decide to visit a different site that you've never been to before. It may protect you from malware and spyware. Just enter the URL of the site you want to check up at the top of the page once you've left your review of my web site. Thanks in advance!

Wind Turbines

A PR person reached out to me to tell me about a wind turbine that you can get for your home made by Honeywell. This is another product that you have to do the math on. The press release was quoting a very aggressive payback period in my opinion, but your mileage may vary. You have to look at you electric bill and do the math. What's more, you need to do some testing to see what kind of average wind speeds you have on the roof of your home. You can buy a wind gauge that will keep track of this for you before you commit to investing in a turbine. This one made by Honeywell says it can create juice at wind speeds as low as 2 mph. That's pretty low. But keep in mind that things around your home may block wind.

Then add to this a news story that says wind speeds are not as strong as they used to be. Is it hard to make a decision or what?

Recent Columns

Are you sick of your wood deck and want a new composite deck?

Do you want to replace your old windows with new one to save money?

Money is tight! Why paint when you can do a magical house cleaning?

Click here to read past copies of my newsletters.

AsktheBuilder.com

House Cleaning

Posted on June 15, 2009 by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: Money is really scarce now, and the exterior of my painted home looks dingy. House cleaning usually refers to chores inside a home, but is it possible to do a residential house cleaning washing the outside of my home just like one might wash a car? Are there special house cleaning supplies that will get off years of dirt, mildew and spider droppings? I’ve never seen anyone do this before. Should I just pressure wash my house instead? Meganne W., Gilmore City, IA

DEAR MEGANNE: Money is very tight for all of us. Painting the exterior of a home can be very expensive, and sometimes it’s not necessary. You should come to my house every three years. I believe I’m one of the few in my city that washes the exterior of my home much like I wash my car. When I do this, my clean house looks brand new. I’ve done this for years, and I’ll gladly share my cleaning house tips with you to hopefully save you thousands of dollars in this time of need.

My house is located in a large city and sits just miles from two major interstate highways. There are many trees surrounding my home. These things cause the house to get covered with soot from the diesel exhaust from the tens of thousands of trucks and all the organic debris that is generated by the vegetation and tiny insects that crawl all over my home. I know thousands of people suffer the same problem, as I get their emails each week.

The exterior of a house needs to be cleaned just like the inside. Clean it instead of repainting! PHOTO CREDIT: Kathy Carter

Regular soap doesn’t seem to do much to cut through the spider doo, mildew and black marks left on the siding from rotting tree debris. What does work is a pretreatment of oxygen bleach solution. Oxygen bleach is perhaps the greenest cleaner I know of as it is just a dried form of hydrogen peroxide. When the powder is mixed with water, it creates billions of oxygen ions that break apart the organic dirt, more water and non-toxic natural soda ash. The solution doesn’t harm any plants or trees as does chlorine bleach.

I apply the oxygen bleach solution to the exterior of the house with a regular hand-pump sprayer. I always try to work in the shade to minimize evaporation. After letting the solution sit on the siding and trim for about five minutes, I then wash it off with a solution of regular liquid dish soap and water. Years ago, I purchased a special brush that’s made to clean the sides of RV vehicles. It has bristles that are about 2-inches long and are fairly soft so as not to scratch paint. It does a fantastic job of removing the dirt, soot, and organic debris that’s been loosened by the oxygen bleach. After rubbing the surface with the brush, I immediately rinse the area with a regular garden hose always pointing the nozzle down towards the ground.

I try to only work on an area that’s about 100 square feet at a time. I always squirt down the next section of the house with the oxygen-bleach solution just before I hand wash using the brush. This way one part of the house is soaking while I’m cleaning and rinsing the previously sprayed section. This method allows me to constantly be working.

Let’s discuss pressure washing. I can hear the professional companies shriek now.

Pressure washing seems to have permeated our culture much like the high-pressure streams of water from the tool are injected deeply into cracks and seams where water isn’t supposed to go. I own a pressure washer and use it for cleaning certain things around my home, but painted siding is one thing that I would never use it on, except as a possible rinsing tool. If you do that, make sure you have a 25-degree tip or wider on your wand.

You can do a test if you like with a pressure washer. Try to use it on a small section of your home getting it as close as possible to the painted surface to where it does no harm to the paint or wood. Feel free to apply any cleaners that are recommended by the manufacturer of the tool. Rinse the surface and let air dry. Then go back and hand wash a small area that was cleaned with the machine using soap and water and the special brush or a sponge. Rinse that smaller area and let air dry. I’m quite certain you’ll discover that the pressure washer left behind a very thin film of dirt. You can do the same test on your car at a self car wash that has pressure-washing wands. You’ll be shocked to see the pressure washer can leave dirt behind.

CLICK here to order Stain Solver Oxygen Bleach

I discovered oxygen bleach nearly 15 years ago while doing research for a deck-cleaning column. After meeting with the head chemist of the huge company that distributed the chemical, I began extensive testing. After six months, I discovered that the product was the most powerful cleaner I’d ever seen. It got rid of stains in clothes, decks, carpets, anything that was water washable. The best part is that it was color and fabric-safe. It was a green cleaner long before the present Green Movement.

Prior to this I thought there was only one bleach - chlorine bleach. Many of us know how harsh it is. It’s such a strong oxidizer, that it blasts apart fabric and synthetic dye molecules. This is why clothes fall apart and fade when you continuously use chlorine bleach each washing. Chlorine bleach is also highly toxic to plants and vegetation.

Fifteen years ago, there were just one or two companies selling oxygen bleach. I decided to sell it to help survive as the money I got from writing my column wasn’t enough to support a family. I’m proud of all the happy customers I’ve accumulated over the years, and feel so strongly about this earth-friendly green chemical that I’m not afraid to write about it.

Column 783

Constitution

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Tim Carter

The Constitution of the United States

Preamble ["We the people...."]
Article I [The Legislative Branch]
Article II [The Presidency]
Article III [The Judiciary]
Article IV [The States]
Article V [The Amendment Process]
Article VI [Legal Status of the Constitution]
Article VII [Ratification]
Signers
Amendments 1-10 Bill of Rights
Amendments 11-27

Preamble.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Article. I.

Section. 1.

All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section. 2.

The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Section. 3.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.

Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Section. 4.

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.

Section. 5.

Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

Section. 6.

The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.

Section. 7.

All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States: If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

Section. 8.

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;

To establish Post Offices and post Roads;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Section. 9.

The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken.

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.

No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in another.

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Section. 10.

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.

No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

Article. II.

Section. 1.

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; A quorum for this purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President.

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.

No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Section. 2.

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Section. 3.

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

Section. 4.

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Article III.

Section. 1.

The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.

Section. 2.

The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more States;-- between a State and Citizens of another State,--between Citizens of different States,--between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.

The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

Section. 3.

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

Article. IV.

Section. 1.

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

Section. 2.

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.

No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.

Section. 3.

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

Section. 4.

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic Violence.

Article. V.

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

Article. VI.

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

Article. VII.

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

The Word, "the," being interlined between the seventh and eighth Lines of the first Page, the Word "Thirty" being partly written on an Erazure in the fifteenth Line of the first Page, The Words "is tried" being interlined between the thirty second and thirty third Lines of the first Page and the Word "the" being interlined between the forty third and forty fourth Lines of the second Page.

Attest William Jackson Secretary

Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,

G°. Washington
Presidt and deputy from Virginia

The signers of the Constitution of the United States.

Delaware: Geo: Read, Gunning Bedford jun, John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, Jaco: Broom

Maryland: James McHenry, Dan of St Thos. Jenifer, Danl. Carroll

Virginia: John Blair, James Madison Jr.

North Carolina: Wm. Blount, Richd. Dobbs Spaight, Hu Williamson

South Carolina: J. Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler

Georgia: William Few, Abr Baldwin

New Hampshire: John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman

Massachusetts: Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King

Connecticut: Wm. Saml. Johnson, Roger Sherman

New York: Alexander Hamilton

New Jersey: Wil: Livingston, David Brearley, Wm. Paterson, Jona: Dayton

Pennsylvania: B Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robt. Morris, Geo. Clymer, Thos. FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouv Morris

Amendments: The Bill of Rights

The Preamble to The Bill of Rights

Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights."

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Amendment VII

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The Constitution: Amendments 11-27

AMENDMENT XI

Passed by Congress March 4, 1794. Ratified February 7, 1795.

Note: Article III, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 11.

The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.

AMENDMENT XII

Passed by Congress December 9, 1803. Ratified June 15, 1804.

Note: A portion of Article II, section 1 of the Constitution was superseded by the 12th amendment.

The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate; -- the President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; -- The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. --]* The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.

*Superseded by section 3 of the 20th amendment.

AMENDMENT XIII

Passed by Congress January 31, 1865. Ratified December 6, 1865.

Note: A portion of Article IV, section 2, of the Constitution was superseded by the 13th amendment.

Section 1.
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2.
Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XIV

Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868.

Note: Article I, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of the 14th amendment.

Section 1.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2.
Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age,* and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

Section 3.
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4.
The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5.
The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

*Changed by section 1 of the 26th amendment.

AMENDMENT XV

Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude--

Section 2.
The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XVI

Passed by Congress July 2, 1909. Ratified February 3, 1913.

Note: Article I, section 9, of the Constitution was modified by amendment 16.

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

AMENDMENT XVII

Passed by Congress May 13, 1912. Ratified April 8, 1913.

Note: Article I, section 3, of the Constitution was modified by the 17th amendment.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

AMENDMENT XVIII

Passed by Congress December 18, 1917. Ratified January 16, 1919. Repealed by amendment 21.

Section 1.
After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

Section 2.
The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Section 3.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

AMENDMENT XIX

Passed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18, 1920.

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XX

Passed by Congress March 2, 1932. Ratified January 23, 1933.

Note: Article I, section 4, of the Constitution was modified by section 2 of this amendment. In addition, a portion of the 12th amendment was superseded by section 3.

Section 1.
The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.

Section 2.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Section 3.
If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.

Section 4.
The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them.

Section 5.
Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article.

Section 6.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.

AMENDMENT XXI

Passed by Congress February 20, 1933. Ratified December 5, 1933.

Section 1.
The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Section 2.
The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

Section 3.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

AMENDMENT XXII

Passed by Congress March 21, 1947. Ratified February 27, 1951.

Section 1.
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President when this Article was proposed by Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

Section 2.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.

AMENDMENT XXIII

Passed by Congress June 16, 1960. Ratified March 29, 1961.

Section 1.
The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct:

A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XXIV

Passed by Congress August 27, 1962. Ratified January 23, 1964.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XXV

Passed by Congress July 6, 1965. Ratified February 10, 1967.

Note: Article II, section 1, of the Constitution was affected by the 25th amendment.

Section 1.
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Section 2.
Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.

Section 3.
Whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.

Section 4.
Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.

Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.

AMENDMENT XXVI

Passed by Congress March 23, 1971. Ratified July 1, 1971.

Note: Amendment 14, section 2, of the Constitution was modified by section 1 of the 26th amendment.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

Section 2.
The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XXVII

Originally proposed Sept. 25, 1789. Ratified May 7, 1992.

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.

June 10, 2009 AsktheBuilder News And Tips

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Tim Carter

What's in This Issue?

Rushed Back to Cincinnati
Air-Conditioning Bids
Noise-Canceling Earmuffs
Composite Deck Feedback
Last-Minute Father's Day Gift
Latest Columns

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER

Friendly Question Reminder!

If you have a question for me, don't hit the Reply button just yet. Go immediately 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.

Rushed Back to Cincinnati

Last Friday at about 1:30 p.m., I left New Hampshire within three hours of getting a dire phone call about my mom. The hospice nurses said things were not looking good. She was starting to crater, or it sure seemed that way. I was scheduled to be in Washington DC today appearing before members of Congress about Internet Advertising matters. That trip was cancelled as I wanted to be at my mother's bedside.

I drove like a banshee Friday, and Kathy called me on my cell phone and made me stop at Dunkirk, NY after nine hours of driving. After a fitful night of sleep, I was on the road at 7:30 a.m. arriving at the nursing home at 1:45 p.m. Saturday.

I'll cut to the chase. Here it is Wednesday, and mom is still in her jujitsu match with the Grim Reaper. Yesterday, she delivered a kick to the throat that laid the Reaper out on the mat of the cage-fighting ring. She was sitting up in bed, barking orders and otherwise as healthy as she's been for a while. This isn't the first time she's put a choke-hold on the Angel of Death.

All I can say is that I erupted in laughter when I got to her room yesterday. It was like Christmas morning seeing her in good spirits, when just 24 hours before she was hypoxic, delirious, confused, gurgling as she breathed and mumbling. What a fighter she is! Keep her in your prayers as the Grim Reaper is known to hit below the belt and fight dirty. I may have to send mom back to Heaven at any moment.

Air-Conditioning Bids

Yesterday before I went to see mom, I had lunch with my best friend Richard Anderson. Richard, in my opinion, is the best HVAC man within 300 miles of Cincinnati. Heck, he could be in the top ten in the USA for all I know. He was lamenting to me about losing a job or two because of other contractors who were using inferior equipment. I'm not going to name names, but suffice it to say that any equipment that begins with the letter G, you better think long and hard about using it.

It's the same old story that I saw for so many years when I was actively building. There are ALWAYS low-cost products out there. Why? Because a certain portion of the population is always going to buy on price. All of us like to get a great deal, and this mentality fuels this marketplace of substandard products.

However, with HVAC equipment, you can't afford to have junk. This equipment controls the environment where you live, sleep and relax. Think long and hard before you go with a low bidder installing low-quality equipment when installing a new furnace or air conditioner.

For what it's worth, I have York furnaces and air conditioners in my home in Cincinnati. Kathy and I will be selling this home soon as she transitions up to New Hampshire. In fact at the end of summer, I'll be constructing a website to sell the home. You'll see photos of top-of-the-line York units Richard installed in this house just three years ago as my original York equipment was nearing the end of its useful life.

York isn't the only good brand. Use price as a guideline. Get quotes from installers and ask them to break out the cost of the equipment. You'll see fairly quickly that prices can be all over the map.

Noise-Canceling Earmuffs

For the past two weeks, I've been testing some wonderful noise-canceling earmuffs. I need them to help protect my ears from further damage. Many years ago, it was never impressed on us young builders to wear ear protection. I suffer from tinnitus that results from years of screeching circular saws, hammer blows on lumber, gasoline engines, lawn mowers, etc. If you have some way to minimize the ringing in my ears, let me know. I've tried the ginko drug to no effect.

Anyway, the NoiseBuster earmuffs work work really well. An electronic chip in the muffs cancels out much of the harmful noise you'd otherwise hear without them. You need these when you work around your home. Ear damage is CUMULATIVE. Each time you subject your ears to loud noises, you cause damage that can't be easily fixed.

I love the little input port that allows me to connect my iPhone to the muffs. I can listen to my music while I work. Sweet! Pour Some Sugar on Me!

NoiseBuster

Composite Deck Feedback

Last issue I told about the factory tour I made to see CorrectDeck CX. This is the place in Maine I visited. As you might imagine, I got immediate feedback not only from PR people who represent other brands, but from homeowners with ghoulish nightmare stories.

Barbara Garrity is a subscriber and she shared,

"You are right about composite deck material. It can be a very expensive mistake. ... ours was around $31,000.00. We have composite deck material from AERT out of Arkansas. It is deteriorating after less than 5 years. The company has denied any liability. We can send you pictures of the deterioration. The builder, Archadeck, came out, said he had never seen damage like that and said it must be squirrels and left. We rarely see squirrels on the decks and then they just scamper along and then jump to the trees. They do not stop and do damage. Also, we had really ugly spotting on the deck shortly after it was installed. The builder, Archadeck, when called about the spots just told us to buy some harsh cleaner and clean it. It was much later we found out that the spots are mold and there was a class action law suit against the company."

I asked to see photos and was astonished. The deterioration is profound, and no one would ever convince me it was from squirrels. Come on, what squirrel would want to chew on plastic when there was an abundance of other food around? Sure, a squirrel might chew through plastic to get to food, but that's not the case here.

As I said in my Composite Deck column, you must really be very careful when selecting a composite material. They are by no means equal in quality.

Last-Minute Father's Day Gift - Simple QuickSlide Razor Knife

I believe Father's Day is this Sunday. If you're looking for a simple gift that really will be a hit, go with a tool that's been out for about four years now. It's the Stanley QuickSlide Pocket Utility knife.

I have one, and it's become my FAVORITE razorknife. I love how it works, how it feels in my hand and the fact I can clip it to my belt or put it in my pocket.

It's probably too late to order it online, but I'm sure you can find it on the shelf anywhere Stanley hand tools are sold.

Latest Columns

I'll have more news and the latest columns next issue.

Click here to read past copies of my newsletters.

AsktheBuilder.com

Old Windows

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: My husband and I bought a house filled with old windows. These are the type that slide up and down with the old cast-iron weights. They are in great shape, and don’t seem to leak much air. Should we replace these old wood windows, or is our money better spent on other things? If we decide to remodel and upgrade, is it hard replacing old windows? Funds are limited, and we must get the biggest bang for our buck. Stacy T., Dunkirk, NY

DEAR STACY: One thing’s for sure. If you don’t replace the old windows, you’ll probably end up having to repair those old windows from time to time. If you do, be aware that there is a very high likelihood that lead will be in any paint or even clear varnish on them. Be sure to discover all the sinister dangers of lead, and how even small amounts of lead dust can cause great harm to you, your husband or any children or pets you have.

Old home windows are possibly the largest energy thieves in your home. Single-pane glass has an R-value of only 1, and typically there is no insulation between the window jamb and the rough framing of the window. The concealed space where the cast-iron weights go up and down absolutely has no insulation. Poor or non-existent caulking around windows can allow massive amounts of air infiltration. In other words, if you decide to keep your old double-hung windows, you need to understand you’ll be wasting energy dollars whenever your furnace or air conditioner is operating.

Old windows can be found in thousands of places, even newer homes! PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

You may not think these windows leak lots of air, but chances are they do. There are all sorts of things you can do to minimize the air loss, but you’ll never stop all of it. Great weatherstripping, caulking all visible cracks between the window, exterior siding and trim and all interior plaster and trim and plastic shrink wrapping will go a long way to help save you money.

To make an informed decision about investing in new windows, you need to put a pencil to paper. There are many things you need to consider, including current heating and cooling costs, projected maintenance of the existing windows and future price increases on fuels that you use to heat and cool. It’s not easy to do all of this math, and that’s why many people cave in replacing their windows hoping they save money. Well, in some instances the people never save any money at all. Always remember that you never begin saving money until such time as you have recaptured the money you spent on the improvement plus any and all interest that money could have generated in your savings account.

Get copies of the utility bills for the past two years for this home. You can often separate the heating cost by looking at the bills for the summer vs. the winter. If the fuel source is natural gas or propane, you can see the dramatic rise between fall and spring. Do the math to calculate the approximate cost of heating the home. You may be surprised to discover that the cost is less than $1,500 per heating season if this is a smaller home.

Let’s assume that even with new windows installed you could save as much as 30 percent. I’m not saying you will, but let’s make that assumption. This means that you’ll only reduce your heating cost per year by $450.00. For now, let’s assume the cost of the fuel will rise 4 percent per year. This means that in ten years, you would save approximately $5,397.00. That’s not bad, but imagine if you had spent $10,000 or more replacing the old windows with new ones! It would take another eight or nine years of energy savings just to break even, not counting the lost interest on the money. If you finance the new windows, the payback period is even longer because of the interest you pay on the loan.

Tax credits, rebates and incentives from utility companies and other programs can impact the payback period. All of these need to be considered. But beware of fast-talking salespeople who promise you instant savings. That’s simply not the case.

If you decide to try to save money and install the windows yourself, it can be a challenge. There are replacement kits that allow you to install new windows that match your existing ones in the current openings. With practice, you could completely replace a window in about an hour, maybe 90 minutes. You’ll need a few tools to do this and possibly a belt sander in case you need to scribe a window to a jamb that’s not square.

It’s very hard to make accurate cost-savings projections. There are some highly scientific methods that take into account the higher R-value of the new windows and lower air-infiltration rates, but thermostat settings, heating-degree days of the winter from year to year, interior thermostat settings, etc. all come into play.

Perhaps the best thing to do is to take a hard look at the efficiency of your existing furnace and air conditioner. If you have an old furnace that eats too much fuel, you may get a faster payback by using your money on a high-efficiency furnace and air conditioner. Once again, you must do the math and see when you actually recapture the money you spend. If you do this, then be sure to seal all air leaks around your old windows.

If you live in an area where heating with wood is allowed, you may look into this alternative. There are some very efficient wood stoves that produce vast amounts of heat. If you have access to wood at a low cost, perhaps your best bet is to invest in a decorative, yet functional, wood stove. As you can see, there are many things to consider.

Column 782

Check Your Email

Posted on June 5, 2009 by Tim Carter

If your email works smoothly and quickly as mine sometimes does, there's a great chance an email is already waiting for you.

The subject line is: AsktheBuilder.com - Please Confirm Your Newsletter Subscription

Inside this email is a link that you must click to confirm your subscription. This is done to prevent Spam, which all of us hate. This simple step allows the secure and reliable AWeber service I use to manage my list to determine that you actually requested the newsletter.

As soon as you click that link and confirm, you'll get my Five Greatest Home-Improvement Tips and better yet, you'll start to Save Money and Time each week with my tips.

Hurry and confirm! I can't wait to send you your first newsletter!

Tim Carter

Tim Carter, AsktheBuilder.com

Composite Deck

Posted on June 1, 2009 by Tim Carter

You can see the weather beaten gray wood fibers in this older composite deck. The new sample piece has a coating that shields the wood from the damaging effects of sun and water. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: Composite decking has been on the market for some time. A friend has a composite deck, but it looks shabby and faded. Were composites decks oversold with respect to performance? I’m tired of maintaining my wood deck, but am worried about what composite decking material to purchase. I did some research and discovered that there have been class-action lawsuits, some companies have gone out of business and other products have been pulled off the market by the manufacturers. What do you think is the best composite decking on the market at this time? Sandra G., Monroe, GA

DEAR SANDRA: There are thousands of consumers out there that feel your pain, and thousands more who are suffering because they have composite wood decking that doesn’t look at all the way it did when it was first installed. In fact, the house I’m in right now has a composite wood deck that was installed by the previous owner seven years ago. The finish is blotchy, the exposed wood fibers are gray instead of brown and it’s not the best looking deck by any means. But does this mean I would never have composite decking materials installed on one of my jobs or on another home? No is the answer. Get the right product and you’ll be happy for quite some time.

If you continue your research, you’ll discover that there are many manufacturers of composite deck boards and composite deck railing. Some might say that there are too many, and that we’ll see more companies disappear or get folded into the stronger brands. Be aware of this possibility, and that if you purchase a product that succumbs to market pressure, you may not be able to get replacement material or your warranty can be of little value.

Once you understand how composite decking is made, you can begin to understand why there have been failures and disappointment. It’s most basic form, composite deck boards are made by mixing wood fibers and plastic. It’s similar in some respects to concrete which is a combination of large and small stone, sand, Portland cement and water. The plastic in composite decking is the binder, while the wood fiber acts to provide strength. But be aware there are vastly different grades of plastic and wood fibers. If you start with low-quality ingredients, you end up with a substandard product.

But it’s even more complicated than that. Some of the past failures of composite materials has been traced to the fact that the plastic has not been able to encapsulate and soak into the wood fibers. Water in the wood is usually the demon. Water and plastic repel one another in the manufacturing process. What’s more, if water is in the tiny wood fibers, the plastic simply can’t get to where it needs to go. The top composite decking materials contain wood fibers that are as dry as the Atacama Desert, considered by many to be the driest place on the planet.

But even with the best wood fibers, the best plastic and the best manufacturing process, you can still get a product you might not be happy with. Many of the composite materials end up with exposed wood fibers at the surface. These will discolor over time, and they probably will rot away as they get wet.

One of the most interesting products I’ve seen lately is a composite decking material that uses lots of recycled plastics, high-quality bone-dry wood fibers and has a protective layer of embossed plastic that has a deep wood grain and completely covers the top and sides of the decking. This coating eliminates the possibility of exposed wood fibers and all the issues that go along with it. Because of it’s high amount of recycled plastic content, it’s perhaps one of the greenest composite decking choices you can make.

Be aware that there is no such thing as maintenance-free decking. You’ll still have to wash your deck periodically to remove dirt and mildew. Often regular liquid dish soap and water will do the job. Be sure to always use the cleaner recommended by the decking manufacturer. If you have mildew problems, understand that trees surrounding your home release aerosol sugars that are food for mildew. Regular dirt and dust can also be food sources. Don’t blame the decking material if you have mildew, as it’s Mother Nature’s fault.

Be very careful when you make your purchasing decision. Not all composite decking products have the same density and strength. Some products can be easily dented with a hammer or incur damage from objects you might drop. I urge you to buy just one piece of all the products you’re thinking of using. Do your own drop tests using common things you might carry on your deck like a filled propane container, tools, etc. Drop them onto your sample pieces and see what happens. Pound the materials with a common hammer.

CLICK here to order Stain Solver Oxygen Bleach

Cooking grease can be a real issue. If you have a composite deck that has exposed wood fibers, the grease can soak into the wood fibers. Use an oxygen bleach and warm water to get rid of these stains. The oxygen bleach will also remove the gray coloration from any exposed wood fibers if you own a weathered composite deck.

Read my Composite Deck Feedback article in the June 10, 2009 Newsletter. Barbara had a $31,000 decking error!!

Column 781

Brick and Mortar - The Perfect Marriage

What is Brick and Mortar?

How does hydrated lime help mortar?

How do you make a strong mortar?

When repairing mortar, check out the existing mortar joints

Are special tools needed to work with mortar?

What’s in This Issue?

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER

Friendly Question Reminder!

Saving Sweet Moola

Mom

Summer To Dos

Nail Guns and a Pocket Door

Clean Instead of Repainting

Surfing Safely

Wind Turbines

Recent Columns

Preamble.

Article. I.

Article. II.

Article III.

Article. IV.

Article. V.

Article. VI.

Article. VII.

Amendments: The Bill of Rights

The Constitution: Amendments 11-27

What's in This Issue?

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER

Friendly Question Reminder!

Rushed Back to Cincinnati

Air-Conditioning Bids

Noise-Canceling Earmuffs

Composite Deck Feedback

Last-Minute Father's Day Gift - Simple QuickSlide Razor Knife

Latest Columns

Expert Advice For Your Home