House Painting Tips

Posted on November 18, 2005 by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: There is still some time left to paint my house before the weather turns. I have the time to do the job right and I would really like the paint job to last. I am interested in knowing any secret tips you have discovered that really make a difference. In other words, are there a few things I can do that will allow me to get the new paint job to last an additional five to seven years? Russell W., Riverside, CA

DEAR RUSSELL: There are several things you can do, all of them quite simple, that will extend the useful life of an exterior house painting job. Some of the tips you have heard before, but some may shock or surprise you. The ultimate exterior paint job, in my opinion, blends the best paint with attention to detail in all preparation steps before you even shake the can of paint and pop open its lid.

Caulk is a powerful weapon to stop water intrusion that can ruin a new house painting job. PHOTO CREDIT: Kathy Carter

How many homeowners do you think read the entire label on a paint can? If past emails I get are an accurate barometer, I would say less than 5 percent of the public truly reads and understands the instructions. Reading the label on the paint can is the first thing you should do. Pay particular attention to the advice given about compatible primers and the amount of time you must wait before you apply a second coat.

When you read the label, my guess is you will see language that tells you to apply the paint to a clean, dry surface. Unfortunately many people do not follow this critical advice. It is important to understand that paint is simply glue with color added to it. If you want glue to stick well to an object, it really helps if the surface is totally clean and is dust-free.

It is very tempting to use a pressure washer to rapidly clean the outside of your home. The trouble is, they don't always remove all of the dirt. You can prove this on your home or on a dirty car. Use a pressure washer and get the tip of it as close to the surface as you feel comfortable so as to avoid surface damage. Let the surface dry. Then come back and hand wash a section with soapy water using a sponge and/or mild scrub brush. I guarantee you will see a difference and the brush and sponge will remove dirt left behind by the pressure washer.

To make matters worse, these tools can inject water behind the exterior skin of your home and cause paint failure problems soon after the job is finished. Water that is driven deep into the structure will eventually make its way back out as a liquid or a gas and can cause bubbles, blisters and peeling in the brand-new paint.

Once all loose paint has been scraped off, look for cracks where water can enter the skin of your home. Caulk these cracks and wipe the water-based caulk with a damp sponge to produce a professional looking joint. Make sure the caulk tube says the caulk is paintable.

Priming new masonry surfaces or bare wood is very important. Even more important is covering the primer as soon as possible with the finish paint. If the primer says it can be top-coated with the finish paint in 24 hours or less, then do so immediately after the time has expired. The finish paint can actually bond both mechanically and chemically to the primer if you do not wait days and days to apply the finish paint. My advice is to only prime as much area as you can finish paint the following day.

If you are working with paint on an older home, be very cautious. Houses built on or before 1978 can be coated with paints that contain lead. It is estimated that there are tens of millions of homes that have lead paint on either their interior or exterior surfaces. Scraping, sanding and removing the paint can create lead dust which is very toxic and poisonous. The Environmental Protection Agency has very helpful tips at their website to help you deal with this hazard.

High-quality paint is easy to find. Look for products that have two important ingredients: urethane and acrylic resins. These two components are the glue part of the paint. Urethane is extremely sticky and once cured and dried, it acts much like epoxy. Paints that contain these resins can be found at national brand paint stores and at large retailers that have hardware and paint departments. Unfortunately I have not been able to locate these paints at home centers.

Avoid painting in direct sunlight and on windy days if possible. Direct sunlight can cause rapid drying which creates a skin over the freshly-applied paint. As the remaining water in the paint dries, the paint develops bubbles. Wind causes paint to dry too quickly and can stop some paints from achieving the best bond to the surface being painted.

Column 591

Duct Tape Comparison

Posted on November 18, 2005 by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: I have a love affair with duct tape and have found hundreds of uses for the product. But lately some of the duct tape I buy just doesn't seem to be like the duct tape I remember using five or ten years ago. Some rolls of tape seem less substantial. Plus, duct tape never seems to hold well to things like rough lumber, brick, concrete and other slightly rough surfaces. Why is that? Is there a really great duct tape you know of? Steve L., Altadena, CA

DEAR STEVE: Duct tape has rapidly gained a positive reputation for fixing things much like the image I have in my head for bubble gum being used as a repair compound in radios during WW II. Duct tape's design that combines a reinforced backing with wide pieces of tape allows it to really perform well when you compare it to traditional masking or clear cellophane tape. These lightweight tapes simply do not have the same characteristics that strong duct tape possesses.

Rolls of duct tape my be the same size and look alike, but believe me there is an enormous difference in performance and durability. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter

Once you start to look closely at different duct tapes, you quickly learn there is a big difference between products. Common duct tape consists of three layers. There is a protective shell that you see once the tape is applied. The middle layer is a reinforced backing that often has threads of fiber going in two different directions. The final layer is the actual rubber-based adhesive.

Although most duct tapes have all three components, they are by no means the same. In fact, the difference is striking if you actually look at pieces of duct tape while they are held in front of a flashlight. The light allows you to actually see the number of reinforcing threads in the backing of the tape. Some tapes have far more threads more closely spaced than others.

Some manufacturers have stated they do make different duct tapes that are of different grades and quality. This may explain why you are finding duct tapes that seem thinner and less substantial. When taken into a lab, different brands or grades of tape reveal what you have discovered. The thickness of the adhesive layer on the tapes can range from 7.5 to 12 mils. That may not seem like a big difference unless you get out a calculator. The tape that has 12 mils of adhesive has 60 percent more glue than the cheaper tape!

Traditionally duct tapes have adhered very well to smooth surfaces. This happens because there is just enough adhesive to stick to the smooth surface area. But when traditional tape encounters an object that has a rougher texture, the dynamics change. The rougher surface presents a surface area far greater than what the adhesive on the tape can handle.

But those days are over as there is a new duct tape that in fact sticks very well to both smooth surfaces, concrete, brick, stucco, rough lumber and steel. This new wonder duct tape achieves this goal by boosting the amount of available adhesive on each strip of tape. There is plenty of adhesive to fill the small gaps and surface irregularities in these rougher objects.

There is 50 percent more adhesive on this new tape than the current best duct tape on the market. The new tape has 153 percent more adhesive than the low quality tapes you can find at the home centers. It is no wonder it sticks to so many things since there is an abundance of adhesive.

Keep in mind that the tapes must resist failure if you are really stressing them. Common duct tapes that you have been using for years often have tensile strengths of anywhere from 20 to 35 pounds per square inch of tape. The new high-performance duct tape boasts a tensile strength of 58 pounds per square inch.

Although nearly impossible to prove, there may be another reason why you have seen a degradation in quality of duct tape over the years. I have every reason to suspect that pricing pressure applied by large retailers to the actual tape manufacturers is partially to blame.

Think for a moment. If you were a manufacturer and a retailer told you the only way you would get an enormous order was to lower your price, what options do you have? One option is to extract higher efficiencies in the manufacturing process so your profit doesn't suffer. Another option is to lower your cost by using cheaper ingredients or less of the current ingredients you currently use.

Add to this the fact that a certain segment of the buying public will always buy the cheapest product in any given category. They may do it because that is all they can afford or they may do it thinking they are really saving money. It doesn't matter what the reason is, certain manufacturers decide they want to sell their product to these people. I can't really fault them.

Column 588

Simple Home Repairs

Posted on November 18, 2005 by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: The recent rise in gasoline prices and the forecast for high heating fuel prices have me very worried. I have cut my driving to a minimum, but still the cost of a gasoline fill up is staggering. I need to save money in some other way. I have always been afraid to try home repairs for fear of messing up my home. Are there some things the average person can do with minimal skills and tools? What happens if I make a mistake? Susan B., Tawas, MI

DEAR SUSAN: The rise in prices for petroleum-based products such as gasoline, heating oil, etc. will continue to go up if we as consumers do little to cut consumption. Any first year student of economics knows that supply and demand for products are what set prices.

Repairing a toilet so it does not waste water can save you over $100.00. Do different repairs like this once a week and you will create money for fuel. PHOTO BY: Tim Carter

On a personal level, though, every gallon of gasoline or heating oil and/or cubic foot of natural gas that can be conserved will register as a lower demand so long as millions of us do it at the same time. This lowered demand will help drive prices down. So I am urging all I know to lower their thermostats this winter and buy more clothes to stay warm around the house. Investing in a bicycle for short local trips is also a good idea for many people to help cut back on gasoline usage.

As for saving money by doing repairs yourself, well I have great news for you. You can save thousands of dollars annually if you start with easy projects and begin to build the confidence to tackle larger jobs. Even people with limited hand-eye coordination can do many simple tasks.

For example, let's say your toilet flushing valve sticks open and you have to jiggle the handle to make the water stop running. If you call a plumber, it might generate a one-hour charge of labor that could cost $80 or more. Would you be shocked if I told you this can often be fixed with a $5.00 part and ten minutes of your time?

Repairs to doorbells, patching concrete, replacing doorknobs and patching holes in drywall and plaster are very easy to do and can often be accomplished in an afternoon. Each one of those projects can save you just under $100.00 or in some cases hundreds of dollars.

It is important to note that I am not trying to steal work from professional contractors. Since most of us have a finite amount of cash to spend each month, something has to give. If you still want to hire pros to do your work, then you will buy fewer new clothes, electronic products, food or entertainment. In other words, some other business will get hurt no matter what you do. It simply becomes your choice as to who and who does not get your dollars.

You may not believe it, but you can probably do very simple electrical repairs and save money. Replacing a standard switch or outlet is not hard and can be very safe if you follow established rules and tips as well as the National Electric Code. Good old common sense and some help from a friend or neighbor who has tackled electrical repairs is also a good idea for the beginner.

Exterior painting is also another area where you can save money. You may not feel safe on a ladder, but perhaps you can paint all of the parts of your home where no ladder is needed. First hire a painter who is willing to work with you to finish the parts you can't reach and let him do all of the high work first. Then you finish the job working from the ground. This sounds crazy, but I know of three painters who would absolutely work out a deal such as this.

If you make a mistake, do not panic. The key is to start with projects that will telegraph mistakes quickly. For example, if you try to patch drywall and the surface is rough because you added too much joint compound, you can see that right away. Scrape off the excess wet compound and start over. If you want your first drywall repair to turn out well, get a scrap piece of drywall and practice repairing it in your garage until your skills improve. Once you have the touch, move indoors and proceed with the real repairs.

One mistake you can make is stopping the flow of money to home repairs. Neglecting small repairs or putting them off until the trouble areas get worse can lead to very large repairs and in some cases, hidden damage. It is very wise to keep up with even the smallest home repair issues.

If you have to buy new tools to do repairs, buy quality tools. These tools often cost more money, but deliver professional results and are far easier to use than cheap ones that may seem more attractive.

Always read any enclosed instructions that come with any product you intend to install. Take the time to fully understand them before you start the job. All too often people neglect instructions and waste time and money. Money is not something that should be wasted at this point in time.

Column 586

Outdoor Fireplaces

Posted on November 18, 2005 by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: Outdoor fireplaces seem to be popular and I have the perfect patio to place one on. What do I need to know before I go shopping? I have seen them in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but am unsure as to what would work best for me and my family. The fireplace will not be used for cooking, just warmth and appearance. Should I build my own fireplace? Beth A., Chowchilla, CA

DEAR BETH: Anyone who has enjoyed the pleasure of warming themselves in front of a campfire on a cool evening knows why outdoor fireplaces have exploded in popularity. I am convinced there is a deep psychological pleasure trigger in our brains that is activated by fireplace smoke and the orange glow of the embers in a real fire. My guess is that programming goes back millions of years when fires provided needed heat for survival, cooking and a great place to have a conversation.

I really like my own outdoor fireplace as it allows me to enjoy the exterior of my home earlier in the spring and later in the fall. My own patio is treated as a room of our home even though it is outdoors. I can't tell you how much I enjoy sitting around a crackling fire just after sunset on an October night. That experience really recharges my mental batteries.

Now this is a gorgeous outdoor fireplace. How would you like to be sipping some fine wine and toasting your toes next to this work of art? PHOTO BY: Vermont Castings

Outdoor fireplaces come in a variety of sizes , styles and price points. There is an outdoor fireplace of one type or another for every person. The first thing to check are your local codes and laws as some municipalities have real concerns about outdoor air quality. Traditional wood-burning fires can create air pollution problems when certain weather conditions create an inversion which traps smoke particles in the air. If local laws prohibit wood-burning fireplaces, look for approved models that may be fueled with natural gas or propane.

If you want the satisfaction of building your own fireplace, I suggest you find one that is prefabricated. Unless you are a serious do-it-yourselfer with great skills, you will struggle building a traditional masonry fireplace. Be aware that the actual design and construction of the firebox, smoke chamber, flue and chimney is a precise science, not speculation. If you do not size all of the components correctly, the fireplace will not burn properly and it may send clouds of billowing smoke towards you and your family as you sit near it.

The first thing I would look for in an outdoor fireplace is one that will satisfy your most important needs. If warmth is what you are looking for, I would urge you to get an outdoor fireplace that resembles a traditional campfire. This device will allow many people to gather around and bask in the radiant heat that is sent out in all directions by the fire. Traditional fireplaces reflect heat in a small cone in front of the firebox, so only a few people can enjoy the warmth as they sit in front of the fire.

If appearance is more important to you than warmth, then I feel sorry for you. There are so many gorgeous outdoor fireplaces, I can't imagine how you will begin to make a decision which one to purchase. Be sure to consider how the fireplace materials will withstand the elements in your location. An outdoor fireplace that might perform flawlessly in the southwest may fall apart in several years in the harsh, wet, winter-weather of the northeast.

Some of the magnificent outdoor fireplaces are fairly large and can not only take up valuable space on your patio, their weight may stress the patio and cause a crack. I urge you to create an imaginary fireplace on your patio and arrange your chairs and side tables so they are a minimum of four feet from the fireplace location. You want to take the time to do this to ensure you will have enough space for all to enjoy the new addition to your outdoor living space.

Do not underestimate the amount of room some of the larger outdoor fireplaces will consume on the average patio. These structures can be up to 3 feet in depth and 8 or 9 feet wide. It is also important to position the fireplace so that any smoke and embers do not pose a risk to your home and any nearby vegetation. The hot flue gases billowing from the chimney can toast nearby trees. You also do not want the fireplace to block any vistas from the patio.

Be sure to use common sense around wood structures. Some people place outdoor fireplaces on wood decks. Burning embers can sometimes find their way onto and under a wood deck and start a fire after you have gone inside for the evening. It is an excellent idea to consult your local fire department's fire prevention officer and get tips on how to safely install an outdoor fireplace. These individuals are interested in your safety and want to come to your house in a car, not a truck with flashing lights on and sirens screaming.

Column 585

Shower Head Leak

Posted on November 18, 2005 by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: The adjustable shower massage we've been using has developed a leak, but the leak is at the point that the shower head connects to the pipe coming out of the wall. I tried another shower head we had in the house, and it leaks there too.

I've soaked the water filter inside the Shower Massage (thinking it was clogged), tried both shower heads with and without pipe tape, and tried new washers in both shower heads. Nothing has helped.

Could it be something with the pipe itself? Since the pipe protrudes from a sheet-rocked wall, am I going to need a plumber/carpenter to replace that and deal with cutting and replacing the sheet-rock? Kim Z., Manhattan, KS

DEAR KIM: When you connect a shower head or other fixture to the threaded one-half inch gooseneck pipe that protrudes from the wall, you must apply pipe thread compound or teflon sealing tape to the male pipe threads on the gooseneck. In your case, I think you didn't apply Teflon tape and/or installed it the wrong way.

The female threads on the fixtures and the male threads on the pipe fit tightly, but not so tight as to prevent high-pressure water or air from gliding past the connection. To seal pipe threads I always use pipe threading compound, not Teflon tape.

You should not need a plumber to help you. Go to any corner hardware store and they will have pipe thread compound.

Take off the fixture you have now being careful not to move the gooseneck pipe. Dry off the end of the gooseneck and apply the pipe thread compound to the threads. Put plenty on. If you decide to use the Teflon tape you have, peel off a four-inch strip of tape and wrap it around the threads in a clockwise fashion as you look at the end of the pipe.

Reattach the shower head and the leak should disappear once you tighten the fitting with a wrench.

If it still leaks, be sure the problem is not in the ball joint that is part of the actual shower head. If it is, then I think the shower head fixture is defective.

AsktheBuilder Question Form

Posted on November 18, 2005 by Tim Carter

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AsktheBuilder Website Terms and Conditions

Posted on November 18, 2005 by Tim Carter

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Painting Vinyl Shutters

Posted on November 17, 2005 by Tim Carter

Painting Vinyl Shutters | These faded green shutters can be made to look just like new with soap, water, and some urethane resin paint.

DEAR TIM: I have some 8-year old green vinyl shutters that have faded badly. These shutters are in very good condition otherwise, but they are chalky and just plain dingy looking. Is it possible to paint them? They do have some oil stains on them from wasp spray. I would prefer to rehabilitate them rather than send them to the shutter graveyard. What do I have to do? David D., Westland, MI

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE QUOTES from local painters who can paint your shutters.

DEAR DAVID: If you would have asked me this question several years ago I would have told you to put on a pair of work gloves and grab a round-point shovel. It would have been wiser to buy new shutters than try to paint them. But fortunately, you can now paint any badly-faded vinyl surface with fantastic results.

Why Do Vinyl Shutters Fade?

Many people do not know that vinyl products such as siding, fencing, and shutters come in different levels of quality. Vinyl manufacturers can alter both the quality and quantity of key ingredients as they make the vinyl. For example, one of the primary ingredients in vinyl products that helps prevent fading and ultraviolet(UV) light degradation from the sun is titanium dioxide.

Is Titanium Dioxide Expensive?

High-quality titanium dioxide is expensive. More importantly, this key ingredient only needs to be near the surface of the vinyl, not mixed throughout the entire piece of vinyl, to be effective. Putting the titanium dioxide near the top surface of your shutters may have been too difficult for the manufacturer and/or they used too little titanium dioxide in the vinyl

Since it often costs more money to use the best ingredients and manufacture products in the best way, price is a very good barometer of quality. If we could go back in time, I'll bet your shutters were not the most expensive ones available.

How Do I Restore My Shutters?

To make your shutters look like new is going to be fairly easy. The first step is to wash them much like you would a car or a deck. You should use a very good soap, a sponge, different brushes and possibly a scrub brush. I'd also use certified organic Stain Solver oxygen bleach to get them extremely clean.

The goal is to remove all of the wasp-spray residue, all dirt, and any UV damaged vinyl pigments from the surface of the shutters. You can clean them while they are on the house, but you may find it easier in the long run to remove the shutters and both clean and paint them on the ground in a horizontal position.

What is the Best Paint for Vinyl Shutters?

I would suggest that once the shutters are clean to paint them in a shaded area, not in direct sunlight. The paint you need to use must be one that has a blend of both acrylic and urethane resins.

Here's a great urethane-fortified paint. That's why on the label it says it's for porches and floors! It's tough enough to use for your vinyl shutters! CLICK or TAP HERE or THE IMAGE NOW TO ORDER IT.

These special paints are easy to find at national-brand paint stores, not home centers. Some larger national retailers that have a paint and hardware division also carry these fantastic paints.

Why is Urethane Paint the Best?

The urethane resin in the paint is the key ingredient. Urethanes are very sticky and once they cure, they bond tenaciously to anything they touch. In many respects they behave like epoxy. I have used these special paints and when they dry on your hands, it is nearly impossible to remove them. This is a great attribute for paint as you do not want it to peel from the vinyl surface.

Is Urethane Approved for Use with Vinyl?

Several of these special paints actually state on their labels that they can be applied to vinyl surfaces. You simply need to follow their directions and often this means selecting a pint color that is nearly identical to the original vinyl color. The paint manufacturers do not want you to paint a light-colored vinyl a dark color. This can cause excessive heat buildup in the vinyl which can lead to excessive expansion and contraction of the vinyl. Since you had green shutters to start with, though, you can paint them a similar color of green and expect no problems.

If you paint vinyl products with regular exterior paint, there is a very good possibility the paint will fail. Vinyl has a very high expansion/contraction coefficient. Each day as the vinyl heats up from sunlight it expands. At night the vinyl contracts as temperatures drop. Not all paints are designed to stretch and expand to this degree much less going back and forth each day.

Is Power Washing the Best Way to Clean the Shutters?

Cleaning the vinyl by hand is extremely important. Do not think for a moment that power washing the vinyl is the best way to clean the surface. Power or pressure washing can and does leave a slight dirt film behind unless you position the tip of the cleaning tool dangerously close to the surface being cleaned. Since vinyl is smooth like a car, it is very easy to clean it using a sponge and soapy water. Be sure to rinse the surface immediately with clean water so the dirt film does not dry on the surface.

Column 584

Home Inspections Gone Wrong

Posted on November 17, 2005 by Tim Carter

DEAR TIM: My daughter and son-in-law recently purchased an home built in the 1930s. They hired both a general and a termite inspector to discover any and all defects. But two months after moving in, my daughter has discovered wood rot, mold and active termites. The inspectors will refund the inspection fees, but want my daughter to sign a release form that says she and her husband promise not to seek other legal remedies. My daughter and her husband have little money. What should they do now? Joan McN., Dayton, OH

DEAR JOAN: The first thing they should do is forget about signing the release forms. The second thing they need to do is open the phone book and find attorneys who specialize in matters like this. Believe me, this area of law practice has been expanding in the past ten years due to poor workmanship in all aspects of general home construction and inspections.

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!

There is a strong possibility your daughter and son-in-law will find a good attorney who might take this case on a contingency basis. This means the attorney will recover her/his fee once all of the parties reach a settlement. Your daughter and son-in-law may not have to put up any money to move forward to solve this unfortunate situation.

As in any profession, there are superb, good and not-so-good termite and home inspectors. It is possible for the best inspector to make a mistake, but it is rare. Although wood rot, mold and termite activity can be hidden behind walls and under finished floors, the damage sometimes produces visible clues that a well-trained inspector can uncover.

Your daughter needs to realize that these inspectors quite possibly have strong errors and omissions insurance policies that back them up in the event of an oversight or mistake. What your daughter and son-in-law should have done before they hired the inspectors was ask for a certificate of insurance from each inspector. If an inspector can't prove in writing that he has insurance and it is in force, you should never hire him.

A great attorney who has prosecuted cases like this one will have a group of experts who will be able to determine quickly the extent of the errors and how long the defects may have been present. As for the termites, it is possible they invaded the house after the termite inspection, but an expert will be able to judge this by the extent of infestation and damage. The same is true for wood rot. Severe wood rot in the average home that causes significant structural damage does not happen overnight or over a period of two or three months.

The unfortunate aspect of this mess is the slow pace of the legal system. If the inspectors do have insurance, these companies have professional attorneys who know how to push every emotional button on your daughter and son-in-law. Their job is to wear your daughter down and throw every possible blockade and barrier in the way. The attorneys for the insurance company are salaried employees in most cases and they get paid the same money each week no matter how slow the case proceeds. Never forget they are always trying to settle the case for the least amount of money as this strategy is best for the insurance company.

Be sure your daughter and son-in-law spend time selecting the attorney they decide to hire. It is vitally important for them to ask specific questions. Ask for written proof the attorney has successfully prevailed in similar matters. The attorney should be able to provide references just like any other professional. If they can't, refuse to do so or make excuses, then keep looking for a different attorney.

Be sure to ask about realistic time lines. This simply means how long will it take to bring this matter to closure. Often it can take many months and quite possibly one or two years. A great attorney knows this, but she/he also knows how to get guilty parties to cry "Uncle!" as rapidly as possible. Your daughter needs to find that arm-twisting attorney as soon as possible.

For many years, I have been hired as an expert witness in lawsuits concerning defective workmanship. I no longer do it because the work is far too depressing. It was not uncommon for homeowners to vent their anger, frustration and sorrow in my presence when I first arrived to look at the problems. Although understandable and expected, it is not the way one wants to start a day.

The slow pace of the legal process also bothered me. Settlements took many months to hammer out. Those cases that actually went to trial sometimes lasted nearly two years. Nothing happens fast in lawsuits other than your temper flaring from time to time if you are the suffering party.

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.

Column 583

Install a Garage Door

Posted on November 17, 2005 by Tim Carter

Install Garage Door | DIY Is Possible But Have Patience

DEAR TIM: My single-car overhead garage door is in bad shape and I have a few vacations days I need to use up.

I've survived many a Christmas Eve assembling complicated toys for my kids, so I think I can assemble a garage door.

Have you ever installed one? Was the task too daunting? If you think I can do it, what tips can you share? Brad G., Kiawah Island, SC

Install Garage Door Parts | There Are Many

When you first look at all of the parts and pieces that comprise a garage door, you can be quickly intimidated.

Here's a partial list of parts:

metal track
hinges
rollers
springs
cables
handles
struts
door panels
assorted nuts, bolts, and screws

There are enough to take the breath away from a seasoned weekend warrior who loves home improvement projects.

Garge Doors Are Biggest Moving Thing

It's a known fact that the garage door is the largest mechanical device found in the average home. So it's perfectly normal to experience a degree of anxiety when you first start the project.

Great DIY Garage Door Kits

But some large garage-door manufacturers have responded and now make very user-friendly door kits. There are still quite a few parts to assemble, but if you read and comprehend instructions, you will succeed.

It was a hot day as I was winding the worm-drive gear that put just the right amount of tension on the spring just over and behind my head. The cordless drill was the perfect tool for this job. PHOTO BY: Kathy Carter

The first tip I have is to simply read the instruction manual once or twice before starting the project. Get familiar with the terms, the hardware and the entire parts list before you even think about removing your existing door.

DANGER: Removing Old Door Spring

In your case, perhaps the most critical aspect of the job is removing your existing door. I would highly recommend that you hire a professional to help you with this one aspect.

You can get critically injured by the powerful springs that are part of your current garage door. When a garage door is in the closed position, the springs are under tension and are like loaded weapons.

IMPORTANT TIP: Do NOT cut any cables and do NOT try to take apart the spring yourself.

Once the old door is disassembled and out of the way, inspect the wood framing around the garage door opening. Make sure it is in good condition and there is no wood rot. Replace any rotten wood. The garage door track must be bolted to solid wood.

Doors Must Be Level For Smooth Operation

For the door to operate smoothly, the door must be level and the bottoms of the tracks must be level and parallel. It's very important for the first section of the garage door to be perfectly level.

If the door you install is a wooden one, scribe the door and cut or sand the bottom of the door so it conforms to the shape of the garage floor. Since all other sections of the door stack on top of the first section, you can see why it is so critical to get the first section perfect.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local garage door installation companies.

Use Approved Garage Door Hardware

Be sure to use approved hardware supplied by the garage door manufacturer. Pay close attention to the bottom brackets that attach to the bottom corners of the first section.

These brackets must be securely fastened to the door. Do not strip these bolts by over tightening them.

Remember, the cables that lift the door attach to these brackets. The brackets are subjected to enormous lifting forces and can rip out of the door and become missiles if not attached properly.

CLICK HERE for an assortment of garage door parts and kits.

Start With A Single-Wide Door

Single-wide garage doors are often the easiest to install. As garage doors get wider the sections get increasingly heavier. The final weight of a garage door, once assembled with all hardware can easily be 400 pounds or more.

This is why it is so critical to ensure the overhead track is securely supported and in perfect alignment. If the door starts to go up and the track falls or the door comes out of the track, it can fall.

Believe me, garage doors have fallen off the track and hurt both people and anything that was under the falling door.

Pay particular attention to the instructions about proper spring adjustment. Most door springs are perfectly adjusted if the door does not open or close when it is halfway open. You should be able to lift the door to the half-open position and it will just stay there without opening or closing.

CLICK HERE to get FREE & FAST BIDS from local garage door installation companies.

Column 582

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Install Garage Door | DIY Is Possible But Have Patience

Install Garage Door Parts | There Are Many

Garge Doors Are Biggest Moving Thing

Great DIY Garage Door Kits

DANGER: Removing Old Door Spring

Doors Must Be Level For Smooth Operation

Use Approved Garage Door Hardware

Start With A Single-Wide Door

Expert Advice For Your Home