Welcome aboard if you're new in the last seven days. You'll soon hear the AsktheBuilder.com train whistle moan moments away as we prepare to depart the station.

If you've been riding on the AsktheBuilder.com Newsletter RR for months or years, then you know what happens when I start to board you onto the coaches. Ladies, get those cameras ready!

If this RR jargon is confusing to you, perhaps you need to CLICK or TAP HERE to see one of the skills and magic I list on my business card. I GUARANTEE you're going to like the photo you're about to see.

Thanksgiving

Have you ever thought about the symbolism of Thanksgiving occurring just six weeks before the end of the year?

It's a great time to reflect back on the past year and all the gifts God has bestowed upon you. I can tell you that 2019 for me is a year I'll never forget as I was truly blessed with so many prizes.

I'm thankful for many things not the least of which is you being part of my AsktheBuilder.com family. Not too awful long you might have played an important part in making sure I've got a continuing presence here on the Interweb. I'm forever thankful for your help in keeping me in the game.

Thanksgiving features my favorite meal of the year. I love everything about Thanksgiving dinner and I'll splurge this year on desert - both pumpkin and pecan pie.

I've recently altered my diet and pretty much cut out 90 percent of the sugar in what I eat. I'm sure I can survive a few pieces of pie spread out over a few days, what do you think?

FAST Bathroom Remodel?

Are you needing to remodel your bathroom before Christmas? You've got time to get it done. Years ago, the average time for me to complete a standard bathroom remodel was six DAYS. Kitchen remodels took longer and some kitchen jobs stretched out for quite a few weeks!

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE QUOTES and IDEAS about your upcoming bathroom remodel job.

Installing A Noritz Combi Boiler

About ten days ago, I had the distinct pleasure to install the Noritz NRCB combi boiler in my daughter's new home on Mt. Desert Island in Downeast Maine. Not only does that small box - about the size of a medium piece of luggage! - heat the house, but it also provides the house with UNLIMITED domestic hot water so long as you have propane and a wet well!

Yes, I installed much of the copper you see in the above photo. The rest was installed by my son-in-law. He also took the bull by the horns and installed all of the high and low-voltage wiring for the recirculating pumps.

The installation was really easy. We used a Ridgid Press tool to make all those fancy copper connections you see in the above photo. There was NO SOLDERING! How is that possible you ask? CLICK or TAP the following link!!!!!

CLICK or TAP HERE to see quite a few step-by-step photos of the installation. It was in a very small closet and we got everything to fit. When you visit that page you'll see a short video of how unbelievable the Ridgid Press tool is. Strap yourself in to be WOWED!

Olight Stocking Stuffer

Here's a fantastic stocking stuffer for all those folks on your Christmas list that love handy gadgets. CLICK or TAP HERE to get one, or maybe five of them.

I reviewed this LED light last year and want to report it's been on my keychain for eleven months without an issue. It works, it holds a charge and it's BRIGHT.

This is a gift that every loved one you give it to will appreciate. If not, have them give me a call and I'll help them recalibrate their gratefulness sensor.

Concrete Sidewalk Specifications & Drawing

A few weeks ago, you may have helped me with your ideas about new simple drawings and specifications that will allow you to:

• make sure your projects are done RIGHT
• get great bids because all contractors are bidding the SAME THING

I uploaded my first one of these products several days ago to my shopping cart. Here's just a part of the hand-drawn full-color drawing you get:

Using these simple specifications and drawing you'll significantly INCREASE your chances of getting your new concrete sidewalk done the RIGHT WAY so it lasts for generations.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get your set now.

I've dropped the price from $14.95 to $9.95 because you're a member of my AsktheBuilder.com family.

This discount will last for one week, so don't delay. You get a PDF file that you text, email, or send by carrier pigeon to your bidding contractors.

Shop at Amazon?

If you plan to shop at Amazon for Christmas gifts, you can help ensure this newsletter keeps coming to you each week by using my affiliate link to shop at Amazon.

I get a very tiny slice of the purchase price of anything you buy. It doesn't cost you any extra money, as all it does is lower the amount of money Jeff Bezos gets to pump JP-1A (kerosene) into his private jet.

CLICK or TAP HERE to use my special link.

Square a Deck

Look at this photo and imagine the challenge in front of you:

CLICK or TAP HERE to see if you would solve the conundrum as I would. Remember, there are ten ways to skin this cat.

That's quite enough for a Sunday morning. I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving if you live here in the USA. If your country has a similar holiday, I wish you tidings of gratitude, peace and good fortune..

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
SUPER CLEAN EVERYTHING - www.StainSolver.com
Transform a Dock into an Antenna - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. The bay rum cologne really works. CLICK that link and scroll to the bottom of the page. Ladies, consider giving it as a gift to your soulmate if you want him to intoxicate you each time he walks by or sits next to you on the couch eating popcorn watching a movie.

Are you a brand new subscriber? Is this your first issue? I've got a few prizes for you below!

You may be a subscriber in good standing for any number of weeks or years. If so, then you know that each issue of the AsktheBuilder newsletter has one, or more, surprises!

Is Your House Cold?

Winter is upon us. Here in the Great Northeast Kingdom, as well as the Midwest, a brief blast of frigid Arctic air swept over millions the past four days.

You may be a person that gets cold easily and need your house warm. The issue with that is the greater the difference in temperature between outside and inside your home, there's a significant cost to maintain that indoor temperature. If you know any algebra, it's a non-linear function.

I've got an idea for you that you just may want to try. Don't pooh pooh it until you at least try it. CLICK or TAP HERE to see how I stay warm in my house and keep my fuel bills LOW.

BTW, if you want a free quote on a new furnace or boiler before it gives up the ghost on the COLDEST DAY of the winter, CLICK or TAP HERE.

Brick Mortar - Secret Recipe

Check out that mortar between the brick.

The mortar is stronger than the brick! This photo was taken in Puerto Rico and they don't have freezing weather there so for the brick to erode like this is somewhat remarkable.

But why is it the mortar - which typically is the first thing to deteriorate - stronger than the brick?

How can you make mortar that can give Mother Nature all she can handle in her never-ending cage fight of transporting things to the oceans?

Oh, it's so very easy! CLICK or TAP HERE to see how I'd mix the mortar if you hired me to build your brick home or serpentine brick garden wall.

Amazon Reminder

You may do lots of Christmas shopping this time of year. If so, you can help make sure this newsletter keeps showing up in your Inbox by going to Amazon using my link. CLICK or TAP HERE to start shopping.

Each time you buy something at Amazon using my link, I get a tiny part of the profit Jeff Bezos would otherwise keep to help fund his growing empire.

I use that revenue to help pay for my valuable team members, the cost of my server, and the watercolor pencils I just bought to color drawing I'm creating for you. Blah blah blah.

I really appreciate you using my above Amazon link as it helps this small AsktheBuilder.com business continue to be there when you need advice and help.

Cool Christmas Gift Light Idea

Here's a dandy prize you can buy for that special someone in your life that will help them illuminate the path they're on!

CLICK or TAP HERE to discover exactly why I really liked this handy LED light that can help you while you're doing some detailed sewing, maybe making a delicious chocolate pound cake in a dim kitchen early on a winter's day and need help reading the faded recipe, or maybe you're trying to install a boiler in a dark closet.

There are countless situations where this light will come in handy. You can even hang it from a hook!

Jerry's Peeling Paint

Jerry landed on my Ask Tim page earlier in the week. Here's what he wrote:

"We bought a wonderful house two years ago. It has a large deck that keeps peeling paint in various places. I have repainted in these area and it still keeps peeling. Is there some way to prime or some other way to stop this from happening? The former owner had the same problem. I think the wood is pressure treated. Thanks."

How would you answer Jerry? What do you think is the problem?

CLICK or TAP HERE for some insight into why coatings - paint is a coating - peel from HORIZONTAL exterior surfaces more easily than vertical surfaces.

CLICK or TAP HERE to really understand what's going on with decking lumber and WHY it's nearly impossible for you to get paint to hold onto it.

You're going to be SHOCKED at what you discover. In fact, I'm willing to bet you three dark chocolate Aglamesis pecandes that you didn't know all the facts I present to you about lumber shrinkage.

If you don't like pecandes, then you can substitute walnut, cashew, chopped dates and raisins mix! Oh, I'm hungry after typing that!

Ice on Gutter Guards or Gutters

Do you know why ice really forms in gutters and on those expensive gutter guards you bought?

I'm serious.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get insight about the mystery of super-chilled water.

That's quite enough for a Sunday morning. I need to get a few other things done before leaving for church. I'll be out walking this afternoon as the temperature here in New Hampshire will be moderating a bit after noon.

Tim Carter
Founder- www.AsktheBuilder.com
Clean Your Grout With Ease! - www.StainSolver.com
Morse Mitten Man - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Riddle me this: What is one way to figure out how to put the wires back on a 3-way switch you thought you knew how to replace? Want to save $150 an electrician will charge? I thought so. CLICK or TAP HERE.

Veterans Day

Did you have the honor and privilege to wear a uniform of any branch of the US Military? Perhaps you have a spouse, daughter, son, or other relative that was, or is currently, in the service of the great United States of America.

If so, I and my family thank you/them for your/their service. Today is the day set aside to honor your/their sacrifice and putting your/their life on the line for the unparalleled liberty and freedom the rest of us enjoy each day in the greatest nation of the world hands down.

Billions of other people across the globe wish they were able to exercise the God-given rights many take for granted here in the United States of America. You put your life on the line to protect and preserve these rights. Take for example the simple God-given right of self defense.

You may have come back from your time in the service with memories of hardship, but also pride and a sense of accomplishment. Not all are so lucky.

You may not have had any injuries, physical or emotional. Not all are so fortunate.

My Dad

My Dad was a vet. He served as a medic in Company A, 6th Medical Battalion. He was in General Bradley's 2nd Corps in Northern Africa where I understand he got a serious scorching sunburn early in that campaign. Back then they didn't have the miracle sunscreen we have today.

Yep, that's my dad just after he got back from WW II. Who's that vivacious woman on his right? My mom, of course. Look at them. My dad was just 28 in that photo and my mom, are you sitting down? - just 22 - soon to be 23.

Imagine how bright red her lipstick was? You can sure see why my dad was attracted to my mom. Wow, she was gorgeous!

My dad physically survived the war, but emotionally he was a wreck. One might imagine the things he saw on the battlefield as he tried to save other soldiers lives.

Early in the war, he was shot and wounded and got a Purple Heart. It was not too serious, so he stayed in the fight.

In March of 1944, his unit was overrun in a battle in southern France and he was captured by the Nazis. I was told a story early in my childhood that he had a chance to escape and not be captured, but he stayed on the battlefield to tend to an injured soldier.

Dad grew potatoes for the German Army in a Polish stalag. He was liberated thirteen months later by the advancing Russian army. I remember him telling the story of that glorious day at the kitchen table.

As I remember it, one morning in the early spring of 1945, he and the other prisoners woke up to find the Nazi guards gone. They had run away during the night having advance notice that the Russians were coming.

All of a sudden a Russian tank rumbled up to the prison camp, drove through the gate and stopped. Dad said they were all frightened thinking the tank was going to slaughter them.

The next thing that happened is the hatch on top of the turret flipped open, and the tank commander popped his head up and looked around. He then disappeared back into the tank and came back up with a five-gallon metal fuel container.

It was filled with vodka, not gasoline, and a liberation party ensued!

Here's dad's purple heart medal and the one for his POW experience.

PTSD

They didn't call it that back in the great WW II. Dad had a bad case of it. Back seventy years ago, the medical experts thought the best way to treat this debilitating condition was with electro shock therapy. Did you see the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?

It turns out this shock therapy made PTSD worse for some, as it did my dad.

Dad was unable to hold a job, his depression was so great. My mom supported the family being one of the first women pharmacists in the state of OH.

Dad just stayed home and suffered. He slept on the couch and listened to country music most days. When I was young, I didn't understand all this. Back then, families didn't talk about it.

But as I matured late in high school and college, I started to connect the dots. Dad and I started to talk more and he took a great interest in my studies. He also was fascinated with my construction business as soon as I got out of college.

On days when he felt up to it, he'd come over to the first house I rehabbed - they call it flipping now - and shake his head in amazement at what we were doing.

We had to send my Dad back to Heaven when I was just 24. He was only 59 years old. He died of heart failure tied no doubt to his sedentary lifestyle, his relentless smoking, and no doubt a deep personal lack of accomplishment and maybe some shame.

But little did he know he was a great success as a man, husband, and father. He taught me many things even though the teaching happened in a subliminal way.

Dad taught me perseverance that he no doubt developed while a POW.

Dad taught me kindness, a skill surely he developed on the battlefield caring for injured and dying soldiers.

Dad taught me to honor our great nation. We had one very difficult kitchen-table talk when the Vietnam War was raging.

My draft number at age 18 was 127 and that year they went up to 125. If drafted, I would have gone, but I was a soul-surviving son so I was told I'd never be put into action. Remember the movie Saving Private Ryan? I was the only son in the family to carry on the Carter name for our family.

I want to call out some of my friends who are vets. My best friend in Cincinnati, Richard Anderson, who twice VOLUNTEERED to go to Vietnam.

My good buddy Chuck who was in the Coast Guard.

My fellow home improvement peer Mike Morris who served in Vietnam.

My very good friend, who used to subscribe to this newsletter, Captain Dick Daniels. Dick was an F4 pilot in Vietnam. I forget how many times he tail-hooked on carriers. I got to meet Dick and his wife Sue on several trips out West.

My buddy Bill Kingman who was sent to the Middle East and was kind enough to send me a US flag that was flown over there.

My really good friend Bob Roark who was in the US Air Force as a crew chief.

My nephew Kevin who was in the US Navy.

If I overlooked you, I apologize. Please forgive me but you know I appreciate what you did.

Please know that millions of people are appreciative of your service.

I hope you have a fantastic day.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

Welcome if you're a brand-new subscriber. This is a somewhat short newsletter.

If you've been here any length of time here on the list, then you know this is one of my rough and tumble newsletters.

How was your week? Mine was filled with a myriad of small projects. I discovered watercolor pencils and how to use them. Soon you're going to see how they're going to be used in a line of new products I'm creating for you.

Specifications and Drawings

Last week I asked for your help for ideas where you need a simple drawing and some short specifications. With these in hand, you can be assured the jobs around your home are going to be done right AND the bids you get back from contractors will be easier to compare.

I was astonished at some of the ideas you shared. They were amazing!

My biggest takeaway is that for quite a few of your ideas, I already have a vast majority of the information you need on my website for free, although it is NOT in an easy-to-consume form and it lacks the hand-drawn illustration needed to translate the written words into a picture.

Here are a few examples:

Kurt H. wanted to get drawings for a four-season room. Here's what's already at my website, although it's not the easiest thing to find I admit:

I used the search phrase: room addition

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what you discover about a project like Kurt's. Please look through ALL the results.

Barbara K. wanted to know about a front brick patio.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see the plethora of past thoughts I've spewed from my brain about these wonderful outdoor rooms.

WAIT UNTIL you see the photos of the brick patios and steps I've built at my last home! You need to open quite a few in the search results to SEE all the photos!!

Kathleen S. wanted to know about the best covering for a basement floor. Once again, I've written about this, but it's not the easiest thing to find.

I decided to enter into the search box at my website:

basement flooring

CLICK or TAP HERE to get a grasp of all your alternatives. CLUE: Think about water!

El Yunque Rain Forest Adventure!

A little over three weeks ago, I was in Puerto Rico to visit my daughter. That's her on the right in the above photo.

I thought you might enjoy this story that has absolutely nothing to do with home improvement. CLICK or TAP HERE and allow the photos to take you to El Yunque!

How Long Should Concrete Last?

How old do you think the darker gray concrete is?

CLICK OR TAP HERE to see what I think. But MORE IMPORTANTLY, click or tap so you know HOW TO MAKE concrete that will last that long or LONGER.Wait until you see the one photo of the stuccoed concrete steps!!!!

Amazon Shopping? Please Consider Helping Yourself

Christmas is lurking right around the corner. If you shop at Amazon for things this time of year or ANYTIME, you can help keep this newsletter coming to you by just using my affiliate link to start your shopping.

Using my link does NOT cause your price of anything to go up. Amazon simply shares a small portion of their profit with me for brokering the deal.

CLICK or TAP HERE to start your shopping.

It's important to realize that there are TWO links you can use EACH WEEK in each addition of this newsletter that will take you to Amazon. You may pass over them.

If you see a right column filled with little images, note the two that say, "Help Grow AsktheBuilder..." Do you see them??? You can click those EACH WEEK to start your shopping at Amazon.

That's enough for a Sunday morning.

Old Man Winter is about to rattle the cages of MILLIONS here in the Midwest, South and Northeast. We've got about 5 inches of snow forecast in the next 48 hours and damn cold temperatures following the frozen H2O that falls from the sky! Bah!!!!

I know, I know, I hear all you down in FL, AZ and southern CA saying, "Tim, if only you...."

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Certified ORGANIC Clean Man - www.StainSolver.com
Morse Man - www.W3ATB.com

Welcome if this is your first issue! It's great to have you here.

You may have been here for a while. This could be your second or 1,015th issue! I think that's about how many I've sent out. I should have kept track!

Getting Great Bids From Contractors

I was doing lots of driving in the past thirty days. I love to do long-distance driving with no music or any other distractions. I find I can do some deep thinking away from the normal office routine.

I was thinking about you and how hard a time you might have COMPARING bids on any type of project. More importantly, you may want the job done RIGHT, but have no clue how it SHOULD BE DONE.

My very good friend Dan, who lives in Colorado, came to mind while I was driving along I-95.

He reached out to me in the summer asking for tips on replacing some concrete steps and sidewalk leading up to his house from the street. I decided the best thing to do is create a fast color drawing by hand of how I would install the concrete so it would last for 50, or more, years AND BE SAFE. I did the drawing freehand knowing that Dan could figure it out.

Here's what I sent him:

Here's my question:

Would you be interested in higher-quality hand-drawn color drawings like this along with one page of some simple written specifications to help you:

• understand a great way to do the job
• get bids on the same materials and processes
• give you confidence to meet and talk with the contractors

Here's the dilemma you face:

Something needs to be replaced at your house and you have NO IDEA what might be the best way to do it. It could be a concrete sidewalk like Dan's, it might be your asphalt shingle roof, it could be a brick or stone chimney crown repair, it could be a blacktop driveway replacement.

I could go on and on with jobs like this.

You call in three contractors and each one tells you a different product or method he's going to use. It now becomes almost impossible to compare bids. Think about it, who do you believe? What is the best bid? What's the best method?

But imagine if you had a CLEAR simple drawing(s) similar to what you see above and a one-page sheet of simple specifications. You hand, text, or email them to the three contractors and say, "Please base your bid doing the job this way."

Do you think these would help you get the job done right and give you peace of mind?

If you answered YES to that question, please CLICK or TAP HERE and fill out the SHORT survey.

If you fill out the survey, I'm going to give you the first one I create for FREE.

Helping Emma

About seven years ago, I used Kickstarter.com to produce a huge series of videos to show you how to build a very nice shed. My project is still on Kickstarter but you can no longer contribute to it. CLICK or TAP HERE to see it.

If you want access to my Shed Building videos, CLICK or TAP HERE.

An Internet entrepreneur friend of mine, Scott, reached out to me this past week to share that his stepdaughter Emma just launched a project on Kickstarter. Emma's just nine-years-old. GO Emma!

Emma has invented Zero the Dream Hero. Here he is with Emma's sister Olivia. Olivia is the inspiration for Zero.

I URGE you to go watch Emma in her video and read all about Zero. It's probably going to bring a tear to your eye, maybe ten tears.

This is absolutely a worthwhile cause and if you have a child or grandchild who needs a cool stuffed toy, Zero the Dream Hero could be just the ticket.

Realize if you make a pledge and Emma's goal is NOT MET, you get all your money back. You risking NOTHING by helping Emma hit, or exceed, her goal.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see why Emma's created Zero to help her sister Olivia. Please try to help Emma reach her goal.

FEEL FREE to share that link with all your friends, co-workers, relatives, etc. - anyone you think that might want a Zero the Dream Hero stuffed toy.

Gasoline Explosion HAZARD

Many people get seriously burned by gasoline. Some die.

I BEG YOU to CLICK or TAP HERE to watch a few videos to see how DANGEROUS gasoline is to use for starting outdoor fires.

On that page I share a gasoline story that happened to me. I'm very lucky I don't have skin grafts.

It's also a BAD IDEA to use gasoline to get rid of ants or other animals that build tunnels underground. WAIT UNTIL you see what happens in the one video!

DIY Electrical Wiring

Look at this photo:

What you see is the largest switch box at my daughter's new home. Each one happens to be a 3-way switch.

Have you ever thought about doing electrical wiring but are TERRIFIED by it?

I wrote a column for you to show you how you might be able to accomplish the task and not get killed.

CLICK or TAP HERE and I guarantee you'll discover something you didn't know.

That's quite enough for a Sunday.

Soon you're going to see another video about a wonderful Noritz combi boiler that's going to keep my new granddaughter toasty warm as well as create endless hot water for baths and showers.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see the boiler I'm using on the job.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Certified Organic MAGIC Cleaner - www.StainSolver.com
Flinger of Invisible Waves - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!