Joist Hangers, Beams and Columns

Posted on by Tim Carter
engineered lumber i-joists

Joist Hangers, Beams and Columns | Look at all the engineered lumber i-joists supported by metal joist hangers. Can you believe the size of that massive beam? WOWZA! Copyright 2021 Tim Carter

QUESTION: Tim, I’ve never worked with metal joist hangers. How long have joist hangers been around? When I hold one in my hand I question whether it’s actually strong enough to support all the weight that will be resting in it! Are joist hangers safe? Are there any best practices when it comes to using them both indoors and outdoors on decks? What about the beams that joist hangers are attached to? How do you size those correctly? What about the support posts? Lisa K., Hartford, CT

You may be like Lisa and about to dip your toe in the magic waters of rough framing. I can tell you that it’s immensely satisfying to transform a pile of lumber into a structure. My customers for years would marvel at how we would put all the different pieces of lumber together to create a deck, room addition, or a house. Joist hangers are safe if installed correctly.

Are Joist Hangers New?

Hanging joists is by no means new. You typically need to hang a joist if the top of the joist needs to be in the same plane as the beam that supports the joist. There are all sorts of reasons and conditions on jobs where this is necessary. I happen to have in my garage an example of how carpenters did it 150 years ago.

Mortise and Tenon Joist Hangers

Here are sections of heavy timber joists salvaged from a building built in the late 1800s on Eastern Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio. This method using a tenon and a mortise to suspend a joist worked because the joists are over 2 inches wide and the wood is old-growth timber that's extremely strong. You know these were created by an apprentice carpenter on the job!

mortise and tenon joist hanger

mortise and tenon joist hanger

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local carpenters who can install joist hangers.

What Were the First Joist Hangers?

Back then there were no fancy metal hangers that you’re probably going to use. The carpenters of old hung joists from beams by cutting a tenon on the end of a joist and then they created a matching square or rectangular mortise in the beam that would support the joist. They used joists and timbers that were much thicker than the dimensional lumber you buy today so the method was structurally sound.

I recommend you read my other column about joist hangers for additional tips and secrets.

Can Joist Hangers Be Installed Incorrectly?

It’s important for you to realize you’re dealing with people’s lives and death and serious injury can result when you install joist hangers, beams, and support columns the wrong way. Don’t hope things are being done correctly. Get the actual written installation instructions from the joist hanger manufacturer. My go-to source of information for all things dealing with joist hangers and other metal structural connectors is Simpson Strong-Tie.

Are Nails the Best Joist Hanger Fasteners?

Nails are the worst joist hanger fasteners. Realize that the best things to use to attach the joist hangers to the beam are structural screws or bolts. Never use roofing nails. I’ve seen people do this. You can purchase structural nails that are rated for the weight, but trust me, the structural screws or bolts are far better. Don’t overdrive the fastener stripping out the wood if you use an impact driver tool.

What are the Best Outdoor Joist Hangers?

It’s extremely important that you use the correct joist hangers, or other metal connectors, and fasteners that are rated for outdoor use. Modern treated lumber has a higher copper content and when this copper gets wet and then comes into contact with the galvanized metal connectors and fasteners, it can corrode the metal. Once again, don’t hope you have the right things. Make sure everything you use is rated for extreme outdoor conditions, especially if you are working near the ocean where salt spray adds to the corrosive brew.

Where Can I Buy Joist Hangers?

You can buy joist hangers online. CLICK or TAP HERE for the best joist hangers made by Simpson.

joist hangers online

This is a PARTIAL screenshot from Amazon.com showing just a tiny fraction of the hundreds of joist hangers and metal framing connectors that you can use. CLICK THE IMAGE NOW to have any of them delivered to your home.

How Do You Size Beams?

Beam sizing is done by mathematical computations. A structural engineer analyzes loads and computes the type and size of a beam. It's not to be taken lightly. All too often I hear of homeowners who just ask some builder what beam to use.

Beam sizing is complex because there can be concentrated loads on beams. What’s more, the type of material used for the beam makes a huge difference. Beams should only be sized and specified by registered structural engineers. Look at the photos here of the giant structural i-beams beams in the last house I built.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local structural engineers who can size your beams.

How Important are Posts and Columns?

The posts and columns that support beams are just as important. Here where I live in central New Hampshire I see carpenters just balance beams on top of a square cut post. They install a few nails and hope the beam stays on top of the post. I’d never walk out onto a deck constructed this way. There are all sorts of ways and metal connectors made to properly connect a beam to a column. Once again, an engineer can specify exactly what to do and what to use.

What is the Best Post or Column Material?

The material used for the post or column is important. I recently walked through a new home being built near my home and saw a massive beam in a garage supported by regular lumber. Termites are not a big issue here, but I’d be more inclined to install treated lumber to support a beam in a garage where water and insects seem to have a better chance of coming in contact with lumber.

Can Steel Columns Fail in a Fire?

Keep in mind that hollow steel round or square columns used to support beams can fail in a fire. Steel can’t easily burn, but once it gets hot it can bend and twist with ease. Most engineers specify that hollow steel columns or posts be filled with dry sand to prevent failure in a residential fire. It takes a little bit of work to do this, but it’s worth it.

I’ve got an interesting video on my website showing you just one trick I’ve used to install joist hangers. The tips are pretty helpful when it comes to solid lumber that might be cupped and for joists that are not always the exact same height.

Column 1398

April 4, 2021 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Sunrise Photo | Water Hammer | Blueberry Stain Removal

Greetings! Lately lots of folks like you have been subscribing to my newsletter. This past week over one hundred people have become part of my extended Ask the Builder family. I’m so glad you’re here!

But you might be a subscriber who’s been receiving my news and secret tips for years! Do you recall that blockbuster column I wrote about lead-paint danger?

Did you know that lead was mixed with vinegar to sweeten wine? How long ago do you think that was?

CLICK or TAP HERE and see if your guess was within 100 years!

Early in the Morning

I’m a morning person. You may be a night owl. I won’t hold a grudge. One of the things I delight in is the sunrise. I’m blessed to see magnificent ones at least once a month, no matter the time of year.

Here’s one I captured this past Wednesday morning. You’re looking over Lake Winnisquam in central New Hampshire. CLICK or TAP HERE to see a high-resolution version of this photo. CLICK or TAP HERE for a stunning second photo taken from a different angle and about four minutes earlier.
sunrise over Lake Winnisquam

Your House's Bones

You know your body has bones. Surely you know how important they are. Without them you’d be a puddle of goo or blob of Play Doh on the ground.

But what about the bones in your house? Do you know how they all work and which ones are the most important?

I just put my Basic Structural Concepts Handbook eBook on sale. Look at the price! It’s over 50% off!

The sale ENDS in one week. I'll be sending out a reminder, but just get it now before we run short on electrons!

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what you get.

BIG BONUS: The eBook contains a massive glossary of structural terms!

Runa’s Water Hammer

Early in the week, Runa invested in one of my paid phone advice calls. You’re not going to believe this story. Well, actually you might, if you’re familiar with this frustrating problem.

Years ago, she had magnificent high water pressure in her home. After installing a new copper feed line from the street to her basement, she started to have water hammer issues.

Two different plumbers were called in, and they installed and adjusted a pressure reducing valve ratcheting her pressure down to a dismal 45 pounds per square inch (PSI).

pressure reducing valve

Runa continued to experience water hammer. The last plumber she talked to wanted to come over and turn down the pressure even MORE. Runa decided to turn to me instead. She couldn’t stomach having less water pressure.

I got on the phone with her, asked a few questions and in about ten minutes the issue was solved.

I also made a drawing for her to share with her plumber. My advice is going to stop the water hammer and get Runa’s pressure BACK UP TO 75 PSI.

I LOVE solving problems like this and I’d love to help you with your problem. You know what to do - have me call you on the phone for goodness sake!

Blueberries and Grandkids

Earlier in the week, I was on another paid advice call with Mr. Anonymous. At the end of the call the gentleman said, “Tim, I’ve got a great STAIN SOLVER story for you. A few years back, my young granddaughter threw up on an expensive sofa that was just weeks old. She had eaten some blueberries and you know how bad those stains are when blended with stomach acid!

Well, my wife and daughter tried to clean up the mess right away, but you could still see the blue and purple stain. I got home from work, mixed up some of your magic STAIN SOLVER and the stain DISAPPEARED in minutes. There was NO DAMAGE to the sofa, of course. Thanks for making such a great product!”

stain solver bottle

Yep, STAIN SOLVER is a great product.

Are you a power user of STAIN SOLVER? If so, I NEED YOUR INPUT. Please take this simple survey. There are BIG CHANGES on the way and you can say you helped drive the bus!

Some people have a STAIN SOLVER container in their pantry and for whatever reason they just use it for ONE JOB all the time. They have NO IDEA there are countless things you can clean with it!

It’s easy to think that you know the best way to clean things after decades and decades. But guess what? Your failure to try different products and methods could be holding you back from achieving spectacular results with LESS WORK and EFFORT!

CLICK or TAP HERE and watch all the videos about how I use STAIN SOLVER. The simple process is the SAME for just about anything you need to clean.

The rule of thumb is: If the object is water washable, STAIN SOLVER can almost always be used to clean it.

Sam's Garage Repair Saga

Do you have an older dilapidated detached garage? Yes, this one is pretty bad, but still salvageable.

Sam's Garage Repair Saga

Sam from Spokane, WA reached out to me not too long ago.

Here’s part of what she wrote, “Hi Tim! Finding your article about saving a 150-year-old garage and reading the paragraph about what the garage was whispering to Walter almost made me cry … Sure do miss being able to ask my granddad these questions.”

CLICK or TAP HERE to read the column that almost made Sam cry.

FREE & FAST BIDS - NOW

CLICK or TAP HERE to get Free & Fast Bids from LOCAL contractors for ANY job at your home or condo.

Two Dead Women

In the past week or so, two women on two different adventures died very close to my home. They walked into the woods to enjoy an innocent day hike. They were carried out of the woods in black body bags. Tragedies like these can be prevented.

If they had watched this simple video and had just one or two important things with them they’d be alive and with their loved ones today!

fire twigs burning

I know you have friends, family members, etc. who venture outdoors for fun. PLEASE SEND THEM TO THIS PAGE after you watch the life-saving video yourself.

 

That’s enough for Easter Sunday.

I’m the head usher at my church and today is our most important celebration of the year. Yep, Easter trumps Christmas. He is Risen - it’s time to put God back in schools, don’t you agree?

I’ve got really fond childhood memories of being the second acolyte altar boy for the solemn-high Mass on Easter morning as well as all other high holy days throughout the year. There were five servers for a solemn-high Mass instead of the normal two for a regular Mass

The supreme commander, Tom Bender, was the master of ceremonies. I discovered how delicious goetta was at his house one morning after serving Mass with him.

Tim Mulcare, the first acolyte, and I were the rank just below Tom. We were 4-star generals if you need an image. Or, this will do:

george c scott patton character

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Pods Coming!!! - www.StainSolver.com
Comms Boss - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. How would you like me to help you BUILD THE MOST DELUXE SHED within miles of your home? All you have to do is copy my shed or just reduce it in size. CLICK or TAP HERE to get the plans.

April 1, 2021 AsktheBuilder Help Request

Posted on by Tim Carter

You may not be aware, but my Ask the Builder franchise started with a humble syndicated newspaper column in October of 1993. I still write it each week, and it runs in over 60 USA newspapers.

My syndicate editor asked me last week to write a column for you and millions of others about what happens when you and your contractor decide to divorce and head into a courtroom to seek justice.

If you're a contractor, your state probably allows you to file a lien on a property in case a homeowner doesn't pay you. I'm not interested in this process, nor is my editor.

I know quite a bit about the legal process as I've done expert witness work in lawsuits between homeowners and contractors for over twenty years. I've never lost a case and my last one had me crawling all over the roof of the Brazilian Ambassador's house on the island of Antigua.

I once had to give a deposition in a massive lawsuit against one of southwestern Ohio's largest builders. There were about twenty attorneys in the room! My testimony was the last nail in the coffin for the wretched builder and he went bankrupt.

I was involved in my own legal situation about thirty years ago when I had to go to arbitration with the absolute worst customer from Hell. Arbitration is all about cutting loaves of bread. You'll read all about this in my new column.

Are You an Attorney? Help!

Here's where you come in. The laws in states all across the USA are different and I'm trying to write a column that pretty much represents the distressing process of what's involved when you decide to hop down the rabbit hole of your state's justice system.

Believe me, it's not all unicorns and rainbows even though you feel you're in the right. The outcome is not always certain.

If you're an attorney or you know one who's interested in completing a short questionnaire, I'd appreciate it! I want to write the most authoritative column I can but need the insight of what happens in your state.

The column will hopefully open your eyes as to what's involved, including the cost, in case you are thinking of getting up on a witness stand.

Remember, I only want ATTORNEYS to complete the questionnaire. CLICK or TAP HERE to access it.

Thanks!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

March 28, 2021 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

WOOT! How nice it is to meet you! You might be my newest subscriber having signed up just an hour ago. I'm happy to meet you! Thanks for your trust.

But you might be a platinum-level subscriber. This means you’ve been with me so long you remember when I was gushing about being invited to fly out, then tail-hook catching the third wire on the deck of the USS George Washington CNV 73 only to be catapulted off the next day. My oh my that was an adventure!

My Favorite Step Ladder

I’ve come to really love a particular step ladder. It's my go-to ladder for any task inside my house.

step ladders and benches

It’s one of the two ladders in the above photo. Which one do you think it is and why? CLICK or TAP HERE and see if you chose wisely.

Last Week’s Survey

You may have participated in last week’s interesting survey. I was interested in your thoughts about getting help from an online expert. Many of the results are just below.

Just three days ago, I got yet another email from a NEW start-up company that’s trying to connect you with plumbers who can help you over the phone! They want me to record a video for them, but we’re miles apart in negotiations.

The point is, the people at this new company also know you desperately need HELP and they think they have a better mousetrap when it comes to helping you with your plumbing issues.

Remember, I’ve been a master plumber since age 29 so if you’re in a pinch, I’m happy to call you on the phone to solve your plumbing problem.

Your responses to last week’s survey were remarkable. Look.


The results in the first pie chart clearly show credibility wins the day. I changed my email reply message last Monday morning once I saw the results. There was some improvement in responses, but still not what I expected.

Remember, before the survey only 1 in 51 who filled out the HELP request invested in a phone consult.

After changing the messaging to match the results of the survey, three of the next 51 responses invested in a phone call. That’s an improvement, but not stellar.

My list of credentials is pretty impressive, so it means it's now just a value proposition. Visitors like you are still hesitating to request help. They obviously are wondering if they'll get their money's worth from the expert.

Let's try to solve the problem. I need your help.

I need you to complete a simple four-question survey where I'm trying to figure out how to arrive at the FAIR PRICE to compensate the expert BUT ALSO make you feel as if you're getting a fair deal.

Let’s see if maybe we can really solve the conundrum as to what is a fair price to solve problems of different complexity.

I feel at least 50% of the people responding to the email I send after they fill out this form should be screaming:

“Tim, TAKE MY MONEY. HELP ME!!!! I NEED YOUR HELP. I want to save hundreds or thousands of dollars and I don’t want to get screwed by a contractor!"

Remember, we KNOW they need help, we know they trust me as an expert, but something is holding them back from getting the help that can save them THOUSANDS of dollars.

Please, take just two minutes to answer the four easy questions for me. CLICK or TAP HERE to take the survey.

Free & Fast Bids - Local Contractors

CLICK or TAP HERE to get fast and free bids from local contractors for ANY PROJECT.

Contractors are BUSY. If you want to get things done, you need to ACT NOW, get your bids, and get in line. CLICK HERE NOW.

How Do Plumbing Vents Work?

What percentage of the pipes in this drawing handle wastewater?

plumbing pipes in a bare wall

CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you’re right. The answer might surprise you.

You’ll also discover HOW plumbing vents really work. By the way, I installed all the pipes in that photo.

That’s quite enough for a Sunday.

Thanks for participating in the second survey. I’m bound and determined to solve the conundrum of getting you the AFFORDABLE expert help you need.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Super Clean - www.StainSolver.com
Comms Boss NEFR - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. You need to solder a copper water line in your home. What torch would I suggest you use? CLICK or TAP HERE to see if your instincts were spot on.

March 21, 2021 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Tell the truth. You’re a brand-new subscriber. It’s often said timing is everything. Welcome, for starters! This might be one of the most unique newsletters I’ve ever sent in the twenty-five years it’s been published. Strap yourself in. I NEED YOUR HELP and that of every subscriber who’s reading this.

You're about to see some secret information I've never shared with you before.

You, though, might have been here for long enough to remember the video I did about bathroom exhaust fans. Do you HATE how noisy and LOUD your fan is?

tim carter on step ladder
Yeah, I thought so. CLICK or TAP HERE to see the whisper quiet one I installed in my daughter’s new home. You simply can’t hear it! Scroll down just a bit in the column to watch the video.

FREE BIDS - Local Contractors

CLICK OR TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local contractors for ANY PROJECT.

Economics 101

Back in the day, I tried to take an economics class in college and it made my head explode. I dropped it after a week. My oldest daughter went on to double major in economics and public relations. It's pretty obvious she didn't get my math genes!

I do know that the law of supply and demand is real. You may be feeling it when you try to get bids for work.

lumber prices graph

But have you seen or heard what’s happened to lumber prices? Holy Cow!

Sans Mustache

Phil Mizzi is a virtual friend of mine in Australia. He’s a subscriber I’d love to meet face-to-face. Over the years, Phil has offered me lots of help and suggestions about my Ask the Builder website and I've reciprocated when he's decided to tackle a project.

I’ve had the great fortune to meet quite a few subscribers in person, though, and you may be one.

Back when I was doing lots of traveling for business, I’d try to carve out time to have a meet up no matter what city I was in. They were always tons of fun. I need to do a local one for those here in New Hampshire!

Anyway, Phil reached out to me a few days ago and said:

“...On another topic, at the end of the ride-on-the-lawn-mower video, it panned to your website and what I thought I saw was a Tim without a mustache!! Was that you and when was that?”

Good eye, Phil! Yes, about eleven years ago, my mustache disappeared one afternoon. CLICK or TAP HERE for an amusing story about what a Dad will do for his daughter.

Wait until you see the photo of me on that page. Jeeez, I just may remove it by the time you see this. I HATE that photo!

I NEED Your Help

Is it possible for you to do me a favor? This is a big one.

Please read all of the following and then share your thoughts with me. I’ve never before disclosed this much information in the newsletter and it’s sort of a Pandora’s box.

You have no idea how valuable your input is. Trust me when I say you’ll be helping millions of people.

Each day, I have thousands of people visit AsktheBuilder.com.

Here’s just one report I get. This one shows you exactly what’s happening with one aspect of my website. This report covers the past seven days:

traffic report askthebuilder

The arrow points to the fact that in the past seven days almost 58,000 folks came to AsktheBuilder.com.

All the visitors had one thing in common.

They’re in pain or at the very least they needed help with some sort of problem.

Perhaps you’ve had it happen to you. Something has gone wrong. Maybe you’ve got an issue with your home or a contractor conflict.

Maybe you’re like Christian from the UK who I heard from this past Thursday. He was frantic because he felt a plumber was putting in the pipes wrong in his room addition.

Christian was right. It was a huge hot mess. You have no idea how many things are wrong looking at all the photos he sent. Here’s but one photo:

defective plumbing pipes UK

I immediately responded to Christian after he sent his photos. It was 7 PM my time, just before dinner, and I felt the need to get him out of his huge mess.

I told him I had been a master plumber since age 29 and that there was so much wrong that it would require a phone call to share what needed to be done. There was just too much to type.

He never responded. Can you believe that? Isn't that insane?

Those pipes were about to be covered with CONCRETE. Tell me how hard it would be to fix them after that happens.

HELP Tim! Throw Me a Life Preserver!

You’re panicked in many cases when you come to AsktheBuilder.com. I know as I've read tens of thousands of your help requests over the years.

You’re often filled with fear.

You do realize that when you’re fearful you make dreadful decisions. You don't think clearly. I see it happening each day.

You need help from an expert - someone you can trust who doesn’t have a dog in the fight, right? I think I pretty much fit the bill as being unbiased since I can't see your house from where I live and I'm not bidding on your job.

As for being an expert, I think the About Page on my website covers that pretty well, but I could be wrong!

But once at my website, things go off the rails faster than orange slices disappear on the sidelines at halftime during a grade-school soccer game.

Startup Failures

I’m aware of no less than three Internet startups that tried their best to SOLVE the above problem. The founders of the startups were acutely aware you needed help from an independent expert.

These startups raised tens of millions of dollars from venture capitalists. They put that money to work trying to solve the conundrum. The investors' money created websites where you could get on the phone with a plumber, carpenter, electrician, roofer, etc. and get help.

Each one of these startups FAILED.

They vaporized. The phones grew cobwebs on them.

The money for each startup dried up.

Why? Help Me Understand.

I’ve been offering a nearly identical phone coaching service for decades.

I’ve completed hundreds and hundreds of phone calls with homeowners like you. Heck, it's possible I've done close to a thousand paid phone calls in the past twenty-two years.

Just two days ago, I solved Steven’s problem in three minutes.

He told me he had spent three days online trying to get an answer as to the SMALLEST size header he could put in a bearing wall in his living room so the floor above wouldn’t collapse.

He loved my answer and thought the call was the best $$$ he’s spent in ages.

A few days ago, Lori wanted to know the exact vinyl cedar shake product I’m going to use on my next house. I answered her in minutes and offered up a few additional tips to make sure the job looks superb.

Josh needed help with his shear wall in a room addition. The list of help calls I've completed is endless.

Now look at that graphic once more:
traffic report askthebuilder

In the past week, 687 visitors of the 57,800 went to this page on my website where I offered to give them options to solve their problem.

All 57,800 visitors saw this offer to get the help they needed.

Do the math. Just over one percent decided to look into the offer.

Think about that - just one percent.

I want you to CLICK or TAP HERE to see what they saw.

Guess how many who landed at that page filled out the form?

400, 300, 175, ?

Fifty-one. Less than 10 percent.

Why?

Why would 636 people back away from that FREE offer of HELP?

It gets worse.

Within hours, I’d replied to each of those 51 who’d filled out the form.

Most of the problems they had were very COMPLEX. It was impossible to answer them in two or three sentences or with a Yes or No.

I replied telling them how serious the issue was and that it required a short phone call giving them the link to the phone call page.

These homeowners were about to spend tens of thousands of dollars and possibly make a mistake unless they got some expert advice. Remember, they FILLED OUT THE FORM telling me their problem.

Guess how many of the 51 decided to make a small investment in getting that advice??

20, 15, 9, ?

One. One person.

Why? Why only one?

This is where you come in.

Would you do me a favor and take this short survey so I can try to discover why people aren’t willing to invest in an expert’s advice?

The LAST question is perhaps the most important.

Use your magic wand. Tell me exactly what you’d need to know before you’d invest a small amount to get an expert’s advice.

Be reasonable. Keep in mind, I can't come to your home if you want me to help you. Well, actually I can. I do offer that long-distance service.

And if you want the expert to be local to you, keep in mind they need to be compensated for all the travel time to and from your home.

That’s enough for a Sunday.

Thanks for your help!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Get CLEAN - www.StainSolver.com
POTA - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Please take the Investing in Advice survey. Your answers could end up helping TENS OF MILLIONS of homeowners just like you.

Tim’s Mustache Disappears

Posted on by Tim Carter

Tim's Mustache

"Hey Dad, you'd look really great without a mustache."

My youngest daughter had popped her head into the dining room just to drop that quick comment. It was the winter of 2008-09 and I was back in Cincinnati for one of my visits from New Hampshire.

Just months before, I had moved to New Hampshire with my oldest daughter and future son-in-law. My wife and youngest daughter would follow us up in August of 2010 after she graduated from high school with her friends.

I was busy working on my laptop at the dining room table and replied, "I'm sure you're right, sweetheart." I didn't think any more about it and kept clicking away on the keyboard.

An Hour Later

"Dad, I was serious. You'd look so much younger if you shaved off that mustache." Kelly had come back downstairs from her room to give me more encouragement. Just as fast as she said it, she was gone back upstairs.

I had just passed the double-nickel birthday a year or so before and maybe she was right. Maybe I would look younger without a hairy lip and while I was at it, maybe I should lose 20 pounds.

The issue was this mustache was a legacy one. It had been on my face for almost forty years as I grew it my freshman year of college if my memory serves me right. What's more, my wife liked it. You know the saying, "Happy wife, happy life."

tim carter 1971

This is the first known photo of me with a mustache. It's not as full as now. I HATED this photo. My Mom forced me to go to a professional photographer.

"Hmmmm, maybe she's right. Maybe I would look younger. And after all, even if I shaved it off, it could grow back in two months. I'm up in New Hampshire so what's the big deal if I don't have one?"

The gears in my head were spinning.

However, I had left out one important aspect of the SMA | sans-mustache analysis.

The fact that my daughter might be yanking my chain. Hard, really hard.

I've had trouble in the past calibrating my sarcasm sensor and bad things can happen when you get bad data, right?

Two Minutes

"Heck, what do I have to lose? Let's do it."

I got up from the dining room table. My daughter had left the house and my wife was down in the basement in her office. No one knew what was about to happen.

I went upstairs to the bathroom and two minutes later my upper lip was as bare as a newborn's bottom.

WOW, did I look different in the mirror! Did I make a mistake?

The Bomb-Drop Dinner

I decided not to say a word about the shearing experiment. Hours later dinner was being prepared and we sat down to eat. My wife looked across the table and her eyes got pretty big.

"WHAT THE HECK DID YOU DO?" My wife was aghast.

"Well, our youngest said I'd be far more attractive to you if I shaved it off."

"She was wrong!"

"Dad, I was just kidding. I never thought you'd do it."

"Add some fertilizer or do something. I want that mustache back as fast as possible."

She Who Must Be Obeyed is not to be questioned. But I wasn't going to brush some magic hair-growing potion on my lip. I knew how fast it would grow back.

Back in New Hampshire

Two days later, I was back on the road heading northeast to New Hampshire. I decided my oldest daughter needed to see the experiment so I continued to shave my lip as well as the rest of my face.

When she saw me she exclaimed, "Dad, boy do you look different! Your upper lip is HUGE. Maybe you better grow it back before a plane lands on it."

Let's see if you agree. The only evidence of this crazy experiment is the following video. If someone took a photo of me, I'm not aware of it. Let me know what you think.


Editor's Note: The March 21, 2021 AsktheBuilder Newsletter also mentioned how much Tim hated the above photo. Surprised is still is posted!!

Investing in Advice Survey

Posted on by Tim Carter

 

downspout drain line under sidewalk

This is a typical problem a homeowner like you faces. How many things are WRONG in this photo? How do you fix them? What unseen DAMAGE is happening?  Do you NEED HELP? CLICK or TAP HERE to tell Tim Carter your problem after taking the survey below.

UPDATE: CLICK HERE to see the results of this survey in the March 28, 2021 Newsletter.

Investing in Advice Survey - Don't Hold Back

How Do I Stop Peeling Exterior House Paint?

Posted on by Tim Carter
peeling paint on brick

Peeling Exterior House Paint | This peeling paint happens every few years on this cottage. I know as I drive past it after seeing them scrape and repaint it! Copyright 2021 Tim Carter

QUESTION: Help me, Tim! I’m so darned frustrated! The paint on the outside of my home and a shed keeps peeling. Both have wood siding on them.

Every few years I’m out there scraping and starting over. What am I doing wrong? I follow the directions on the label of the paint can to the letter. Is it the paint? Is it something I’m doing wrong? Is it just the weather where I live?

I’m beginning to think an evil hex was cast upon my house by an enemy of a former owner. Please help me because I don’t want to put up vinyl siding to eliminate the paint issue. Debbie S., Waterloo, IA

Do you have chronic peeling paint issues at your home or business? A friend of mine has it here in New Hampshire on some cottages he owns. Peeling paint is a burr under the saddle of many I’m afraid and the causes are numerous. I don’t know that I can cover all of them in the small amount of space provided for this column. Let’s get started.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE PAINT REMOVAL BIDS from local painters.

Why Doesn't Paint Peel From Cars?

I feel the best way to understand why paint peels is to step back and think about all the things you know of that are painted but you almost never see them peel. How about your car or truck? What about street signs? What about painted aluminum siding, gutters, and downspouts? How about lawnmowers, snowblowers, and many garden tools you might own?

Do you know someone who has a house covered with fiber cement siding? My house has it. There’s not one place where my paint is peeling. My neighbor’s house has the same siding. Both houses are twenty years old, and there’s not a speck of peeling paint in our harsh New Hampshire weather!

The one thing in common with everything above is the paint is applied to things that are not wood. Wood is a very interesting material but it doesn’t play well with most paints unless you paint it correctly before it’s installed.

Why Does Paint Peel From Wood?

Paint peels from wood because wood shrinks and swells. Wood is hygroscopic. This means that water can easily enter wood either as a liquid or a vapor. The issue is when most wood gets wet, it swells and expands in size. Metal and fiber cement siding don’t change shape when they get wet. This is very important.

Now let’s think about paint. What is paint in its most basic form? Paint, for the most part, is just colored glue. The chemistry of most paints is not too far from common white and yellow glue or caulk that you might purchase at a paint store or home center. My original business partner and I used to paint homes in the summer in college. He went on to get a Ph.D. in chemistry where he worked for 30+ years for the largest paint company in the USA. Over the years, he’s taught me much about paint.

What About Lead Paint Danger?

Lead paint danger is real. You can get very sick removing lead paint. Read all about lead paint danger here.

Is Paint Just Colored Glue?

Yes, I realize I’m oversimplifying it, but think about paint. It’s made to stick to things just as glue adheres to things. Paint can have all sorts of other characteristics to minimize color fade, gloss, etc. but when the dust settles, its main job is to stay stuck to the things it covers.

Here’s the rub. If the wood that’s under paint moves too much, that is expands and contracts as it gets wet and dries, this movement can be more than the paint can handle. When the bond breaks between the wood and the paint film, the paint peels.

Will Water Vapor Cause Paint Peeling?

Paint can also be pushed off wood by the vapor pressure under the paint. If wood gets wet and the sun heats up the wood siding, the water in the wood can turn to vapor creating a blister. This vapor pressure can easily pop the paint right off the siding. You can demonstrate this by coating a balloon with a thin coating of flour and water. Let it dry, blow up the balloon and the flour pops off.

Debbie did all she was supposed to by following the paint label instructions. Do you? Do you actually wash the surface you’re going to paint like you wash your car or dishes? You need to rub the surface with soapy water, rinse and allow to dry. Do you scrape off all other loose paint? You wouldn’t put on fresh clothes to go out to dinner after sweating all day working in dirt and grime, right? You’d take a shower. So make sure your surface is squeaky clean.

When is the Best Time of Day to Paint?

Painting at the right time of day can play a part. It’s best to follow the sun. This means to paint in the shade, not in direct sunlight. It’s best if the paint dries slowly. Painting on hot breezy days is perhaps the worst time to paint in my opinion.

Should Wood Trim and Siding be Pre-Painted?

If you want the paint to stick well to wood for many years, you need to shrink wrap it in the paint. This means you need to paint the wood on all sides and edges. You can pre-paint wood siding and trim with primer and finish paint and then install it.

Should Cut Ends of Wood Be Painted?

However, if you cut siding or trim to length, you then need to paint the cut end. Most carpenters are reluctant to do this because it really slows them down and it can be a mess. But the cut end of siding and trim is the place where water enters wood the easiest! These cut ends must be sealed if you want to prevent peeling.

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