Install Flat Screen TV on Wall

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Tim Carter

Install Flat Screen TV | Do you think you can install a flat-screen TV over this window above the fireplace? Do you want to know how I’d do it? Flat Screen TV Frame Ideas can be found here. Copyright 2020 Tim Carter

Install Flat Screen TV - Hunt for Solid Wood

QUESTION: Tim, She who must be obeyed (SWMBO) has informed me that the two flat-screen TVs in the unopened boxes must be installed in days. One TV will end up in our bedroom on a wall but the other is over a living room fireplace. There’s a huge window there. Fortunately, the TV is wider than both the window and the wood trim surrounding the window. How in the world do I attach the flat screen bracket to glass? Do you have any other tips to share about how to get this right the first time? It’s best not to anger SWMBO. Next time you’re near Houston, I’ll gladly take you out for some superb seafood. Chris M., Tomball, TX

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local flat-screen TV installers.

Well, well, well ... I’m not the only one that watched the delightful PBS-TV series Rumpole of the Bailey all those years ago. What a great show and the lessons in life old Rumpole shared were priceless!

Can I Attach the Flat Screen to Glass?

First and foremost, you’re not going to attach anything to the glass. You’re going to build a simple box using 3/4-inch plywood and 1x2s that the flat-screen TV bracket or french cleats will attach to. This little box will be attached securely to the flat window frame material that extends in towards the room.

Is it Best to Read the Installation Instructions?

The most important thing to do is to read the installation instructions that come with both TVs. In almost all cases, they provide clear instructions as to the type of hardware and fasteners to use. Don’t deviate from the instructions. Some even provide online videos to watch to give you the courage to do the job.

The TV in the bedroom should not be an issue at all. You’ll probably just need a handy stud finder to locate the wall studs. You want the fasteners for the TV brackets to attach to the wood studs. Don’t try to use wall anchors hoping these will stand the test of time. There may be wall anchors that will work, but you can’t go wrong fastening the brackets to solid wood.

How Do I Mount the Flat Screen TV to the Window?

The box that needs to be made for the fireplace TV is simple. You can get all you need at a local home center. The 1x2s are common lumber and you’ll build a box that’s about 4 inches taller than the TV bracket. You ideally want this box to hide behind the TV since it’s so wide. Your goal is to create an illusion that your TV is floating in space.

What Screws Should I Use?

You’ll fasten the 1x2s together using 1 and 5/8ths-inch drywall, or similar, screws. Once you’ve determined the height of the TV above the floor (refer to the instructions), then you’ll attach this frame to the inside of the window at the height you determined.

Be sure to use the same screws to attach the box to the window frame that you used to create the box. Space them about 4 inches apart. You’ll cut the plywood the same size as this box and screw it to the frame using the same screws. Space those screws every 8 inches.

The 3/4-inch-thick plywood is very strong. When you use the recommended bolts to attach the TV bracket, trust me the TV is going to resist the force of gravity for a very long time.

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January 10, 2021 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Tim Carter

Well, hello! Don’t try to hide it, you’re a brand-new subscriber. Welcome! Sit back and relax and be sure to click or tap any of the links below to get the full newsletter experience.

But you, yes you. How long have you been a subscriber? A month, a year, or twenty years? It’s possible you recall the video I recorded about the magic and remarkable and innovative plastic exhaust vent pipe that was even new to me! You won’t believe how easy it was to work with. CLICK or TAP HERE to watch this short video. Wait until you see how it clicks together!

Recommendations

This past week, I had the good fortune to embark on an adventure driving about 515 miles down the East Coast and then back home again in less than 48 hours.

You may think this is crazy, but I actually enjoy taking to the road in my beefy Ford F-250 Super Duty 4x4. While it doesn’t get the best gas mileage, I’m willing to pay that price for the safety it affords me if someone in a car or other pickup truck decides to get into a cage fight at 95 MPH.

I was reminded that the speed limit signs on the Merritt Parkway in CT and the New Jersey Turnpike appear to be recommendations. I had cars zooming past me going at least 25 miles over the speed limit by my best training estimate.

I’ve attended the Tim O’Neil professional driving school in northern NH and I’ve driven real NASCAR race cars twice in excess of 130 mph. I feel pretty confident in my skills, but those speeding idiots put my head on a swivel!

Storing Building Materials

Do you know the best practices when storing building materials? This is really important if you’re building a new home or sizable room addition.

CLICK or TAP HERE to discover exactly how I’d store materials if I were to build your home. I guarantee you’ll discover something you didn’t know.

Matching Grout Color Perfectly

You’ve discovered you need to repair a tile or two and fortunately, you’ve got spare tile. Smart you!

But, the grout you saved is hard as a rock because you failed to seal it tightly and put it in the chest freezer in your basement. Freezing dry grout is the only way to prevent it from turning hard.

So now, how in the world do you match grout color?

I thought you’d never ask! CLICK or TAP HERE to see how I get a perfect match each time. Wait until you see the new color-matching system you can get!

A Fascinating Factoid Quiz

ocean cargo ship

I’ve got another quiz for you this week. Last week, you may have gotten a zero on the Sunrise quiz. You did your best, but don’t worry about passing, I curve all grades just as Dr. Castor did. CLICK or TAP HERE if you missed that very interesting fun quiz.

This week I have a new one for you. I absolutely guarantee you’re going to say, “Holy Tomato, who would have ever thought?”

CLICK or TAP HERE to gather a new fact that will allow you to dominate in Trivial Pursuit. Unfortunately, I don’t have any tips to help you win at charades.

Restore an Old Deck

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to restore an old deck. The undercarriage is salvageable but there are other things you need to do.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what you and I would do if we were working side by side.

I think that’s plenty for a Sunday.

I’m still feeling the effects and recovering from the road trip. I left to return home at 3 am and made the mistake of showing up at the George Washington Bridge crossing the Hudson River in New York City just as rush hour was beginning. Lucky for me, I only lost about ten minutes. It’s all part of the adventure.

$60+ in tolls for the entire trip. I feel that's a little excessive!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
1 to 2-day Shipping to LOTS of places - www.StainSolver.com
Morse Muff Time - www.W3ATB.com

P.S. Do you know the right gutter and downspout size for your roof? Come on, tell the truth! CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you were right.

How Were Oceanic Shipping Costs Lowered

Posted on January 10, 2021 by Tim Carter

How Were Oceanic Shipping Costs Lowered?

I have to tell you when I discovered the answer to this quiz, I was stunned.

Be SURE to check your results so you see WHAT is the correct answer.

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January 3, 2021 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Tim Carter

HNY as we say in Morse! You’re a new subscriber. I can feel it in my bones. This top paragraph of each issue is reserved seating for you - it’s where I welcome you to your first issue.

But you, yes you, possibly have subscribed for so long that you can remember when I shared what causes your car and truck glass - especially your windshield - to get FOGGY. I have friends who are foggy some mornings and they solve it with coffee. I don’t use coffee to keep my truck glass crystal clear, but I’ll share secret tips with you about how to clean foggy car glass.

CLICK or TAP HERE to clear the fog.

Gawking at GewGaws

Between Christmas and New Years Day, I was in my man cave admiring some of my gewgaws.

“Tim, what is a gewgaw?”

Wait, you don’t know what a gewgaw is? Well, we need to have a little talk about that. CLICK or TAP HERE and you’ll discover the meaning of this great word. I guarantee you’ll be delighted!

This is a laser etched brick made for me. The detail is incredible. The laser MELTS the clay turning it to GLASS. The laser etching will last for centuries outdoors unless you beat on it with a hammer. Copyright 2017 Tim Carter

Your New Year’s Resolution

Do you have lots of traditional one-of-a-kind print photographs in dust-covered boxes, drawers, or scattered in a file cabinet? I’m talking about photos that can’t be replaced. Here’s an example of one of my dad, PFC Melvin Carter.

What happens if there’s a fire in your home? There was a fire last week at the headquarters of Motorcycle Week here in Laconia, NH. CLICK or TAP HERE and read the quotes from the president of the association.

If this doesn’t motivate you to start scanning your photos, nothing will. Oh, wait, you were about to say, “Tim, it’s such a BIG PROJECT to do all that scanning.” We need to have a little talk about that. There’s an old saying, “Elephants are best eaten one bite at a time.”

You’re going to RESOLVE to spend two hours a week (a small BITE of time) and slowly but surely scan all those photos. Once scanned, upload them to a cloud storage solution. There are so many.

Be sure to create different albums so it’s easy to find the photo you need. Use your tiny gray cells to come up with album names and categories that make sense.

Gas Line Types - One is DANGEROUS

My house here in New Hampshire has flexible gas lines or CSST. Fortunately, we seldom have violent thunderstorms that produce lots of ground-to-cloud lightning.

csst gas line
Would it be a good idea to install CSST in Florida, Ohio, or other places where lightning is prevalent? After all, the CSST is a code-approved material.

If not CSST, what’s the better option when it comes to gas lines in your home whether you’ll be piping propane (LPG) or natural gas?

CLICK or TAP HERE so you don’t become an NFPA statistic. Two of my friends died when their house exploded 18 months ago. You absolutely MUST WATCH THE VIDEOS on that page.

An Older FUNNY Video

I’ve been doing lots of maintenance work on old pages on AsktheBuilder.com and I came across a very funny video I had forgotten all about.

You should really watch this video because I’m really out of my element and I’m not wearing a tool belt. I guarantee you’ll LAUGH about halfway through when you see me standing on the tee box in the above screenshot.

I was at the Scholl Canyon Golf and Tennis Club in Southern CA. My very good friend Steve shot the video and was a witness to the outcome.

Kitchen Island Myths and Mysteries

What do you feel is the smallest kitchen island that really does a good job?

What are the biggest mistakes you can make with kitchen islands?

CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you were right.

Sunrise or Sunset?

Please peer at this photo:

sun as viewed from earth sunrise photo dana point

CLICK or TAP HERE to test the depth of your knowledge or ignorance (see P.S. below) about sunrises and sunsets.

That’s enough for the first Sunday of 2021!

If one of your resolutions includes a home improvement project, don’t forget to do some research FIRST at AsktheBuilder.com.

For goodness sake, don’t try flying solo!

Happy New Year!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
New Fulfillment Center! - www.StainSolver.com
Straight Key Man - www.W3ATB.com

P.S. You might be offended when told that the depths of your ignorance were about to be TESTED. Read about Dr. Ken Caster and tell me if you would have required a fruit roll-up and juice box on your desk while taking one of his tests. Reading about Dr. Caster is a GREAT WAY to start 2021. Maybe the 2021 motto should be:

Build Character

Sunrise Quiz

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Tim Carter

Sunrise Quiz - Unique Places to Watch the Sun Rise

Please take this simple one-question quiz. This is one you'll never forget.

After you take the below quiz, answer this question:

Do you know what is a bumbershoot?

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You should read all about Dr. Ken Caster.

What is a Gewgaw

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Tim Carter

kelly porcelain pottery

What is a Gewgaw? - What a Wonderful Word!

A gewgaw is a flashy thing of little value.

You've no doubt got gewgaws in your home. Some you may treasure but other family members or friends think they belong in a dumpster. This just might happen once they clean out your house after you've been sent back to Heaven, so you better make sure important things are saved.

One thing's for certain. If you have a few gewgaws, you undoubtedly have some bibelots too!

Here's something I consider a gewgaw, but it's normally in a box. I have instructions inside for it to NOT be thrown away so it can be passed down through my family.

CLICK or TAP HERE to add to your collection of gewgaws!

Look below the photos for what Holly has to say. And don't miss Doug's pithy suggestion. What's that one Commandment about? Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbors' Stuff - or something like that.

Here are a few of my gewgaws:

railroad kerosene lantern

model F/A-18 Hornet

Mexican sun jewelry

laser etched brick

railroad lantern lens

Holly Daley was moved by this page as you can see:

"Love, love, love it, Tim! What a great idea to start this New Year with thoughts of what items are of importance to you and make great memories to be shared with the family when you take the high stairs up to Heaven. I'm 78 now and have thought of items I want to have saved. You have given me the "GO DO IT" signal to make the list and let family members know about my Gewgaw's."

Doug wants my RR lantern:

"Surely you have friends that agree those things are treasures even though family members are blind to the value. Leave the goodies to them. Send me the railroad lantern and you don't need to wait until you are past your expiration date. Seize the day and mail it now."

If you like unique words, how about this one?

Do you live in a state of tohubohu?

Gutter Downspout Sizes Vary – Bigger is Better

Posted on December 29, 2020 by Tim Carter

"It’s important for you to consider the amount of water that comes off a roof."

QUESTION: Tim, I think I’ve got a good idea. I’m re-roofing two of my barns with metal roofing. I was thinking of extending the roof past the walls 18-inches so dripping water falls farther away from the barn walls. Right now, I’ve got gutters and I’m tired of them clogging up with leaves and debris. What is the best practice when it comes to gutters or no gutters? What about sizes for both gutters and downspouts? What would you do if you were me? Carol K., Whitehouse, OH

Carol’s conundrum is an excellent example of a tip I’ve shared with my children. I’ve encouraged them to travel far and wide. When you do this, you discover things you feel are normal are not so normal in other places. I remember being in Toronto, Canada, years ago thinking it was strange they didn’t have a separate directional arrow traffic signal light telling you when it was safe to turn left at an intersection. After all, that’s what I’m used to in the United States! Those clever Canadians just had the green light flash to tell you it was safe to turn! They felt there was no need for an extra light.

Does Soil Type Make a Difference?

I grew up in Cincinnati, OH. The soil makeup there is a dense poor-draining clay deposited by a series of four massive continental glaciers that covered the land all the way from the North Pole to the Midwest four times in the past two million years. But guess what? The soil makeup in New England, where I now call home, is quite sandy and it drains well. Soil composition is a very important thing to consider when it comes to gutters or no gutters it turns out.

Do All Houses Have Gutters?

Here in New England most houses and barns have no gutters. Not only is the soil conducive to great drainage, but the snow and ice on roofs have a tendency to rip gutters off structures when it slides and tumbles off the roofs! Gutters tend to be bad jujumagumbo in New England for those two reasons.

How Much Water Falls From A Roof?

It’s important for you to consider the amount of water that comes off a roof. Recently, we had two inches of rainfall at my house in just one day. The footprint of my house measures 1625 square feet. Had I harvested all that water in a cistern, I would have collected 2,025 gallons in that short time. Not everyone can harvest water because of laws in different states, but that’s a topic for another time.

What Can Be Used to Minimize Splashing?

Here in New Hampshire where I live, coarse gravel the size of walnuts is placed on the soil beneath the drip line of the roof.

You can see how the water dripping from the roof has melted a distinct line in the snow. It drops down onto crushed stone and doesn't splash onto the house. The dashed blue line simulates the dripping water.

This is an ingenious method of minimizing the splash of the water against the structures. You don’t want lots of water getting the side of your home or barn wet. Gutters and downspouts will collect this water and pipe it to another location to minimize wetting.

This is the type of gravel that works great to absorb the energy of the dripping water and to prevent splashing. Yes, that's an LL Bean Field Watch. They're fantastic watches and keep very accurate time.

Will Gutters Keep Basements and Crawlspaces Dry?

Gutters and downspouts are a great idea if you have a full basement or want a dry crawlspace. Can you imagine injecting thousands of gallons into the soil next to your foundation and then HOPING it doesn’t seep into a basement or crawlspace? This is why I always advise people that suffer from wet basements to be sure to pipe roof water away from their homes to the lowest spot on their building lot.

What are Common Gutter Sizes?

Typical residential K-style gutters come in two sizes: 5 and 6-inch. By far, the 5-inch size is most popular and works for most roofs. The downspouts help you size the gutters. Typical downspouts come in two sizes: 2x3-inch downspouts fit 5-inch gutters and 3x4-inch downspouts fit 6-inch gutters.

How Much Water Flows Through Downspouts?

The shape of your house or barn and your fussiness about where you want downspouts to be on your house or barn drives the decision on what to do. A single 2x3 downspout will handle 600 square feet of roof area. Surprisingly, a single 3x4 downspout will handle 1,200 square feet of roof area.

Where Should Roof Water Drain To?

The downspout should drop into buried underground SDR-35 plastic sewer and drainpipe. This pipe will carry the water far away from the house or barn. If you live in a city you might be required to pipe your roof water into a local storm-water sewer system or a storm-water holding pond.

Are Splash Blocks Good?

Avoid using the plastic or concrete splash blocks at the base of a downspout. These do nothing to get the water away from your foundation. They’re foolish imposters and trick you into thinking that the roof water is being handled correctly.

What are the Best Gutter Guards?

Great micro-mesh gutter guards can stop debris from getting into gutters. CLICK or TAP HERE to get amazing ones for a fantastic price.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local roofers who can install the gutter guards YOU BUY.

I’ve done gutter guard testing for years and found micro-mesh to be the best system. It’s important for the gutter guards to be installed so their slope matches the slope of the roof above them. This way leaves, twigs, bark, and other debris washes off or is blown off the guards on a windy day.

CLICK or TAP HERE for great videos that show you the BEST GUTTER GUARD TESTING.

My own home is a great example of how complex your decision might be. I have gutters and downspouts on part of my home so the roof water doesn’t splash up onto my house where I have decks and my front porch. Other parts of my house, the roof water drops to the ground and disappears into the coarse gravel. I’m lucky to have well-drained sandy soil. My basement is bone dry because of the way I’ve engineered my system.

Column 1386

Storm Preparation Checklist

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Tim Carter

Storm Preparation - Tim's Truck under 40 inches of snow

Storm Preparation Checklist | Eight, NOT 39, inches of snow was predicted. Do you think I would have been able to get out and get back home with the gas I needed for my snowblower? Copyright 2020 Tim Carter

Storm Preparation Checklist - Focus on Critical Things

I just spent the past four days digging out from Winter Storm Gail. While it appeared to millions to be just an ordinary winter snowstorm, she unleashed her full wrath on a narrow band of New Hampshire dumping up to 48 inches of snow in just twelve hours. Much of the water Gail gulped and slurped from Nantucket Sound she spewed on my roof, my driveway, and 8 frozen feet of it on my front porch. You can read all about my saga at Winter Storm Gail 2020 Central NH

I know, you might be dealing with 39 inches of sunlight today and you wear flip flops in January on the beach. Or maybe your typical winter is a light jacket and once every five years you get a dusting of snow. Perhaps you only see snow from a distance coating the tops of mountains near your home. But trust me, this column has your name written all over it. This column is going to save you agony as well as copious amounts of money. It may also save your life or that of a loved one.

Why is a Checklist Important?

I’m going to do my best to convince you in the limited space I have that it’s absolutely essential that you be prepared for the unexpected and that you become a disciple of self-sufficiency. You might be one of the tens of millions of homeowners I feel are fumbling around in the fog of complacency.

In a nutshell, all I really needed was two gallons of gasoline for my snowblowers. Fortunately, I purchased this invaluable liquid while Gail was getting her panties in a frumple 800 miles southeast of New Hampshire. But stop and think about you. What is that tool, product, or job you’ve been sweeping under the rug that you’ll wish you have when the you-know-what hits the fan?

Are People Becoming Weak?

I’ve seen a deeply disturbing trend develop over the past fifteen years, maybe twenty, and you might have been one sucked into this vortex of coddling and comfort. You may be a person that thinks nothing of calling 911 when something goes sideways. You may be one that thinks nothing of calling your contractor friend when you need this or that. What happens when ten, one hundred, or one thousand people call 911 or that contractor all at the same time?

What Should Be On the Checklist?

Stop. Think. What happens when that monster storm, or fire, or earthquake, or pandemic hits and you can’t get what you need? What are you going to do? Are you going to curl up in a ball quaking and crying on your bed? Or, are you going to be like some in your neighborhood who react and protect themselves and their property with the few simple tools and materials they need to survive until such time as things get back to relative normal.

What About Water?

Here’s an example. When I was a small lad, I used to help my mom rinse and fill empty white Clorox bottles with clean water. This was decades before bottled water was sold in stores. We had about fifteen of them stored on our basement floor. It became a running joke and my mother endured all sorts of trolling about these bottles of water until that cold winter day when the water main outside our house broke and we had no water. That fifteen gallons of water saved the day. God bless my Mom!

Do you own a simple and affordable pipe wrench? Do you know how to turn off the valve at your gas meter? Do you even know where your gas meter is? Do you know what the shutoff valve looks like?

The same is true for your water shutoff valve. Do you know how to prevent your home from being flooded with thousands of gallons of water should a pipe burst?

Do you have the skills, tools, and materials on hand, even a simple fiberglass tarp, to make emergency roof or window repairs? Is there a person in your neighborhood that has these skills in case you don’t?

Do you charge your cell phone each night? Do you have storage batteries that will allow you to charge your phone multiple times should you lose power for days?

Do you keep your car or truck gas tank filled all the time allowing you to travel 300+ miles non-stop? What happens if you need to evacuate and the gas stations are clogged with frantic people and the station runs out of gas because the tanker trucks can’t refill the station?

The list of simple tools you need to survive and help yourself is not that big. The skills you need to survive are not insurmountable. There are hundreds of YouTube videos you can watch now before your cable line is taken down by a tree limb.

What Skills Do Neighbors Have?

Now is the time to have a simple neighborhood meeting to see who has what skills. One of my neighbors is an ER doctor. Do you have a doctor that lives near you? Make an inventory of who has what tools and who can do what.

Remember, when disaster strikes you and your house are the LEAST IMPORTANT things in your community. Your first responders will be busy saving community assets, not your house that no one but you cares about. This is the paramount reason why you need to learn to help yourself. It’s that simple.

In Tim's October 5, 2016 Newsletter, September 11, 2018 Newsletter and his August 30, 2019 Newsletter, he offers advise for an approaching hurricane. You need to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws your way.

Column 1385

December 23, 2020 AsktheBuilder WARNING!

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Tim Carter

WARNING - WAKE UP MEN!

It's not too late to save yourself from the doghouse. You may have made a mistake with the present you bought your wife or girlfriend for Christmas.

Lucky for you she's NOT OPENED IT YET.

YOU HAVE TIME TO SAVE YOURSELF. Don't make the mistake I made years ago!!!

I BEG YOU TO WATCH THE TWO VIDEOS on this page before you suffer.

This is the voice of experience talking.

Who knew that a clothes hamper would be a bad idea for your new wife who didn't have one?

Merry Christmas!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Lifetime Member of the Doghouse Guild

December 20, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Tim Carter

Wait a minute! It looks like you’re trying to sneak past me. I know you’re a new subscriber and might be a little shy. Welcome! Right here up top is where each week I love to say “Hello!” to each new subscriber like you.

Now, that being said, you could have been receiving this newsletter for so many moons that you distinctly recall when I tried to calm the nerves of those who bought gutter guards thinking that all their icicle issues would melt away forever! HAH!

CLICK or TAP HERE to understand why icicles form on gutter guards and more importantly, HOW TO STOP icicles from forming on gutters and gutter guards.

! ALERT !

This is a special edition of the newsletter. It hearkens back to my days as a Boy Scout. It’s all about being prepared - for anything.

Please read the next story. I thank my lucky stars for being prepared three days ago.

Winter Storm Gail - A Vixen

Three days ago I saw something I've never ever seen before.

This photo was taken at the height of Winter Storm Gail in central NH on December 17, 2020.

I BEG YOU to CLICK or TAP HERE to read about how Gail dumped 39 inches of frozen water on me in twelve hours. Do the math.

I've got all sorts of videos, photos, and a tale you'll not believe when you read the story.

Merry Christmas!

I want to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas. That’s what I celebrate. If you celebrate some other holiday this time of year, I hope you have a great time and it’s all you want it to be.

I’ll have a short newsletter for you next Sunday. I always take the week between Christmas and New Years off to do some strategic thinking and planning.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
CLEAN UP STUFF - www.StainSolver.com
Morse Code Lives! - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!