November 8, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Tim Carter

If this is your first AsktheBuilder.com newsletter, Welcome! Don’t be discouraged by the housekeeping I’ve got to do before I share some great advice. When it comes to domestic chores of all types, I’ve got great tips for you. CLICK or TAP HERE for one.

You, on the other hand, are a loyal subscriber and undoubtedly remember that column where I featured the building skills of my 12-year-old daughter. I’ve got two daughters and I’m speaking of my youngest. CLICK or TAP HERE and check out what she said!

More New Hampshire Eye Candy

Fall in the great Northeast Kingdom, you may know it as New England, is an eye-candy festival. I used to think fall color was vibrant in the Midwest, but honestly, the color here in New England is so spectacular it can hurt your eyes to look at it.

In late fall we’re treated to a second color show. Mother Nature delights in showing off many different shades of brown that come alive when the sun is low in the sky. Photographers refer to this as the golden hour because the sun’s rays have to go through more atmosphere. This enhances the red and orange part of the visible light spectrum and dampens the green and blue light our eyes see.

Here’s a photo I shot three days ago. CLICK or TAP HERE to see it in very high resolution. Look at the reflection of the clouds in the lake!

“Tim, I”m Not Seeing Photos!”

You may be having the same issue as Jerry, Tom, Beth, Mary, etc. Here’s what Jerry sent:

“A month or so ago I began to have issues displaying some of your web pages. Your travel chess set web page will not display the photos on Google Chrome which is my normal browser. It does display correctly on Microsoft Edge. What's changed?”

Simple. You changed something on one, or more, of your devices.

Nothing has changed at AsktheBuilder.com.

You’re probably running some sort of ad-blocking software that's causing the issue. It could also be malware or spyware software.

Please turn that software OFF when you view AsktheBuilder.com.

There’s another reason WHY you should turn off ad-blocking software when at AsktheBuilder.com.

I provide 99.999% of my content to you for FREE in an effort to help you save money.

My business depends on AD REVENUE to survive.

If you continue to block ads on AsktheBuilder.com, I’m going to go out of business and all the content will disappear.

It’s really that simple.

By the way, Suzanne has an eagle eye. She was the only one who reached out to share that I had set up the chess game incorrectly on this page. The light-colored wood block should have been in the lower right corner.

Are you a chess expert? I’m not. Does setting the game up incorrectly as I did affect the outcome of a game?

“Tim, Where are the Comments?”

You may be wondering why you’re no longer seeing comments at the bottom of pages on my website.

The PHP code for the comments is broken. As you might expect, I invest my time and resources in the areas that provide the biggest return on investment.

Comments, unfortunately, are a very low priority for a host of reasons. If they come alive again, I’ll announce it here.

Typo for Whitelisting

Robert pointed out a week ago that I had a typo in the email address I told you to whitelist so you get this newsletter.

You need to whitelist this address in your email software:

[email protected]

My First Monaco Consult

A few days ago, I had a fascinating 15-Minute Consult Call with a young man in Monaco. He lives in a high-rise apartment building and has been suffering from a horrible sewer gas problem.

The bottom line is I solved the problem, but it took a while to extract the answers from him to get to the source of the issue.

I think I’m going to start marking my Earth Ball to indicate all the countries where I’ve solved problems!

Outdoor Privacy Screen

Check out this photo:

That’s the rear patio of my last house in Cincinnati, Ohio. What do you think is on the other side of the garage?

CLICK or TAP HERE to discover. There’s a fantastic video on the page you really should watch. It’s about wind.

Saving Thanksgiving

Look at this photo. Actually, CLICK or TAP it.

Can you imagine how those giant reels could save your bacon (not your turkey) on Thanksgiving?

CLICK or TAP HERE to see how I saved Mary hundreds, maybe THOUSANDS, of dollars and a HEAP of embarrassment.

Thanksgiving Stains

I’ve not mentioned Stain Solver in months.

Stain Solver black background yellow scoop

Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.

Stain Solver is a certified organic oxygen bleach that will remove the following stains:

Turkey gravy and grease from heirloom tablecloths, napkins, and carpet
Beet-juice stains
Cranberry stains
Red wine spills on any fabric or clothes
Baked-on grease from pots and pans and ovens
And countless other food and drink STAINS

You should order some NOW so you have it on hand. WHEN the spill happens you can just relax knowing that Stain Solver will take care of it the next day.

CLICK or TAP HERE to order Stain Solver.

That’s enough for a Sunday.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Clean Safely - www.StainSolver.com
60 Meters, Baby! - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. You know those steel or support posts in your basement? Want to move one? No problem! CLICK or TAP HERE to see what’s involved.

November 3, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on November 4, 2020 by Tim Carter

Yesterday, there was a light dusting of snow on the ground here in central New Hampshire.

We'll have a handful of mild days before Thanksgiving, but it's now time to work indoors. I feel the best way to help save you both time and money is to refresh old columns.

Each Wednesday for the next few months, I'm going to share with you the columns I've remodeled. What am I doing to each one?

I'm adding:

revised content
great videos
more relevant photos
product links so you purchase the best stuff

Believe me, it's in your best interest to CLICK or TAP the headlines below and give each one a cursory glance.

That way if you have the problem in the future, your tiny gray cells might whisper to you that help can be found at AsktheBuilder.com!

Outdoor Kitchen Countertops - What's the BEST Material?

Toilet Sizes - Did You Know About 10 and 14?

Deck Pier Footings - OMG You BETTER LOOK At This!

DANGER - Pressure Washer DAMAGE - CRAZY PHOTOS!

Replace a Front Door - You've GOT THIS

Sunroom Ceiling Ideas - Go TALL and Think WOOD

House Building Photos and Videos - OLD PHOTO HERE!

That's enough for you to munch on for a few days.

I'll be here Sunday with a regular newsletter. I've already started to work on it.

Tim Carter
Founder- www.AsktheBuilder.com

Move a Support Post

Posted on November 2, 2020 by Tim Carter

QUESTION: Yo, Tim. I have this load-bearing post right in front of my laundry room door. What can a person do to remove or relocate it to a more convenient location? Is this something that a reasonably handy homeowner with a decent array of tools can do by himself? Can you share all that’s involved? Do you have a clue how this column ended up in such an inconvenient location? Is there a way to have fewer support columns in basements and crawlspaces? Andrew Van W., Spokane, WA

I sure hope you’re able to see the photo (above) that Andrew sent to me. Oh my! It’s a great example of how not to think ahead. Not knowing all the facts, I speculate the architect or draftsperson had no idea that the basement might be finished at a later date.

How Do You Install a Support Post?

Let’s discuss how these posts or columns are installed in a typical home and then you’ll start to appreciate what’s involved in moving one. First and foremost, there should be a footing pad at least 2-feet by 2-feet by 8 inches thick under the post or column. This distributes the weight bearing down on the post over a greater area.

The red arrows point to two of the five support post/column footings.

Without this footing, the column could poke into the soil like you might put a toothpick into a juicy watermelon ball or piece of cheese. You don’t want support columns sinking into the soil for goodness sake.

Should a Support Post be Bolted to the Footing?

Many structural engineers require the support post to be bolted to this footing. You can imagine how hard it would be to remove these bolts if the base of the support column is surrounded by poured concrete. Yes, I know you can cut off the column at the floor level, but this might not be possible.

The top of the support column should also be bolted to the beam that rests on top of the post. These bolts are somewhat easier to deal with and removing them is rarely a challenge.

What is the Biggest Issue Moving a Support Post?

The biggest issue is the overall structural design. Assuming the support beam was designed by a structural engineer or an architect with enough experience to know the correct beam size and column spacing, support posts and columns are in precise pre-determined locations. You can’t just remove a column and move it several feet one way or another hoping everything is going to work out.

What About Concentrated Loads?

It’s possible there’s an enormous concentrated load directly above the support column. I had this in the last home I built for my family. I had an interior bearing wall next to my family room that had a header support post that carried the weight of a second-story exterior wall, part of the attic floor, half the weight of a first-floor roof, and a major portion of the main house roof. I can’t begin to think of how many tons of weight are concentrated on this one post!

DIY Support Post Relocation

The truthful answer is, “Yes, a reasonably handy homeowner with a decent array of tools can’t do this job by himself.” I say this knowing there are some very clever, determined, and resourceful homeowners out there. You may be one.

I temper my answer with this caveat, though. The first thing you must do is hire a residential structural engineer. Have this professional visit your home, survey the job, and develop a small written plan for you to follow. Be sure the plan contains the mission-critical steps of how to temporarily re-support the beam while you do the work.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local structural engineers.

How Can I Have Fewer Support Posts?

All of the misery and expense you’re about to suffer through could have been avoided when the house was built. You actually could have had no support columns or fewer of them.

The common steel beam that is often installed in homes and crawlspaces is an 8 x 17 I-beam. This means it’s 8 inches tall and it weighs 17 pounds per lineal foot. In most homes, this beam requires support about every 8 feet.

Residential steel beam - There are quite a few in a home I built in Amberley Village, Ohio. The beams are 10 inches tall and weigh 31 pounds per linear foot. You can span up to 14 feet with these! © 2018 Tim Carter

Do Steel Beams Come in Different Sizes?

Understand that steel i-beams come in many sizes just like shoes, pants, and shirts. A beam weighing more pounds per foot might have allowed for greater column spacing. A taller and heavier beam like the ones I put in my last house would have allowed you to span 14 feet. I installed 10 x 31 I-beams in my last house.

Amazing wooden floor trusses could have been used in the house. These require no support beams beneath them. They just span all the way across the depth of the house. These are in my daughter’s new home. Here are her floor trusses:

Not only do you not need beams under them, but the HVAC man, the plumber, and the electrician are going to be jumping for joy!The trusses make their jobs go faster and you save money in the long run.

Column 1378

November 1, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on November 2, 2020 by Tim Carter

You subscribed at a great time! This is where I welcome all new subscribers. Thanks for your trust. This issue is chock full of amazing product links. Be sure to CLICK or TAP each photo you see!

You, though, might be a subscriber who’s received countless issues. Did you know that I save them all, just like my miniature 6-inch by 6-inch travel chess set from when I was a teenager? So, if you need to see any past newsletter CLICK or TAP HERE.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see more crazy photos of my cherished wood-inlay travel chess set. Wait until you see the underside. These make great affordable Christmas gifts.

Two Seasons in One

Check out this photo I shot two days ago. Mother Nature teased us here in central New Hampshire with our first measurable snow of the season. CLICK or TAP HERE to see a high-resolution photo and to be able to comment on her handiwork.
snow on colored tree leaves

Richard P. Anderson

This issue of the newsletter is dedicated to my best friend in Cincinnati, OH - Richard P. Anderson. Unfortunately, he’s not going to be able to read this. I should have done this a month, or two, or three ago. CLICK or TAP HERE to discover more about Richard. You better have a Kleenex or two handy.

“Tim, Are You Okay?”

Not a week goes by that I don’t get an email like the one I got from Joe overnight. Here’s what he sent:

Dear Tim, I've been a follower of yours for some time but I haven't received any of your newsletters for a few weeks now. I hope all is well with you. Joe - Syracuse, NY

I'm always touched by these emails because you care about me. Thanks so much for that.

I’ve been sending out a newsletter regularly - sometimes more than one a week - for years. Why did Joe, and possibly you, stop getting them? The reasons are many.

If you want to make sure my newsletter ends up in your Inbox each week, please do the following:

Whitelist [email protected] - add me to your email CONTACTS
Open each issue - don’t look at it in the PREVIEW screen
CLICK at least one, possibly TWO, links in each newsletter
If using Gmail or similar software, check the All Mail and Promotions area. Create a FILTER named _ATB and magic will happen!

The first three things will communicate to your incoming invisible email postmaster that I’m a friend, not SPAM, that you like what is in the email because you OPEN IT, and you REALLY like the email newsletter because you CLICK LINKS in it.

It’s that simple. Just do those three things each week and you’ll be set.

Epoxy Garage Coatings

Are you thinking of investing in one of those attractive epoxy coatings for your garage floor? Like this:

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what can go wrong and what the alternatives are.

Fires and Fried Chicken

I love fried chicken. I know I could eat it twice a week.

How would you like the aroma of fried chicken drifting up your schnozzle as you enjoy a nice fire in your home?

CLICK or TAP HERE - I guarantee you’ll LAUGH! This is a GREAT Christmas gift idea.

My Daughter’s New Stairs

A little over two years ago, my daughter and son-in-law started to build their dream home on Mt. Desert Island, Maine. They finally moved in at the end of July.

There’s a tale to tell about the saga, but not today. I want you to watch a video and take a look at their amazing modern and sleek staircase. I suggested they use LJ Smith stair parts and fortunately they listened to Dad!

For you to fully appreciate what the stairs look like now, I want you to look at a BEFORE photo of the stairs leading to the second floor:

CLICK or TAP HERE to see the DRAMATIC after photo and to watch a video I recorded about how you can have eye-popping stairs, railings, newel posts, balusters, and volutes in your home! All from LJ Smith!

Amazing Magic Fire Starter

Speaking of fires, I want to share a SAFE new product that can create a roaring fire like the one below in about three minutes or less.

You MUST READ the funny story about how I tricked my youngest daughter and two of her friends using it a week ago. My new moniker with them is Wizard Dad!

CLICK or TAP HERE to read the short story about my magic skills. You'll then understand why I'm a life member of the NH Guild of Wizardry and Enchantment.

Check out this fire I started using this NEW PRODUCT. Minutes before there was NO FLAME. I used NO MATCHES!

Avarice

Do you know who Tommy Thompson is?

You can discover a very important life lesson if you read a book about him and what he did thirty-five years ago.

CLICK or TAP HERE and I absolutely guarantee you’ll be blown away.

That’s enough for a Sunday.

I hope you tell that person you love how you feel about them. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
BEST Organic Cleaner - www.StainSolver.com
I Shuffled with Zombies - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Are you going to remodel your kitchen? What are the TOP TEN MISTAKES you’ll make? CLICK or TAP HERE to avoid some of those mistakes.

Plumbing Plans Consulting

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Tim Carter

Plumbing Plans Consulting | You'll need a master plumber to draw a riser diagram like this. CLICK or TAP HERE and I'll do it for you. You can't begin to draw plumbing plan isometric drawings unless you know your PVC pipe sizes and exactly where the IPC requires they be used. (C) Copyright 2021 Tim Carter

Plumbing Plans Consulting - Ask a Master Plumber Like Me

Do you need some help with your isometric plumbing plans? It's best to ask a seasoned master plumber.

I've been a master plumber since age 29 and can answer just about any question. If I don't know the answer, I know where to find it.

Can You Explain Riser Diagrams?

Yes, I can not only explain riser diagrams, but I can also draw them for you. I draw mine in color so they're easier to understand.

Are Vent Pipes Necessary?

Yes, vent pipes are necessary in all plumbing systems. They provide the pathway for air to enter the system. Air is needed each time you put water down a drain.

Travel Chess Set

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Tim Carter

Travel Chess Set | This is a rare wooden-peg travel chess set with inlaid wood squares. It measures just 6 by 6 inches unfolded! BTW, be sure to rotate the board 90 degrees from where you see mine. The black rook in the lower right should be sitting on a light-colored square, not dark. Buy one of these travel chess sets with the pegs if you can find one. Why? Some might consider it a gewgaw. What is a gewgaw? CLICK or TAP HERE to start your search.

Travel Chess Set - Lots of Fun in a Small Package

Here's my 50-year-old travel chess set. Most of the new ones you can buy today are magnetic and don't use the wood pegs and holes. I really treasure mine. It's made from real inlaid wood, not plastic!

Mine is only 6 x 6 inches when you have it all set up. It folds up to 3 x 6 x 1 inch when you store it.

CLICK or TAP HERE to order a set very similar to mine.

This is the set folded up. CLICK or TAP HERE to order one now.

Here's the embossed brass clasp. You don't always get this type of detail in newer sets. CLICK or TAP HERE to order one now.

I've included a note with my set so my kids don't pitch this when they send me back to Heaven. CLICK or TAP HERE to have a set delivered to your home.

Check out my KFC firelog review if you want the delicious smell of fried chicken wafting around you as you play chess.

KFC Firelog

Posted on October 30, 2020 by Tim Carter

KFC Firelog - This makes a perfect fun Christmas gift. CLICK or TAP HERE to order now.

KFC Firelogs - Flavor From Your Fireplace

You can smell delicious Kentucky Fried Chicken as you have a fire!

WOOT. CLICK or TAP HERE to order a few now.

This makes a perfect prank or fun Christmas gift!

You'll also need a Pull Start Fire thingamabob for your other fires if you start to gain weight using the KFC firelog. Unidentifed sources report a 15% weight gain over the winter when using the KFC firelog at least three times a week.

Pull Start Fire Review

Posted on October 30, 2020 by Tim Carter

Pull Start Fire | This is the kind of roaring fire you have in just minutes with Pull Start Fire. CLICK or TAP HERE to have six of them in your hands in two days. I started this fire using Pull Start Fire and this is what it looked like in less than 3 minutes after pulling the red string.

Pull Start Fire - It Really Works! Put on a Magic Show

I tested the Pull Start Fire product over the past month. It's pretty amazing and I can tell you I have three of them in my survival kit.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is truly a life-saving invention or tool. You SHOULD absolutely have three of these if you feel the need to stay warm in some sort of disaster situation or accident while out traveling. CLICK or TAP HERE now to order.

How Did You Use Pull Start Fire in a Magic Show?

A week ago, my youngest daughter had two friends over to watch movies outdoors. They used a magic little movie projector that they could download an entire movie into. They wanted to do this down by the lake at my house. They used a white sheet as the projection screen.

This is a tiny movie projector about the size of a can of soda! It has it's own battery! CLICK or TAP HERE to order one.

I knew it would be dark by the time they arrived and the temperature was forecast to drop into the 40s by the time they were done with the movie, so my daughter asked me to help with a fire.

She was at work so I stacked the firewood just like I was taught as a Boy Scout. I put the Pull Start Fire product at the base of the stacked firewood, extended the red string to the edge of the granite fire ring, and covered all of it with dry leaves and pine needles to hide it.

When all the girls came over and we wandered down to the patio by the lake, it was pitch dark. A perfect way to create the illusion.

I had prepared a small prayer thanking the Great Spirit for the gathering, the good food and drink, the magic lightbox, and His ability to keep all warm. It ended with, "... we thank you for your gift of warmth and ask now for your help to ignite the flames!"

I yanked the string in the darkness, the Pull Start Fire went POP, and moments later the firewood was starting to blaze away.

"How did you DO THAT?" The girls asked. Because it was pitch black, they didn't see me pull the string, and of course, had no idea there was any sort of magic firestarter. They probably thought I'd just strike a kitchen match to light the fire.

Like any magician, I just walked back up the stairs to the house saying, "Have a great movie!"

Of course, you don't tell how you do magic, silly!

What is So Fantastic?

You don't need matches to start a fire! Just about every other fire-starting method relies on matches, or a lighter, or a fire piston, or a magnifying glass, or who-knows-what. With Pull Start Fire, you simply pull a string and you've got a roaring fire in three minutes - assuming you know how to stack firewood using increasingly larger sizes in a cross-hatched pattern like cribbing.

How Big is Pull Start Fire?

The magic box is about the size of a traditional ice-cream sandwich. It's 1 inch high, 4.5 inches long, and 2 inches wide.

Will It Ignite Wet Wood?

The manufacturers claim it will. It's KEY to stack the wood like cribbing and to have smaller pieces of wood situated over the top of the Pull Start Fire box. Use common sense.

This is what the box looks like. Don't eat it thinking it's an ice-cream sandwich. CLICK or TAP HERE to have three delivered to your home.

This is how simple it is to start a fire. Even with wet or damp wood! CLICK or TAP HERE to order now.

This is the green string you loop around one of the bottom logs. Be SURE you have lots of air space around the wood. Stack small 3/4-inch pieces over the box so that wood catches on fire fast. CLICK or TAP HERE to order.

This red string is about 24 inches long. You give it a solid YANK to get Pull Start Fire to ignite. CLICK or TAP HERE to order three of them immediately.

Check out my American Standard Saybrook Kitchen Faucet review. You may need to get water from it in case your fire gets out of control!

Tommy Thompson Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea

Posted on October 29, 2020 by Tim Carter

Tommy Thompson - Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea

Tommy Thompson screwed his investors out of the $12.7 million dollars they put up in the mid-1980s to fund his expedition to locate the S.S. Central America. Once he found the ship and salvaged the gold, his troubles started to mount from a slew of lawsuits from insurance companies claiming rights to some or all of the gold. It turns out international marine salvage law is as complicated as Chinese arithmetic.

The gold then consumed his life, his marriage, and then convinced him to go on the lamb until being captured by US Marshals.

What a price to pay for greed! There was PLENTY of money for everyone! He was such an IDIOT.

CLICK or TAP HERE to read Gary's fascinating book of how Tommy found the S.S. Central America and how he drank from the poison chalice of fame and money. How much money?

The S.S. Central America had 21 tons of gold in its hull. At today's price (October 29, 2020 of $1,870 per ounce) that's $1,256,640,000. That's $1.2 BILLION dollars.

Can you imagine being so greedy that you couldn't split the hundreds of millions of dollars with the investors that believed in you?

CLICK or TAP HERE to read about his capture.

LJ Smith Stair Systems

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Tim Carter

These are all LJ Smith stair parts in my Queen Anne Victorian home.

LJ Smith Stair Systems - Many Styles and Species

I've used LJ Smith stair systems for decades. The one in the last home I built for my family was stunning. Here's a photo of the staircase in my last house going from the entrance hall to the second floor. Tim mentioned using LJ Smith Stair Systems way back in his January 25, 2018 AsktheBuilder Newsletter.

Watch this video to see a more sleek system incorporating white oak with powder-coated balusters and newel posts. Look below at the stark before and after photos of my daughter's LJ Smith staircase!

Listen to the second caller in this podcast to discover more about LJ Smith:

These are the stairs going up to the second floor in my daughter's new home.

wood staircase with iron balusters new house

I know, it's hard to believe this is the same house! But that's the magic of using LJ Smith stair parts!

Related Column: Design the Perfect Set of Steps