Stone Wall

Posted on by Tim Carter

Stone-wall construction is not as daunting as you might think. Sure the stones are heavy, but if you’re to build a stone wall that’s less than 24-inches tall, you may be able to accomplish the task with minimal help and minimal mechanical equipment. The stones for a wall can be just about anything. Here in New Hampshire, rounded granite boulders are used for walls. In the Midwest, flat pieces of limestone are commonly used. Whatever the local bedrock is made from will often suffice.

In Europe, it’s common to have a stone-wall building. Many hundreds of years ago, Europe depleted their vast forests, and the only abundant material to build with was stone and clay that was made into brick. Lumber is an expensive commodity in Europe, but stone is everywhere. The stone just needs to be quarried and transported to a job site.

On my property in New Hampshire, I have a dry-stone wall. This term means that the stones interlock with no mortar. It’s a very common practice used to build stone walls here in the Northeast. It’s also more affordable as a dry-stone wall can be erected faster than the same wall that uses cement mortar.

If you want to discover how to build a stone wall, all you have to do is look at some that are already in place. It’s a great idea to take photographs of many existing walls to see the scale of the rocks used, and how they interlock. Note how the bottom row of stone almost always is partially buried in the soil for stability. When you see how heavy each individual stone is, you can see why a dry wall will stay in place. It takes enormous effort to move the stones.

You can make an interior stone wall in your home with no problems. The most important thing is to have solid bearing. This means the stone must rest directly on a poured concrete slab that has a footing beneath it, or the stone can rest directly on a steel I-beam that’s been designed for the load.

I built a room addition for Matthew Motz in the mid-1980’s in Cincinnati, OH, that had a drop-dead gorgeous limestone wall that was inside the addition. This wall was the entire width of the room addition both in the basement family room and the master bedroom above that. In each wall was a large fireplace. I enjoyed several warm fires in front of these rustic stone walls.

If you decide to build a natural stone wall, even if it’s a stone garden wall, be sure to look at the texture of the stone, its color and ask about it’s durability for where it’s being used. Most rock is resistant to freezing, but you want to make sure. The last thing you want to do is go through hours of grueling work only to discover you selected the wrong stone.

Building a stone wall can be done faster than normal if you incorporate stone wall panels, but this is rarely done on residential work. Large commercial projects can use these prefabricated panels sometimes. You’ll also see a faux stone wall in certain situations where concrete is poured into forms that create a stone-like texture. This is very common on sound walls you might see on an expressway. These might qualify as stone panels, even though it’s not real stone.

You can incorporate stone into other elements in your yard. On the rear patio of our second home, I built a stone-wall fountain. This small fountain was part of a brick wall that transformed into a natural limestone fountain. It was the centerpiece of the patio, and got lots of compliments.

Stone wall construction can be hard on your hands and back, so always wear gloves and steel-toed boots. Don’t try to lift more than you can do without straining. It’s not worth blowing out a disc in your back to show you have some type of super powers. If you do decide to use stone wall mortar, don’t underestimate how heavy a wheelbarrow full of mortar weighs. It can be close to 500 pounds!

If you try to build a decorative stone wall, I urge you to try a small test wall first. Do a sample to get used to working with the stone. When you view the wall, always stand back as far as you would when normally looking at the wall. The appearance of the wall can be different when you stand back 50 feet as opposed to viewing it from 5 feet away.

Column Q&A

February 24, 2009 AsktheBuilder News And Tips

Posted on by Tim Carter

What’s in This Issue?

NOTES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
BATHROOM MILDEW
GREAT RESTAURANT IN BURLINGTON, VT
MORE INSURANCE NEWS
NEW RECIPROCATING SAW BLADE
GREAT NECK 48-PIECE TOOL SET
FOGGED INSULATED GLASS IN RAHWAY, NJ
SAW BLADE SANDING DISCS
NEW VIDEOS
NEW COLUMNS

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER

Two weeks ago, I got the flu and am now just getting back to full speed. The smallest hint of a head cold is still with me, and my sense of taste and smell is starting to regenerate. Thank goodness for that! There is a ton of news to share, and I have to admit that as I type this, I'm listening to one of my favorite songs - Hysteria, by Def Leppard. That's putting me in a great mood!

Notes From Around the World

Note, cards and emails continue to pour in about my dear mother-in-law. One of the most touching cards to arrive in my Mail Box came from halfway around the world. Valrie Beth from Perth, Australia, had a similar loss, and her handwritten card had me tearing up.

If you reached out to Kathy and I, we can't begin to tell you the power of your message. It's so uplifting to witness the caring and love that's out there, especially considering I've never met you face to face. I'm so blessed to have you as a subscriber.

Bathroom Mildew

Mold and mildew in tub and shower areas is a constant battle. In the grocery stores, you'll see products devoted specifically to this problem. Here's a tip that you might not have tried yet. To minimize or eliminate mildew in showers and tubs, you just have to get rid of the water.

All of that water that's left on the walls and floor is exactly what the mold and mildew need to grow. It takes hours and hours for that to evaporate after you leave the room. You'd be shocked to see how much water is left on the walls. When I squeegee my shower each day, it looks to me that about 2 to 3 ounces of water goes down the drain, maybe even a half a cup.

I've discovered that a squeegee can quickly get the water off the walls, shower door and floor after each shower. If you have a shower curtain, shake it sideways to try to get the water beads to jump off. Leave the shower curtain or the shower door open when you leave the room to help air get to the shower space. This promotes rapid drying. Leave the bathroom door open as well. You want the humidity in that room to drop as fast as possible.

A final idea, though more radical, is to place a floor fan in the bathroom and have it run as you dress. This idea is tough to do for a number of reasons. It can bother others who are still sleeping, it's hard to do, and it can become a fire hazard if you leave the house and forget it's on. There are humidistat controls you can wire in place of the standard on and off switch for your bathroom exhaust fan. This is the safest way to control air movement in your absence.

Great Restaurant in Burlington, VT

When I got back to New Hampshire after my mother-in-law's funeral, I had to drive my son back to college in Burlington, VT. He's a student at Champlain College. We got there at lunch time and grabbed a bite to eat at one of his favorite places, Sadie Katz Delicatessen, located at 189 Bank Street in downtown Burlington.  I got a cup of the Mushroom and Barley soup and half a Reuben sandwich. WOW is all I can say!

What a great place! We got excellent service from a young man named Zack Rouda, and I was fortunate enough to talk with the owner, Glenn Walter, who was in the deli while we were eating. I always try to talk with the manager or owner whenever I get great service and food. All too often, people just complain, so it's really important for business managers and owners to hear when you're happy.

More Insurance News

I was flooded with emails from subscribers who have been sacrificed at the altars of the insurance companies. It should come as no surprise that not one insurance company executive reached out to me. If you've had a non-renewal notice sent to you concerning your homeowner's insurance, I want to hear from you. I'm collecting all the stories and giving you a platform so you can be heard.

I did hear from three insurance agents that confirmed my worst suspicions. Suffice it to say that I'll be following up with a blog post that will explain everything. I've never seen such a breach of ethics in my life. The ethics issue is centered on claims and your deductible limits.   If you have a homeowner's insurance policy, what you think you purchased you DON'T have, and if you attempt to use your policy, you're punished. There's a massive lack of transparency on the part of many agents and insurance companies as to what the real unwritten practices are. The keyword here being unwritten. I'll go into much greater detail in my blog post.

Kimberly, a gracious subscriber, sent me a link to a website that I feel is required reading to all who have homeowner's insurance. Read this article and see if you don't agree that it’s a must-read. Feel free to pass this link to all your friends, neighbors, relatives and coworkers. Thanks Kimberly!

New Reciprocating Saw Blade

Bosch has recently released a new metal-cutting saw blade for reciprocating saws. It's called the Edge. The blade is thicker that helps it produce straighter cuts in thick metal. It also has new tooth geometry that cuts 20 percent faster. Check out the Edge.

Great Neck 48-Piece Tool Set

Before Christmas, I talked about this handy tool set. I wanted to mention it once more because it really has some well-designed tools that come in handy. Just last week, I used different tools in the set for different jobs. This tool set has the absolute coolest, sleekest, and most handsome razor knife box cutter you'll ever see. You have to see it to believe it. If you like red, you'll be all over this tool set and razor knife.

Fogged Insulated Glass in Rahway, NJ

Susan S., wrote me:

"When we bought our house five years ago, it already had replacement windows. Unfortunately, the quality was not very good and most are permanently stained between the double-glazing. My question is do they make a replacement sash for windows that already have a vinyl replacement frame?"

Susan, the answer is maybe and you may not need to go to that extent. Several years ago, I saw a demonstration of a technique developed by a Canadian company that cleans the fogged space inside of insulated glass. I know this process is still around as a month ago I saw a booth at the Boston Home and Garden show that was selling this service. Maybe you should see if someone purchased a franchise in your area by doing a search for "cleaning fogged glass" on the Internet. If you do discover a business does this, I suggest you have them only do one window to ensure that you're pleased with the final result.

Saw Blade Sanding Discs

I get pitched with inventions all the time. Just before I got the flu, I was sent a 10-inch saw blade that had sanding surfaces glued to the faces of the blade. This is a fascinating invention that produces one of those "Why didn't I think of that?" moments. It's called Final Cut. This product consists of sets of adhesive-backed sanding discs that you attach to saw blades you own.

This blade automatically sands the edge of the lumber you're cutting whether it be on your miter saw or table saw. At this time, the sanding discs are only available for 10-inch blades. These products are a must for any finish carpenter. Oh my gosh, do they produce satin-smooth cuts! These discs would have saved me hours of light sanding years ago when I was working with pre-stained woodwork.

If you attach a set to a new blade, you'll be making cuts so precise that your friends and neighbors will think you were abducted by Master-Carpenter Aliens, probed, tested and placed back here on Earth to infect all of us with the best-kept secrets of how ancient temple woodwork was created. I beg you to buy some of these sanding discs from this great man.

New Videos

Want to see me and my color-coordinated Craftsman Snow Blower? No kidding, this is a must-see video.

I got to take the first shot at the Lake Winnisquam Ice Golfing Tournament. Want to see a tee shot that goes about 575 yards? No kidding.

New Columns

Cement siding is great if installed correctly.

If you installed one of Bill Gates Windows products, you might be able to tackle installing windows in your home.

Have you ever wondered what a building inspector does?

Sandstone is a pretty cool rock. Can you use it in your home?

Click here to read past copies of my newsletters.

AsktheBuilder.com

Glass Windows

Posted on by Tim Carter

Window glass is what makes a window. Windows open like doors and allow access to a space, but doors can be solid. When was the last time you saw glass windows sans glass? In other words, a solid panel of wood, plastic or metal in place of the transparent glass? I don't think in my lifetime I've ever seen such a thing. The glass allows you to see through the wall to the outdoors.

If you want to see a window in all its glory, then go to a church, or some other public building, that has a stained-glass window. I grew up as a Roman Catholic and going to church was a regular part of my life. I have vivid memories of being in church during mass looking at the brilliant colors in the stained-glass church windows. Some of the blues, greens and reds were as deep as a discussion on metaphysics. The colors and craftsmanship in each stain glass window still amaze me to this day.

This gorgeous custom-made beveled and stained glass panel is not sandwiched between the insulated glass. It lays on top of the insulated glass and is permanently held in place with caulk . PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

If you like stained glass, you can have a stained-glass window panel made to an exact size that will overlay an existing piece of window glass. My wife and I have had four different stained-glass window panels made to cover two windows in our family room and the tall, narrow sidelights that are on either side of our front door. You get the beauty of stained glass, and the efficiency of insulated glass.

Glass-block windows are another variation that appeal to some. To me, these windows are far more modern and only work with a few architectural styles. Back when I was still building each day for a living, I used to install many glass-block basement windows in place of rotting foundation windows. This was an enormous market back in the 1980's. Glass block then started to move indoors being used in bathrooms for both windows and shower enclosures.

Glass window replacement can be easy or very hard. Many years ago, when windows were single glazed with just one piece of glass, you would chip out the putty, remove the small metal clips that held the glass into the frame and then clean the opening. Installing new glass was not too hard. But window glass repair for modern insulated glass is slightly more complex. Some windows are impossible to repair, and you have to purchase a new sash. This is common on vinyl-coated wood windows.

Antique stained-glass windows are yet another type of window that has a distinct group of followers. Back in the early 1980's, these windows and leaded-glass windows were used heavily in expensive new homes west of the Mississippi River. You can see these houses in ski resorts and other posh developments.

This demand created a market that was satisfied by thieves. The house next to mine had all of it's 100-year-old gorgeous antique stained and beveled glass windows ripped from the frames in broad daylight. I'll never forget how heartsick Ralph Cautley was when he got home from work that night. If you have windows like this in your home, install a security alarm to scare away those losers that prey on good people.

If you do happen to have an antique stained glass window or two, you better take great photographs of them that show every detail and the overall design. You'll need these photos in case you have a catastrophic loss at your home. Without these photos, you'll get into an argument with your insurance adjustor. They'll just say you had regular glass or something very substandard. Don't trust your insurance company as far as you can throw them with no arms.

If you have a home that's loaded with old glass windows, especially larger up-down sash windows that have large pieces of float glass, don't send those windows to the dump. In many older cities, there's a large market for both the glass and the window sashes. You'll note that the glass in these older windows is wavy and often has imperfections. People highly value this glass as it adds enormous amounts of character to older homes. Glass actually flows slowly under the pull of gravity, and can be thicker at the bottom of the pane than at the top.

Don't forget that you can use decorative glass windows in front doors or even in French doors inside a home. I've installed gorgeous decorative glass panels that were custom made to fit an existing wood door that had regular rectangle raised panels and a different door that had octagonal wood raised panels. The amount of light these glass windows let into the entrance halls of these homes was more than you could ever imagine.

Column Q&A

Storage Cabinet

Posted on by Tim Carter

Just about every cabinet in a house qualifies as a storage cabinet. After all, you store supplies and things in the fancy wood box you call a cabinet. But storage cabinets can come in all sizes, shapes, and sources. Some of the best storage cabinets I've used over the years - and still use to this day - were salvaged from remodeling projects. Yes, the cabinets I use were headed to the dump in a dumpster before I saved them!

In the 1950's and 60's, there was a big trend for metal kitchen storage cabinets. Some of these were works of art. In fact when I saw them, I always pondered how in the world they were manufactured with such precision. I had the good fortune about 17 years ago to remodel a home that had many of these metal cabinets. I salvaged each one, as most of them were in excellent condition. The painted finish on them looked like the day they left the factory.

A few of these cabinets are still in use at my house. They make wonderful storage cabinets in garages and work shops. If you ever have a chance to salvage metal cabinets, do so. They're nearly indestructible.

You can't always use salvaged cabinets for everything. For example, if you desire to showcase your DVD collection or even classic vinyl records in a media storage cabinet that will be in a family room or a living room, you'll not do well taking a castaway cabinet. Then trying to modify it with special shelves and dividers. I'm not saying it can't be done, it's just that you might be better off getting a new cabinet for this purpose.

There is a growing trend of people working from home offices. I do that myself. You can purchase office storage cabinets disguised as stock bathroom vanity cabinets. Yes, these traditional vanity cabinets are not as tall as kitchen cabinets, and when screwed together and covered with a simple laminate top, they can look amazingly like a credenza. What's more, they allow you to really have a well-organized office if you take the time and put your most needed supplies as close to where you sit as possible. That way the things you need are at your fingertips.

It would take supreme skills and magic to create a furniture storage cabinet from either wood or metal salvaged cabinets. Perhaps the only way to pull this off would be if you had a room where painted furniture, or the distressed look, was the theme. In that case, you very likely could discover a tall pantry cabinet that is trimmed with crown molding just might work. My customers in the past paid large sums of money for custom painted cabinets, so you could save lots of cash if you can get creative and pull this off.

If you have a boatload of woodworking tools and equipment, you may be able to cobble together a CD storage cabinet or a DVD storage cabinet. These are indeed custom cabinets that require precision measuring and thin dividers. It takes enormous skill to do this, if you're not used to working with small dimensions. In factories, these cabinets are often made from parts milled on computer-controlled machines. When you start working in tolerances of 1/32nd of an inch on a regular basis, you have to be good. That's what the dividers for CD's and DVD's require.

It may be possible to use a salvaged cabinet in a bathroom. If you have a larger bathroom, and the cabinets are painted, a bathroom storage cabinet might do nicely filling one corner. These are great places for toilet-paper storage, extra towels, all of the electric hair tools, and the abundance of personal care products the average person seems to accumulate.

In years past, I often hung a standard kitchen wall cabinet that was 24-inches tall over the toilet. When you add simple crown molding to this cabinet, it can look like a piece of custom furniture. This is a common cabinet used in many kitchens. You may discover a remodeler who has one.

My all-time favorite though are garage storage cabinets. Every single cabinet in my garage is a salvaged one. My most cherished cabinet is a 100-year-old built-in cabinet with glass doors that I took out of a house we remodeled twenty years ago. This solid-wood cabinet is going with me to my barn in New Hampshire. It's a classic cabinet that will always remind me of what it took to get to where I am now.

Column Q&A

Cabinet Doors

Posted on by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: Cabinet doors are swirling in my head as I approach a major kitchen remodeling job. There are so many different kitchen cabinet doors, I'm overwhelmed with the styles and finishes. I'm afraid they'll go out of fashion and I'll be bored with my choice. What should I look for in wood cabinet doors? Custom cabinet doors are out of my budget, so let's keep that out of the discussion. How would you solve this dilemma? Leslie K., Worthville, PA

DEAR LESLIE: Oh, do I remember those days where some of my customers had the same problem. They were paralyzed with fear fretting about making a mistake they would truly regret. It made perfect sense to me as the cost of the cabinets was often such that it would take the breath away of all but the most wealthy. It's easy to spend a sizable ransom on kitchen cabinets.

My daughter has taught me that these decisions are best made by following your heart. This may sound insane, but I'm a believer in her reasoning. She tells me that when selecting cabinet doors, you should be in touch with your inner feelings. When you see a door style and color that makes you feel good, you're zeroing in on one that will bring you pleasure each day, as you come into your kitchen to brew that first pot of bean juice, better known as coffee.

The biggest mistake you can make right now is trying to select cabinets that will make others think good things of you. This mentality is what keeps designers in business. They constantly are introducing new things trying to tug on the emotions on the those homeowners who try to keep up with the Jones, or who want to have the hippest fashion or style so they impress their friends. Don't fall into this expensive trap.

This glass cabinet door when mixed with a solid door adds considerable interest to the room. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

This glass cabinet door when mixed with a solid door adds considerable interest to the room. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

As you restart your selection process, pay attention to glass cabinet doors. You may want to mix in some of these in your plan. A strategically placed wall cabinet that has glass doors can really add sizzle to your design. Be sure to consider a special glass used by picture-framing businesses that's called conservancy glass. This glass has a non-glare coating that makes the glass appear invisible. The items inside the cabinets appear to jump out at you. Be sure to consider indirect lighting behind these glass kitchen cabinet doors so the objects inside are washed in soft light at night. It's a breathtaking affect.

Don't underestimate the power of cabinet door hardware on the overall look of your new cabinets. The size, color and finish of the knobs, drawer pulls and any exposed hinges can change the look of the cabinet doors. It's mission critical that you pay attention to the hardware as you start to narrow your door choices. Be sure you place hardware samples directly onto the sample doors. Always look at full-size door samples, not a small block of stained wood. Basing your cabinet door selection on small samples of wood is death on a jagged stick.

As you talk with the cabinet company, discuss the attributes of the wood cabinet doors that they have. Not all doors are made the same. If you desire solid wood, make sure that's what you're getting. Some doors appear to be solid wood, when in reality they are composite doors covered with a paper-thin veneer made from solid wood. It's easy to be tricked by these lower-cost impostors.

Oak cabinet doors will undoubtedly be one of the wood species that you'll look at. It's very durable, but has a distinctive heavier grain that may or may not grab you. Oak can be stained a darker color, but beware of dark kitchen cabinets. They can overpower a room and make it appear smaller. If possible see if you can locate a cabinet manufacturer that uses red oak. When coated with a simple clear finish, red oak will take your breath away. You can get the same look, but without the heavy grain, if you use red birch for the wood in your new cabinets.

Be sure to look at new cabinet doors at a specialty business that just sells cabinets and countertops. You'll often see many smaller kitchens setup showing off both base and wall cabinets set up to show you in full scale what a particular door style and finish will look like when you have all the same doors next to one another.

It's vitally important that you make your decision looking at cabinets this way. Don't base your decision on just one door sample or a computer simulation you may see at a home center. You could make a mistake that you'll really regret once the home-center installers show up and throw the cabinets into place.

If oak or birch is not to your liking, take a look at cherry cabinet doors. I've had cherry cabinets for years, and they are a classic look. Cherry is a lighter to medium hardwood, but it reacts to sunlight over time. The wood will darken naturally, so keep that in mind. Try to see if can't locate a home that has cherry cabinets that have been in place for years to see how they look. You can do this by watching real estate open houses that advertise the cabinet wood species in the ad. Some Realtors will mention cherry cabinets.

Column 767

Real Estate Inspection

Posted on by Tim Carter

Just last year (2008), I had to pay for a real-estate inspection. For the first time in over 32 years, I purchased an existing home that I didn't build myself. Fortunately, I hired the best inspector around to perform my real-estate home inspection. The inspector was certified by the American Society of Home Inspectors. As I followed him through the house, it was obvious that he had done many real-estate inspections. He zeroed in on all the mission-critical aspects of the house and was extremely thorough.

Many years ago, I used to have my own real-estate inspection service. Back in the 1970's, when you opened the Yellow Pages, there wasn't even a heading that existed for home inspections or real-estate inspections. Many young people have no idea what the Yellow Pages are or were. They were the first search engines. The Yellow Pages were phone books that listed businesses under different categories. If you needed a problem solved, you opened the Yellow Pages. Now people solve problems by typing their problems into search engines!

Purchase my Easy-to-Use Home Inspection Checklist Now. This Simple-To-Use Tool allows you to spot many defects before you have to hire a real inspector. You can then eliminate a house and move on to one with fewer defects.

You have nothing to lose. If my checklist doesn't work for you, I'll give you your money back. Oh, one more thing, it's an Instant Download! You can have the checklist in your hands just minutes from now!

One of the reasons real-estate inspections became a huge industry was a subtle change in the laws in many states. For many years, the law put the burden of defects that might exist on the buyer of real estate. The Latin phrase 'Caveat Emptor' - Let the Buyer Beware - was the standard. Sellers of real estate or other chattel were held exempt if they sold goods that were defective.

But slowly the law started to change as more buyers won lawsuits about serious undisclosed defects. At the same time, real estate brokers were sucked into this costly legal vortex by being named as defendants in the lawsuits. The homeowners felt they should be held to a higher standard as they saw the houses each day and should be able to spot problems.

It didn't take long for the Realtors to figure out that it was in their best interest to help promote using builders, or any professional engineer, to look at a house once it was under contract. Suffice it to say, the real-estate inspection industry can trace its roots to the legal profession.

The inspection of real estate can be an involved process. My inspection took about three hours. Some inspections can take even longer. If you want a thorough inspection, you often have to bring in more than one inspector. In my case, I also brought in a septic tank specialist who looked inside the tank, tested the cleanliness of the leach field and tested the pump. Unfortunately, my septic system is below the leach field, so the secondary waste water in the tank has to be pumped uphill about 25 feet in elevation.

It's easy to locate real-estate inspection services. I think the Internet is the best place to start. Beware of using inspectors recommended by the Realtor. For many years, real-estate inspectors were known as deal killers. Many Realtors don't want the deals to blow up, so some unethical salespeople and brokers would recommend an easy inspector. You want a real-estate inspector that used to be a drill sergeant in the Marine Corps.

Furthermore, you want a certified inspector that has to meet tough qualifications and is required to take continuing education. Not all inspection certification programs are equal, not by a long shot. At the time this column was written, I feel the toughest real-estate inspection association is the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). Take a look at their requirements and see if you don't agree.

To save money on inspections, it's really a good idea to take with you on all showings your own real-estate inspection checklist. Your form will not be as detailed as that of an ASHI inspector, but if you can see major problems that would eliminate the house before you go to all the trouble of placing an offer, why not do that? These checklists exist out on the Internet, and they prompt you to look at foundation problems, water leaks that have been disguised, roof condition, exterior drainage, etc. You have to be really careful when you look at homes as it's easy to overlook the true condition of a home. Often your mind glosses over defects as you try to place yourself in the house.

If you do hire a professional, you'll get a real-estate inspection report at the conclusion of the inspection. Sometimes the inspector will give it to you immediately, and other times you may get it sent to you within hours as the inspector transfers photos from the inspection onto the report. Photos in the report are invaluable. You want to ask for these as they can win arguments down the road if the deal goes south.

Be sure to get a good real-estate termite inspection if you live in the lower 48 contiguous states of the USA. Termites are everywhere, and are more active in some areas than others. I've been told that there are two types of houses: those that have had termites and those that will. Termites have a motto: Take no prisoners. Given the opportunity, they will invade your home. The worker termites forage for new food sources constantly. It's a survival skill so they are constantly introducing new food to the colony.

When you finally decide to order your residential real-estate inspection, try to be present during the inspection. You'll be able to see the things the inspector discovers, and he'll be able to explain to you in person the severity of any issues. I don't know if the perfect house exists that's problem free, so don't expect a report that says there are no problems. Use common sense when evaluating the report, and be sure to get accurate estimates as to what it might cost to fix major problems.

EXTRA NEWS from Tim Carter:
Purchase my Easy-to-Use Home Inspection Checklist Now. This Simple-To-Use Tool allows you to spot many defects before you have to hire a real inspector. You can then eliminate a house and move on to one with fewer defects.

You have nothing to lose. If my checklist doesn't work for you, I'll give you your money back. Oh, one more thing, it's an Instant Download! You can have the checklist in your hands just minutes from now!

Column Q&A

Natural Stone

Posted on by Tim Carter

Natural stone is the handiwork of Mother Nature. My college degree is in geology, so I'm very partial to rock and what it takes to create it. I've seen my share of natural stones, and my walk into and out of the Grand Canyon in the summer of 1972 was one place to see an enormous variety of stone including, but not limited to, limestone, sandstone, shale, schist, quartzite and some granite. Many of these rocks look drab and uninteresting in the field, but when you slice them and polish them, their hidden beauty jumps at you faster than a frog into a pond.

Natural stone tile is popular because it allows the average person to install a stone product that normally was done by a select group of professionals. Prior to the explosion of stone tiles, master craftsman stone setters would install larger slabs of stone. This requires great skill and tools. But the natural stone tile handles just like ceramic tile, only requiring a diamond wet saw or an angle grinder to make cuts.

If you're considering natural stone flooring, then be sure to look at all of your options. One of the most amazing finishes I've seen is flamed granite. Instead of the normal high-polished look, flamed granite has a rougher texture that appears burnished. It produces a slip-resistant surface that looks strikingly beautiful.

Natural-stone products can be found at specialty stores as well as home centers. If you want the best selection, and often the best prices, avoid the home centers. The selection there is extremely limited. Many larger cities have multiple businesses that sell nothing but stone products. You can also discover many natural-stone products using the Internet. Many online businesses will sell natural stone direct to you.

Natural stone marble as well as natural stone granite are possibly the most popular stones used by homeowners. Marble has a timeless beauty with its rich veining and intertwined colors. Granite is appealing for it's vibrant colors, crystals and extreme durability. I have both granite and marble in my existing home. My lake house in New Hampshire has soapstone countertops. I'm partial to granite because it's beauty takes my breath away.

If you decide to incorporate stone into your home, you'll need some natural stone supplies. Some stone products need to be set with epoxy, rather than thinset. You'll need special high-quality sealers. Special sanded grouts or seam epoxies might also be required. Don't let the home-center employee play Jedi mind tricks on you getting you to believe you don't need these things. Always speak to a merchant that specializes in natural stone. They know what works, and more importantly what doesn't work when it comes to setting stone permanently.

If you live in an area where stone is littered all over the land, you might be able to gather enough to build a natural stone wall. I spent the majority of my life in Cincinnati, and there was limestone to be had at road cuts and stream beds. This rock made fantastic retaining walls. Well over 150 years ago, there were quarries on top of the highlands that overlooked the Mill Creek Valley in downtown Cincinnati. These quarries produced vast amounts of natural stone that was used in thousands of foundations in the older buildings of Cincinnati.

The land I own in New Hampshire has natural stone walls that are perhaps 200 years old. The granite stone is just dry stacked, but the walls along many of the boundary lines are still in great shape. My goal is to rebuild as many of these walls as possible where they have been breached by logging skidders, and people who just pushed them over. If you choose a natural stone that resists erosion, the wall can last for hundreds of years. Some stone walls in Europe are over one thousand years old.

Fireplace natural stone is where you'll typically see stone in a home. The building code requires that fireplaces be surrounded by a non-combustible material, and stone surely meets that requirement. Another advantage of many stone products is their affordability. The stone usually costs nothing, the distributor just has to pay the quarrying cost and transportation. Stone is often dressed and sized in the field by the stone mason who's building your fireplace surround.

If you want a floor that wears like iron, then install a natural stone floor. I have five of them at my current house, and will have at least that many in my new home. Slate is an excellent flooring material as is granite. If you install these materials on a stiff floor that has no bounce to it, the stone will remain crack-free for generations.

Column Q&A

Screen Porches

Posted on by Tim Carter

screen in porch designScreen porches are everywhere here in New Hampshire. I'm about to discover why as Spring is just around the corner and the black flies and noseeums will descend upon us like confetti at a parade. Porch screens are popular in just about any area that has moderate to high humidity and a generous population of insects. Unfortunately, the house I purchased doesn't have a screen porch, but it has a huge room that has windows and doors on three walls. All of these can be opened to create nearly the same effect as a true screen porch that has screens down to the floor.

When you decide to screen a porch, there is much to consider. For starters, the type of screening material is important. Some newer screens allow for much greater visibility than older, thicker screening materials. Be sure to ask about resistance to ultraviolet (UV) light degradation. UV light can make some screens that are made from synthetic materials fall apart or get weak over time. Years ago, most screen were made from thin galvanized wire or even brass, so this was not an issue with them. But modern screens are rarely made from these two metals.

If your curiosity has you wondering just how to screen a porch, you're not alone. It's a popular topic as each spring and summer tens of thousands of people react to their frustration of sitting out on patios hoping that the bug repellent and special machines will protect them from pesky bugs of all sorts. When you're relaxing on a screen porch, you just sit back and forget about bugs. The best part of these structures is that you can be outdoors in great weather or a rain shower. The roofs on screened porches keeps people dry while Mother Nature waters trees, plants and lawns.

screened in porch irregular shape

This patio will be extremely difficult to enclose. The irregular shape of the house and different roof heights create significant challenges. Photo Credit: Barry Hoosing

You may be interested in screened-porch plans. If so, that's a great thing to focus on as poor planning will result in a porch that's too small, and will not allow you to enjoy the space with all your friends. Some of the best screened porches I've been on and built have these things in common:

  • They have vaulted ceilings
  • They are at least 14 feet wide and 17 feet long
  • They have generous overhangs that minimize rain from entering
  • They have indirect lighting that washes the ceiling with a soft glow of light at night
  • There are ample electric outlets for floor lamps, computers and possibly a television

Be sure your screen-porch plans have lots of details with respect to how the screened panels are trimmed. It's important that you plan for these panels to be removed easily. This can be accomplished by making an interior stop molding that's screwed to the frame with stainless-steel screws that won't rust. Screws allow you to remove the stop molding easily. If you nail the large panels into the frame, you will likely damage them at some later date if you need to remove them.

Some of the best screened-porch designs are ones that really take into account the placement of the porch in its surroundings. I'll never forget the screen porch I built that was an octagon in the middle of a garden. This outdoor room was cozy and could only sit four people in soft chairs. The homeowner considered this porch a hideaway in the middle of the garden. There was a view from each of the eight sides of the porch. My only regret is that I never took screen-porch pictures of this project and many others I did. Idiot.....

hodges bay antigua

You're looking at Hodges Bay through the screened porch where I spent lots of time working and sleeping! It was so glorious to be right next to the water. Photo credit: sleepy Tim Carter

Try to incorporate into your screen-porch design a flooring product that's easy to clean keeping in mind that the floor will get wet. Rain is going to enter your porch no matter how hard you try to keep it out. Be sure you plan to maximize your view. Don't allow the planner to place a post or vertical screen-panel rail right where you have a view from a prime seating location. This is easier said than done, but talk about this with your architect or draftsperson. You want to know going in what is the maximum expanse of screening you can have before an additional vertical rail is required.

A patio screen porch is a great project to consider. If you go this direction make sure the patio slab is crowned slightly. This means that the center of the porch slab is higher than the edges. This allows any rain water to flow to the edges and out instead of puddling in the porch. You also want to make sure the concrete slab has steel reinforcing rods in the middle of the slab. These need to be placed on 2-foot centers, and the steel should be at least one-half-inch thick. This steel will keep the slab in one piece in case you get common shrinkage cracks in the concrete.

Reference: March 15, 2009 AsktheBuilder News

Column Q&A

Cabinets Storage

Posted on by Tim Carter

If you typed cabinets storage into a search engine, no doubt you were looking to discover how to unravel the rat's nest of possessions that's transformed your garage, closets or other spaces in your home into a giant mess. Kitchen storage cabinets can make your life less complicated by allowing you to see easily all of your foodstuffs. Buy a media storage cabinet, and your music and video collection can be gotten up off the floor or off the top of your DVD player where it's blocking the air flow to your DVD player. The bottom line is that storage cabinets of every type, for every purpose, can save you time as organized placement of your possessions allows you to find things when you need them.

I have office storage cabinets that I've both bought and built. These have worked so well, I'm copying the same system and layout in my new home office. These cabinets are a mix of horizontal file cabinets and open shelving that's hung so the bottom of the first shelf is easily reached while I'm sitting at my desk. You can't ask for more convenience. What's more, some of the wall cabinets store my fax machine and other things that might take up valuable desk real estate.

My favorite home-storage cabinets are the ones I have in my garage and laundry room. I recently remodeled my laundry room and installed 42-inch high cabinets that reach to the ceiling. All sorts of things can be stored out of sight in these extra-tall cabinets. Prior to this, we would just throw some things like small picnic coolers on top of the regular-height cabinets. Not only would this look cluttered, but they were dust magnets up there.

My garage storage cabinets are a mixture of old cabinets I salvaged over the years from remodeling jobs. If you create a relationship with one of the remodeling companies in your area, they almost always have old cabinets that are in great shape. They get these from kitchens they're remodeling. Soap and water and a fresh coat of paint can transform used kitchen cabinets into amazing garage storage cabinets. The best part is you can often get them for free.

Cabinets and storage go hand in hand as that's the primary purpose of a cabinet. A cabinet is really just shelving on steroids. Open shelving gets things off floors and within easy reach, but cabinets do this while at the same time protecting the items from dust and curious cats. If you don't believe me, just ask Barry Bonds or Alex Rodriguez. Both of these athletes undoubtedly store their ill-gotten achievement trophies, game balls and milestone uniforms in cabinets at their homes.

You may wonder if you really need a CD storage cabinet with the explosion of iPods and other hand-held devices that store vast amounts of music in a small space. My thinking is that CD storage cabinets days are numbered. I'm told there are distinct advantages to having the actual CD for music clarity, but most people will want the convenience of having thousands of songs stored in a device that's much smaller than a single plastic CD case. The same will probably be said of your DVD storage cabinet, although this cabinet will be around longer as technology advancements need to happen to deal with the massive data that needs to be stored as you'd find on hundreds or thousands of DVDs.

Two years ago, I installed a recessed bathroom storage cabinet. This cabinet is similar to a pantry storage cabinet you'd purchase from a cabinet manufacturer. Mine has a large door that's about 4-feet tall and then three stacked drawers under the door. It's perfect for all of the hair-care tools, personal hygiene products, towels, and anything else you'd want to store in a bathroom.

If you don't have room for one of these cabinets, then install a wall cabinet over your toilet. Many people waste this valuable space. Often there is space for a 42-inch-tall cabinet that reaches to the ceiling. You can put the toilet seat down using it as a step stool to get to the top shelf.

Technically, each cabinet in a kitchen qualifies as a kitchen storage cabinet. My newest kitchen has about fifteen different cabinets in it. Kathy designed several unique cabinets that took advantage of every cubic inch of space that is under the countertops. You can do the same as many cabinet manufacturers will modify cabinet layouts for you, as well as make special cabinets to fit your needs.

If a pantry storage cabinet is part of your plan, be sure to explore all of the shelf and drawer options out there. We have a fantastic pantry cabinet that has five sturdy pullout drawers that make getting to things very easy. Traditional pantry storage cabinets just had shelves. It was easy for things to get hidden behind other things on shelves. With a pullout drawer, you get to see everything when the drawer slides out magically. This simple hardware can save you hours of time and lots of frustration.

Column Q&A

Lake Winnisquam Ice Golf Championship Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

p>Tim Carter at the world headquarters of AsktheBuilder.com in Meredith, New Hampshire. It is an exciting day as we are getting ready to play a little golf.

Today is the first annual Lake Winnisquam Ice Golfing Tournament. Since AsktheBuilder.com sponsored the first hole, Tim gets to tee off the first shot in the championship. Weather conditions are perfect - a balmy 30-degrees, winds are light and variable, and the course is rock hard.

Hole 1 is 800-yards, par 3. Tim’s drive should be about 250 yards off the tee with his driver. It should then roll and bounce an additional 500 yards towards the green(?). A short chip towards the pin and one putt for par.

Special thanks to Joel Suggs, certified PGA Master Teaching Professional and Tim’s golf coach. He should love this swing.

Tim adjusts his grip and addresses the winter-orange golf ball. He swings, it is a straight drive bouncing several hundred yards down the fairway or iceway.