April 19, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

I’m just certain you’re a new subscriber! You have that glow about you. Beaming about getting your first issue, aren’t you? I sure hope I don’t let you down! Guess what? I listen to music while creating this newsletter. If I shared that you and tequila make me crazy and it runs like poison in my blood, would you know who’s keeping me company in my man cave? (Editor Note - Kenny Chesney - You And Tequila.)

You, on the other hand, might remember way back when I shared that I was moving to New Hampshire. I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and believe me, moving far away is quite disruptive. But everyone survived! I must say I left behind some great friends who I miss all the time as well as those cheese coneys - no mustard - heavy onion.

Severe WX & Tornado Season

Here in the USA, the hazardous weather season has begun. Just last week there was a massive outbreak of tornadoes.

There are all sorts of places you can gather safety information when you need it. But I want to share something you can do before severe weather strikes. If you’re involved in:

  • building a new home
  • adding a room addition
  • doing a major interior remodel

You can often incorporate a safe room with not much extra cost. The room can be as small as a 4 x 6-foot closet!

Did you happen to see the unbelievable story of the family in the state of Mississippi who survived inside a tiny closet? The vicious tornado completely swept their house OFF the slab and only the closet was left standing. How is that possible you might ask?

CLICK or TAP HERE to see the stunning photos and to read the story.

They survived because the closet was surrounded by concrete blocks. But not just any concrete blocks.

My guess is they constructed the closet EXACTLY as I say to build a foundation in a past column. CLICK or TAP HERE to understand how you should create your safe room.

It’s very important to realize that I’d change one thing in the design you see in the photos. I’d have put in a steel door with a steel frame just like you see in thousands of commercial buildings all across the USA. You need a very strong door that will not rip off the hinges and will resist puncture by flying debris.

Staining Paver Brick or Exterior Tile

Did you know you can change the color of exterior concrete paving brick, softer Mexican tile, stamped concrete, and even concrete sidewalks and driveways?
How to Stain Patio Pavers

CLICK or TAP HERE to see how easy it is. You’ll also discover why you don’t need to purchase any painter’s tape!

Leaking Tub Spout

Imagine each time you take a bath or a shower, you get a drip from where the spout connects to the pipe behind the wall.

How do you fix this yourself and save about $200 or more?

It’s so very easy! CLICK or TAP HERE to see how I’d do it.

Replace Crap Aluminum Windows With Vinyl

I had a great phone conversation with Gary not too long ago.

He’s older than I am and not afraid of replacing his own windows. He just needed a little bit of advice on how to measure and install new vinyl windows. Here’s one of the many windows he wants to replace.

replace aluminum window with vinyl

CLICK or TAP HERE to discover key tips that I guarantee will save you hundreds of dollars.

I’ll bet you didn’t know about how to measure replacement windows and what’s the best way to ensure there are no mistakes! Now you’ll know!

Best Wood Deck Sealer

I don’t have a wood deck, but I do have a 40-foot-long cedar boat dock and a set of treated-lumber steps going down to the dock.

It’s time to clean and seal all that wood. I started about two weeks ago when instead of the 16 inches of snow N.H. might have had, there was a rare warm day here in early April. Look at these before and after photos of the first dock panel that the steps rest on:
First Dock Panel Before
First Dock Panel After

You may wonder:

“Tim, how did you clean the cedar? Did you take off all the old sealer? Did you have to sand the wood after cleaning? What sealer did you decide to go with?”

I’m going to answer all those questions in the next issue and I have what we call a run-and-gun video about it too! So don’t forget to look for it next Sunday.

Epoxy Garage Coatings & Spalled Concrete

Have you thought about using those stunning epoxy coatings for concrete?

Do you think you could use one to repair this concrete?
spalled concrete

What do you think I would do?

Are you wondering if I have an epoxy coating in my garage? After all, I have access to all the coolest and latest products.

Do you think you could even salvage the concrete in this photo?

CLICK or TAP HERE to get all those answers and MORE! I guarantee you’ll be satisfied. If not, let me know and I’ll send you a prize in the mail if you send me a #10 SASE.

What do you think? Enough for a Sunday?

Are you tired of being locked up? You’re not alone. We’ll get through this.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
BEST CLEANER IN THE WORLD - www.StainSolver.com
Cool Waves - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Do you have an outdoor patio umbrella? How about a fabric awning? What about outdoor furniture cushions?

Are any of them dingy? Do you want to restore them to BRAND NEW? It’s easy! CLICK or TAP HERE to see how!

Epoxy Garage Floor Coatings – Should I?

Posted on by Tim Carter

 

spalled concrete

Epoxy Garage Floor Coating | This is badly spalled concrete. It’s not a candidate for an epoxy coating but one wonders if epoxy is the best choice in the first place. Copyright 2020 Tim Carter

"If you decide to apply one of the many magnificent epoxy coatings, you introduce a wildcard into the equation. There's a good chance the epoxy will fail and chip."

DEAR TIM: I’ve got problems with some of the concrete on the outside of my home as well as in my garage. There are lots of places where the top finish and layer of the concrete has eroded away. I think it’s called spalling. It’s worse in some areas than others. My biggest question is if I should transform my concrete garage floor by installing a fancy epoxy coating. They look marvelous in my opinion. What are the pros and cons of this? How would you repair all the other wretched concrete outdoors? Steve H., Sylvania, OH

There’s a really good chance you have unsightly concrete as Steve does. It’s somewhat common and if my incoming email is any indication, it’s a worsening and chronic problem for tens of thousands of homeowners and business owners.

Why Does Concrete Spall and Chip?

Let’s discuss first a few of the primary reasons why it happens to your concrete but other concrete nearby is immune to this damage. That should be your first clue that it’s probably a workmanship defect, and not something inherently wrong with the concrete itself.

epoxy garage coating peel

Before you get all dreamy-eyed about epoxy garage coatings, look at how they can #FAIL.

What is Concrete?

Concrete is simply artificial rock. Three of the four ingredients in basic concrete are or were rock at one point. The aggregate, or stones, are solid rock. The sand in concrete is thousands of small tiny pieces of rock in almost all cases. Some sand is crushed seashells, but this is rare. The Portland cement is powdered rock, primarily limestone and shale. The only ingredient that’s not rock is water. You need the water to ignite the chemical reaction that transforms the powdered Portland cement back into solid rock again.

Related Links:

Deicing Salts and Concrete

SECRET Concrete Installation Tips

What are the Main Reasons Concrete Fails?

Here are just a few things that can go wrong with concrete that can cause spalling and the surface to flake off. First, the concrete can be mixed wrong with not enough Portland cement. Too much water can be added making it to watery. Water can be added during the finishing process that dilutes the amount of Portland cement in the top layer of the concrete. The concrete may not have been cured immediately after the finishing process ended.

Concrete overlay

This is an example of the steps to a concrete overlay. Get the old concrete damp, coat it with some cement paint, then put on the stucco mixture of sand and Portland cement. SEE BELOW for the explanation about cement paint - and how important it is.

Do Deicing Salts Damage Concrete?

There’s a common misconception that deicing salts are responsible for ruining concrete and cause it to spall. The facts prove otherwise. What I mean is that you undoubtedly have seen lots of concrete sidewalks, floors, patios, etc. that have had years of deicing salt on them, yet there’s no spalling. Why is that?

The reason that concrete survived the deicing salts is it was mixed, placed, finished, and cured properly. Deicing salts can damage weak concrete just like the big bad wolf blew down the straw house made by the little piggy.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from LOCAL contractors who can do a concrete overlay or epoxy coating.

Concrete Can Be Maintenance-Free

Think about your concrete garage floor for a minute. Imagine it brand new and how good it looked. It’s maintenance-free for the most part, right? You just keep it clean with soap and water and it looks amazing for years.

Can Epoxy Garage Coatings Fail?

If you decide to apply one of the many magnificent epoxy coatings, you introduce a wildcard into the equation. There's a good chance the epoxy will fail and chip. You hope that the epoxy will hold and won’t peel in places.

epoxy garage coating

This is a great name-brand epoxy garage coating. CLICK or TAP HERE or the image to have it on your garage in 48 hours.

You hope you’ll do everything right during the installation process, a process you’ve never done before I might add! You possibly create a new surface that requires more work to keep looking nice than your plain-vanilla concrete slab. On a personal note, I’d never install an epoxy finish because I don’t want more maintenance.

How Can I Repair My Spalled Concrete?

You can repair and resurface your spalled concrete in any number of ways. You can buy products that apply a very thin coating on the concrete. The larger pre-mixed bagged concrete manufacturers make these as well as some other specialty companies. These products do work but pay close attention to their limitations.

epoxy garage floor coating

Here's another epoxy coating. If you want a cool metallic floor, you should CLICK or TAP HERE or the photo.

Deeply spalled concrete can be repaired with a concrete overlay. Think of this as just applying stucco to the concrete. You just mix up some sand, a little hydrated lime, and Portland cement and trowel this onto the concrete. To get this stucco to bond permanently to the spalled concrete, the old concrete must be clean and solid with all of the loose concrete chipped away.

Cement Paint is a Secrete Step

A very important step, taught to me by a very old and wise concrete mason decades ago, is to apply a very thin coat of cement paint to the old concrete before applying the stucco. You want to spritz the old concrete with a little water to make it damp before applying the Portland cement that you mixed with clean water to the consistency of regular paint. It’s important to immediately cover the wet cement paint with the stucco mix.

Realize concrete overlays can range in thickness from 1/8-inch all the way to 1 or 2 inches. As the overlay gets thicker, you need to increase the size of the sand being used. Once the overlay approaches 3/4-inch inch in thickness, you can introduce tiny pieces of pea gravel about the size of a pencil eraser.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from LOCAL contractors who can do a concrete overlay or epoxy coating.

Column 1349

April 12, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

I can tell you’re new here. It’s so delightful to have a new friend! I like to listen to music when I compose this newsletter. Do you hear the rhythmic drums pounding and the guitar screeching? When I was a conductor on a train line, I didn’t much like people getting romantic while they “might be lookin’ for a moonbeam a little more to the right”. Know what I’m listening to? Clue: When you move, you often use one.

You, on the other hand, could have been here for such a long time that you remember when I talked about why you NEVER EVER want to clean anything outside, like the deck below, with chlorine bleach. It’s VERY TOXIC. CLICK or TAP HERE to refresh your memory. You'll be STUNNED what chlorine bleach can do to harm SO MANY THINGS.

deck over water

COVID and CHEAP CRAP

Are you growing increasingly frustrated with lots of things being withheld from you, not the least of which are many of your God-given liberties and access to quality products? I don't want you to think I'm advocating public disobedience regarding any directives, but one has to wonder if the cure is worse than the illness.

Just moments ago as I was eating breakfast, I was pondering past TV commercials for a brand-name paper towel. I was eating BBs. Do you know what cereal that is? Think.

I LOVE watching TV commercials for any number of reasons. Some make me laugh and others are quite creative. For years, I’ve seen TV commercials about how a major brand paper towel is much stronger than the also-rans.

Because I know how to edit video with cutaway shots, the side-by-side comparisons made me skeptical. I always thought the demonstrations were rigged because there was no way a competitor’s paper towel could be that worthless.

Guess what? I was WRONG!

For weeks, our grocery store has been sold out of the great paper towels I’ve always bought. I’m having to use PIECE-OF-CRAP imposters that are labeled as paper towels. These things are such poor quality I can’t believe anyone buys them a SECOND TIME.

If you get them wet, they fall apart faster than toilet paper!

Why is this important? In the past 24 hours I’ve been forced to think WHY the Stain Solver I sell is so much better than other cleaners. BTW, I started the company 25-years-ago.

Why is Stain Solver the BEST cleaner out there? It’s because it works - I mean it REALLY WORKS.

Stain Solver is a certified organic cleaner that cleans ANYTHING that's water-washable.
Stain Solver Oxygen Bleach

You may already be a Stain Solver customer for life. You’ve bought it month after month for the past 20+ years. The reason you keep buying Stain Solver is the same reason I buy those great paper towels - BOTH work.

But if you’ve NEVER BEEN EXPOSED to the BEST of anything or anyone, and that can be a person, a product, or a song, you have NO CLUE that what you’re experiencing each day is sub-standard. You don’t have enough data to make an informed decision.

You might mumble as you struggle each day doing whatever, “Well, I guess everyone else who uses this stuff suffers just like me.”

It’s time to re-evaluate much of the madness of the past three weeks.

It’s also time for you to think about buying quality stuff. Many quality products are available right now! With that in mind, allow me to share with you a few of the best things I’ve discovered while being the AsktheBuilder.com guy.

The BEST Paint for Vinyl Siding

Are you tired of the color of your vinyl siding? Or, is the CHEAP CRAPPY siding on your home fading like this? The reason it's fading is because the siding manufacturer failed to put in enough titanium dioxide and other UV-defense ingredients, but that's a story for another day.

Did you know vinyl siding can be painted?

painting vinyl siding

CLICK or TAP HERE to see HOW to paint vinyl siding, vinyl fencing, or any outside vinyl. You’ll discover the BEST paint to use as you scroll down the page. It’s near the bottom.

Tim, How About the BEST Sandpaper?

I’m glad you asked. Are all sandpapers the same? Were all the dates you went on in the past the same? Bingo! The answer to both questions is, NO!

If you’re like many, some of your date memories were unforgettable while others are lost in clouds of smoke or piles of hay. Perhaps you’ve forgotten any number of your date nights because you had so many guys or girls wanting to go out with you that they each one was holding onto a take-a-number ticket like you get at the deli.

Now, back to sandpaper.

Look at this photo:
sandpaper

Which sandpaper in the group is the best? Why? Do you use different sandpapers for DIFFERENT projects?

My, you ask great questions! Your investigative skills and magic are remarkable!

CLICK or TAP HERE and discover answers that will surprise you like getting a prize package that holds a new and delightful colored marking pen or two you had no idea even existed!

STOP Moss and Algae on Your Roof

Do you battle moss and algae on your roof? Would you like to STOP it and never deal with it again?

Did you know I’ve been selling a product that will do just that?

CLICK or TAP HERE and watch this video that will PROVE to you why my product works. I guarantee you’ll be shaking your head. Trust me, shaking one’s head enough can lead to amazing things happening!

Repair A Handrail in Concrete or Brick

How would you like to discover a foolproof and permanent repair for fixing a dangerous loose handrail that’s rattling against a concrete or brick wall?

Hell, yeah, Tim! BRING IT ON. Show me now!

Tell me if you know the BEST WAY to fix this:

repair handrail in brick or concrete

HAH, no way did you come up with the solution. Not on your best day.

What’s the secret method I use? LISTEN to the podcast at the top of the page. WATCH THE VIDEO of me using a roto-hammer drill showing exactly HOW to FIX this forever.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see how I’d fix this forever.

That’s enough for a Sunday.

I’ll be back in your Inbox in a few days.

Stay healthy. Don’t buy CRAP paper towels and worthless cheap cleaners. And by all means, never forget your best dates!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
BEST DARN CLEANER, Period - www.StainSolver.com
Invisible Happiness - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. What are the best nails to use outdoors? Seriously, do you REALLY know? Don’t try to BS me. Do you think I have “stupid” tattooed on my forehead?

CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you were right.

April 9, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Let’s start with a question. Can you hear the guitar picking in the background? Welcome! If you’re a new subscriber I can see that quizzical look on your face. I like to listen to music as I compose the newsletter each week. Do you like your eggs runny? Or think crossing your legs is funny? Can you ponder for a moment what tune is bouncing off the walls of my man cave? RIP John … I’m going to miss you.

And you! There’s a good chance you’ve been a subscriber so long that you remember the day I announced the Kickstarter project where I spent six weeks building a deluxe two-story shed.

I know Robert remembers because he rode his motorcycle from the Baltimore area to work with me for a week. He had the foresight to realize he could dip himself into the magic waters of hard-core rough framing while working alongside me.

Do you want to reproduce my shed or a smaller version in your yard? CLICK or TAP HERE and you’ll be BLOWN AWAY by the plans.

My Sewer Backup <RANT>

Two days ago, the sewer line under my house got clogged - again. It last happened about sixteen months ago. This time I was furious!

CLICK or TAP HERE to discover why it happened and what I’m now doing to make sure it NEVER HAPPENS again. Right at the top of the page is my latest podcast about the crappy event - pun intended.

Be SURE to listen to the podcast if you want all the details. All you have to do is click the round orange/red PLAY button to get started. The player at the top of the page looks like this:
Prevent Sewer Backup Podcast

Repair/Restore Countertops

Money might be pretty scarce right now in your house. Or maybe you’ve always been thrifty. Do you have a plastic laminate (Formica or Wilsonart) countertop?

Does it look worn? Does it have a chip or a scratch? Do you want it to look like a NEW granite top?

You’re NOT GOING TO BELIEVE the video you’re about to see. It shows how to transform a plain-vanilla countertop into a stunning centerpiece in your kitchen.

CLICK or TAP HERE now to see what’s possible. You can do this transformation. You do NOT need pro skills!

Listen to the podcast at the top of the page while you’re at it!

Crazy Clean Carpets

Kathie emailed me a few days ago. I had shared some advice with her about how she could make her carpets look brand new. Here’s what she sent me:

“We used Stain Solver on that carpeting as you directed, and we are VERY pleased with the results.

1. We mixed well: 1 cup SS to 1 gallon of HOT tap water and poured this into a garden sprayer. I remember you telling me to make sure ALL of the Stain Solver was dissolved so it wouldn’t clog the tip of the sprayer.

2. We sprayed the carpet well, and let it sit for 30 minutes.

3. We poured 2 gallons of HOT tap water (with 1 scoop SS mixed well) into the rental machine's "soap" container. (NO additional soap was used)

4. Then we used the machine to scrub the fibers, then extract the liquid/dirt.

Voila!! Amazing improvement ... and we will not procrastinate in doing this more often now that we know how to keep our carpets looking clean.

So, I ordered additional Stain Solver ... since we have a list of things as long as our arms that we can clean/improve with this great product.

MANY thanks, Tim!"

Kathie

CLICK or TAP HERE to see stunning before/after photos of how Stain Solver can restore a carpet that might have been on its way to the dumpster.
Customer Carpet Saved

Stain Solver will clean anything that you can get wet with water. As soon as it gets a little warmer, my agenda includes using it to clean the algae and mildew off my kayaks down by the lake. I’ll also use Stain Solver to clean my cedar dock panels before I seal them.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see quite a few videos of me using Stain Solver. What do you think of that blue shirt I’m wearing in a few of the videos? WOW, do you think it makes my eyes pop?

HOT WX Coming!!!!

Before you know it, you’ll have your AC on, You’ll be gritching about how certain rooms in your home are still hot and uncomfortable with the thermostat set at 70 F. If you live below the Mason-Dixon line, you may already be gritching.

HVAC Return Air

Did you know your HVAC system may have a fatal flaw? If you have a two-story home, did you know with a little work, you can make your house much more comfortable? One-story houses are even easier to fix.

CLICK or TAP HERE to discover what the problem is and how it can be fixed for good. No more sweating in bed!

That’s quite enough for a rainy cool Thursday here in New Hampshire.

I’ll be back with more podcasts on Sunday. I’m having a blast recording them.

Is there one you want me to do for you? Just reply here and let me know the home improvement question that’s keeping you up at night.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
SUPER CLEAN and SANITARY - www.StainSolver.com
Analog Man - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Would you like to transform an interior fireplace made from brick or stone into something that will make you smile each day? Maggie did it with her daughter. It’s easy and the look is simply stunning.

What am I talking about? Well, silly, CLICK or TAP HERE and scroll down to see. Be sure you pay attention to the one photo where you see the small piles of colored powder!

Prevent Sewer Backup

Posted on by Tim Carter

 

prevent sewer backup

Prevent Sewer Backup | This is a sewer pipe leaving a house and entering a septic tank. It's easy for a pipe like this to back up.

"I also flush the toilet each time I walk by it even if it has clear water in it."

Prevent Sewer Backup By Flushing More Often

You can prevent sewer back up in many houses by just adding more water to your plumbing drain system.

Why Does my Sewer Backup?

Sewer backups happen for many reasons:

  • tree roots in a sewer pipe
  • broken sewer pipe
  • sewer pipe with not enough slope
  • too little water to push waste and paper to sewer or septic tank

Tim, Has Your Sewer Backed Up and Why?

Yes, in the past four years my own sewer under my house has backed up four times. It all started happening after I installed a new low-flush toilet in my basement bathroom.

The toilet has a flushing mechanism where a quick push only delivers a small amount of water for removing liquid body waste. You need to hold down the handle to put a full 1.6 gallons of water into the drain to remove solid body waste. My son and wife were not holding down the handle long enough.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from sewer cleaning companies.

What's the Easiest Way to Prevent Sewer Backup?

The easiest way to prevent sewer backup is to add more water to the system to ensure the waste makes it all the way to the city sewer line or your septic tank. Modern low-flush toilets are causing all sorts of problems in many homes because they simply don't provide enough water to get the waste to where it needs to be.

I now pour ten gallons of water into my toilet each week as you see in this video to prevent sewer backup. Ten gallons of water weighs 83.2 pounds. If you remember your high school physics, you know that Force = mass (weight) times acceleration.

Eighty-three pounds of water falling ten feet down a plumbing stack and then racing down a pipe towards a city sewer or septic tank has lots of force is all you need to know.

I also flush the toilet each time I walk by it even if it has clear water in it. WATCH the flushable wipes video too just below.

How Much Does it Cost to Flush a Toilet?

If you have a private well as I do, you get your water for free. I only have to pay a tiny fraction of a penny for the electricity to get water from my well into my home. It's such a small amount of money, you simply can't comprehend it.

A very good friend of mine lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and uses water from a public utility. I used the rate chart they provide and did the math. She only has to pay just under eight-tenths of a penny ($0.0077) each time she flushes her 1.6-gallon toilet.

clogged toilet

You often don’t need a plunger to unclog a toilet. Just use 3 or 4 gallons of water from a bucket. (C) Copyright 2020 Tim Carter

However, she also has to pay to get rid of the water. The sewer district bases her sewer bill on the amount of water she discharges into the sewer system. The sewer charge is about 2.82 times the water bill. Thus each time she flushes the toilet, it costs her $0.02247 or just over two cents.

Doesn't Using All This Extra Water Defeat the Purpose of Low-Flush Toilets?

Yes, it does. But use some critical thinking skills here before jumping to conclusions. Not everyone needs to use low-flush toilets, right?

I'm on a private well. I have unlimited water at my house. Why should I be forced to use a low-flush toilet?

What's more, as soon as the water from my toilet enters my septic tank, the SAME VOLUME of water exits my septic tank and re-enters the ground!

The same thing happens if you live in a large city that gets its water from a river like Cincinnati. The only way there could be a water shortage is if the Ohio River dries up. The chances of that happening are so small as to be irrelevant. And don't forget, the Cincinnati Metropolitan Sewer District discharges the SAME VOLUME of water back into the Ohio River as is being taken out upstream by the Cincinnati Water Works!

The only people that need low-flush toilets are those that choose to live in arid locations where water is in short supply. If they want to conserve water then they can use a bucket to flush their toilets only using as much water as they feel they need to use. Forcing ALL of us to use low-flush toilets is simply unacceptable.

If an area is growing, then they just have to increase the capacity of their water treatment plants to meet the demand. This has happened as all cities have grown.

Related Link

Fixing Low-Flush Toilet Problems

 

Cleaning Outdoor Wood and Composite Decking & Homeowner Phone Calls

Posted on by Tim Carter
shed ramp cleaned with Stain Solver

Cleaning Outdoor Wood | This is a ramp to a shed made from treated plywood. It’s being cleaned with STAIN SOLVER a certified organic oxygen bleach made in the USA. The white foam you see is trillions of oxygen bubbles scrubbing the wood while I stand there taking the photo! Copyright 2020 Tim Carter

Cleaning Outdoor Wood and Composite Decking

DEAR TIM: Every year, I’ve got some wood or composite decking to clean outside. This year I need to clean and reseal a ramp that leads up into my outdoor shed. I've also seen all sorts of conflicting information out on the Internet about the best way to clean wood. Many say to use a pressure washer. What do you feel is the best way and why? What do you feel is the best sealer and how long can I expect one to last? Wendy B., Bangor, ME

You may have a similar spring routine at your home. I know I do. I have a boat dock that has cedar panels and a large set of treated lumber steps leading from the shore to the dock. I also have a treated-plywood ramp that allows me to get my motorcycle and snowblowers in and out of my shed with ease. All of this wood requires periodic cleaning and sealing so the wood isn’t ruined by Mother Nature.

Is There Bad Advice on the Internet?

Yes, there's lots of bad home improvement advice on the Internet.

The Internet is a wonderful thing, but one of the downsides is that it gives everyone a voice. While that may seem like a great thing, it often makes it harder for you to separate the wheat from the chaff. Each day, I battle fancy websites created by people who’ve never worked a day in a paying customer’s home, yet the website owner thinks he’s an authority on all things having to do with home improvement.

Can Pressure Washers Damage Wood?

Yes, pressure washers and power washers can damage the wood fibers in decking, fencing, and house siding and trim.

Here’s a fact about pressure washers and wood. Pressure washers can be highly destructive, even in the hands of a paid professional. The intense stream of water forced from the nozzle of the wand is measured in thousands of pounds of pressure per square inch.

Can the High Pressure Erode Soft Wood?

This forceful blast has no trouble at all eroding the soft lighter-colored wood fibers in between the darker bands of the wood grain. The light wood is called springwood as it’s what grows in the spring. The darker bands of wood are summerwood. These are far denser and grow in the second half of the season before fall arrives.

What is the Best Wood Cleaner?

The best and safest wood cleaner is certified organic oxygen bleach.

Stain Solver black background yellow scoop

Stain Solver is MADE in the USA with USA ingredients that are food-grade quality.

I prefer to clean all my outside wood with a solution of oxygen bleach and water. This chemical is safe for all vegetation around the wood, it doesn’t take out the natural color of the wood and it removes old sun-damaged wood sealers with ease. I apply it to dry dirty wood and composite decking, let it sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a brush, and then rinse with a garden hose.

Should Chlorine Bleach Be Used to Clean Wood?

Do NOT use chlorine bleach to clean wood. The chemical name for chlorine bleach is sodium hypochlorite. It’s very toxic to vegetation, it turns wood white, and it’s corrosive to any metal fasteners or structural connectors.

What is the Best Wood Sealer?

The best wood sealer is one that penetrates into the wood and doesn't form a film on the surface.

cabot australian timber oil

This is the best penetrating wood sealer I know of as of 2021. CLICK on the IMAGE to have it delivered to your home.

I’ve had the best luck with penetrating wood sealers. These soak into the wood grain once the wood is clean and dry. Many popular exterior wood sealers are similar to paint. They form a protective film on top of the wood. The trouble with film formers is when they fail, they peel like paint. If you don’t get all the film off, you can end up with a blotchy finish when you apply the new sealer as the sheen may be different where it’s bare wood vs. where the new sealer covers the film you weren’t able to remove.

Be sure to read the label on the can of sealer. Follow the directions to the letter making sure you pay attention to the temperature ranges. It’s best to apply the new sealer on overcast days or in the shade. Working in direct sunlight can cause rapid drying which will lead to overlap marks where you failed to apply the sealer fast enough.

Homeowner Phone Calls

Last week, I announced I’d be calling homeowners for free to help them with concerns during the COVID pandemic. Here are a few of the calls I made. You can listen to the entire phone call if you just go to the following URLS. You’ll also see photographs of the problems and sometimes products I feel that will solve the problem.

If you want me to call you, then go here: Tim Carter Calls You

Jan’s Leaking Patio Enclosure Roof

I called Jan about her patio roof enclosure. It recently started leaking and it’s ruining a couch. I offered her two possible solutions. If the first one works, it will save her about $3,000.00. Go here: Leaking Patio Enclosure Roof

Eric’s New Attic Floor Storage Area

Eric wanted me to call him because he’s tired of paying fees to remote storage locker businesses. He has attic space that he can use, but an electrician laid cables on top of the attic joists. I offered up two clever solutions: How to Install Floor in Attic

Bill’s New Basement Bathroom Rough In

I’ve been a master plumber since age 29. This allowed me to share with Bill some great tips so he could rough in a new basement bathroom. Fortunately, there are pipes already in place, he just has to move the primary building drain 15 feet to plumb for the new bathroom. Go here for tips: Rough In Basement Bathroom

Column 1348

April 5, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Hi, and welcome to my newsletter family! Can you open doors with just a smile or do you have to use your arms as I do? I like to listen to music while I create the newsletter. Do you know what I’m listening to now? Care to make a guess?

If you’ve been here for many moons, did you know I own a 12-string Gibson acoustic guitar? After handing over the hard-earned cash to the salesman at Ray Lammers, a music store in Cincinnati, I carried it a few blocks to the bus stop, jumped on either the 61 or the 17 bus, and took this beauty home to admire it. I used to play it fairly well. Now it’s time to dust it off and learn how to pick it. Check out the date on the receipt! That's a 6 in front of the 7!
Tim's Guitar Receipt

FREE Over-the-Phone Help

This past Friday, I helped Jan with her leaky patio enclosure roof. CLICK or TAP HERE to listen to that short call. I shared a tip on how she could save $2,000 or $3,000. She was pretty happy as you might imagine. Here's her roof. Can you see where it's leaking?

leaking patio enclosure roof

Yesterday, I jumped on a call with Eric. He wants to convert unused attic space to an in-home storage facility. However, he’s got electric cables draped on top of the ceiling joists.

I came up with a clever way to solve that conundrum, keeping in mind that safety is paramount. CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you agree with what I suggested Eric undertake.

I also chatted with Bill. He wants to create a bathroom in his basement. I’ve been a master plumber since age 29, so I was able to give him advice that will save him at least $3,000, probably more.

rough in basement bathroom

We talked all about the importance of venting. You don’t want to miss this podcast! CLICK or TAP HERE to discover something about plumbing you probably didn’t know.

How would you like to save thousands of dollars? If you don’t have a money tree in your yard where you can just go out and pluck Ben Franklins, then I CAN HELP!

CLICK or TAP HERE if you want me to call you. The call is FREE but the money-saving advice could be priceless!

Water Leaks Into Basement or Crawlspace

Do you have chronic leaks in your basement or crawlspace? Spring is the time of year many have this issue with seasonal snowmelt and spring showers.

french drain pipe

I majored in geology in college and had a particular interest in hydrogeology. That’s the study of groundwater.

Think about how a gutter on the bottom of a roof works. It captures moving water and redirects it to another location.

Water moves sideways through almost all soil. CLICK or TAP HERE to see how I’ve transformed thousands of wet basements into miniature dioramas of the Atacama Desert.

Secrets of Old - Grouting Floor Tile

Have you ever been in an old church or some other old building that has floor tile? Here’s a photo of the tile floor in St. Joseph's Church in Laconia, New Hampshire. This tile and grout are over 100 years old.
St Joseph Church Tile Floor

What did the tile setters do to make the grout last for 100 years without crumbling or cracking?

I happen to know and created a few videos to demonstrate just how you can do it. CLICK or TAP HERE and be prepared to be amazed. You’re going to be SHOCKED by how simple it is.

I’d say that’s enough for a Sunday. What say you?

Is there a topic you’d like me to cover? REPLY to this newsletter and share your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
BEST Organic Cleaner in the Galaxy - www.StainSolver.com
Invisible Happiness Waves - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. When do most gutter guards FAIL? Not the fall, silly! You’ll never win a prize with an answer like that! They fail in the spring.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see two revealing videos about the TRUTH concerning gutter guards. Check out the entire column. The videos are at the bottom.

April 3, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

I’m pretty sure you might be a new subscriber. Thanks for your trust in me during these trying times.

On the flip side, this could be your second edition or your 873rd one. Yes, I’ve been producing this newsletter since 1995 or so. Do you want to see just about every past one? CLICK or TAP HERE to see countless past newsletters.

COVID and Me

I don’t know about you, but I’m finding this entire virus dilemma a surreal experience. Here are a few personal stories.

Yesterday, the local cable-TV repairman had to replace our cable box that had overheated and died. BTW, you need to make sure you INSPECT yours. Look at the intake ports where cooling air enters and look at the cooling fan. My fan was completely blocked with dirt and dust. Never set anything on top of the boxes. They need air to stay cool.

In the past, the repairman would have come inside and switched out the equipment. Yesterday, he arrived, walked up to the front porch, reached as far as his arms would allow, handed me the new box and RETREATED as fast as possible saying, “I’ll be in my truck waiting for five minutes. Call me if you get it hooked up correctly.”

What would have happened if I didn’t possess the skills to disconnect and reconnect the box?

Then an hour ago, I went to a new grocery store, Market Basket, and it was really interesting. They limited the number of people who could be shopping in the store at once to 147. When I got there, I was able to walk right in. When I exited the store, about fifteen people were standing in a chilly rain waiting to buy food for goodness sake!

Not surprisingly, there were limits on several products to stop the hoarders from getting their greedy hands on lots of stuff.

I never thought I’d live to see this day. I felt like I was living in a socialist country where society is crumbling and decaying. We’re also dealing with an influx of people trying to escape the virus. I live in sleepy central New Hampshire. There are some who live in more populous states south of here, where the virus is more rampant, who are trying to find a safer place. It’s upsetting many of the locals.

Free Phone Calls
free home improvement help

If you haven’t already heard, I’ve been making free phone calls to help you and others. In the past few days, I talked with Maggie, Jason, Gary, Bob, Gary, and I’m about to call Jan after I type this.

I’m hoping in a few days to have the phone calls produced so you can listen to the advice. The topics were great and I guarantee you’ll discover something new from one or all of the calls.

If you want a FREE CALL from me, you need to CLICK or TAP HERE and fill out the form.

Pocket Door Secrets
LE Johnson Pocket Door Frame LE Johnson Pocket Door

LE Johnson, a USA company based in the Midwest, makes the best pocket door hardware I’m aware of. Yesterday, I went back and revised a column about these magic doors.

I URGE you to give it a serious look. You’ll see a great video I shot of a pocket door being installed in a new home. CLICK or TAP HERE to watch the video and discover how to ensure a pocket door doesn’t jump the tracks.

Brick Leaks Water - LOTS of Water

brick mortar joints under window

Please, please, please check out this revised column if you own a brick home or are thinking of building one.

You might be one of the many who feel brick homes are waterproof and the best homes out there. That might be true if you happen to know a kindergarten teacher who reads fables to you like the one about the Three Little Pigs.

Don’t get me wrong. I love kindergarten teachers and they do marvelous work. But it’s important to realize a brick house is going to keep you happy and healthy ONLY if the builder and bricklayer know exactly what to do.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see how I’d build your brick home and WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO STOP WATER if you have an existing one.

New Roof Means New Flashings

Are you getting ready to have a new roof installed?

roof-vent-flashing

If so, you MUST WATCH a video about the best plumbing vent pipe flashings. Don’t allow your roofer to install the sub-standard ones that you see at the home centers.

CLICK or TAP HERE to watch the video.

That’s quite enough for a Friday.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Hydrogen Peroxide CLEANER - www.StainSolver.com
Morse Code and More - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Are you going to purchase new replacement windows after the health crisis subsides? Are you building a new home?

Do you know how to tell if you have the BEST windows? I’m willing to bet you one pound of dark chocolate that you don’t know how to identify them. CLICK or TAP HERE to see what companies make the best windows.

March 31, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

You’re new here, right? We need to have a little talk. First and foremost, I’m really happy you’re here. Second, when you leave a room, please turn out the lights. Third, please watch the video on this page just below the treasure map and know that I do have a sense of humor and a chronic case of Peter Pan syndrome.

No, you're not a new subscriber, I'm sure I recognize you. How do you manage to look so good each day? What the heck are you eating or drinking? Is it a blend of walnuts, cashews, raisins, and chopped dates? Are you grinding up celery stalks each morning and drinking that elixir? I want some!

A New Free Service

You may not be religious, but I am. Yesterday morning, I had a vision just before breakfast. I’ve had about five of them in my lifetime. The first one, twenty-seven years ago, was the inspiration for my syndicated newspaper column.

These visions run in the family. My mom told me about a vision she had many years ago. She was told to stop smoking. She never touched another cigarette after this vision, even though she’d been a heavy smoker for years.
free home improvement help

In yesterday’s vision, God told me that I need to alter my schedule so I can start calling homeowners like you on the phone for FREE.

CLICK or TAP HERE for all the details. If you’ve got a question about anything to do with your home, you MUST READ THIS NEW COLUMN.

STOP Garbage Disposal Problems

Preventing costly plumbing bills can be easy to do. You can’t afford to have a plumber come out to your house for a visit that could have been avoided. If Ann had done ONE SIMPLE thing each week, she could have prevented an expensive plumbing service and used that money instead for some prize.

Garbage Disposal

CLICK or TAP HERE to discover how you can save hundreds of dollars and avoid visits from plumbers.

New Bid Anxiety-Relief Products

Last week, I created three new products that may be of great interest to you. I’m saying this assuming you still want contractors to come to your home to work on things during this wretched health crisis.

Based on input I received from many, I’ve created a way you can have me look over bids you get for projects around your house.
bid review services

The benefits to you are:

  • I spot oversights in the bids
  • I check to see if the proposed work is adequate
  • I make sure no inferior products are being suggested by the contractor(s)

CLICK or TAP HERE to see my new Bid Review Services.

PLEASE WATCH the video at the top of the page. If that doesn’t convince you why you need this service, then I’ll eat two pieces of pecan pie in your honor.

Best Caulk Gun

You might think that all caulk guns work the same way. You’d not be entirely correct.

Were you lucky enough in your lifetime to drive a car or truck with a standard transmission? I bought myself a brand new VW Beetle for my 17th birthday. It had a 4-speed manual transmission.

When I was 22, I bought myself a brand-new Ford F-100 pickup truck with a three-speed transmission on the steering column. I LOVED that truck and transmission. What an idiot I was to sell it!

Anyway, buy the right caulk gun and you’ll completely understand the comparison. Think granny gear.

caulk gun

CLICK or TAP HERE to discover the absolute BEST caulk gun I’ve ever used. I own two of them.

That’s enough for a Tuesday.

Remember, if you want me to call you, you need to fill out the form I link to on this page.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner - www.StainSolver.com
Life-Saving Radio - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. While you’re locked down at home, are you thinking of doing some fence work? Do you know what the most common mistake is when building a fence and/or installing fence posts? I didn’t think so. CLICK or TAP HERE to see what I’d suggest if I were helping you.

Free Home Improvement Help

Posted on by Tim Carter
free home improvement help

Free Home Improvement Help | It’s time to brush off the dust from my microphone to help you through this massive health crisis. Copyright 2020 Tim Carter

Free Home Improvement Help on the Phone

There’s not a doubt in my mind that you’ve been directly affected by the current health crisis that’s sweeping over the USA like a plague of plant-devouring locusts mentioned numerous times in the Bible. These are extraordinary times and they call for extraordinary effort from many of us, me included.

Several years ago, I was involved in a discussion with a dear friend. We are polar opposites on political issues. I think the discussion had to do with giving things to people who are less fortunate. My friend said to me, “... to those who much is given, much is expected.” She knew that God had blessed me with success with my building and media career. Her statement cut deep to the bone, but it rang true - once I had cooled down.

Do You Offer Free Home Improvement Help?

Just because the economy has shut down for all intents and purposes, that doesn’t mean the problems and challenges at your own home have stopped. In fact, you may be more desperate now than you were a month ago.

Perhaps you don’t want strangers coming to your house. I get that. The virus we’re all battling is invisible. It’s not like a person with a sunburn who you could see and avoid.

Your challenge could be financial. So many are suffering. I get that. Just nine years ago, I had to face an incredible financial challenge of my own. I’m quite sensitive to this particular situation and understand the difficulty you might face.

Can You Answer Complex Questions?

This morning God sent me a vision of how I might be able to help you long distance. He told me that I need to radically alter my schedule, work longer hours, and that I need to step up to the plate to help you. He blessed me years ago with the ability to explain complex building issues in a way you can understand.

He also trained me on how to talk on the radio and in front of a camera. I did a two-hour live call-in radio show for twelve years, and I was the weekly home improvement expert on the ABC and NBC-TV affiliates in Cincinnati, Ohio. It’s time to brush off the dust from those past experiences to help you.

How Do I Get the Free Help?

Beginning in just a few days, I’ve decided to devote two hours a day minimum calling homeowners all across the USA. You may need to know how to do a simple repair. I can help get you started over the phone.

Because money is tighter than a banjo string right now, you can’t afford to buy something new so you need to know how to protect what you have. I can help. Or, if you are buying something, perhaps you want to know what might be the best product so you don't waste precious money.

In many cases, a simple quick phone call may help you. In others, I may have to record a short video with some drawings as I made all those years ago sitting at future customers’ dining room tables showing them how I was going to solve a particular issue when building their room addition or house.

The point is, it’s time for me to try to share my knowledge far and wide. I intend to record each phone call, keeping your identity private. I'll then upload the recording to my website so everyone with the same problem can listen and benefit.

Any video I do, I’ll upload to my AsktheBuilder YouTube channel so you can watch it. It’s my hope that your newspaper will allow me to devote a small section of this column to all the recordings and videos I completed the previous week.

I actually think this could help save tens of millions of dollars collectively, and lessen your anxiety about issues you face with your home in these trying times.

I’ve created a form on my website that you need to fill out with some information so I can do my best to help you. Remember, your privacy is paramount. No one will know it’s you who’s asking for help.

If you want me to answer your question(s) all you have to do is go to the form on my AsktheBuilder.com website. Below is the Link:

Tim Carter Calls You

I don’t yet know how many will respond. I don’t know how many different problems a week I can solve. I do know that your problem may be shared by someone else so even though I don’t call you, a phone call or video I create for someone else may be all the help you require.

I’m wide open to ideas on how to make this work for you as the concept is not cast in stone. We can work together to refine how to transfer the knowledge. If you have a better mousetrap that will allow me to help more people faster, I’d love to hear from you.

Stay safe and I pray each day that you’ll survive this crisis stronger than before.

Column 1347