First Alert Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Review

Posted on by Tim Carter
smoke and co detector

First Alert Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm | This is magic in an octagon. The ability to wirelessly set off all the other alarms in the house is an amazing feature. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter CLICK or TAP HERE to get all the specs for this wireless alarm.

First Alert Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Review

Smoke detectors have been around for decades now. Carbon monoxide detectors were not too far behind.

First Alert combined the two into one detector and went one step further.

The detector featured in this review, model SC0500, can communicate with other compatible First Alert detectors in your home so if there's a problem in one room ALL of the detectors sound throughout the house.

CLICK or TAP HERE to have this detector delivered to your home in days.

smoke and co detector

This alarm detects both smoke and carbon monoxide. It's battery operated and communicates with OTHER compatible alarms in your home. This is IMPORTANT! Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

smoke and co detector

Here's the detector in its package. There's lots of protection in this for you and your family. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

When Should Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms be Replaced?

You should replace carbon monoxide alarms every seven years. Smoke detectors should be replaced every ten years. The sensors within the alarms can lose sensitivity over time.

Is it Hard to Install the Alarm?

It's easy to install the First Alert smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. Two screws and plastic anchors are included

Once you liberate the alarm from the packaging, you hold the mounting base with your left hand and rotate the body of the alarm counterclockwise to uncouple the mounting base from the alarm.

Does the Alarm Come with Batteries?

Yes, First Alert includes two high-quality Duracell AA batteries with each alarm. This allows you to have instant protection the moment you install the alarm.

Are the Instructions Easy to Understand?

No. My biggest complaint with this alarm is centered on the overwhelming and hard-to-read instructions.

You'll need a magnifying glass and the patience of Job to make it through them.

In my opinion, this problem lies at the feet of the First Alert corporate attorneys and our wretched litigious society. Far too many people don't want to take responsibility for their negligence or mistakes and are quick to blame others that have deep pockets. The plethora of TV commercials of personal-injury attorneys doesn't help matters at all. But I digress.

I've worked as an expert witness in construction defect lawsuits for nearly twenty years and have had to sit in meetings with attorneys who rattle on and on and on about protecting their clients. Writing out every possibility of what might go wrong, they often feel, will mitigate large damage awards in a lawsuit.

The four pages of instructions in 8-point type size or less were mind-numbing and nearly impossible to read. I'm willing to bet the average consumer REFUSES to even try to read them giving up. This accomplishes nothing and sets the stage for disaster in case the alarms are installed incorrectly.

I had the good fortune not too long ago to review and install a Ring Floodlight Camera. The installation instructions for the Ring Floodlight Camera were the best I've ever seen in my life. It's also a personal security item and the attorneys for Ring might want to reach out to those at First Alert to show them there might be a better way. Or vice versa, but the egos of many attorneys are quite big and the First Alert legal team might feel they have a better mousetrap.

Before you look at the First Alert instructions, take a look at just one page from the Ring Floodlight Camera instructions. Then you be the judge:

ring floodlight installation

Note the large easy-to-read type and the helpful graphics. Copyright 2019 Ring, Inc.

Look at the following four photos of the instructions and pay attention to my business card in two of the photos illustrating how tiny the type is in the instructions. You're looking at 8.5 x 11 sheets of paper here!

smoke and co alarm instructions

My business card has pretty much normal type-size printing. You better have great eyesight, good lighting and the patience of Job if you want to read these instructions from start to finish. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

Finally, page four of the instructions. Do you really think you could make it through reading all of this? I gave up after ten seconds on page one. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

Summary

First Alert hit it out of the ballpark with this combination wireless smoke and carbon monoxide detector. In my opinion, it's a product I'd install in my own home to protect my family.

However, that said, they need tremendous help with their instructions if they want homeowners to have a positive installation experience.

CLICK or TAP HERE to have this wonderful wireless smoke and carbon monoxide detector in your hands in days.

This column was SO GOOD that I shared with the 31,000 subscribers who read my June 16, 2019 AsktheBuilder Newsletter.

 

 

June 12, 2019 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Are you a brand-new subscriber? Fantastic and watch out for the seasoned subscribers who may try to prank you. Don't fall for the "free food" in the break room.

What's New at the New House?

I've been AWOL the past two weeks because I've been super busy.

Many months ago, eight to be exact, I announced that this newsletter would highlight as often as possible the progress of the new home my daughter and son-in-law are building in Downeast Maine - specifically in the town of Bar Harbor on Mt. Desert Island.

They got started at the worst possible time with lot clearing commencing in the middle of October, 2018. Ideally you'd want this to happen in April as winters in Downeast Maine can be brutal.

This past winter, locals up there have said, was one of the WORST ONES in recent memory. It was icy, very icy, and bitter cold. The project ground to a halt just after the middle of January. My son-in-law and I were putting in cast iron DWV pipe in single-digit temperatures the third week of February. It was brutal.

Spring was SLOW to come up in Bar Harbor. I was working there in early May and each morning it was in the low 30s F and struggled to get to the upper 40s F. I couldn't believe I was wearing a hoodie sweatshirt and feeling cold in May!

The house is now finally ready for drywall and here's one of the last tasks I completed last Saturday morning. You're looking at four Uponor radiant heating manifolds in the master bedroom closet area.
Manifold Master Bedroom
It's highly recommended to have the heating manifolds as close as possible to the Uponor hePEX loops under the floors. These four manifolds serve the four zones that supply luxurious floor heat to:

  • east half of the second floor
  • west half of the second floor
  • attic floor
  • future garage attic office/guest bedroom floor

I installed these Uponor manifolds. My son-in-law helped install all the Uponor hePEX tubing that connects to the manifolds.

We got all of these supplies from my friends at SupplyHouse.com.

You'd be STUNNED at all the things you can find there for your home to help REPAIR THINGS and their pricing is extremely competitive.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what you can get at SupplyHouse.com.

WIN a $300 Amazon Gift Card!

Do you own or have recently purchased a PORTABLE dehumidifier?

A portable dehumidifier is a boxy machine, usually on wheels, that sucks moisture out of the air. You may use one in your basement or crawlspace.

I want to know a few things about your dehumidifier.

CLICK or TAP HERE to complete the survey. Remember, you need to OWN a portable dehumidifier to qualify.

Oh, the winner is also going to get an EXTRA prize that I designed myself! CLICK or TAP HERE to see a photo of it.

I'm going to take survey submissions up to midnight ET, June 30, 2019. The winner will be selected at RANDOM the following morning.

Doing Things Wrong Your Entire Career

Imagine being taught to do something many years ago by a mentor.

But what happens if what you were taught was the wrong way to do it? What happens if the mistake is hidden behind something?

CLICK or TAP HERE to read a true story that just happened within the past week.

That's quite enough for a mid-week blast. I hope to finally have for you several NEW VIDEOS on Sunday. I'm waiting on final approval from a few manufacturers to make sure the videos are PERFECT.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Get Super Clean - www.StainSolver.com
Invisible Pleasure - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Portable Dehumidifier Survey

Posted on by Tim Carter

Portable Dehumidifier Survey

Below is the survey from the June 12, 2019 AsktheBuilder Newsletter.

Please answer all the questions below. One person, chosen at random using the random number generator at random.org, will win a $300 Amazon gift card. To qualify to win, you MUST have completed the following survey no later than midnight Eastern Time June 30, 2019. The winner will be chosen on the morning of July 1, 2019.

NOTE from Tim Carter: You can still take the survey if you want, but you'll no longer qualify for the gift card. Four hundred and forty-eight people responded by midnight on June 30, 2019. On July 1st I used the random number generator at random.org and here was the result. The 102nd person in the spreadsheet data list was the winner. Congrats!

Insulation Installation

Posted on by Tim Carter

Insulation installation | You need to read the written instructions. This is a modern vapor retarder - Certainteed MemBrain - but some contractors don’t believe in them for a host of reasons. (C) Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

"The same exact thing can happen inside a wall cavity in a home in a frigid climate if you don't block and stop the water vapor from getting into the wall cavity."

Insulation Installation - Simple If You Read Instructions

The inspiration for this column happened just two days ago while I was working on my daughter and son-in-law’s new home up in Downeast Maine. It’s important to realize I’m not the builder but act as their primary advisor, the plumber, electrician, and radiant heat installer.

My son-in-law and I arrived at the house to work about 7:00 AM and at 8:30 AM a medium-sized box truck pulled onto the lot along with a pickup truck. Five workers tumbled out of both vehicles and they started to put in fiberglass insulation up under all the floors in the house.

With the help of my son-in-law, a month or so ago we had installed 900 Uponor heat transfer plates and 6,000 feet of Uponor hePEX tubing that will keep my daughter, son-in-law and new granddaughter warm as bugs in a rug.

Uponor hepex

This is the Uponor hePEX that we installed under the floor of the future office/guest bedroom suite above the garage. It's not easy to install it three rows of heat transfer plates per truss bay. CLICK or TAP HERE to watch a video showing how it's done.

Who Is A Leader in Radiant Heat Products?

Uponor happens to be one of the leaders in radiant heat products and technology. Read the beginning pages of their installation manual about the simple science behind radiant heat and you’ll be amazed.

The middle-aged leader of the insulating crew, let’s imagine his name is Sebastian (it’s not), and I got into a friendly discussion about exactly how the insulation batts should be installed. Sebastian asked me, “Do you want a 1 or 2-inch airspace between the insulation and your PEX tubing?”

“I don’t want any airspace. The Uponor installation manual says to put the insulation in direct contact with the tubing.” I replied.

“Well, my entire career we’ve always installed the insulation with an airspace. That’s the way to do it.” Sebastian countered.

“That’s very interesting, Sebastian. Since heat travels directly to cold, you want the insulation to be in contact with the heat pipes. This forces the heat upwards into the floor. If what you suggest is the right way to do it, why are you filling the wall cavities all the way with your fluffy insulation? Why not leave an airspace between the back of the drywall and the batt?”

Doing Things Wrong For Twenty Years

I said the above as respectfully as possible because most older people don’t like to be challenged or have their intelligence questioned. I could tell the gears up in his head were spinning. We then had a quick discussion about the new high-performance vapor retarder my son-in-law and I were installing over his insulation. Once again, his lack of scientific critical thinking soon bubbled to the surface.

Downeast Maine can get darn cold in the winter. This past winter I was working in the house installing cast iron drain pipes and it was 2 F in the house. Sebastian had never thought about the condensation that forms on the outside of his cold can of beer while sitting on his deck after work.

You can watch a funny outake insulation video here.

The same exact thing can happen inside a wall cavity in a home in a frigid climate if you don't block and stop the water vapor from getting into the wall cavity.

The water vapor that’s in the warm air inside a house can easily travel through drywall and fiberglass on its way to the outdoors. When this vapor contacts the cold exterior wall sheathing, it transforms to liquid water just as the droplets of water form on your soda can, beer can, or glass of iced tea on a humid day.

Should You Install a Vapor Barrier?

Watch this video and decide for yourself, then read about Sebastian.

When Sebastian first arrived he introduced himself to my son-in-law. At lunch that day, my son-in-law said to me, “Tim, guess what? Sebastian came up to me a couple of hours after talking with you and out of the blue said, ‘I just discovered I’ve been doing things wrong for my entire career.’ "

Do Egos Get in The Way?

I’ve had similar conversations with other contractors and sub-contractors for years, but Sebastian was the first one that admitted he was wrong. You should realize that a strong ego is highly recommended if you want to survive in the residential construction industry. But you can temper it with an open mind and the desire to apply simple science to the building process.

One of my biggest complaints about the construction industry, as a whole, is there’s no formal education required to get into the game. Think about it. You can go to a big box store just after reading this column of mine and buy a ladder, a tool belt, a hammer, tape measure, and razor knife and be a roofer by noon. Yet, you’ve never been trained on how to install a roof. You’ve never read the written instructions that are out there. However, my guess is you can get a customer or two to hire you to re-roof their home.

STOP Trusting Contractors

What does this have to do with you and your hard-earned money? You need to stop trusting all contractors. You need to STOP assuming they’re always doing things the right way. You need to stop assuming they’re always thinking of your best interests.

You need to start doing one simple thing to protect your home and your investment. You need to select the products you want to use for your next project, your next remodeling adventure, or your next new home. Then you must take the time to READ the written installation manuals or watch the manufacturer’s installation videos online.

You need to do this before you hire a contractor not after when things go wrong. Ask her/him exactly how they intend to do the job. See if they’ve been doing it wrong their entire career.

Yes, this is work. Yes, this conversation with the contractor is not comfortable. But what the heck, it’s only your money so what’s the big deal, right?

Column 1305

PVC Pipe Sizes and Types of Pipe

Posted on by Tim Carter
1304 PVC Pipe Sizes

PVC Pipe Sizes - Both pipes are 4 inches in diameter, but the schedule 40 white one has much thicker sidewalls than the green SDR-35 pipe. If you're trying to draw plumbing plans, you better consult with a master plumber like me. (C) Copyright 2021 Tim Carter

PVC Pipe Sizes - Thickness Matters

QUESTION #1: Tim, I went to buy some plastic drain pipe and after looking at all the types my head started to hurt. I decided to leave the store and do some research. I’ve got several projects where I need a plastic pipe. I need to add a bathroom in a room addition, I need to replace old cracked clay downspout drain lines, and I want to install one of the linear french drains I saw on your website to dry out my basement. Can you give me a quick tutorial on the sizes and types of plastic pipe the average homeowner might use around her/his home? Lori M., Richmond, VA

It’s fairly easy to get flummoxed like Lori did as there are so many different plastic pipes. Just ten days ago, I installed a somewhat special plastic pipe to vent my daughter’s new high-efficiency boiler. It was made from polypropylene and can withstand much higher temperatures than standard PVC that most plumbers might use.

Watch this video of this amazing boiler or water heater vent pipe:

It’s very important to realize that there are lots of different plastic pipes that you might use and the chemistry of them is quite complex. I’m just going to stick with the most basic ones you might run into or may be required to use by your local inspectors.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local plumbers who know plastic pipe sizes.

What are the Most Common Plastic Pipes?

PVC and ABS plastic pipes are perhaps the most common ones you’ll run into when it comes to drainage pipes. Water supply lines are another ball of wax and I’m not even going to try to confuse you further about those!

What's the Difference Between ABS and PVC Pipe?

ABS and PVC pipe look similar, but ABS can perform at a wider range of high and low temperatures. ABS pipe has a higher impact strength than PVC pipe. ABS is about 20 percent more expensive than PVC pipe.

What are the Common PVC Pipe Sizes?

The most common PVC pipe sizes you’d use around your home would be:

  • 1.5 - inch
  • 2-inch
  • 3-inch
  • 4-inch

I used PVC for decades and it’s a fantastic material.

What are the Different Sizes Used For?

The 1.5-inch size is used to capture water that might flow out of a kitchen sink, a bathroom vanity, or a tub. The 2-inch pipe is commonly used to drain a shower stall or washing machine and it may be used as a vertical stack for a kitchen sink.

A 3-inch pipe is what’s used in homes to pipe toilets. The 4-inch pipe is used as the building drain under floors or in crawlspaces to transport all the wastewater from a home out to the septic tank or sewer. The 4-inch pipe is also used as a vertical drain stack in a home. Always do this if two or more bathrooms drain into the same stack. Plumbers and inspectors use pipe-sizing tables to tell them what size pipe needs to be used where.

cast iron lines meghan house

The wye fitting at the bottom of the photo is a 4x3 wye. There are two bathrooms that converge at this point and the pipe you see leaving the bottom of the photo is 4-inch no-hub cast iron. I installed this pipe in my daughter's new home on Mt. Desert Island in Maine in the winter of 2019.

Does the Pipe Thickness Vary?

The wall thickness of the plastic pipes does vary. Plastic plumbing drainpipes for a typical home are schedule 40. This is a thicker material and is designed to withstand decades of use and punishment from metal drain-cleaning snakes.

What is Cellular PVC Pipe?

Cellular PVC pipe looks just like schedule-40 PVC and it's dimensions are the same, but it's lighter in weight. It's not as strong as schedule 40 and it takes far less pressure to burst it if you're trying to build something that will requires the storage of compressed air. Here's an example of a tool made from PVC that uses compressed air. ALWAYS use schedule 40 to build one:

Be sure your local plumbing inspector allows cellular PVC to be used on your job.

What PVC Pipe is Used for Exterior House Drains?

SDR-35 is a popular PVC pipe used for exterior house drains. It's strong and it can withstand far more crushing force than some of the flimsy thin-wall plastic pipes you may see at a home center. SDR-35 is commonly used by plumbers for the drain line that extends from a house to a septic tank or a city sewer.

Give SDR-35 PVC a good look for the outside drain lines you want to install. It’s a strong pipe and the sidewalls are thinner than the schedule 40 pipe. I’ve used the SDR-35 pipe for decades with fantastic success. The last house I built for my family had over 120 feet of 6-inch SDR-35 pipe that connected my house to the city sewer.

A lighter-weight plastic pipe with holes in it will work fine for that buried linear french drain. Be sure the two rows of holes aim down. Don’t make the mistake and point them up to the sky as they may get plugged with small stones as you cover the pipe with washed gravel.

Column 1304A

May 31, 2019 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

New subscriber? Welcome! Aged (I don't mean to say you're a burnt cinder.) and seasoned subscriber? Thanks for continuing to tolerate me in your inbox!

Deck Cleaning - You Probably Do it WRONG!

Are you getting ready to clean and seal your deck now that summer is upon us?

First and foremost, you should use my Stain Solver. My guess is you're tempted to use one of these wretched machines:

pressure washer

I know, I know this is what you see on countless HGTV shows, on other websites, and on YouTube. Pressure washers - the magic wonderful machines.

Blah blah blah. You know what they say about half truths, don't you?????

Pressure washers can DESTROY wood decks.

CLICK or TAP HERE to see what 2,400 PSI can do to the soft spring wood in your deck.

Please SCROLL DOWN into the column and watch the video of me in firefighting gear.

It was taped by Ron Fischer who worked for WCPO-TV Channel 9 in Cincinnati. I used to do a weekly segment for them and they wanted them to be a little quirky. I think I nailed it in this video.

What do you think? SHARE your feelings in the comments at the bottom of the page. I still have the helmet and turnout pants!

The BEST Wood Sealer?

deck wood sealer
A few years back I did an exhaustive multi-year TEST of quite a few deck sealers.

You can't believe how much work it is to do this.

Some of the products are NO LONGER available, but the product that did WIN THE TEST is still available.

Would you like to know what product won the HARSH TEST?

I thought so. CLICK or TAP HERE for the free test results.

You're welcome. 🙂

Clinker Brick and Your Garden

How would you like a unique and interesting wall in your garden?

It doesn't have to be big.

clinker brick

CLICK or TAP HERE to discover secrets about clinker brick.

You'll be amazed.

Repairing CRACKS in SMOOTH Concrete

CLICK or TAP HERE to see how I'd repair cracks in smooth concrete.

You'll need to SCROLL DOWN to the second part of the column to get the tips.

That's enough for a Friday. I'm off to drive up to Bar Harbor in a few hours.

I intend to record quite a few run-and-gun videos up there on Monday. You're in for a treat is all I can tell you.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
BUY Certified Organic Stain Solver NOW - www.StainSolver.com
Happy Belated Birthday Morse Code - 175 years! - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!

Fantech

Posted on by Tim Carter

Fantech Video and Product Links

Here are the products you saw me install in the video. CLICK or TAP the images or text links to purchase them:

Here's the actual Fantech PB 270L7-2 270 CFM fan and the two inlets that are made to accept the LED dimmable lights:

fantech PB 270L7-2

 

CLICK or TAP HERE to order this at SupplyHouse.com.

CLICK or TAP HERE to order this fan kit from Amazon.com.

STOP: I'd check BOTH links above to see who has the better price. The prices change as fast as the weather in Cincinnati, OH!

Leviton Humidity Control Switch

leviton humidity fan switch

CLICK or TAP the image to have it delivered to your home.

Leviton Timer Switch

leviton countdown timer switch

CLICK or TAP the image to have it delivered to your home.

Use Clinkers to Make Interesting Things & Concrete Crack Repair

Posted on by Tim Carter
clinker brick

These clinker brick create a unique appearance. Use them on houses and in gardens. (C) Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

Use Clinkers to Make Interesting Things

QUESTION #1: Timmy, I was on a tour of the Gamble house in Pasadena, CA and saw the most unusual deformed brick in a garden wall. The brick was twisted and looked more like random rocks than brick. I want some for my own house! How are clinker brick formed and where can I buy them? Are they durable and will they last a long time? Cindy H., Tucson, AZ

I saw the same clinker brick Cindy saw when I toured the stunning Gamble house about ten years ago. I don’t know if it was the architect or the Gambles themselves that specified the use of this unique building material, but it was genius. If you ever have the chance to tour this mansion, be sure to wander through the outdoor gardens to see the walls built with this strange brick.

Clinker brick are made just like any other brick. Brick start out as clay and are put into a kiln where the temperature of the clay is raised significantly. It’s important to realize that not all clay has the same chemical composition. As the temperature rises in the kiln, the clay actually softens and melts. This changes the internal structure of the clay such that it comes out of the kiln more like a rock than a soft material you can form with your hands.

Some brick in the kiln melt and deform. These are clinker brick. Keep in mind that the odd colors you sometimes see in brick, and especially clinkers, result from the small amount of oxygen in the kiln as the brick are heated.

The absence of oxygen almost always produces darker colors such as black and even blue. You can create all sorts of different colors depending on when you reintroduce oxygen as the brick start to cool. It’s all very complex, but the key point is that clinkers can be the most colorful and unusual brick you’ve ever seen.

Clinker brick, depending on the minerals in the clay, can be extremely durable. There are many factors, but realize some clinkers transform to a material much like glass if the clay happens to have a high silica content. The odds are clinker brick will perform quite well in just about all outdoor applications, including garden walls and outdoor pillars.

You purchase clinker brick at businesses that sell brick. Not all brick suppliers stock them, but you should have great luck ordering them as the brick manufacturers would rather sell clinkers than throw them away.

No matter where you use the clinker brick I recommend you spend some time thinking about the mortar that will be used in between each brick. I recommend creating a mortar blend that contains three parts Portland cement and one part hydrated lime. If you can source a special volcanic sand that’s high in silica, that would be ideal. Otherwise, use medium or loamy sand that’s very clean.

Concrete Crack Repair

QUESTION #2: Tim, my husband and I can’t agree on the best way to repair some cracks in our concrete. We have some long random cracks about 1/16th-inch wide in our garage and basement floors. This concrete has a smooth finish. My husband wants to squirt caulk into the cracks. I feel this will look like a scar on someone’s face. How would you repair these so they look good and the repair is durable? Monica, M., Waterloo, IA

Concrete crack repair is a very common problem. I receive questions like this each week. You may not be in a battle with your significant other like Monica, but you still want the cracks repaired and you probably want them to look great.

The first thing to realize is any repair you attempt may be temporary if the concrete is still moving or moves seasonally. I live in central New Hampshire and each winter the ground freezes. The frost in the ground causes concrete sidewalks, driveways, and patios to lift. If the lift is uneven, the cracks will reopen.

Interior concrete slabs like you find in a garage and basement are the easiest to repair and the concrete rarely moves. It’s important to realize if the concrete is brand new you’ll get shrinkage cracks as the concrete loses the extra water that was used when it was mixed. This shrinkage can take up to a year so don’t try to fix a new crack as it will most likely continue to widen as the months pass by.

Interior crack repair on smooth slabs can be done using regular unsanded ceramic tile grout. This works best for cracks 1/8 inch or narrower. Unsanded grout can be bought in different shades of gray to match your existing concrete color. Match the grout color by pouring a little bit of the dry powered grout on the concrete. The grout gets much darker once you add water, but it will dry the color it is straight from the bag.

I have a series of four videos at my AsktheBuilder.com website that shows the exact process of grouting floor tile. These videos show you how to achieve a perfect match when patching a crack in concrete. I recommend you watch them. The biggest mistake you can make is using the wrong tools to make the repair and pressing too hard when you wipe away the excess grout.

Column 1303

May 27, 2019 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Are you a brand-new subscriber? Thanks for your trust. If you've been here for some time, thanks for staying on board and opening each issue.

Memorial Day - My Dad

Today, May 27, 2019, we honor all those women and men who gave the ultimate sacrifice while in uniform so we can be free here in the great United States of America. While I can't be certain, I think this honor is extended to all those who died off the battlefield from injuries directly related to a war or any military service.

My dad was one of those. I shared the story about his WW II experience in a past newsletter. CLICK or TAP HERE to read it.

My dad had to be sent back to Heaven when I was pretty young. I was only 24 years old. I so wish he could still be here to see all that's happened. I know exactly what he'd say, but I can't type it here because he was quite profane when astonished.

You may have a loved one that died in battle or afterwards. I extend my deepest sympathy to you on this day. You and I are free and able to enjoy liberty because of their great sacrifice.

Great Vent Pipe

I recommend you watch this short video I recorded a little over a week ago up in my daughter's new home in Bar Harbor, Maine.

centrotherm innoflue

This polypropylene vent pipe is very easy to work with. It requires no glue or primer. You have all sort of time to adjust the fittings as a simple lubricant is used to join the pipes and fittings. See those metal clips? What are they?

CLICK or TAP HERE to see how easy this vent pipe is. Remember, it's FAR SAFER than traditional white PVC pipe.

Fence Post Secrets Revealed

Fence Posts
Are you charged with building a fence soon?

I URGE you to check out my past column on the topic. I guarantee it will save you lots of frustration.

CLICK or TAP HERE to get free access to secret tips discovered by me from years of methodical testing.

Floor Tile Grout Videos

Perhaps you're about to tackle a floor tile job. It might even be a wall tile job.

No matter, my four-part floor tile video series will allow you to achieve PERFECT grout joints that will not crack nor crumble.

grout floor tile

CLICK or TAP HERE to view the four videos. I believe you'll save tons of time and money.

If not, I want to know why.

Amazon and This Newsletter

Pat emailed me a few days ago. Here's what she asked:

"Tim - is there any way to verify you are getting the credit for my Amazon orders? I have placed a few lately thru a link you sent and wanted to be sure it is working as it is a bit more of a bother than the direct order process."

The quick answer to Pat's question is: NO. Amazon jealously guards your privacy and does not allow me to SEE who buys what.

I can see a daily report of what was bought, but not by whom.

Pat has been using a link on my website so I get a small affiliate fee for each thing she buys.

That revenue from Amazon HELPS keep this newsletter coming to you.

I'd appreciate it if you would BOOKMARK this page and use it each time you need to order.

Thanks so much, and yes, I realize it's a little bit of a bother.

Floor Trusses - WOW! So Many Advantages!

floor trusses
CLICK or TAP HERE to see a video showing the magic floor trusses used in my daughter and son-in-law's new home.

These things are the bomb! Think of all the advantages!!!!

That's quite enough for a holiday.

Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Certified Organic Cleaner - www.StainSolver.com
Morse Man - www.W3ATB.com

Do It Right, Not Over!