Listen CLOSELY to what Arnold says starting at 0:17.
Now WATCH this clip to make sure you CHOOSE WISELY:
June 21, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter
Are you a new subscriber? Welcome! I reserve this top spot in the newsletter for you because I’m so glad you’ve joined us.
You, however, might be an older subscriber. Mind you, I’m not talking about how many trips around the sun you’ve made! That said, tell me if you recall the column I wrote about the insane bearing wall I built at my last home.
You’re NOT GOING TO BELIEVE this wall, much less the enormous amount of weight concentrated on it. CLICK or TAP HERE and be prepared to be blown away. Be SURE to watch the video on the page so you get a feel for what your blueprints should have in them!
This Week’s Music Track
I always listen to music while creating the newsletter. Here’s a very unique soundtrack you might like. I have to admit, it dates me! CLICK or TAP HERE and sit back and relax.
The Blue Review
Speaking of blueprints, Jeremy reached out to me a few days ago asking if I’d review the blueprints his builder will use to construct Jeremy’s new two-story house. He wanted to know if I could locate oversights, small design flaws, errors in flashing detailing, inferior products, and maybe uncover future problems, etc.
Guess what? I DO OFFER this service and have done it for years. The cost depends on the size of the house or project. If you want me to check over your blueprints, just reach out to me. If I find just one mistake, the service is worth it. Imagine what it can cost to repair a problem down the road!
Fantastic Step Ladder
This summer, I decided to dive deep into all the pesky home-repair projects I have at my own home. Yes, my house needs attention too.
One of my favorite tools is my Gorilla Aluminum Hybrid step ladder. It’s SO LIGHT and sturdy. I feel safe on it and love, love, love the wide standing platforms.
CLICK or TAP HERE to discover other reasons why I love, love, love this ladder.
If you do ELECTRICAL work, you’ll want to look at my Gorilla Fiberglass Hybrid ladder too!
My Trex Deck
Quite often I get emails asking me if I have a deck, and if I like composite decking. You may have asked me about this before you built your own deck.
Four years ago, I rebuilt my existing narrow deck. I also built a ginormous 16 x 24 additional deck. I covered both decks with Trex Transcend. I used Trex Transcend for the railing system as well.
Weather permitting, I eat breakfast and lunch on this deck. You can find me working with my laptop under that sun umbrella any day the weather allows.
I get compliments all the time on how the Trex Transcend LOOKS LIKE REAL WOOD.
Bottom Line: I’d install it again in a heartbeat. CLICK or TAP HERE to understand why.
Dishwashers & Stain Solver
George is a subscriber to this newsletter. He and I have never met, but we’ve exchanged emails.
A few days ago he wrote:
“My dishes/glassware are not coming out clean when running the dishwasher. I was thinking of using your Stain Solver to clean out the dishwasher alone. But I can’t seem to find instructions on your website.
Is it possible to use Stain Solver to clean an empty dishwasher and if so, what is the best way to do it?”
Do you have issues like George? I know I do from time to time. No one likes cloudy glasses!
Dishwashers need lots of things to go right for you to get sparkling-clean dishes and glasses every time. Here’s a partial list:
- Dishes need to be loaded properly so the water can get to the dirty surfaces
- Filters in the bowels of the machine must be clean and grease-free
- Soft water is ideal as hard water causes cloudiness
- Rinsing agent reservoir must be filled and adjusted correctly
- Washing arm water-outlet holes need to be inspected for clogs
Now, let’s talk about Stain Solver! Whew!
Stain Solver is a fantastic certified organic powdered oxygen bleach. I’ve been making and selling it for 23 years.
I use Stain Solver to de-grease my dishwasher filter. However, I do this by removing the filter and allowing it to soak in a solution of Stain Solver and HOT water for about three hours. The fine mesh stainless steel screen looks BRAND NEW each time I do this.
After soaking, I use a small brush with soapy water to scrub the filter. I finish up by rinsing with clear water.
I sometimes add two tablespoons of Stain Solver to an extra-greasy load of dishes to help keep the dishwasher clean as well as the filter.
I’ve got you amped up about buying Stain Solver, don’t I? Guess what?
The wretched virus hullabaloo has completely disrupted the manufacturing facility. We are SOLD out of all sizes except the small SAMPLE SIZES. It appears we’ll not have product to sell until sometime in July.
If you want a SAMPLE SIZE of Stain Solver, you’ll want to order NOW. CLICK or TAP HERE.
Do you want to know WHEN Stain Solver will be IN STOCK again? I suggest you subscribe to the Stain Solver newsletter. You’ll find this information plus cleaning tips and special offers. CLICK or TAP HERE to subscribe.
Front Porch Construction
Trends shift. Some things about houses should not be trendy. They should be included in all homes at all times, like toilets.
Large covered front porches are an example of one of these must-have things. Can you imagine gliding back and forth in the swing on this porch on a summer evening with your honey? You’d think you’d won the big door prize!
Why do I feel this way about front porches? CLICK or TAP HERE and discover at least one thing you didn’t know about front porches.
The Fun Quiz!
How did you like last week’s quiz? Did you know that the Egyptians are credited with inventing plywood? Holy tomato, I would have NEVER known that.
So tell me, what do you think these things have in common:
- a large tract of land
- a place where hay is often stored
- a meeting house with a dance floor
- a special tool for titanium bolts
- a frightful skin disease
CLICK or TAP HERE to enhance the tiny gray cells in your noggin! I GUARANTEE you’ll discover something new.
That’s quite enough for a Sunday with us now past the solstice. UGH!
Happy Fathers Day to you if you’re a Dad reading today's newsletter!
And a Happy BELATED Mothers Day to you, should you be a loving Mom reading this.
Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
SOLD OUT BEST CLEANER - www.StainSolver.com
Field Day Next Weekend! - www.W3ATB.com
Do It Right, Not Over!
P.S. I had to paint some exterior trim on my house this week.
When did you think I did it? What time of day?
CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you’re applying paint on the outside of your house in the RIGHT CONDITIONS.
Consumer Survey Service
The magic-wand question creates new product ideas with each survey!
Consumer Survey Service - Newsletter Subscribers Uncover New Products
Do you need to survey consumers to discover what they like and don't like about products?
I've been conducting surveys for years and the results are almost always astonishing.
CLICK or TAP HERE to see a recent blockbuster survey about garden hose faucets of all things.
Fast Results - You Get Insight Within HOURS
Ask the Builder captures survey results in hours, not weeks. You have full access to real-time data like this:
Consumer Survey Case Study - WOW!
CLICK or TAP HERE to see a short case study about the garden hose consumer survey. Wait until you see the Magic Wand results.
If you want Ask the Builder to tap into the collective wisdom of his tens-of-thousands of newsletter subscribers, reach out to Tim Carter on the last page of the above case study.
What is a Grange?
What is a Grange? - Remember, Just Guess
Don't ask Alexa or Siri for help. Trust the Force within you!
IMPORTANT NOTE: After clicking SUBMIT, scroll back at the top and click the VIEW SCORE button to see how you did!
Try your luck at ALL past AsktheBuilder.com quizzes.
Thank Stain Solver, the Quiz Sponsor, by purchasing a small sample size!
Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.
Newsletter Music Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol 1
Newsletter Music Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol 1
Guardians of the Galaxy - Awesome Mix Vol 1 was featured in the June 21, 2020, AsktheBuilder.com newsletter. It's a fantastic collection of happy tunes from decades ago. CLICK or TAP HERE to read all past AsktheBuilder.com newsletters.
CLICK or TAP HERE to listen to all the music featured in past AsktheBuilder.com newsletters.
Stain Solver, the best and most powerful certified organic cleaner on Earth, is the sponsor of the Newsletter Music.
Show your support. Purchase a small sample size and behold its magic powers.
Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.
Front Porch Construction
Front Porch Construction | A simple front porch like this one can extend the life of a front door. Copyright 2020 Tim Carter
Author's Note:
Please read the column and think about the front porches you've had the pleasure of sitting on. Then go to the bottom of the column and read what Virginia sent me. Emails like Virginia's really make me smile.
Front Porch Construction - Probably Not DIY
DEAR TIM: The house I grew up in had a covered front porch. A few of the houses I owned after getting married also had this wonderful accessory. It seems that large covered front porches are being kicked to the curb by architects and builders. How do you feel about them and why do you feel we don’t see more of them on new homes? If you were building a new house, what do you feel would be the perfect front porch? Fiona P., Nashville, TN
It appears Fiona and I had a very similar experience with homes. My childhood home had a quaint small covered front porch that measured about 10 or 11 feet wide and projected out from the front wall about 6 feet. The floor was poured concrete and it doubled as the roof of a storage room down in our basement. It was always very cold down in that room in the winter as the ceiling, walls, and floor were concrete!
I remember our insulated milk storage box next to the front door as well as the aluminum chairs with the interlaced webbing my Dad would sit on. I also have great memories of my sister and her girlfriends giggling on the porch in the summer as they gossiped about boys trying to win their favors.
Front Porches Common on Older Homes
My first two houses had wonderful covered front porches. They were pretty much standard on most old homes built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Things cost less back then. Labor was cheap.
Porches Protect Front Doors
Front porches are such wonderful things. I happen to like them because they do a fantastic job of keeping front doors dry. Water is the enemy of all wood-framed homes and doors are great places for water to leak into a home. There are all sorts of products and methods builders can use to eliminate water leaks around and under exterior doors, but more and more I see that most don’t know how to do it. It’s a crying shame.
Build a large enough front porch and you can have an old-fashioned porch swing. I don’t know that I can imagine a more delightful way to spend a summer evening.
Kids can play board games - yes, it’s still possible in today’s digital world! - on a covered porch during a soft summer rain shower. You can sit on one and listen to distant train whistles and the humming of tires on interstate highway pavement. There are countless things you can do on covered front porches that will create lasting fond memories.
Front Porch Budget Cut Victim
As to why we don’t see more covered front porches, I’m quite certain that a covered front porch is one of the first things to go when a plan comes in over budget. It’s a shame, but it happens. It’s also possible that porches have fallen out of favor of today’s architects. The reasons why you don’t see more could be as plentiful as hummingbirds around a feeder on a summer morning.
I’m a romantic when it comes to certain things in homes. A heavy sigh passes out of my lungs when I see a new home that doesn’t have an access panel in a closet that gives you access to a tub and shower faucet. I shake my head when I don’t see the top of house foundations 24 or even 30 inches up out of the ground. Old architects and builders knew the advantages of doing this. Just like they knew how covered front porches were both utilitarian and they could cast a magic spell on those living in the home.
Stop Solar Gain
A covered front porch can also minimize solar gain into houses if there’s lots of glass in the front door. The climate where you live might dictate having a covering over the door so your entrance hall doesn’t become a boiler room on hot, sunny days.
How Big Should One Be?
The perfect covered front porch will vary from person to person, but I can tell you that I’d want one that’s at least 16 to 20 feet wide and I’d want it to extend out from the front wall of the house no less than 10 feet.
My dream front porch would sport a steel-reinforced concrete slab. I might even cover it with solid thin paving brick so the surface is maintenance-free.
Here's a classic covered front porch. Can you imagine swinging slowly in this porch swing on a summer evening?
The ceiling would be recessed and at least nine feet tall. I’d have one or two paddle fans on it to create a breeze in the summer if it was a still night.
I’d design the porch so it could be transformed into a screened porch if I lived in a buggy area. Screened porches allow you to enjoy the outdoors without sacrificing your blood to the local insects.
You can bet my front porch would have numerous strategically placed outlets and very soft indirect mood lighting. Think of an outdoor covered porch as an interior room and you can start to see how you might like yours equipped.
I’d absolutely place a major beam in the ceiling at the right place for a porch swing. The swing would be supported by through-bolts, not suspect lag-type bolts that screw into the wood. Through bolts are the only way to ensure the swing stays where it should.
Email from Virginia Jones:
Virginia read my column in July of 2020 when it was published in the Columbus Dispatch. It evoked some strong and vivid memories in her mind and she was kind enough to share them:
Porches
My first porch was in the home I was raised in on Ardmore Rd. in Bexley. My parents were given that home as a wedding gift from my mother’s uncle, who raised her.
That front porch had an old fashioned glider. The roof was a tin roof that sounded like heaven when the rain poured down on it, or even when it was just a light sprinkle.
My next front porch was in my first home as an adult, on Bulen Ave. The porch went all the way across the front of our old wooden house. We used to sit out there when we got all the kids to bed. We had an old fashioned hanging swing on that porch.
When we built our dream house on Fair Ave. our very talented architect/ friend, took some magazine house plans and customized them to our needs. We ended up with a fabulous L shaped covered porch that was the envy of all our friends and neighbors.
My dream porch has always been a wraparound porch, but that will never happen. I am more than satisfied with the many different types of porches that I have enjoyed over the course of my long and happy life.
Virginia's daughter chimed in with some of her memories:
Hi Mom,
This is great. I remember the glider on Grandma's Ardmore porch. It was always such a welcoming place. I remember Bulen Avenue. We spent hours on that porch during the hot summers with only our diapers or shorts (depending upon what age and stage we were at the time). I have a picture of me standing on dad's feet high up in the air on that porch.
Of course, the Fair Avenue porch was a fabulous place. I remember listening to a lot of adult discussions related to the Catholic Church and its dictums for birth control, etc. Lots of fun family nights with Sheik. That porch always had a breeze.
Laura
Column 1358
June 14, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter
Whoa Nellie! I think you might be a new subscriber! This first paragraph is reserved for you as a place of honor and distinction recognizing your commitment to receive tips that will save you sweet moola and time.
But flip the coin over and I see many loyal subscribers. You very likely have received so many issues of this newsletter that you could wallpaper the inside of the Goodyear blimp with them! Do you remember the issue where I shared the wonders of the tiny flashlight that saved my bacon in the icy cold dripping-wet crawl space under my daughter’s new home?
It’s a wondrous key-chain flashlight you should have. CLICK or TAP HERE to discover WHY it works so well in harsh conditions.
This Week’s Music
I love to listen to music as I compose this newsletter. Music can really help soothe your soul. That’s a dangerous word, BTW. If you don’t say it clearly someone may think you want to sue them or be sued by them. "Go ahead, SOOTHE me!!!" But I digress.
This issue's song is a great duet by two superstars. CLICK or TAP HERE and get ready to be twirled in the kitchen.
Are You an Andersen Window Employee?
I’ve tried everything in the past seven days but hire a skywriting plane in Bayport, Minnesota to get in touch with a media contact at Andersen Windows. I’m getting no response despite multiple attempts on different platforms. As you can imagine, I’m very frustrated. Do you work for Andersen Windows? Can you help me? I’d love to hear from you!
Cut Your Cell Phone Bill in HALF!
I wanted to give you an update on my cell phone situation. I’ve been using Google Fi as my cell phone provider now for almost ten months.
I LOVE everything about Google Fi. When you’re connected to WiFi anywhere, your cell phone uses that STRONGER connection and you incur no data charges while on WiFi.
If you are out and about, your phone will automatically switch to a cell tower and might not use the same provider each time. Google has made deals with many of the major carriers and your phone switches to the best signal available.
The BEST PART is my bill has been cut in HALF!
Do you want more information about Google Fi and how to IMPROVE your cell signal AND save money??? I thought so.
CLICK or TAP HERE and get ready to improve your cell service and SAVE MONEY.
This Week’s FUN Quiz
You may have been one of the many who scored 100% on last week's quiz. Congrats! It was pretty easy, you know.
Now, riddle me this. What do these five things have in common?
- Nile River
- Spruce Goose
- Tiananmen Square Beijing
- PT-59
- Abandoned Pacific Northwest lumber mill
Admit it. You can’t resist this quiz. It’s futile to try.
CLICK or TAP HERE and tickle your little gray brain cells!
Sewer Pipes Tell Many Tales!
This past week, I sold a tool of mine using the wonderful garage-sale local groups on Facebook. The buyer recently retired from his position as one of New York City's sewer plant managers.
We had a great discussion about many things and he shared a funny story about how during particular holidays certain NYC residents are supposed to fast from eating.
It turns out that many of these residents sneak candy bars into the bathroom, eat them, and flush the wrappers down the toilet so they won’t get caught breaking the fast.
The sewer plant gets inundated with these wrappers. Your takeaway should be this: Don’t think that when you flush something down your toilet it magically disappears and all evidence is gone.
Also, those who work at the sewer plants know exactly when the quarters end and when it's halftime at the Super Bowl without having to watch TV. They can see the flow meters in the plant go way up as hundreds of thousands of toilets flush all at once.
Treated Lumber FAILURE !
Do you think it takes extraordinary circumstances to cause treated lumber to rot?
Guess what, if that’s your stance, you’re wrong. Look at this treated lumber post:
Did you know there are twelve grades or types of treated lumber? Use the wrong one in the wrong place and you WILL HAVE ROT.
I’ve got TWO amazing videos for you to watch about this topic. They might save you from injury or even death.
CLICK or TAP HERE and be prepared to discover what you didn’t know about that green lumber.
How to Connect PEX Piping
Have you wondered how in the world you can make a leakproof joint in a water line without glue or solder? I use special PEX tubing for water lines. These are made with an amazing plastic that has a shape-retention memory.
Here are different pieces of pex pipe, fittings and a cool cordless expanding tool that allows you to make connections in seconds. Photo credit: Tim Carter
Creating a leakproof connection is super easy, it’s foolproof, and it’s FAST. Even a caveman or woman could do it!
CLICK or TAP HERE to watch the shortest video I’ve ever made showing you just how to accomplish the task!
I’d say that’s enough for a Sunday.
Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
SOLD OUT BEST CLEANER - www.StainSolver.com
Send Kelp! - www.W3ATB.com
Do It Right, Not Over!
P.S. Imagine this scenario:
You drop something heavy and CHIP a tile on your floor!!
ACCCKKKKK! What do you do? How will you repair it?
CLICK or TAP HERE to see what I’d do.
Who Invented Plywood?
Who Invented Plywood? - Remember, Just Guess
Don't ask Alexa or Siri for help. Trust the Force within you!
IMPORTANT NOTE: After clicking SUBMIT, scroll back at the top and click the VIEW SCORE button to see how you did!
CLICK or TAP HERE to play ALL past AsktheBuilder.com quizzes.
Thank Stain Solver, the Quiz Sponsor, by purchasing a small sample size!
Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.
Newsletter Music Leather and Lace
Newsletter Music Leather and Lace
Leather and Lace was featured in the June 27, 2021 and the June 14, 2020, AsktheBuilder.com newsletter. It's a fantastic duet with Stevie Nicks and Don Henley. CLICK or TAP HERE to read all past AsktheBuilder.com newsletters.
CLICK or TAP HERE to listen to all the music featured in past AsktheBuilder.com newsletters.
Stain Solver, the best and most powerful certified organic cleaner on Earth, is the sponsor of the Newsletter Music.
Show your support. Purchase a small sample size and behold its magic powers.
Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality. CLICK THE IMAGE to order some NOW.
Treated Lumber Ratings
Treated Lumber Ratings | This is the bottom of what used to be a treated lumber post. GASP! The WRONG type of treated lumber was used for this job. Copyright 2020 Tim Carter
Treated Lumber Ratings - Twelve at Last Count
- Twelve different treated lumber ratings
- Identifying the rating
- Treated lumber corrodes fasteners
- Why decks collapse
- CLICK or TAP HERE to subscribe to my FREE newsletter
DEAR TIM: I’m a remodeling contractor and have started to see a disturbing trend in the failure of treated lumber. I was hired to rebuild an outdoor stair railing that had a treated 4x4 post wrapped with redwood. A vast majority of the bottom of the post rotted away and the post was very wet once I removed the redwood. The bolts were very corroded too. The post was less than fifteen years old. I was also called to raise back up an outdoor shed that was built on 6x6 treated lumber posts that were partially buried in the soil. It turns out termites had eaten the post! I thought the treatment process was supposed to deter insect attack. Do you have any insight and knowing this, what would you do to create more permanent installations? Jonathan S., Milford, OH
You may not be a remodeling contractor like Jonathan, but you should have your head on a swivel when it comes to treated lumber. My guess is you might think that all treated lumber you see at the local home center or traditional lumber yard is all the same. That’s not true - not by a long shot.
Who Creates Treated Lumber Ratings or Treated Lumber Types?
Treated lumber ratings can also be called treated lumber grades or treated lumber types. Confusion can result because lumber grade is a term that speaks to the strength of a piece of timber. A higher grade means there are fewer or no knots in a piece of lumber.
A quick visit to the American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) website will clear up this matter for you in minutes, if not seconds. At the time I wrote this column, there were no less than twelve different treated lumber ratings or categories for treated lumber. Each one is given a specific acronym category code such as UC1, UC2, all the way up to UCFB. GO HERE to view a PDF file of AWPA Standards listing the twelve classifications.
Related Link:
Dramatic Treated Lumber Rot Photos
How is Lumber Treated?
Untreated raw lumber from the forest is treated with different chemical brews at different concentrations to achieve a pre-determined level of protection.
A good analogy might be winter jackets. You may put on a light puffer jacket if the outdoor temperature is in the mid-40s F. But if Old Man Winter is in a foul mood and the wind is howling with a temperature of -10 F, you might want to have on a Maine mountain parka.
Can Mistakes Happen at the Treated Lumber Factories?
Ed Collins, a subscriber to my FREE Ask the Builder newsletter, shared this with me: "Excellent treated lumber treatise! A few years ago, I had a conversation with a former manager at a treatment plant. He stated that some yellow pine heartwood does not absorb the treatment chemicals as well as the sapwood; also, after every load is removed from the treatment cylinder, the correct amount of chemicals need to be added to restore the water to the proper strength (which doesn't always happen).
From my own experience, the small deck behind our house was framed by a contractor who insisted on doubling 2X10s for the frame around the perimeter (which I thought unnecessary for an 11' X 10' deck) - I did the decking using 5/4 X 4 cedar. Twenty years later, I needed to replace a few of the cedar deck boards; to my surprise, some of the doubled boards on the perimeter had rot going down more than 2". I believe what led to this is that the wood was always wet between the boards. I cut away the worst rot with a recip saw and put in new treated lumber, then put on a copper flashing over all exposed joists. Moral: try to avoid doubling wood deck understructure at all costs or use flashing!"
Does Treated Lumber Need to Dry Out?
It’s quite possible the treated lumber that Jonathan is replacing was only rated for interior dry locations. Or, it could have been rated for outdoor use but was rated for rapid water runoff. Note that he said the post was wrapped in redwood so it stayed damp or was wet most of the time.
How Do You Identify the Type of Treatment?
When you purchase treated lumber, it’s supposed to have a small plastic tag stapled to the end of the lumber. This tag should show the AWPA use category. If I were using treated lumber outdoors and wanted maximum protection from rot and insects, I’d want the tag to say UC4C.
Does Treated Lumber Corrode Steel and Iron Bolts & Nails?
It’s very important for you to realize that much of the modern treated lumber has a very high concentration of copper in the wood. If you paid attention in high school chemistry class, you know that when you put copper and steel or iron in a beaker full of water, you start a chemical reaction that starts to corrode the iron or steel.
This is why it’s so very important to use bolts, nuts, nails, etc. with modern treated lumber that have the highest amount of corrosion resistance. The best would be stainless steel fasteners, but you’ll probably have to settle for double-dipped hot galvanized. Some high-quality fasteners are sold with a corrosion-resistance scale printed on the box. Match the corrosion resistance to your application.
Why Do Decks Collapse?
Deck collapse autopsies often reveal the cause to be corroded fasteners. If you couple this with poor framing practices and dubious structural construction methods, you can see why I never go onto a tall deck before I inspect it first.
Just a little over a year ago, a friend of my daughter almost died in Puerto Rico because she stepped alone onto a small outdoor deck and it collapsed under her weight. She broke her neck in the fall and had to have her spleen removed. Never trust an outdoor deck that’s more than 4 feet off the ground.
Can You Trust Treated Lumber?
There are other issues I have with treated lumber. While these are quite cynical in nature, the possibility that the lumber really doesn’t have the protection the tag states is possible. Imagine these scenarios. What happens if the concentration of the brew is not what it’s supposed to be? What happens if there’s a failure in the gauges connected to the pressure vessels where the lumber is being pumped full of chemicals? What happens if the plant operator had a fight with his spouse or boss that morning? Yes, these are all very remote possibilities, but nothing is certain in this world except death and taxes, right?
You do have other options in many cases when it comes to building things exposed to the weather. Instead of using treated lumber, you can use metal. The treated 4x4 post that Jonathan removed could have been a galvanized 4x4 metal tube. While the homeowner may not have liked the look, the railing system could have been aluminum.
It pays to talk with a contractor with at least twenty years of building experience in situations like this. I’d also suggest talking with several, not just one, so you get a variance of opinions. You would do yourself a favor by engaging your own critical-thinking skills and ratchet back your trust factor. Keep in mind that some marketing managers for products push the envelope on their product claims. For example, do you really believe in a lifetime warranty on roofing shingles?
Column 1359