July 27, 2019 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on July 27, 2019 by Tim Carter

Are you a new subscriber? Welcome to the mayhem of AsktheBuilder.com. It's good mayhem, not bad.

Existing subscriber? Go ahead, tell one of the new subscribers how much sweet moola I've saved you over the past few months and years!

Remember My RANT About the Wire?

Less than a month ago, I was fuming about a shorted underground wire at my home. It's very important for you to realize I didn't build the home I live in at this time. Oh how I can't wait to build my next new home!

CLICK or TAP HERE to read what happened a month ago.

Now peer at this photo:
underground wire short burn

You're looking at the shorted wire I extracted from the rocky soil.

Do you want to know exactly what happened? I thought so.

CLICK or TAP HERE to read the autopsy report.

You absolutely want to read the report and look at the STUNNING PHOTOS. The other reason is Mike Cyr, a virtual friend from northern Maine, wrote to me with a time-tested method to PREVENT shorts in underground wires.

Wait until you read what Mike's electrician does.

Debba and the $300 Gift Card

Two months or so ago, I asked you to help provide some data about indoor portable dehumidifiers. You and hundreds of others responded!

I offered up a $300 Amazon gift card to help make it worth your while. You were assigned a unique number as your answers were recorded.

After the deadline passed, I went to random.org and used their random-number generator to pick the winner of the gift card.

It was Debba.

Here's what Debba sent me after she received it:

Dear Tim,

Your envelope just came in today's mail (we're last on the route). Thank you for all you sent along. I am happy to have the NEFR patch that you personally designed. It's quite handsome. I enjoy reading your ham radio columns, and now I have a patch.

And I am excited to have a piece of ancient mica. Because your degree was in Geology, I know you have considerable interest in this, so it makes the mica even more special.

I guess I don't have to describe the feeling of "winning" the gift card. What a wonderful timely surprise this is. My first grandchild arrived in February, and now Emma is needing a crib at home and one at Grammy's when she visits. This card will go nicely towards the two beds.

Thank you again, Tim. This all has been lots of fun, and I so appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Debba

Debba, I'm so glad the gift card will be put to such a great cause for Emma's slumber!

Prefabricated Wall Panels - Super Precise

It seems like eons ago that we were putting up the factory-built prefabricated wall panels at my daughter's new home.

The winter conditions made job-built walls very challenging. What might have taken a week or more in the field, was accomplished in hours.

CLICK or TAP HERE to WATCH a video I made about the wall panels.

What did you think? My guess is you'll be convinced you should use these on your next job - even a large room addition! With skilled labor as rare as a white moose, you'll want precise factory-built walls on your job.

CLICK or TAP HERE to discover more about HOW MUCH THEY COST and WHAT LUMBER COMPANY near you can supply these for you.

That's quite enough for the last weekend in July. Party time today and tomorrow!

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Certified Organic Cleaner - www.StainSolver.com - look at baseball hat!!
Invisible Happiness - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. Isn't it weird that science has disproved the silly "i" before "e" except after "c" spelling rule?

P.P.S. I'm only responsible for what I blurt out of my mouth or what flows from my fingertips while typing the Dvorak method, not what you may understand.

Underground Wire Short

Posted on July 27, 2019 by Tim Carter

Underground Wire Short | Here's the section of wire that caused my problem. You can see how the dead short caused a small fire underground burning away the plastic wire insulation. Underground wire, in my opinion, should be placed in conduit. That said, read what Mike Cyr, one of my newsletter subscribers, sent to me below. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

Underground Wire Short - Conduit and Sand Are the Answers

I didn't build the house I'm living in. Each month I discover something new where the builder and his subcontractors took a shortcut.

A few months ago I had an underground wire short. This wire extends from the corner of my house up to the base of an oak tree. From there it split off to a spotlight and then to a post lamp at the end of the driveway.

Was the Wire Rated For Underground Burial?

Yes, the wire was rated for direct burial.

Was the Wire Put in Conduit to Protect It?

There was one piece of 3/4-inch PVC conduit that ran under the blacktop driveway. On either side of the conduit, the wire was buried in the rocky soil without a conduit.

What Caused the Underground Wire Short?

Frost movement in my soil caused the wire short. It's important to realize I live in New Hampshire and the ground freezes each winter. It then thaws in the spring.

The freezing and thawing cause movement in the soil. Water in the soil expands by 9 percent in volume when it turns to ice. This movement wore away the insulation on the wire where it exited the end of a piece of PVC conduit.

Would the Short Have Happened if the Wire was in Conduit?

Maybe. In my case, you can see in the photo below what was the primary cause of the short. The wire exited the conduit and made a sharp 90-degree bend. That bend in the wire contributed the friction along the edge of the conduit.

The conduit is at the top of the photo. You can see the original underground gray wire in the trench. Look at the closeup photo below to see the wire make the sharp 90-degree bend. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

The red arrow points to the exact location of the underground wire short before I pulled the wire out of the ground. May the electrician who put in this wire have black flies around his face for months on end every year. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

I feel conduit is a great idea because it protects underground wires from gardening shovels and spades.

I cut the wire and made an above-ground splice in a waterproof code-approved junction box. I installed all new wire from this junction box to the oak tree on the other side of the driveway. This wire was placed inside new PVC NEC-approved conduit. I connected my new conduit to that which existed under the driveway.

Here's where I made the splice connecting a new underground cable to the old buried one. The conduit on the left travels up under the drive to the oak tree. The conduit on the right has the original wire that extends back to the corner of the garage. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

Is There Another Way to Prevent an Underground Wire Short?

Mike Cyr is one of my newsletter subscribers. He's a great man that I hope to meet one day. He routinely responds to my comments in my newsletter and had this to say when I bemoaned my shorted wire in the spring of 2019:

"I have a friend who just retired as a master electrician and has done a lot of my work and we have buried some wires underground over the years.

He is against burying wire in conduit, and his reasoning is this: He claims that frost up here in northern Maine can go deep and can bring rocks up out of the ground and lift and stretch the conduit and actually break a joint or splice in the conduit, thus breaking the wire or opening a small gap in the conduit enough to fill with water and freeze the next freeze-thaw cycle and break the wire.

When he and I buried wire many times and many years ago, he would use direct burial wire which is designed for underground and we would put about 1-2 feet of sand under the wire and then make the trench 1 to 2 ft. wide and zig-zag the wire in the trench thus allowing the wire some slack to move with the frost. We would then bury it with sand or crusher dust.

He told me he has never had a wire break doing it this way but has had many come apart in the conduits. This is just some food for thought."

Mike's electrician friend is right. Frost does push rocks up through the soil. Just ask any New England farmer! I don't dispute anything Mike's electrician said and protecting the wire with lots of sand is an excellent idea.

If you're going to bury your wire the way Mike's electrician does it and you're passing through a garden area, be sure to bury the wire quite deep so no shovel, spade, or roto-tiller can cut the wire.

What Does Wire Buried in Conduit Look Like?

It looks like victory. Can you see how this would prevent the wire from rubbing against anything? Sure, in extreme conditions as described by Mike you could get a failure. But if you live where the soil doesn't freeze, the conduit is the only way to go.

This is 3/4-inch PVC electrical conduit. The 90-degree fitting at the tree will connect to an additional piece of conduit that extends up into a new 4x4 waterproof box. The conduit is in a shallow trench about 6 inches deep. Be sure to follow the National Electric Code when installing yours. Note that local inspectors can modify some codes. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

Prefabricated Wall Panels Video

Posted on July 25, 2019 by Tim Carter

Prefabricated Wall Panels

Tim Carter talks about the wonder of prefabricated wall panels. These panels are built in a factory and are assembled FAST on the job site. Floor trusses vs floor joists should be on your mind too.

Heat Wave Help – How We Used to Stay Cool

Posted on July 22, 2019 by Tim Carter

Heat Wave Help - How We Used to Stay Cool | It’s no wonder your attic is blistering hot. My roof temperature exceeds 162 F and that heat radiates into my attic and then into my home. (C) Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

How to Cool My Home - Use Time-Tested Methods

You may be one of the tens of millions of people that have been suffering in the blistering heatwave that had a vicious grip on the Eastern USA during July. I happen to live in central New Hampshire and it was a withering 91 F with a dew point near 70 F this past weekend. That’s rare for this part of the nation and I know it’s much hotter in other locations.

Summer heat is nothing new. Not by a long shot. If you dig deep into weather history and connect it to homes and how our ancestors survived, you’ll discover that builders and homeowners discovered how to cope with the heat and humidity.

You may wonder what’s in play when the sun’s powerful infrared rays strike your home’s roof and windows. I used my infrared camera and captured a frightening image of my roof not too long ago.

How Hot Can A Roof Surface Get?

The south-facing roof shingles, or roof surface, which take a direct strike from the sun, get up to almost 163 F. That’s hot enough to cause second-degree skin burns in seconds should you touch the roof surface. Believe me, that’s the voice of experience talking.

That heat is transferred to the wood framing that supports your roof. Years ago, I recorded temperatures in my house attic of 140 F. The entire roof radiates heat much like a campfire that’s reduced to glowing embers.

This heat is transferred to the inside of your home because the ceiling below your attic starts to get very hot. Once again, think of how a campfire keeps you warm.

I know, you’re wondering all about your attic insulation and why it’s not helping to keep you cool. The reason is simple. Insulation is a building product that slows the transfer of heat. It does not stop it. To stop a large portion of heat transfer, you need a radiant barrier similar to aluminum foil.

Will a Radiant Barrier Product Ruin My Roofing?

I've not done this testing, but I paid attention in my high school physics class. When the sun is beating down on your roof, the heat bounced back by the radiant barrier should always be less, unless the barrier has a concave shape. In this case, it might focus the infrared rays back to the underside of the roof sheathing in a tightly focused area.

CLICK or TAP HERE to read all my past columns about radiant barriers, especially the chips.

Does My Attic Insulation Get Hot?

Keep in mind as the temperature of your attic starts to climb as the sun gets higher in the sky, so does the temperature of the actual insulation in your attic and walls.

The trouble is, the insulation then does the job it’s supposed to do late in the day and early evening. You want your house to cool down, but it’s slowing the transfer of heat from the inside of your house to the outdoors. It’s a vicious circle of one of the laws of physics.

I can clearly remember growing up without central air conditioning in my Midwest home. My mother had all sorts of electric fans we used in the bedrooms to blow lots of air across us to help make sleeping possible.

How Does a Fan Cool Me Off?

Fans help cool you because they increase the rate of evaporation of your body’s perspiration. As the sweat turns into water vapor, it takes some of your body heat with it. The faster you can make this happen the cooler you’ll be - to a degree of course.

Builders years ago built homes with large overhangs so the sun would not enter windows during the hottest part of the day. You don’t see generous overhangs in new homes all too often. This is an example of a building practice that's going from history to legend to myth.

Do Window Drapes Keep a House Cool?

Older homes had drapes over the windows indoors. People would pull these closed during the day to stop the direct influx of infrared rays into the living space. You can coat windows with nearly invisible films to reduce the absorption of infrared into your home if you don’t like drapes.

Will a Whole House Fan Cool My Home?

Whole house fans have been kicked to the curb for the most part as central AC seems to be the way to combat hot houses. Whole house fans can do a marvelous job of cooling you down as you can control where the breeze is in your home depending on what windows you open.

Chicken farmers use this ancient technology to keep chickens alive in hot weather. They use giant fans in hen houses that move hundreds of thousands of cubic feet of air per minute. Realize you can never get the temperature below the outside air temperature, but this amount of air moving across your body will rapidly cool you because of the evaporation of your perspiration.

The issue is, you don’t want to be using a whole-house fan while the AC is on. Realize that these giant fans kept millions of families fairly comfortable long before AC was affordable and in widespread use in residential homes.

Are Ceiling Paddle Fans A Good Idea?

Simple ceiling paddle fans in rooms also can help. Just look in the background of old TV shows and movies that take place in hot climates. You almost always see these lazy fans creating a breeze. Do your best to make sure all these simple things aren’t forgotten by new homeowners and young builders!

Column 1311

Picking Exterior Paint Colors – Walk or Drive Around

Posted on July 18, 2019 by Tim Carter

Picking Exterior Paint Colors | You can do what is being done above on the siding, but there's a faster and easier way. One of these colors may end up over the entire house. Color selection confounds many. Be sure you use urethane house paint once you make your decision. (C) Copyright 2021 Tim Carter

Picking Exterior Paint Colors - Walk or Drive Around

QUESTION #1: Please help me, Tim! I’m trying to select a new color for the outside of my house. I’m frozen and unable to make a decision looking at samples on a brochure. I don’t want to make a mistake. Please share a few tips that can relieve my anxiety like ice cream satisfies my sweet tooth. Deb M., Turtle Lake, ND

You may be like Deb. If so, you’re not alone. Color selection stymies lots of people, including me! The ability to visualize different and complementary colors over large areas, like the outside of a home, is a gift. Treasure it if you have it.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local painters who can help you pick colors.

Is Color-Selection Anxiety Real?

What's the Best Way To Pick House Colors?

I’ll share with you the same advice I gave my customers years ago. Get in your car and drive around looking at exterior paint colors. Go through neighborhoods looking for houses that look like yours and have a color scheme that you really like. This can now be done sitting in your living room looking at hundreds of house listings on real estate sites. You can also use different social media websites that curate millions of photos of houses.

When Should I Pick the Color Chips?

Once you locate a few colors you like, use the color chip samples from paint stores to get close to the colors that excite you. Purchase a small sample can and paint part of your house with it. Be sure to wash this part of the house with soap and water before applying the paint.

Can Colors Fool Me and Why?

Realize that colors can fool you. It’s important to realize that a color that looks great on a small chip may appear much darker when it dries on a larger area. Paint stores can reduce the color saturation to reduce the boldness of the color by adding not as much of the pigment to the base.

Should the Color Match the Roof?

If your roof makes up lots of what you see when you view your home from the street, you need to make sure the color of the roof compliments the house colors. The same is true for windows you might have that come with a factory color that can’t be changed.

Can Colors Make Me Feel Good?

The key to eliminating your anxiety is selecting colors that make you feel good. Most people have certain colors that create a feeling of happiness. For me, it happens to be bright blues, reds and some greens.

Should the Trim Be a Different Color?

I also recommend that once you feel you have the right colors, remember you can paint the trim a different color than the main body of the house, I recommend you paint part of one side of the house. Stand back and look at it at different times of day to ensure you really feel good about what it will look like when complete.

How Many Colors Can I Use?

Don’t be afraid to have three or four colors on display at your home. The last Queen Anne Victorian house I built for my family had four colors, plus a natural wood-stained soffit. The wood siding was a mild butter yellow, the fascia boards and door and window trim were a lighter forest green, the windows were a dusty beige and our front door was a bold scarlet red. My wife selected the color scheme and we received lots of compliments about it.

Column 1310 A

Cover AC Unit in Winter? – What Does the Mfr Say To Do?

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Tim Carter

"When you opened up and read the owner's manual about covering your AC unit in winter, what was the manufacturer's recommendation?”

Cover AC Unit in Winter - Simple Question - Not-so-Simple Answer

QUESTION: "Tim, I want your opinion. Is it a good idea to cover my AC unit in winter?" Joseph D., Pingree Grove, IL

This is a question that Joe submitted to the Ask Tim page on my website while his AC unit was working hard in the first few weeks of July. He was looking ahead, and that’s a very good idea. It’s a very valid question that I receive quite often. It’s also part of a deeply disturbing trend I’m witnessing.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local AC contractors who can help you decide to cover your AC unit.

Here’s how I answered Joe, “When you opened up and read the owners manual about covering your AC unit in winter, what was the manufacturer's recommendation?”

Does my answer make sense to you? After all, Joe wanted my opinion.

Joe and I had another brief exchange and my last message to him was, “My opinion doesn’t matter. I don’t support the warranty. There’s only one source for the correct answer - the manufacturer.”

Can the Cover Hurt the AC Unit?

Yes, a cover can cause condensation to form under the cover. The relative humidity can skyrocket to near 100% on sunny days when the sun heats up the covered AC unit.

What Do the AC Unit Manufacturers Say To Do?

The AC unit manufacturers tell you what to do in your owner's manual. Read it and see if they say to cover it and with what exact cover.

Will It Hurt the AC Unit if it Comes on While Covered?

Yes, your AC unit will not be able to get access to the thousands of cubic feet of air it needs to flow over the outside coil.

Why Should I Read the Owner's Manual?

The owner's manual will ensure your AC unit works as efficiently as possible and that you service and care for it correctly.

Have you read many owners manuals? If it's really important to do something to keep the warranty in force or to make sure the product performs well, you'll see text telling you what you should do.

Changing oil and air filters in cars and trucks is a good example. You see this in manuals.

If the AC unit should be covered in the winter, the manufacturer will say so in the manual.

All of your questions about what to do with a product, how to care for the product, how to install the product, etc. should be answered by the company that made the product. Start taking the time to read the full label on products. Invest the time to read an owner's manual. It will pay off in spades.

It’s foolhardy on your part to follow the advice of some invisible person online that will never come to your home to install a new product when their advice falls flat.
Column 1310B

House Paint Color Ideas – Drive Around

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Tim Carter

"If your roof makes up lots of what you see when you view your home from the street, you need to make sure the color of the roof compliments the house colors."

House Paint Color Ideas - Drive Around & Cruise the Internet Too

Please help me, Tim! I’m trying to select a new color for the outside of my house. I’m frozen and unable to make a decision looking at samples on a brochure. I don’t want to make a mistake. Please share a few tips that can relieve my anxiety like ice cream satisfies my sweet tooth. Deb M., Turtle Lake, ND

The anxiety surrounding a decision like this is real. You may not want your house to look ugly to others. You don’t have the money to correct a color mistake. You need to get it right the first time. If you need to match a color you love, you better read my matching paint colors column now.

I’ll share with you the same advice I gave my customers years ago. Get in your car and drive around through neighborhoods looking for houses that look like yours and have a color scheme that you really like. This can now be done sitting in your living room looking at hundreds of house listings on real estate sites. You can also use different social media websites that curate millions of photos of houses.

Should I Apply Test Colors?

Should I Try to Match the Roof Color?

The key to eliminating your anxiety is by selecting colors that make you feel good. Most people have certain colors that create a feeling of happiness. For me, it happens to be bright blues, reds and some greens.

What About Using More than Two Colors?

July 14, 2019 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on July 14, 2019 by Tim Carter

If you're a new subscriber, please stand now.

"Welcome!" (roaring applause from 45,000+ other subscribers)

If you're a long-standing subscriber give yourself a pat on the back for your loyalty. Be sure to tell any new subscriber you see that juice boxes and fruit rollups are never distributed here at AsktheBuilder.com.

GE Washer & Dryer Review

A few days ago, I started to test a brand new GE washer and dryer. Kathy has never been happy with our older front loader HE washing machine that came with the house years ago.

Kathy wanted a top loader like we had at our old house.

She's got one now and is happy as a clam in warm salt water. I think that's the happiest clams can be, but I'm not a clam expert.

CLICK or TAP HERE to watch some amazing videos of just a few features of this magic machine.

It's important to realize I've just started to test this machine. I've got LOTS of different things I plan to wash, so I'll keep you informed as to the status of the testing.

We also got the matching dryer and I'll have a separate review for that quite soon.

Joe and His AC Cover

A few days ago, Joe from IL asked me a simple question using my Ask Tim page on my website. Well, he thought it was simple. Here it is:

"Is it a good idea to cover my AC compressor in the winter?"

Here's the machine Joe's talking about. You may have one outside your home.

How would you answer this question? Think about it for a moment.

Okay, here's what I sent back to Joe:

"When you opened up and read the owner's manual about this, what was the manufacturer's recommendation?"

A few hours later Joe responded: "There was no recommendation."

I instantly knew that Joe missed the cloaked message in my reply. Did you get it, or did it float by you too?

I responded back once again to Joe telling him to re-read the manual, visit the manufacturer's website FAQ page or call their 800#. He sent back this response moments later:

"I'm looking for your opinion."

I finally had to huff and puff away the fog in Joe's head. I replied with:

"My opinion doesn't matter. I don't support the warranty.

There is only ONE SOURCE for the correct answer: the manufacturer."

WHY AM I SPENDING SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME ON THIS?

First and foremost, I'm getting an increasing number of questions like this.

You may want to know this or that about a PRODUCT.

Just last week Iris wanted to know about when to apply PC Woody to the PC Petrifier.

I see a DISTURBING TREND of people asking others online for advice about how to install a product, what to do with a product, how to care for a product, etc.

If the warranty of a product is in play, do you think it's a good idea to trust a person's advice that isn't going to install a new product for you FREE of CHARGE?

Let's get back to Joe. Here are a few random thoughts that swirled around my head:

I wonder what happens to all the water vapor that gets trapped under the cover?

What happens if someone in the family turns on the AC in the spring and the cover is still on the compressor?

Does the cover make a fantastic dry and wind-proof shelter for a community of wire-nibbling mice?

Do yourself and your bank account a favor. Try doing these things:

Read the Owners Manuals that come with all products.

Read the label on products. Seriously - READ THE LABEL

If the answers you need are not to be found, then reach out to the manufacturer. You'd be stunned how many will respond - especially smaller companies.

That's enough for a Sunday.

Did you discover anything of value in this issue? If so, let me know.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Co-Founder - www.StainSolver.com - Certified Organic Goodness
Purveyor of Invisible Happy Waves - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

P.S. The "i" before "e" except after "c" spelling rule has been disproved by science.

GE 4.6 Capacity Top Load Washer Review

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Tim Carter

GE Top Load Washer - 4.6 Cubic Feet of Clothes

July 12, 2019 - The washer has been installed for just 48 hours. Testing is commencing. There are more photos below the videos. (This was so popular, it was shared in Tim's July 14, 2019 AsktheBuilder Newsletter.

The good news is it works well on the first few loads of normal clothes. I'll have much more information after I perform long-term testing.

May 21, 2020 UPDATE: Look below for the update. It will really PAY OFF for you to watch the videos just below and view my photographs BEFORE you read my update!

CLICK or TAP HERE for the official specs and features page in the meantime. You'll be BLOWN AWAY by all this washer can do. It's magic in a white steel box.

WATCH THESE TWO VIDEOS to get a small taste of what this machine has:

Here are more photos:

May 21, 2020 Update:

I'm happy to report after using this machine for almost a year, it's far better than I thought it would be. Everyone in the family loves it.

Is it Getting Clothes Clean Without the Giant Agitator?

Yes! Giant agitators destroy clothes over time, especially delicates. This newer technology is really getting my clothes clean. I've been doing my own laundry since age 8, so I know a thing or two about laundry.

Is the Machine Easy to Use?

Yes! All you do is just start with the controls on the left and make a selection with each one what you want. The machine has inner intelligence and will make sure you don't make the WRONG selection and ruin your clothes.

Is the Machine Noisy?

No. This machine doesn't make the racket that a traditional machine makes.

Is the Tub Big?

It's HUGE! Wait until you see what you can fit in it.

What Other Appliances Have You Tested?

Read about my Sharp Steam Countertop Oven. It's amazing!

Drywall Requires Muscle and House-Cracking Noises

Posted on July 8, 2019 by Tim Carter

Drywall Requires Muscle

QUESTION #1: Tim, I need your honest advice. I’m seriously pondering installing new drywall in a room addition while I’m on vacation. I’ve watched cable TV shows, numerous online videos and read a few articles. It really doesn’t appear to be that hard. I’ve got a few helpers so I’m convinced we can install the material and finish it. Is drywall work harder than it looks? What are a few tips you can offer to help me complete this with a minimal amount of work and frustration? Mike M., Tyler, TX

Have you been on the receiving end of some of the digital courage that fueling Mike’s positive attitude? It’s easy to get intoxicated by what you see on shows and such. All too often the producers tend to gloss over the hard stuff. After all, if you walked away from a few TV shows thinking everything was too hard to do, you’d probably stop watching. I can tell you that’s the last thing the cable TV channel and producers want you to do!

It’s important to realize lots of books have been written about the craft of drywall installation and finishing. One of the best is the Gypsum Construction Handbook published by one of the top manufacturers of the drywall and finishing compounds - USG Corporation. I highly recommend reading the chapters about drywall so you make sure you’re installing it correctly.

Another key point is the weight of the material. You can now purchase drywall or sheetrock that weighs less than its predecessors, but even the lightweight material’s weight might stun you. Lifting and hold a 4x12 sheet of 1/2-inch drywall over your head while trying to monkey around with the screws and screw gun might extract all the strength and skill you have. I guarantee you’ll be sore the second day.

Installing drywall can be nasty dusty work. Razor knives are used to score, snap and cut the large sheets. Professionals use handy small hand-held routers with special bits to make the cutouts for electrical boxes and other fixtures. You might use a traditional punch saw made for drywall. By all means, do not use a circular saw to cut drywall like you might plywood or OSB!

Be sure you use the correct length screw and recess it just enough so it doesn’t tear the paper facing. Screw guns have precision depth adjustments so you get the screws just right. On ceilings, place the screws on 12-inch centers. On walls, the screws can be 16 inches on center.

Finishing drywall is an art. It requires significant hand-eye coordination. You need to mix the finishing compound so it’s the correct consistency. I prefer to have mine like moist mashed potatoes or warm cake icing. Put too much compound under the tape and you’ll have humps in your walls. Put too little under the tape and you’ll end up with blisters when you second coat.

I recommend that you build a test wall and practice finishing it before you ruin your new room addition. You’ll be stunned how hard it is to get professional finishing results if you’ve never done it before.

How do I feel about drywall finishing? Read about it in the August 4, 2009 Newsletter.

House-Cracking Noises

QUESTION #2: Hey Tim, it’s been really hot here the past few weeks. In the evening while watching TV with my husband, all of a sudden our deck and our house makes a cracking or popping noise. Sometimes I hear it up in the roof, but it’s often a noise in a wall. I’m worried that our house is going to fall apart and collapse. What’s causing the cracking and popping and should I be concerned? Elizabeth B., Knoxville, TN

Elizabeth would hear the same sound if she came to my own home. She’s hearing the lumber and decking moving as they cool down from the extreme temperature swings that happen on brilliant sunny days.

The sun can and does heat up roofs and walls. Here at my own home, my roof temperature gets close to 160 F. The wall siding is just a little below that and my composite decking gets so hot you can’t walk on it with bare feet. Composite decking that’s got lots of plastic in it expands quite a bit when heated.

This heat is transferred to the framing lumber in the roof, exterior walls, and deck structure. If you pay attention in the late morning, you might also hear cracking and popping as the lumber is expanding.

When the sun is setting the house material starts to cool down and it contracts. This movement can create a cracking sound much like when you crack a knuckle or an ankle tendon. It’s normal and not a reason for concern.

I’d only start to be concerned if I saw cracks in the interior finishes that started growing in size. If you are extremely concerned, you can hire a residential structural engineer to inspect your home and confirm all is well.