November 16, 2008 AsktheBuilder News

Posted on by Tim Carter

What’s in This Issue

ANOTHER APOLOGY
VIDEO CHAT
SWANN ADW300 WIRELESS VIDEO CAMERA
SEARCH TIPS
PAINTING PLASTIC
RECIPES
SPACE SHUTTLE INSULATION
GUTTER GUARDS
SPRAY SPACKLING

ANOTHER APOLOGY

The last issue of this newsletter was published on Veteran's Day. I forgot to honor all of our veterans. I'm deeply sorry for that oversight. The sacrifices of our veterans are what make this newsletter possible. I've had the distinct honor to meet several distinguished veterans who subscribe to my newsletter. One of them is Dick Daniels, a former Captain in the US Navy who is a tailhooker. He was a pilot who landed on aircraft carriers and put his life on the line each day for us. There are hundreds of thousands, actually millions, of Dick Daniels out there. You know them. Another one is my best friend Richard Anderson. Both served in Vietnam, Richard volunteering for two tours of duty in the Marine Corps.

Do me a huge favor and call or contact any veteran you know. Thank them. Reach out and do them a favor if you can. The freedom we enjoy here in the USA is because of them. The same can be said no matter where you live. Just about every country has been involved in a conflict. If you're free, you owe that to the sacrifice of many. If you're a veteran, my family and I are deeply indebted to you for your sacrifice. Thank you so very much.

VIDEO CHAT

Several days ago, I installed the new video chat feature in Gmail. I'm a big fan of Gmail, the free web-based email provided by Google. I use Gmail each day for all of my email needs. It's amazing. The download of the video-chat software was painless and within minutes it was up and working. I use a MacBookPro laptop, so I have a camera built into my computer. If you don't have a built-in camera, after-market video cameras that connect to a computer are now very affordable.

I tested the video connection with a friend of mine who lives in Los Angeles, 3,000 miles away from me in New Hampshire. It was like we were in the same room. The video quality was fantastic, and the audio was just as good. Video chat is not new by any means. It's been around for a while with different providers. What I like about this is that the video chat seamlessly integrates with my email. Oh, and it's free. I can talk and see my friends and soon possibly you for free. Once again, I'm sure there are similar video chat systems out there, some attached to email. But there's a reason why I'm excited about this. Here's why.

If you're a new subscriber in the past month or so, you have no idea of the new website I'm working on. In the early part of 2009, this new website will be live. This video chat feature will be part of it. I plan to set aside two hours per week in this new website to do something akin to the talk radio show I did for over 12 years. On that radio show I would get calls from someone just like you that had a problem with their house. In ten minutes or less, I almost always solved the problem. But it was all done with voice only and me having to visualize what the situation looked like. That can be hard to do if the person on the other end of the phone can't describe things well.

Part of my plan for this new website is that you'll be able to sign up for time slots each week where I either call you on the phone or video chat with you about your problem. We'll talk for ten minutes or less so that I'll be able to help at least 12 people in two hours.

If you decide to do the video chat with me and can set your camera up near the problem, you'll have the ability to show me what's wrong while we talk about it! That will allow me to give you the best advice possible.

If this is of any interest to you, I suggest that you sign up now for a free Gmail account and start to use it. You can still keep your existing email address and use that as you do now. This new Gmail account can be used when you and I video chat or you decide to video chat with other friends and relatives. But I'll warn you now. When you see all the features of Gmail, you may start using it as I do. When I use Gmail, my emails show that the email came from my @askthebuilder.com address, not my @gmail.com address. That allows you to keep your current address but use a different email platform.

You can go here now to read about the Video Chat and get the account activated. If you have a Gmail account now, download the software and start practicing. I can't wait to see you!

SWANN ADW300 WIRELESS VIDEO CAMERA

While we are on the subject of video cameras, you may be interested in a wireless video camera that allows you to monitor remotely a room in your house, an exterior door or some other thing you want to watch. In the past, these video cameras almost always required a cable to be extended to a monitor, digital video recorder or a hard drive that stored the video footage.

I just started testing the Swann ADW-300 and it's pretty slick. One of the neatest things about this camera is that it has a remote control that allows you to zoom the camera in and out and make the camera pan left, right, up and down. This wireless camera boasts a 160-foot wireless range, so you can have considerable distance between the camera and the receiver. It's rated for outdoor use and has infrared sensors so things that come close to the camera in the dark are visible.

I just started to test this camera and am really impressed with it. In the past, I always felt that running the cable was tough, especially in a finished home. With this device you can be up and running in about five minutes or less - the time it takes you to screw the camera mounting base to the wall.

SEARCH TIPS

Earlier this week, I got an email from a CEO of a company that wanted to know about how to install a toilet and especially about plumbing vents. I was a little flummoxed by his email as that information is at my website. I get similar emails within minutes each time I send out a newsletter.

Six weeks ago when I asked for input about the new website, one of the most-important things you told me you wanted was a superb search engine. Well, unless I'm mistaken, I think I have the best now on my AsktheBuilder.com website. If there's a better one, I sure would love to know about it.

Here are some tips that may really help you discover what you're looking for when you come to my website. Let's say you were that CEO. If he would have typed "toilet installation" and then done a separate search for "plumbing vent", he would have had, in seconds, exactly what he was looking for.

The trick is to use common keywords and just one or two. Let's say you want to know what I've written about ventilation. Well, I have a category named that. If you type in "ventilation", that category page pops right up to the top in the search results. All my columns about ventilation are listed on that category page.

I urge you to really play with the search engine when you need help. Oh, here's a really cool tip. Let's say you want to see if I have a video about a topic. Always include the word video in the search phrase. Examples would be crown molding video, gutter guard video, etc. If I have a video, it will show up right at the top of the search results. Try it and see!

PAINTING PLASTIC

Katrina Demilo from Massachusetts emailed me and asked: "We are going to paint recycling bins as a project for a school auction. What kind of paint/sealer should we use? We want them to last as long as possible."

My response was pretty simple. Plastic is somewhat challenging because it often has a slick surface. I suggested that she try liquid deglossing solvent on the bins followed with a bonding primer that says on the label it adheres to plastic. Traditional oil paints usually have fantastic adhesives in them that allow them to stick to just about anything. But they can be difficult to work with. The oil paints tend to cure faster getting harder quicker than great latex paints.

RECIPES

I want to thank you for sending me your recipe. I got some that made my mouth water as I read them. Right after Thanksgiving I intend to try all of them. By the way, the pork chops and wild rice came out great. I simmered the chops in some pork gravy for about 35 minutes and they were so tender I couldn't believe it. Oh, and I made another apple pie yesterday! My next dessert is banana bread followed by avocado cream pie. That was one of the recipes sent in by Sharon.

SPACE SHUTTLE INSULATION

Several newsletters ago, I made reference to the technology in the protective heat tiles on the Space Shuttles. As always happens, I get emails from subscribers like you who share inside information or fill in the blanks. I really appreciate that feedback. Dana was so interested, she told me she was going to try to locate that past issue of National Geographic magazine that had the article I referenced. Well, that motivated me to go to the Meredith Public Library after I went online to discover the exact issue of the magazine. My library had a copy and it was fascinating to read the article that was published in March 1981 - over 27 years ago! You have to read it if you can get it. You can't believe the reference the author made about cell phones. It was hilarious.

I decided to scan the two pages of the magazine that had the photo I remembered as well as a page I forgot about. Those tiles are 90 percent air! Can you believe that? The only thing I couldn't verify was the R-value of the tiles. One thing's for sure - it's incredibly high as it takes an enormous amount of time for the heat to move into or out of the tiles.

If you want to be the next billionaire and do the planet a huge favor, figure out a way to copy that technology and make sheets of the product that are one-half-inch thick. If we had that material, we could heat our homes for 1/100th of what we spend now. You just need ultra-pure silica. Silica is the most abundant element on the planet. Here's the link to those two pages I scanned.

GUTTER GUARDS

Months ago, I announced that I had completed ten years of testing of gutter guards. Since then there are literally thousands and thousands of new subscribers who get the same newsletter you're reading now. In many areas of the nation we just got through another leaf season. So I thought I would share the link to the page where I have posted the two videos and the story behind which one I finally decided to have installed on my house.

The important thing to realize is that there appears to be a subtle reason why the one gutter guard - the one I chose to use - performed better. The manufacturer determined themselves long ago that the guard must be installed so it's at the same slope as the roof. Of all the gutter guards I had installed over time or had professionally installed by the manufacturer, this is the ONLY one that required that.

You need to understand that making sure the gutter guard is sloped with the roof requires additional work that might be more than the average do-it-yourselfer can handle. Lowering the actual gutter so its front top surface is in the same plane as the roof is what needs to be done. If you have long gutters, this might be problematic and is a good reason to have it done by a professional.

The company that installed my gutter guards was MasterShield. If you contact them, make sure you tell them I said Hello. It's always nice that they know where you heard all about them.

Go watch the videos at this page and remember that in my testing, gutter guards fail miserably in the Spring. Well, just about all of them except MasterShield!

Several Months Into the Test

The video below is what my garage roof looked like after months of testing. It's very obvious that the way the gutter guard is installed makes a very big difference:

The one gutter guard performed better than the other. You can clearly see that.

You can't dispute the findings in the above video.

SPRAY SPACKLING

As you might imagine, I get a constant stream of products to test. One of them arrived about three weeks ago. It's a spray can of spackling compound. Yes, spray spackling. I was as inquisitive as you might be right now. It's called Jig-a-Patch.

I tested it today, and it's very unusual. By that I mean it's as unique as the delivery system. Spackling compounds have come a long way in the past few years, and this may be the one product that pushes the envelope.

My first impression moments after I pushed the tip on the aerosol can is why did I spray shaving cream on the wall? The spackling was as fluffy as that! It spread easily and readily filled the hole. I think you should try it and tell me what you think. The manufacturer has a 100 percent rebate offer open for the next three weeks. Check out their web site for the details and get your free spray spackle.

Index of past newsletters.

November 12, 2008 AsktheBuilder News

Posted on by Tim Carter

What's in This Issue

ANOTHER ENERGY TIP
THREE VIDEOS YOU SHOULD WATCH
GREAT CORDLESS CIRCULAR SAW
CONSTRUCTION CALCULATOR FOR IPHONE USERS
MY LATEST COLUMN
TRANSPARENCY - IT'S WORTH IT
GREAT TOOL KIT
STAIN SOLVER USES
BOSTON GREEN BUILD CONFERENCE
A NEW FIRST

ANOTHER ENERGY TIP

A very good friend of mine, Jerry Foutz, wrote to me about a product Black and Decker is selling. Jerry was reading a newsletter he gets that talked about this Energy Monitor tool. It allows you to see how much power things around your house use. Think of it as a small point-of-use electric meter. I looked it up, and the cost of the tool is $100.

That reminded me I had a similar tool in the EcoHatchery Starter Kit I talked about several newsletters ago. It's like the Black and Decker product, but it's called Kill a Watt. I unpacked it and plugged it into the outlet next to my sleeping scanner. My scanner is an energy vampire. You and I have many of these things around our homes. Things that suck tiny amounts of power when you think they're off.  The Kill a Watt product has an outlet on it's face that you plug in the cord of the appliance you want to monitor.

After 98 hours, the Kill a Watt product told me my scanner wasted .24 kilowatts of power.  I then went to see what a kilowatt of electricity costs me. If I read the bill correctly, its close to 20 cents. This means that each day the scanner is wasting a little over a penny a day as it sits idle.

This Kill a Watt product is very cool, and costs just $35 at Amazon, and with shipping it probably will be over $40. But do the math. If I bought it to try to save energy, I would have to keep my scanner off for nearly 11 years just to break even on the purchase price of the meter.

The point is just unplug things that you're not using. If you see a little LED light that is burning brightly on something in your house, it's sucking power. Unplug it if you don't need it.

 

THREE VIDEOS YOU SHOULD WATCH

Here are three videos I feel you should watch to help save you money this winter. You can use these tips to help you seal air leaks with foam insulation, or you can caulk interior cracks around windows and doors.  The third video shows you how to possibly build some Christmas gifts this season using the cool pocket-hole jig I talked about a couple of newsletters back

 

GREAT CORDLESS CIRCULAR SAW

Are you starting to assemble your own Christmas gift list? Or maybe you're looking for a power-tool idea for a loved one. You can't have too many circular saws in my opinion. When I was still in the field building things, I always had three working circular saws in case one broke down. If you're a serious project hound, you'll discover having two circular saws has distinct advantages.

I just tested a fantastic circular saw kit. It's the Milwaukee 6.5-inch cordless saw powered by an 18-volt lithium-ion battery. This thing is a beauty. It came as a kit with the saw, a charger, two batteries, a soft-sided carrying case and a blade. I was amazed at how well balanced the saw is and its overall weight. The blade spins at 3,500 rpms, and that really helps chew through wood. The tilt bevel of the saw is excellent as it goes past 45 degrees to 50 degrees. The electric brake stops the spinning blade quickly when you let go of the trigger. In other words, the saw has lots of good features including the meter on the batteries that tell you how much charge is left.

I can tell you that if I got this as a gift from someone, I would be very happy. The tool is very well built, and with care could last generations. It's not a disposable power tool as many are today. This is a splendid circular saw.

You can buy it on Amazon using my affiliate link. If you don't want to do that, then shop any number of online power-tool dealers. The model number is 2630-22.

 

CONSTRUCTION CALCULATOR FOR IPHONE USERS

I bought one of the 3G iPhones three months ago. I love the phone, but deplore the AT&T service. If you're a seasoned subscriber you know my motto for them is NO Bars in More Places.

Anyway, the phone is really a computer. I purchased a little program through the Apple Applications store called inchCalc. It's just a fancy calculator that allows you to do the math to cut roof rafters and other tough carpentry problems. If you're a carpenter, serious DIY'r or want to have that power in your phone, check it out.

 

MY LATEST COLUMN

Albert asked me about a patio project. His patio needed work and he wondered what was the best way to approach the job.

 

TRANSPARENCY - IT'S WORTH IT

Do you work in public relations? Do you own a company or work for one that makes the occasional mistake? This may be of great interest to you. If you're a new subscriber in the past ten days, this may not make sense. But if you've received my past two newsletters, then you'll be able to appreciate this story.

I made a mistake in a newsletter two issues ago. It wasn't intentional. I was like a puppy dog in a china shop whose wagging tail gets it in trouble. I discovered my mistake within hours. It was very important to me to tell you as a subscriber that I goofed up and how I fixed it.

Within hours, I was overwhelmed by the response. It taught me a valuable lesson that many should follow. The lesson is that you just need to be as transparent as possible about what you're doing when it comes to business. That's a simple concept, but often overlooked. If you don't think it's important, read a few of the amazing emails I received:

Arthur H. wrote, "Well done.  This is very well worded and very respectable, to admit a mistake.  I wish more people out there had enough gumption to do that."

Jim H. responded, "Tim, after a lifetime working in the retail industry (the last 20 self-employed) I understand that there will always be unsatisfied customers. I think your correction message is a great way to handle the few complainers, show your ethics to all your customers, and ultimately it is the best marketing method I've seen in awhile-- good show!"

Nancy H. told me, "Oh, if only large companies had half of your integrity.  What a joy it is to instill my faith in you as one of my experts that I constantly quote when discussing home improvement topics.  It is your integrity coupled with your knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit that make you so successful!  Don't ever lose sight of satisfying your customers and correcting your wrongs!"

I think you get the point. Just tell people what in the heck is going on. Live by the Golden Rule. It's that simple.

 

GREAT TOOL KIT

Here's another gift idea. This is an affordable one for sure. Two days ago, I reviewed a handsome tool kit for a person who is in their first home or has moved into an apartment. This 48-piece hand-tool kit from Great Neck has many of the basic tools you need.

One of the most interesting items in this kit was the razor knife. I still can't make up my mind about it. It's the most beautiful razor knife I've ever seen, and it operates like a pocket knife. It's a folding knife that locks in the open position like my Uncle Henry Knife I wear when I'm hiking. This razor knife is much thinner so for those with small hands it must be easier to manage. I loved the way it felt in my hand. The only thing I don't like about it is that your hand needs to be near the blade when you close it. When the razor knife is closed, it's safe as can be. The blade is not showing. There's a protective cover for the blade you put on it after you finished using it, but I'll bet many will lose that within a month.

But all that aside, if you don't like the razor knife just keep it in the took kit and use a traditional one. The other tools in the kit make it worth it. The storage box for all the tools is thin and has a clear cover so you can see all the tools. I especially liked the ultra-small screwdrivers that were part of the kit. All of us have a need for those around the house.

Here's an affiliate link to buy the kit now from Amazon.  If you don't want to use that, then just search for the Great Neck 48 piece tool set.

 

STAIN SOLVER USES

Yesterday it was my turn to clean the cook top here at the house I bought in New Hampshire. It's a propane one with a stainless-steel base. It's not bad, but there was a ring of caramelized grease splatter around each burner. You can't use scouring powder on the cook top or you will scratch the finish. The previous owner, or their cleaning person, made that mistake already as the cook top is scratched in places from cleaning attempts. Regular cleaning methods will not touch this grease. It's baked on by the heat from the burners. Harsh chemicals can stain the steel, so you have to be really careful.

I took a paper towel and folded it over on itself several times to make a strip about one-inch wide. I then saturated it with warm water and opened it one layer sprinkling some Stain Solver in it. Then I folded the towel back to bury the powder getting it wet. This activates the oxygen bleach.

I then wrapped the paper towel around the base of each burner covering the grease spatter that was cooked on. I waited an hour and then used a simple Dobie Pad scrubber to remove the grease. The cook top looks like new. I would have bet money nothing but scouring powder would have removed that tough baked-on grease!

 

BOSTON GREEN BUILD CONFERENCE

I'll be in Boston next Wednesday November 19th at their downtown convention center. The Green Build conference is there. If you want to have a soda, I can meet you in the lobby of the convention center at some convenient time. This isn't the best venue to meet at, and I apologize for that.  I'll only be in Boston that day, driving back up to New Hampshire that night after dinner.

 

A NEW FIRST

You may not think this is a big deal, but it is for me. Kathy and I are living apart because I'm in New Hampshire setting up to build our new home and she's still back in Cincinnati with my youngest daughter who wants to graduate from high school with her friends. We'll all be together the summer of 2010, but for now I'm flying, or should I say cooking, solo.

Accccckkkkkk! Boy did I take for granted all Kathy did in the kitchen the past 34 years. Three weeks ago, Meghan, my oldest daughter who is up here with me in New Hampshire, showed me how to make an apple pie. She basically did all the work with me just putting the crust in the glass pie pan. I was an observer.

Well three days ago, I made my first apple pie. I did use the pre-made dough that looks like a long white cigar. But every other step was all me. It came out great! I was so pleased I'm thinking of selling pies from a roadside stand next summer! Just kidding!

The lesson is that if I can try new things that require new skills, so can you. My next project is beef vegetable soup. Who has a great recipe for a soup that has a little kick to it? Tonight I'm doing pork chops in gravy with wild rice.

Index of past newsletters.

Standby Generator – Lots of Power For Your Home

Posted on by Tim Carter
CAT portable electric generator

Standby Generator | Here's a beefy portable electric generator that produces 5,500 watts. This is NOT a standby generator, although you may be able to convert it to one. This CAT one is a portable generator that can keep you reasonably comfortable for an extended power outage. CLICK ON THE PHOTO NOW TO HAVE THIS GENERATOR DELIVERED TO YOUR GARAGE.

Standby Generator - It Starts Up Automagically When the Power Goes Out

DEAR TIM: The last major storm knocked out my electric power for days. I'm wondering if I should invest in a portable generator or a standby generator. What's the difference between these home generators? How do you determine what size electric generator to purchase? Do you think I can install a standby generator myself as I'm pretty handy? Bonnie S., Burlington, VT

DEAR BONNIE: Two months ago, Hurricane Ike ravaged Cincinnati, OH. It was a cloudless blue-sky day with fierce sustained winds. My house there lost power, and it wasn't restored for five agonizing days. The loss of electricity shredded the social fabric of the family as if it were tissue paper. Electricity is almost as important as oxygen in some respects. When it's there, you don't even think about it, but when it's gone, you get desperate in a hurry.

Why are Standby Generators Popular?

Home generators are gaining in popularity for many reasons. After this storm event, I was bound and determined to get a standby generator, especially for the winter season when vicious ice storms can create power outages for weeks in some remote areas. Read in the December 14, 2008 AsktheBuilder Special News how my standby generator worked after an ice storm.

What's the Difference Between a Portable and Standby Generator?

standby generator on hillside

This standby generator is ready to start up on its own as soon as there's a power outage. It's powerful enough to run much of a regular house. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

There's a huge difference between portable generators and standby generators. A portable generator is one you can move around. The ones most homeowners recognize are those that are the size of a medium picnic cooler and are powered by a small gasoline engine. Contractors often use these on job sites when regular electricity is not yet connected.

Can a Portable Generator Power an Entire House?

These small portable generators are not designed to power an entire house. The intention is for you to run one or several extension cords from the generator directly to the appliance you wish to power. You may connect it to a refrigerator for a few hours, then a window air conditioner, and maybe a few table lamps. Forget about connecting all of your appliances at once to a small portable generator. It simply will not work.

What is a Standby Generator?

A standby generator is a larger fixed device that resembles an outdoor air conditioning compressor. They are capable of generating enough power to keep many essential electrical devices operating at once, or you can invest in a standby generator that can operate every electrical appliance and light in your house all at once.

Can a DIYr Install a Standby Generator?

The standby generators are not meant to be installed by a homeowner. Not only do you have to connect a fuel source to it such as propane or natural gas, but you also have to hardwire the generator into your electrical system. This is fairly complex and best done by professionals. What's more, you need to install a sophisticated transfer switch with a separate electrical panel that contains the electrical circuits that will be powered when the generator turns on.

Will a Standby Generator Start Automatically?

One primary difference between a standby generator and a portable one is the standby generator will turn itself on when the primary electric to your home is knocked out. This is accomplished by the transfer switch, and can have your lights back on in as little as ten seconds. When the utility company finally restores your power, the transfer switch senses this and shuts off your generator.

Do You Need Extension Cords With a Standby Generator?

Extension cords are not used with a standby generator. All of your appliances remain plugged into their wall outlets. The electrician, with your input, decides which circuits in your home to connect to the generator. This allows you to purchase the correct-sized generator. If you decide to power just a part of your home, the other areas will be dark and off the grid. Think about what appliances and rooms of your house you can survive in until the utility company gets power back to your home.

Do Standby Generators Come with Phone Apps?

Some standby generators come with software and smartphone apps that allow you to check the status of your generator if you're not at home. This software can also communicate with you or a service company if it senses something is wrong that might cause the generator to fail in the event of a power outage. This allows you to have it repaired so that it will be working when you need it most.

Are Portable Generators Useful?

Portable generators can get you by in an emergency, but they are not in the same league as a standby generator. In an emergency, you need to drag out the portable generator, and safely string all the extension cords. You then need to add fuel to the engine on a regular basis day and night. It can be a hassle. You also need to be very careful about placing it near the partially open window or door that the cords pass through. The carbon monoxide fumes from the engine exhaust can drift indoors.

How Much Power Can a Standby Generator Produce?

My standby generator produces 17,000 watts of power. You can get these generators in much larger sizes.

The 17,000 watts isn't enough to completely power everything in my home, but it will allow me to keep my boiler in operation as well as all the recirculation pumps. My refrigerator, microwave and countertop oven, and many light circuits will also be powered. I'll even have plenty of power to operate my well pump. This means that as long as my buried 1,000-gallon propane tank doesn't run dry, I'll be able to survive for weeks.

Standby generators require periodic maintenance as they contain engines that spin the actual generator. Often you can do this maintenance yourself. If you want a company to do this, they will gladly take care of it.

Don't Need That Much Power?

Check out my column on smaller portable generators. They may handle your needs.

First mentioned in the December 2, 2008 Newsletter.

Column 752

14.4 Cordless Drill

Posted on by Tim Carter

The 14.4 volt cordless drill might be the most popular size consumers purchase. They can have great power, but not weigh too much. My favorite is the Bosch Brute Tough model 37614. It's a beauty of a tool with plenty of power. The keyless chuck and adjustable clutch makes it great for many jobs. You can use it as a screwdriver on steroids!

November 4, 2008 Special Message

Posted on by Tim Carter

What’s in This Issue

TAKE TWO - ACTION!
UPCOMING BOSTON TRIP

TAKE TWO - ACTION!

If you're a new subscriber in the last 48 hours (and there are hundreds), this is a VERY unusual newsletter blast. I just sent a big newsletter out less than two days ago and there was a BIG mistake in it. I don't want you to think my following mea culpa is what all future newsletters will be like. Read other comments in the November 12, 2008 AsktheBuilder News.

What happened is I announced my newest eBook about Energy Savings. I was really stoked (excited), because I *knew* this eBook would absolutely save everyone who read it - and implemented my advice - hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in their home heating and cooling costs. How did I know this? Because I've done it myself. I took advice I had heard over and over and over from others and acted on it.

The trouble is I oversold the eBook. No, I didn't run out of copies, as that can't happen since it's an electronic PDF file. I did sell more copies than I expected, and hope that you were one of the people that is all set to save money.

The mistake I made is that I unknowingly created the expectation that there was this magical product or some revolutionary unheard of method that would allow you to save money.

The truth I revealed in the eBook is there's NO Silver Bullet. Just as there's no Fountain of Youth. If Juan Ponce de Leon was still around, he could tell you all about that. But I didn't reveal that in the newsletter copy two days ago.

There's a magical product, but our government, I believe, will not release the technology. I'm talking about the technology used to make the tiles on the Space Shuttle. I read an article about those in National Geographic about 15 or 20 years ago. If my memory serves me right, those tiles have an R-factor of 2000 and are about two-inches thick. Can you imagine if they made that stuff in sheets that were one-half inch thick, just like the OSB or foam sheathing we use now? We would have houses that had an R-factor of 500. You could heat that with a candle. But I digress.

My loving daughter Meghan, whom you may already know about, quickly pointed out that the title to the eBook was misleading. I had titled it:

The Real Secrets About Energy Savings

Meghan said the title should have been:

The Truth About Energy-Savings Methods

You may be one of the ten customers who complained to me about how the eBook didn't meet your expectations. If so, I'm sorry about that, and you've already received your refund.

My Energy-Savings eBook is filled with all sorts of helpful things and with one primary common-sense method that actually works. It's much like the Chicken-Soup series of books and Erma Bombeck's books. Sometimes you need to hear a message multiple times before it sinks in. I'm living proof of that! It was my intention that my writing would be the straw that broke your back - that you would finally take action.

That said, you still may have been unsatisfied as you were/are on a quest for that magic silver bullet. The bottom line is that if you want to cut your fuel bills in half, then use 50 percent less fuel. I reveal in the eBook how I do it each day and remain comfortable. But you may not have thought that was enough information for the money you spent. If so, I once again apologize.

Here are the Facts:

The eBook discusses how each year we all get pummeled with Energy-Savings tips, and how some of those messages can be very misleading. This is in Chapter One. Many things in the eBook you've already heard, but maybe never have implemented for any number of reasons. Or worse yet, you may have been suckered into doing them thinking you were saving money. But the point in the eBook was to explain what works and what doesn't and how to calculate real savings. In my excitement, I didn't make that totally clear.

The eBook contains what I have discovered is the best method that works for me, to actually save hundreds of dollars per year. I will end up saving thousands of dollars over the next few years. Once again, I had heard this method many times before, but I ignored the advice. But when I finally tried it, I was amazed at the results.

The sad thing is I get the feeling that many will ignore the advice and continue to waste money. I'm really bummed by that as I was so excited when I saw the results of my own test.

Okay, enough said. I've changed the title and revised the sales copy at the shopping cart making it clear what's in the eBook. I want to remind you that the Satisfaction Guarantee still stands. If you purchased the eBook, didn't like it, didn't think it was worth what you paid, but were reluctant to contact me, please do so immediately. I want you to be totally happy.

If you're a new subscriber and want to discover what all this craziness is about, go here.

UPCOMING BOSTON TRIP

On November 19, 2008, I'll be in Boston all day at a Green Conference. If you want to get together, I'll have the details for you in a few days.

Index of past newsletters.

Patio Repair

Posted on by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: I have a patio-repair job at my house. The irregular pieces of limestone are fine, but the mortar joints between them are failing. In some places the stones have lifted up. The patio is about 20-years old, so I think that this patio crack repair is not an indication that I have to start over. Is this patio mortar repair something I can handle? What is a good way to ensure the repair lasts for a long time? Is it possible the stones are set just on sand? Albert Jacob, San Antonio, TX

DEAR ALBERT: You have one great patio there! Not too long ago, I played golf in an exhausted limestone quarry in San Antonio, TX. Perhaps the stone from your patio came from that location. In any event, I would not consider taking up the stone. Based upon your photos, I can see that a few days of patio repairs will have that outdoor space looking like new.

It's possible that the stones were laid on a sand base. Since you rarely have extended periods of freezing weather, I see no issues with a sand base. What concerns me more would be movement in the soil beneath the sand caused by expansive clay soils. Parts of Texas have extensive amounts of clay soil that shrink and swell as the moisture content in the clay goes up and down. This movement is enough to crack foundations, so it can easily move your thin patio stones up and down.

I would recommend that you chisel out all of the old mortar between the stones. You can do this by hand, or you can rent a demolition hammer from a tool-rental business. These electric tools are simply miniature jack hammers and will quickly pulverize the mortar. You just have to be careful not to crack the limestone.

As you're removing the mortar, save it in a pile. This will help you estimate how much new sand and cement you need to purchase to do the patio repair. You absolutely want to buy plenty of sand from the same batch and plenty of Portland cement from the same manufacturer. Doing this will ensure that the color of the new mortar joints is the same. If you mix batches of sand or buy different types of cement, the color of the mortar can be quite different. Be sure to purchase coarse sand for this job.

This stone patio has failed mortar joints. The repair is not complicated, but does require working on your hands and knees. PHOTO CREDIT: Albert Jacob

This stone patio has failed mortar joints. The repair is not complicated, but does require working on your hands and knees. PHOTO CREDIT: Albert Jacob

After all the old mortar is removed from the cracks, you need to adjust the height of the stones so they are reasonably flat. If this means lifting them up and taking sand out from some stones or adding sand under others, do so. You can use the old mortar you removed as a base under stones that are low.

To prevent any future movement caused by the soil, I have a little secret you can try. Get some scrap one-half-inch diameter hard-copper tubing from a plumber. Cut it into short lengths that are one-half-inch longer than the thickness of the patio stones. Tap these little pipes somewhat randomly in the spaces between the stones. Try to have at least one pipe section for every six square feet of patio area. The top of the pipe should be flush or slightly lower than the top of the stones.

Carefully install the new mortar. Mix it using three measures of clean sand, one and one-half measures of Portland cement and enough water to make the mixture similar to bricklaying mortar. This means that the mortar will be stiff enough so it can stand up about one and one-half inches on a trowel. Try to work on overcast days or when the patio is in the shade. Cool, damp weather is the best to work in. Sunny, hot and windy days are the worst as the new mortar will dry too rapidly.

The joints between the stones must be dust free before you add the new mortar. Be sure to use a spray bottle filled with clean water to mist the sides of the stone and the sand base just before you add the mortar. This small trick will help the mortar make a good bond between the stones.

Only mix enough mortar as you can install in one hour. Never add additional water to mortar that starts to get hard. Be careful not to put mortar inside the open copper pipes that are sticking up. Once the patio-repair job is complete, these pipes will allow rain water to get under the patio to keep the soil moist. If the weather gets bone-dry, then you want to use your hose or sprinkler to get water into the little pipes so the soil stays moist all year long. By doing this, the soil will not shrink and swell, and your patio repair should last for a very long time.

When installing the new mortar, you can use a large trowel that has a fair amount of mortar on it and use a smaller trowel to slide mortar from the bigger trowel into the joints between the stones. Hold the bigger trowel so its long edge is parallel with the joint keeping the trowel about an inch above the stones.

Try avoiding getting the fresh mortar on the top of the stones. If you do, just scrape it off immediately. Don't worry about the mortar smear on the stone. After one month, you can remove the mortar smears with a solution of muriatic acid and water. Mix one part acid to ten parts water. Get the stones damp with clear water then pour on the acid solution. Allow the acid to bubble for ten minutes then scrub the area with a scrub brush. Wear goggles and rubber gloves. Follow all safety instructions on the acid label.

Column 751

November 2, 2008 AsktheBuilder News

Posted on by Tim Carter

What's in This Issue

FIRST eBOOK FROM YOUR SUGGESTIONS
A VERY GOOD CAUSE
SETTING YOUR HEAT TOO LOW
NEW ADVERTISING SOFTWARE AT ASKTHEBUILDER.COM
SAVE MONEY BUILDING GIFTS
THANKSGIVING STRESS - ACCCCKKKKK!
LATEST COLUMN AND VIDEO

FIRST eBook FROM YOUR SUGGESTIONS

Editor's Update: This eBook is currently out of print.

Moments ago, I just finished the first eBook based upon the feedback you gave me about the short help guides. Energy savings was the top vote getter. That makes perfect sense for any number of reasons.

Your comments pointed out that saving energy is a really Green thing we can all do.  I couldn't agree more, and my geology degree taught me that Mother Nature is a wonderful provider, but she can only work so hard. We're using up many of her resources faster than she can create them for the ever-increasing population.

The number two reason is that we all need to conserve cash in these harsh economic times. What if I told you that my new The Real Truth about Energy Savings eBook will save you hundreds and probably thousands of dollars this heating season? It's absolutely possible. I'm doing it myself in my own home.

I had several of my colleagues read and review the eBook as I was going through the final edits in the last 36 hours. They particularly liked the section where I discuss the psychological tricks salespeople use to part you from your money. One of my friends said that she was amazed at how practical the information is and easy to implement.

My favorite part in the eBook is where I reveal what often happens in the media world when companies that make energy-savings products hire public-relations companies. You're going to be shocked at what I have to say, and I'm quite confident several PR people who are friends of mine are going to be quite upset at the kiss-and-tell chapter in this eBook.

This eBook, in my opinion, is really going to save you huge money. My friends said it's a great value and to sell it for $27.00. I've decided to offer it to you for just $9.97 for the next seven days. After that, the price is going to go back up to $27.00.

This eBook is an Instant Download .pdf file. This means you get it in your computer moments after you purchase it. You then have the option of printing it out if you want. As with all my products, it comes with an Unconditional Guarantee. If you feel, after reading it, that you'll not save at least ten bucks on your energy bills, just email me. I'll give you all your money back. Heck, I don't care what your reason is. If you don't like it, just tell me and I'll give you your money.

Remember, the price is just $9.97 for the next week. After that, the price goes up.

 

A VERY GOOD CAUSE

Pat Lithglow is a subscriber to this newsletter. About ten days ago, she reached out to me asking me for help. Google is sponsoring a competition.

After you watch that video and get ramped up about the good we can do, then go watch this 30-second video. All of us have time to do this. Your small investment of time can make an enormous difference.  Please watch this video. I LOVE the child's Australian accent.

 

SETTING YOUR HEAT TOO LOW

John from Lapeer, Michigan emailed me the following:

"I am preparing to leave for Florida for 3 months during the winter months. I have reviewed all your suggestions regarding winterizing, however, I plan to leave the furnace on at the lowest setting recommended. I do not know how low this should be. Is there a point where it is too low (other than 32 degrees F.)"

My response to John was that he should be very careful about setting the temperature too low, especially if he seals the house up tightly and then the temperature of the surfaces inside the house drops below the dew point of the air in the rooms.

Sound confusing? Well, each day in your bathroom you're doing the same thing when you take a hot shower. After you step from the shower is the mirror fogged? If so, the same fog might be on any surface in the room that has the SAME temperature as the glass in the mirror. But you can't easily see the fog or water vapor on the walls, ceiling or wall paper because of their non-glossy texture.

If the water in the air condenses on the cold walls, furniture, carpet, etc. in John's house because he turns down the temperature too far, he could have massive mold blooms over just about everything in the house. That will cost far more to clean up than spending the money to keep the house at 55 F. The mold spores are already in your house and John's. The food they eat is also there. All they need is liquid water to start to grow.

 

NEW ADVERTISING SOFTWARE AT ASKTHEBUILDER

With the economy in a tailspin, you need every possible advantage you can get in this market. Do you work for a large or small business that sells anything that is home-improvement related? Maybe you're a roofer in El Dorado Hills, CA, or own a small hardware store in Burlington, VT, or your employer owns a replacement-window company in Scranton, PA. I think you get the point.

In just a few days, we will finish installing new software at my website that will allow me to do something never before possible. What if I told you that you could run an ad about your business at my website that will show your ad just to people who you sell to? In other words, if you own a small plumbing business in Tyler, TX, I can show your ad only when a person from Tyler is on my website. What's more, the ad will only appear on pages that have to do with plumbing!

In addition, you that you could name the days of the week when you want the ad to run? How about if I told you that you could also call out the times of day you want the ad to appear?

This kind of power now allows you or your employer to reach the exact audience in your marketplace as never before. It's absolutely amazing. If you want more information about this, contact AsktheBuilder. You will see a link there that asks you to fill out a form.

 

SAVE MONEY BUILDING GIFTS

A few days ago, I got this fantastic new tool kit. It's a pocket-hole jig that allows you to build a ton of projects that look professional. I'm not kidding here. All you need is a couple of saws that allow you to make precision cuts and this jig kit to do it.

You have plenty of time to build some Christmas gifts that will be cherished by those who receive them. Your effort will be forever remembered if you give someone a simple bookcase, footstool or anything that requires you to join two pieces of wood with a strong joint.

This pocket-hole jig is made by Kreg and is called the Kreg Jig. I could write for another ten minutes, but feel the video at their website says it all.

 

THANKSGIVING STRESS - ACCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!

Ellen has worked for Kathy and I for nearly 15 years. She spearheads the Stain Solver business. There's a good chance you've talked to Ellen on the phone if you've called in with a question or ordered over the phone.

Well, Ellen and Kathy have reminded me that Thanksgiving is less than a month away. If you're hosting your family and friends at your house, then you're probably going to start cleaning soon. Right? What happens if your kitchen floor is tile and the grout is grungy? Well, my Stain Solver will make that grout look like new with minimal work.

Then what about the actual celebration on Thanksgiving Day? I got a letter from a customer several years ago that brought a smile to my face. The woman wrote that she had just installed white carpet days before Thanksgiving so her house looked amazing for her guests.

You know what happened don't you? Yes, someone dropped a glass of red wine onto the spotless carpet. In normal situations, there would have been mountain loads of stress and anguish. My customer told the guest to relax and keep eating. She said, "We have nothing to worry about. I have some  Stain Solver. I'll worry about that tomorrow morning." And she wasn't kidding!

So to promote a stress-free holiday for you, why not get some Stain Solver to help you clean and have on hand in case someone spills cranberry juice, red wine, red soda pop or whatever or your carpet or cherished table cloth?

Ellen and Kathy have authorized a massive 25 percent Promo Code to enable you have a Stress-Free Stain-Solver Thanksgiving.

The promo code expires on Saturday November 9, 2008. Use it or lose it. Act now before you forget.

Go to Stain Solver. Here's the promo code:

25thanks

 

LATEST COLUMN AND VIDEO

Are you thinking about vinyl-siding installation? Some people will be attempting this job since money is tight.

Watch me perform some magic to make a blacktop driveway crack disappear. I'll bet you a chocolate malt from Aglamesis that you haven't seen this trick.

Index of past newsletters.

October 28, 2008 AsktheBuilder News

Posted on by Tim Carter

What's in This Issue

CHAIN-SAW FUN
PEDESTAL SINK QUESTION
NEW SPADE BIT
THE ECONOMY, YOU AND I
LATEST COLUMN AND VIDEO

 

CHAIN-SAW FUN

Two weeks ago, I became the proud owner of a Craftsman 18-inch Professional chain saw. It has a 40cc engine and is remarkably lightweight. Many moons ago, when I was a much younger man, I used chain saws frequently. My father-in-law owned a 240 acre tract of land that was heavily forested. He and I would go there to cut down trees for firewood and to open up the view to the great North Bend of the Ohio River. President William Henry Harrison is buried just a mile from this land.

I needed this new saw to cut up some trees here at my New Hampshire house that the previous owner had foolishly left piled up for over six years. These were magnificent oak trees that the owner had abandoned and left to rot. Some had trunks that were 20 inches in diameter! Luckily I was able to salvage them for firewood.

The Craftsman saw brought back lots of memories. First, how dangerous these tools can be if you don't follow all the safety instructions. Secondly, I had a vivid recollection of how heavy the old saw was I used 30 years ago. It was a marvelous Stihl saw, and had the same length bar and chain and a similar engine as my new Craftsman saw.

It's amazing how advancements in technology have taken out so much weight with no sacrifice to cutting power. I'm really impressed with this new saw, even though I frowned when I first took it out of the box. It was so light I thought it was a toy saw.

I plan to do a basic video about this saw in the next week. It cut through the oak logs like a hot knife through cold butter. My guess is that one could do about 30 videos on how to use chain saws. In fact, you could probably make a two-hour movie showing all aspects. But I'm going to do the view from 35,000 feet. I'll announce it here when the video is complete.

 

PEDESTAL SINK QUESTION

Donna P. from Weston, CT wrote me asking, "I have a pedestal sink to be installed and I don't understand why the plumber wants to open the wall up to put wood blocking across for support when the instructions that come with the sink say you can just drill into the sheetrock and install appropriate toggle bolts. Why would it need the extra support of blocking if the sink is on the pedestal as well?"

Donna, that's a fair question. The plumber may not have had great luck in the past with wall anchors, and is nervous about the sink moving. You need to understand that it's not good for plumbing fixtures to move as the connections to the water lines and drain can fail. Also, if the drywall gets soggy the anchors will fail. But if you have soggy drywall, you have more serious issues.

I agree with the written instructions and have used toggle bolts successfully with pedestal sinks. Just get the right size and put in your contract that you assume all responsibility if someone yanks the sink from the floor and throws it out the window like in the ending of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

By the way, this is the type of questions and answers you will see in the new website I'm working on. The visitors to that website are going to see hundreds, and eventually thousands, of one-on-one email Q & As, chat sessions and even videos of me answering questions.

I'm really getting excited about this new website. I had a major epiphany about it ten days ago when my oldest daughter Meghan talked to me about the concept. She simply said, "Dad, what people really want is just answers to their questions. They are busy and don't have time to sift through multiple websites, some of which are filled with questionable solutions, to get an answer. Your subscribers are going to love this new site where they can get a specific answer to a question either from you or someone else who is an active member of the community you will be assembling."

You know what? Meghan is spot on. If you agree, let me know. Each person that sends me an email with constructive comments and suggestions about this new website AND has the Subject Line say "Meghan Rules" will get entered into a drawing. When I launch this new website, ten winners - selected at random - will get a free scholarship/subscription to this website for life. Remember, the Subject Line of the email MUST say:  Meghan Rules. Spell it correctly!

 

NEW SPADE BIT

A few days ago, I received in the mail a sample spade bit. You may yawn thinking big deal and mumble to yourself, "Who cares about spade bits?"  These bits are really fantastic when it comes to drilling larger holes through wood. Traditional spade bits I used years ago were flat, had a round shaft, had a sharp point and low-angle cutting edges.

Bosch sent me an amazing spade bit called the DareDevil. This bit has a full-cone threaded tip that pulls the bit through the wood, spurs and reamers on the cutting edges, a contoured face on the paddle that aids chip removal and the end of the shaft has a hex shank! This means that when the bit hits a knot, it still keeps spinning as the chuck of the drill would have to be very loose for the bit to stop while the drill continues to spin.

I haven't used this new bit yet, but it has all of the things that are needed to produce large holes in wood with minimal effort.

 

THE ECONOMY, YOU AND I

I subscribe to many magazines, and one of them is Forbes. They put out a special edition last week that dealt with all of the scary economic news. Kathy and I have put the new-house project here in New Hampshire on the shelf until things sort themselves out. No doubt you have put the brakes on projects and purchases in your home as well.

The lead article, How Capitalism Will Save Us, in this special edition was written by Steve Forbes, who I believe is the son of the founder of Forbes magazine. In the article he does an autopsy of the current economic situation and compares it to the other "two big economic disasters of the 20th century" - the Great Depression and the great inflation of the 1970s.

In the article, Forbes says that those two economic horrors and our current situation were/are being blamed on greedy corporations and "economic royalists". He makes a pretty firm argument that in fact all three situations were caused by government mistakes - in other words our Congress let us down as they are the legislative branch of our government. Be really careful about blaming the Executive Branch - am I glad I remember my Boy Scout Citizenship of the Nation merit-badge facts! Keep in mind Congress does the heavy lifting when it comes to getting stuff done at the Federal level.

Forbes says that the Great Depression was directly caused by the passage of the Smoot-Hartly Tariff of 1929-30. This law imposed massive tariffs (taxes) on countless imported items. Other countries responded by enacting high taxes on our exports. The global trading system collapsed leading to capital or cash flow being restricted. The Great Depression resulted from this mess, not the collapse of the stock market. Remember, the stock market is an emotional betting game played by multiple players at the same time. If you want the real story, always look at the hard-core economic indicators.

I could go on and on, but you would be bored to tears. What I did discover from the article is there is crystal clear proof that lower taxes on ALL people plus businesses lead to enormous economic growth. This makes perfect sense when you stop and think about it. The article is long, so be sure to click through to all the pages.

Yesterday, I had coffee with that local politician who was trying to get my vote. I asked her, "Kate, tell me the last time you were really happy with the way the politicians at ALL levels were spending your hard-earned money you send them each week." She couldn't answer, but agreed that it would be best if MORE taxpayers money fueled the local economy as she rarely sees Federal and State taxes flow backwards into our town.

I urge you to read the article in Forbes. My guess is that you will be enlightened and think about politics in a entirely different manner. It just makes sense that if you and I have more money to spend the way we want, we will buy and invest in things that will help us and the businesses we support. That builds a vibrant economy at all levels.

Oh, if you're a new subscriber, you need to know that I served over ten years as a government official. For eight years, I was an appointed member of my Village's Planning Commission and I was elected to two terms as a Councilman. So I have personal first-hand experience as to how government can waste vast sums of money. I resigned from my second term of office because of enormous frustration in working with some people who refused to stop the wasteful spending of precious tax dollars.

 

LATEST COLUMN AND VIDEO

Mentioning my Boy Scout years brings back memories of campfires. You can have your own fire pit that allows you to spend quality time outdoors!

Millions of people have septic systems - I'm now one of them - but maybe have no clue what this mysterious system of tanks and pipes looks like that's buried in your yard. And what's with a leach field? A bunch of blood-sucking insects in your yard? No way! You MUST watch this video. Seriously. I show you a septic system before it's buried.

Index of past newsletters.

Blacktop Driveway Crack Repair Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Blacktop Driveway Crack Repair Video Transcript

Oh hey, how are you doing? I’m just bringing out the last tool to start my blacktop crack repair job. Great weather today, blacktop’s dry and that's exactly what you need when you get ready to finish a blacktop repair job.

Here's what we've got. The first thing we need to do before we get started in case the safety police are watching. It's time to get on the new cool safety glasses. Oh yeah.

What do you think about that?

Now what we got to do, the first thing that it says on the instructions on the caulk or the repair sealant that we're going to use is you got to clean out the crack. I like to use a regular broom. It works really well. Just go ahead and sweep it out. Get all that loose debris and loose sand out of the way.

Oh yeah, simple as that and once again remember the blacktop’s got to be nice and dry. So let me show you what I've got what we're going to use today. We've got this nice crack and this particular crack is kind of like a v-shape. Because it’s v-shaped it's really pretty hard to install a backer rod that sometimes you have to use when you install a crack sealant with blacktop.

Use a backer rod when the crack is shaped more like this where the sides of the crack are pretty parallel. You'll get those cracks very frequently in a blacktop driveway but not this particular one.

So what we're going to do first is all you have to do is start with this compound. It's an asphalt repair sealant. Check this out says it right here asphalt repair.

It's got all the nice instructions and it looks like it's just like really caulking and simple all you do is go ahead and start to squeeze it out being really careful that you don't put too much of the material too high. Because you would have a real mess on your hands.

You can see how easy that comes out. it just flows out of the tube and one of the reasons it flows really well is because I made sure it wasn't too cold out here. The outside temperature right now here is about sixty sixty-five degrees. This material flows just beautifully out of this tube and you can see that now, check this out, get a little closer, I want to show you something.

I'm coming up to a really big wide area and I want to fill that up but not too high and you'll see in a minute why. And there's another one coming up right next to it. Oh yeah look at this right here you can see a big area I kind of put the sealant in there making sure it's not too high.

All right now, here's what I want to show you the next step is I've got this cute little stick it's actually from a piece of mulch. Check this out. You can see it's about a quarter-inch

wide and I found it in the mulch actually right next to the blacktop drive. I just use that, come down here close, I want to show you something.

I actually want to spread this sealant so that it smears on the blacktop on either side of the caulk and I'm also making sure that the caulk sealant is not too high and this makes for a really really good bond so that the crack sealant material will not come out.

Come down here where it's really really wide. Before I started the job I went around and I found some of the rocks that had actually come out of the blacktop drive. What you do is actually put these rocks right in the sealing compound. I know it sounds crazy but this actually helps it helps disguise the crack for one and it helps make the crack sealant work a lot better because it makes it stronger.

And you just push those rocks down into the sealant and then you push the material up against it so that the cracks and so that the cracks fill up with material and it sticks well against these little rocks.

The final step in the process is to actually take some of this magic compound that I have in this can next to me. Oh-ho, wait till you see this trick! A lot of people don't do this. This is one of the secret Ask the Builder tricks.

Before I started the job I went to the sides of the driveway and I found some sand and some of the sand came from the stones and the rocks around the driveway. But actually matches perfectly some of the rocks that are actually in the blacktop. And you go ahead and just sprinkle this sand on to the fresh compound.

Look at that.  Simple as that and this sand does two things. Number one it will prevent tracking in case somebody makes a mistake and walks on this material and prevents it from it spreading onto the driveway. It does that, that's really important.

But number two it's actually going to help disguise this crack so that the crack looks more like the actual blacktop on either side of the crack. It's that simple to patch a blacktop crack. I'm Tim Carter for Ask the Builder dot com. If you want to discover more home improvement tips, go to AsktheBuilder.com.

Related Links

How to Repair Driveway Cracks

Driveway Erosion Repair - Don't Let it Get Out of Hand

CLICK or TAP HERE for FREE QUOTES  from local asphalt crack-repair contractors.

Buy This Great Blacktop Crack Filler

blacktop crack filler

This is a quality crack filler you pour into cracks. CLICK the photo to have it delivered to your home.

 

Septic System Anatomy Video

Posted on by Tim Carter

Am I glad you are here today! Guess what I discovered? I found a septic system that is being installed and it hasn’t been covered over with dirt. The inspector is coming tomorrow, so it is a great opportunity for me to show you the basic components of a septic system. The septic system consists of the septic tank, the distribution box and the leach field.

This is the actual septic tank. It is a precast, concrete structure that a crank lowers into place. This particular one is about 750 to 1,000 gallon capacity. The waste water from the house comes directly into this tank. The tank has lids that allow you to inspect the inside of the tank. They also serve a very important service. Every three to four years, you need to have a company come in and pump out all of the solids, that have collected inside the septic tank.

The distribution box takes the waste water from the septic tank and directs it out to the leach field through four different pipes.

The leach field in this system looks a little weird because of all the concrete covering. This leach field will actually be underneath the road leading to the house. The waste water enters the leach field from the distribution box. The leach field consists of a foot thick layer of sand. The waste water filters down through the sand, where it gets cleansed of all the bacteria and pathogens. And then it flows back into the water table.

That is how simple septic systems work.

Author's Note: We've received other questions with similar problems or questions. Here's one from Howard Stein of Oklahoma City, OK, regarding his home septic system.

"We have ten inches of snow and the temperature is near zero Fahrenheit. It will stay like this for several days.  Is it safe to use our washing machine (doing regular laundry) in this frigid weather since we have a septic tank and fear that the "arms" cannot properly dispose of large volumes of water into the ground?  Many thanks for your help."

Howard, typically in most septic systems, the tank and drainage fields are located well below the frost line.

Tim Carter