This column was SO GOOD that I shared with the 31,000 subscribers who read my May 27, 2019 AsktheBuilder Newsletter. In the January 17, 2021 AsktheBuilder Newsletter, Tim shares Larry's concern about polypropylene pipe.
Here's the Gladiator Mobile workstation assembled and doing its first job supporting heavy sacks of potting soil. Ignore the china sink in the background. Hours before I had brought the sink outdoors after completing a master bathroom remodel. After taking this photo, I cleaned the sink up before listing it on Craigslist. I routinely sell things I take out of my home in remodeling projects that are still in great condition. I didn't want to set it on the blacktop and risk chipping or scratching it. But don't look for this workstation to be on Craigslist! No way I'd ever give up this bad boy! You'll pry it from my cold dead hands! Copyright 2019 Tim Carter CLICK or TAP THE PHOTO NOW TO HAVE ONE OF THESE BAD BOYS DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME.
I'm lucky and get to review new products you might use around your home.
Yesterday I had the pleasure to assemble the Gladiator Mobile Workstation.
My first impression was one of wonder as I moved the box to open it.
It was heavy. Heavy almost always means quality, durability and goodness.
What did the folks at Whirlpool / Gladiator ship me, granite rocks?
I opened the box on its side and slid out the few parts. Here's all that was in the box:
In less than twenty minutes it was assembled and ready for use.
I got a little ahead of myself, but that's easy to do since it takes minutes to assemble. I put a pad down to protect the gorgeous hardwood top and then set the two leg sets on the top. It's caveman simple to assemble. CLICK or TAP THE PHOTO NOW TO HAVE THIS WORKSTATION DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter
The bolts you need come in the blister pack along with the hex wrench you see in the lower left of the photo. The silver wrench is used to screw in the swivel casters. CLICK or TAP THE PHOTO NOW TO PURCHASE THIS WORKSTATION AND HAVE IT AT YOUR HOME NEXT WEEK. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter
This is the shelf that fits between the legs. It's easy to install and you can have it one of two ways. I decided I wanted the small lips facing up so things don't slide off the shelf as I roll it around. Do you like my vanity license plate? Get it? CLICK or TAP THE PHOTO NOW TO HAVE THIS WORKSTATION AT YOUR HOME. YOU WON'T NEED MY HELP ASSEMBLING IT. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter
These are the four casters that screw into the legs. These things are strong enough to support a Boeing 747 coming in fully loaded with people, luggage and cargo. CLICK or TAP THE PHOTO NOW TO BE THE PROUD OWNER OF THIS MOBILE WORKSTATION. YOUR NEIGHBORS WILL BE SO JEALOUS. WARNING: YOU'LL HAVE TO CHAIN IT UP IN YOUR GARAGE BECAUSE THEY'LL TRY TO STEAL IT. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter
This handsome logo is on both long edges of the solid hardwood top. I'm pretty much convinced you could put lots of weight on this mobile workstation. The load capacity is only limited by the large bolts that connect the top to the legs. CLICK or TAP THE PHOTO NOW TO ORDER THIS MOBILE WORKSTATION. SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED! Copyright 2019 Tim Carter
This is a house foundation that’s being built with insulated concrete forms. (C) Copyright 2019 Tim Carter
QUESTION #1: Hello, Tim. I was doing research about house foundations and came across interlocking foam forms that stack on top of one another. They assemble much like children’s plastic blocks. Does a concrete foundation poured this way work as well as a traditional poured or cast concrete foundation? What, if any, are the drawbacks from using these foam forms? Is there an alternative way to achieve a well-insulated house foundation? What about the cost of an ICF foundation? Audrey P., Mt. Desert, Maine
You may have the same questions as Audrey does if you’re researching new home construction. The insulated concrete forms (ICF) that she’s talking about have been around for several decades now. The industry has undergone some consolidation, but that’s normal.
I’ve seen these products at all the trade shows and I’ve been on job sites where they’ve been used. A large two-story building was built near my last home in the Midwest using ICFs. If you drove past it, you’d have no idea it was a solid concrete two-story building as it was covered with lap siding.
The manufacturers typically will sing the praises of their products. Not one will readily talk about the challenges of installing them, and there can be challenges. The finished ICF foundation performs structurally as well as a traditional poured concrete foundation.
It’s important to realize the foundation footing the ICFs rest on should be perfectly flat and level. The ICF blocks are precision products and will conform to whatever they’re placed on.
The footing must be perfectly level for ICFs to work well.
If the footing has humps or dips in it or is tilted side-to-side, the ICFs will telegraph all these defects. As you might imagine, it takes lots of extra time to get the footing perfect like I describe.
The footing also needs to be perfectly square so the ICFs are placed on the center of the footing with adequate flat area remaining to install any bracing that might be called out for by the ICF manufacturer. It’s important to realize that traditional concrete forms can be aligned using special screw bracing so the walls are perfectly straight. This takes minutes to do with traditional forms but ICFs might take a while longer to brace so the walls are as straight as an arrow.
Another key point is that traditional concrete foundation forms don’t require the footing be perfectly level. The concrete poured into the forms can be made level with great ease and moderate skill using laser levels, string, finish nails and chalk. Realize that you typically pour the concrete into ICFs until it reaches the top of the last row. Thus it’s super important that the top row of the ICFs is perfectly level. Since they stack on top of one another you can see why it’s so important for the footing to be level.
There are any number of alternative ways to achieve what ICFs do. The ICFs almost all use the same high-quality closed cell foam that you can purchase at building supply wholesalers or at the big box stores. These foam sheets can be purchased in giant 4x8 sheets that you glue to the sides of smooth poured walls. You and a helper could apply the foam to a standard foundation in a few hours using a caulk gun that dispenses an adhesive and a simple circular saw to cut the foam. The foam can be put on both sides of a typical foundation just as it will be on the finished ICF foundation.
I’d absolutely do a simple cost comparison. The cost of the concrete will be nearly identical in both scenarios. The ICFs use the same foam and you should be able to get giant sheets of foam for much less than the ICFs, but it depends on several factors.
I’ve seen traditional poured concrete foundation contractors set and pour fairly complex foundations in less than eight hours. Your local ICF contractor may be able to do the same with his interlocking blocks, but as Kenny Chesney said in his hit song, “only time will tell, but it ain’t talkin’.“
QUESTION #2: Help me, Tim! I need to attach some wood 2x4s to concrete in several places. I need a cave-man simple way to do this and don’t want to mess with expensive fasteners and complex methods or tools. I’ve tried using old-fashioned cut nails but they keep bending. Is there some secret method that seasoned builders like you use when homeowners aren’t looking? Thanks for anything you can share. Mike P., Phoenix, AZ
Hah! You may also wonder if builders like me have magic methods that save time and money. Well, when it comes to attaching wood to concrete, I do have such a method. My good buddy, Chuck Sallee, showed it to me one day many years ago. Chuck and I were carpenters working on a job together when he pulled out a rotary hammer drill and two simple nails.
The method Chuck shared with me all those years ago is so simple it astonished three young carpenters just this past week here in Bar Harbor where I was working on a job. I asked them how they attached wood to concrete and they told me about all the expensive tools and fasteners they use.
I said, “Would you be interested to see how to do it using two regular everyday nails?” They all responded, “Are you serious? You can do it with just regular nails?”
I got out my cordless hammer drill and inserted a 6-inch-long 1/4-inch bit. I then placed a scrap piece of 2x3 onto a vertical part of the foundation below where the driveway will be.
Then I drilled through the 2x3 in seconds and the bit started to go into the concrete. I drilled a hole about 3 inches deep into the concrete.
I took two regular 10d common nails that were 3 inches long. I placed them next to one another making sure the tips were touching and tapped both through the hole in the wood at the same time.
When they started to pass into the hole in the concrete I was careful to deliver solid blows with my 20-ounce hammer squarely on both nail heads so they both advanced at the same time into the concrete. In seconds, the nails were flush with the wood and the carpenters couldn’t pull it off the wall!
I have a video at my AsktheBuilder.com website demonstrating this method. Just click on this link - attach wood to concrete video - and watch the video!
Column 1302
Are you a new subscriber? Greetings and salutations! Are you a seasoned subscriber? You know I love you too!
Months ago I announced that this newsletter would be focused on the construction of my daughter and son-in-law's new home in Bar Harbor, Maine.
I'm not the builder, but I am consulting and I did all of the plumbing, radiant heat, and electrical installation with the help of my son-in-law.
Last week, Ms. Angie Chamberlain, the Bar Harbor building inspector, passed my plumbing and electric rough-in. That was very satisfying I must say as we put in a ton of effort.
The above photo was taken by my son-in-law back in late March as we celebrated the completion of installing 900 Uponor heat transfer plates (those shiny strips of metal above me) throughout the entire home.
I was standing under the ceiling of the garage and you're looking at hundreds of feet of Uponor PEX tubing that will keep a future efficiency apartment above the garage toasty warm. CLICK or TAP HERE to understand how to get the best heat possible.
You may be one who reaches out to me each week wondering exactly what products we're using in the house.
You're making the assumption that great products are being used in this new home for my daughter, son-in-law, and new granddaughter.
That assumption would be CORRECT. Just last week, I recorded two videos with the help of my son-in-law showcasing two of them. I'm waiting for the companies to approve them and hope to be able to share them NEXT issue.
But for now, here are two simple things that are being installed in the Bar Harbor project that you should have in your home:
You're looking at the absolute BEST plumbing vent pipe flashing made. It's from Lifetime Tool.
The industry standard flashing that's probably on your home is made from aluminum and has a ho-hum rubber boot. The sun's powerful UV rays eventually cause the rubber boot in the flashing to crack and leak.
The flashing above is made from a SPECIAL silicone rubber that can withstand decades of abuse from the sun. I installed two of these flashings on my own roof four years ago.
CLICK or TAP HERE to watch a video showing me up on my roof installing this fantastic flashing. I also show in the video the crappy standard flashing with the FAILED rubber boot!
If you're building a new home or RE-ROOFING your existing home, install this Lifetime Tool flashing so you NEVER have leaks around the boot.
CLICK or TAP HERE to order one right now and hand it to your roofer. USE THE LINK at the bottom of the page to order. Be SURE to order the correct size to match the diameter of the pipe exiting your roof.
That image above is a fantastic no-pest dryer vent. Note it's unique dual flapper design.
CLICK or TAP HERE to discover WHY I use these on my own home for both my dryer and my bathroom exhaust vents. You'll then understand WHY I want them on my daughter's home.
Yes, when you CLICK or TAP HERE there's a handy link allowing you to order these very affordable vents.
In a recent issue of this newsletter, I told a story sent to me by a subscriber about how flushable wipes clogged his house building drain. CLICK or TAP HERE to read the story.
You may have been one who RESPONDED to me after reading the story. You wanted to share the facts about your wretched encounter with these products.
I got SO MANY responses I decided to devote one of my national columns to the topic. CLICK or TAP HERE to read my national column about Flushable Wipes.
It's VERY IMPORTANT to note that I didn't say to stop buying them. I pointed out in my column HOW I would dispose of them after use.
The Dust Up
I've been writing my syndicated column since October of 1993. Within a month or two, public relations (PR) people/professionals started to call and write to me.
Several have become very good friends and the first one I met face-to-face, Kathy Ziprik, is still doing a fantastic job of representing her clients. She invited me to a Georgia Pacific editors event in Atlanta, Georgia back in 1994.
It's important to note that PR people are PAID to talk about their clients and some do damage control if a situation turns up that puts their clients in a bad light.
That happened with my national column. Smart PR people, and companies, have Google Alerts set up to notify them in SECONDS when something appears online about their products or a topic of great interest to them.
Obviously, Alfred Breuer had an alert set up for the phrase flushable wipes as he reached out to me on May 10th. Alfred is a PR person who's salary is partially paid for by the Responsible Flushing Alliance. Alfred works for Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Austin, Texas.
Alfred felt my column was in error and wanted me to publish a national correction. Here's his hard-hitting paragraph from the top of the email:
"We appreciate the issues faced by wastewater systems and your effort to educate consumers and agree there are products that should not be flushed – but we are concerned that blaming the problem on “flushable wipes” is missing the mark. There are many types of wet wipes out there, such as baby wipes, disinfecting wipes, household cleaning wipes, facial wipes and more. But there is a small but separate category of wipes designed, marketed and tested to be a “flushable wipe” for personal hygiene in a bathroom. We know through extensive sewer collection studies that these “flushable wipes” are not the problem."
I responded to Alfred the next day. I told him that I wasn't going to issue a correction and furthermore I was going to record a video showing what really happens when the flushable wipes are FLUSHED.
Yes, within a month I'm recording a video at my home that's going to set the record straight about these products.
I told Alfred that I'd be VERY OPEN to any input from his clients as to the format and scientific method of testing to ENSURE that it was a fair and honest representation.
I also put on my journalist's hat and asked Alfred who the members of the Alliance were (you can see them listed at their website - I knew this before asking) AND I wanted to know exactly HOW MUCH MONEY each one contributed each year to fund the output of their message.
The flushable wipes industry is huge. My guess is sales are in the hundreds of millions of dollars and GROWING. The industry is doing everything possible to squelch anything that puts their product in a bad light. When that much money is at stake, half truths can flow like water from a fountain.
Alfred NEVER RESPONDED. What's that tell you?
I know what it screams to me:
Alfred, and the alliance he represents, does NOT want me to create a video.
What's my video going to be? I'm going to use my pipe scaffolding and I'm going to set up a platform about five feet in the air. On the platform will be a nice new Kohler toilet.
I'm going to pipe the toilet EXACTLY how your toilet is probably piped in your home. You'll be able to see all the piping. In case you don't know it, I've been a master plumber since age 29 and you can bet the plumbing for this video will be perfect.
The pipe will then extend across my driveway about 70 feet simulating the journey your toilet waste takes as it travels to your city sewer or septic tank. I'll put in a few 45-degree bends to simulate wyes that might be under your basement floor or in your crawlspace.
When flowing waste and water changes direction in a pipe, it gets jostled around just like you might on an amusement ride that goes around corners or bends. It's very important to include this change of direction in a simulation.
At the end of the pipe, I'm going to have a clear glass container to capture what comes out of the toilet. You'll see all of this on the video.
I'm going to flush the standard amount of toilet paper one might use along with simulated solid waste that Kathy is going to help make.
She recommended clumps of cookie dough formed to represent you-know-what. I'm going to color the dough green to help take away the yuck factor. I'm OPEN to your suggestions!
I'll also do the two top brands of flushable wipes, paper towels, cheap toilet paper, high-quality toilet paper and maybe even an army man or dinosaur. 🙂
I can't wait to make the video and show you what happens when you flush these wipes.
Remember, the products are named correctly!!!
You CAN FLUSH them. You can also FLUSH plastic army men, dinosaurs, gravel, cellphones, jewelry, underwear, etc. down toilets.
That's enough for a Sunday morning. If you have input on what you'd like to see in that video, NOW IS THE TIME to speak up.
Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
GET CLEAN - www.StainSolver.com
Invisible Happiness - www.W3ATB.com
Do It Right, Not Over!
No Pest Dryer Vent | Look at the double doors. This keeps pests out and prevents cold air from backdrafting into your home. CLICK or TAP HERE to have it delivered to your home in just a day or two.
I installed a special dryer vent cover about four years ago. It's a no pest dryer vent.
It comes with two flaps, not just one as you find on regular vent covers.
The outer flap has tiny magnets that keep the cover closed so it won't annoy you on windy days.
Look up at that image again and notice the design of the inner flap or door. This is the magic of this dryer vent. Scorpions, spiders, mice, serpents, etc. can't defeat it because of the male/female design of this flap.
The vents come in a few different colors and some are made with an integrated flange for vinyl siding.
Yes! These no pest dryer vent covers are perfect for bathroom exhaust. The outer doors seal much better than traditional vent covers. This eliminates cold drafts blowing on your wet skin after getting out of the shower or tub!
CLICK or TAP HERE to have one delivered to your home in days.
Related Column
A-Frame House Problems | Here’s an eye-catching A-frame house on Mt. Desert Island, Maine. You might not recognize the problems that come with a home like this because you're mesmerized by how unusual it is. You'll need a few roof framing basics when building an A-frame house. (C) Copyright 2021 Tim Carter
QUESTION #1: I’d like your honest opinion, Tim. A-frame houses have always appealed to me and I think I want to build one. I’ve done scads of research on these unusual homes and I’m convinced it’s the right decision. I want you to be the devil’s advocate and try to expose any flaws in my thinking before I make this large financial commitment. Feel free to share any pros as well as cons. Leslie S., Silver Spring, MD
Have you ever been faced with a decision like Leslie’s? It’s fairly easy to let emotion rule the day when it comes to large purchases. It’s usually a great idea to get lots of input from friends as well as professionals.
In this case, Leslie should be talking to the top real estate agent in the area where she plans to build this A-frame home. She may discover that an A-frame has a very limited appeal which would directly affect the home’s resale value.
CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local builders who can build your A-Frame house.
The first thought that came to my mind when I read Leslie’s question is, “Have you ever stayed a week in an A-frame home?” A month would be even better, but that could be problematic for a person that doesn’t have lots of vacation time stored up.
The Internet makes it so easy to find any number of A-frame houses you can rent. I’d probably stay in two or three different ones to see how they really work on a day-to-day basis.
In my opinion, here are the top five problems:
I feel a home needs to be functional before you consider its form. That’s a struggle in architecture where form and function tend to tug at one another. As a builder, I can take just about any floor plan and then make the outside look contemporary, Victorian, Tuscan villa, etc.
A-frame houses are very strong because they're a basic geometric shape used by Mother Nature.
From a construction perspective, A-frame homes are simple triangles. Triangles are perhaps the strongest of all things you can build so long as all the connections between the three sides are engineered. Huge bridges employ triangles. Tension cables or steel beams create triangles in large open steel buildings so they don’t collapse in a windstorm.
If you choose a durable roofing material like steel or virgin polymer roofing shingle, you can end up with minimal exterior maintenance as two of the four walls are also the roof. That’s a big plus in my book.
Many A-frame homes sport an open floor plan. I’d be very sure this concept works for you. What about visiting guests? Will the A-frame provide enough privacy so the social fabric doesn’t start to fray in a matter of hours or days?
As silly as this sounds, you even have to consider artwork and other wall-hung things you might take for granted. Yes, you can hang pictures and art on slanted walls, but be sure you’re okay with how they might look.
My last piece of advice is to base the final decision on cold hard facts. Don’t hope an A-frame is going to work out. You hope for things you can’t control. You can test-live in an A-frame to see if you really like the day-to-day encounters with the high-angle sloped walls.
Column 1301 A
Unique Shed Designs | This is a unique small garden shed with an organic roof! (C) Copyright 2021 Tim Carter
QUESTION #1: Hello Tim. I’ve put off building a small garden shed for too many years. After the wretched winter I endured, I deserve something that will lift my spirits. I don’t know where to start, but I do know I want it to be an asset to my property.
Should I just buy a pre-built shed or is it possible to build my own with limited skills and tools? I’m up for a challenge but don’t want to find out I bit off more than I can chew. What would you do if you were me? Andrea T., Blue Earth, MN
Each spring I hear from folks like Andrea. Spring as a magical time of year that unleashes pent-up energy and creativity in many things, including humans! It’s the favorite time of year for my ham radio mentor and I enjoy seeing him soak up all the wonder of the season.
CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local contractors who will build a unique shed.
A shed can be an easy DIY project. For most sheds, you just need very basic building skills. I sell a set of detailed shed plans that gives you all the information you need to build almost any shed.
This is a page showing a cross-section of my own shed. There are 17 pages to the set of plans!! CLICK or TAP HERE or THE IMAGE NOW TO BUY THEM. INSTANT DOWNLOAD
I’m a big fan of addressing challenges. If Andrea would have asked me fifteen years ago, I might have hesitated to have her take the DIY approach. But technology has allowed many to do things they never dreamed of doing. Just two weeks ago, I was approached by a Japanese television show asking permission to use part of one of my past videos. It turns out a 70-year-old Japanese woman built her own home using lots of videos she saw on YouTube and the show producers told me one of mine was key to her success.
The top five shed-building tips are:
Six years ago, I created over 100 videos showing the process of building an outdoor shed. The methods apply to any shed no matter the size or shape. You or Andrea can watch these for free and become empowered so that your dreams become reality.
The first step in the process is to step back and really ponder what’s going to happen in the shed. Is it an actual work shed, is it just for storage or both? The biggest complaint I get from my subscribers and readers is that sheds are almost always too small.
It’s easy to determine the right size for a shed no matter what you intend to do with it. As you might expect, I’ve created a video showing you how to solve this conundrum. Watch it now.
All you need is some string and the things you’re going to store in the shed. I put the things out on the grass next to one another the way I envision them in the shed. I then surround the items with the string creating an outline of the exterior walls. This tells you quickly how big your shed needs to be.
Shed footings must be placed below the local frost level. Failure to do this will result in structural issues caused by frost heave.
Andrea is going to have to meet with her local building inspector and get up to speed on the frost depth for her shed foundation. The frost level is very likely 5 or 6-feet deep in that part of Minnesota. It’s important to realize you need to protect all your hard work from frost heaving. Andrea may have to hire out digging the piers as doing that part by hand is mind-numbing and back-breaking work. It’s possible to rent a very small excavator to dig the holes yourself.
I’m not a huge fan of the pre-built sheds. I’ve looked at many near my home and most, in my opinion, are built to minimum standards. If you decide to buy one, absolutely get one that has treated lumber floor joists and a treated plywood floor. Yes, you can buy treated plywood and it has the same wood-rot prevention chemicals in it as treated lumber.
CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local contractors who will build a unique shed.
Be sure to think about natural light. Simple skylights or light tunnels will bathe the inside of the shed with natural light so you can see what you’re doing on cloudy days.
I prefer traditional overhead garage doors for sheds. You might not realize that you can get small overhead doors as narrow as 6 feet and sometimes even smaller. An overhead door won’t blow open on windy days and they seal very well against driving rain and frigid wind.
The good news is you don’t need lots of fancy tools to build your own shed. Yes, fancy tools will allow you to save time, but carpenters from fifty or one-hundred years ago didn’t have them. You’ll have success building with just a simple circular saw, a framing square, a tape measure, a hammer, and a few other tools.
Column 1300 A
Label Electrical Wires | You can use a simple Sharpie to label wires. These labels will help you label each circuit breaker correctly. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter
Read more of this story in Tim's May 5, 2019 Newsletter.
It's a good idea to label electrical wires. Here are a few reasons why you should do it:
It's important to realize that you may know where a wire goes the day you installed it, but you may not remember a week, month, or year later. Simple labels at critical locations where a wire is visible may help you trace a circuit saving you lots of time.
It is possible to have a little fun and lower your stress as you label electrical wires. Here are a few examples. Let's see how smart you are. Place your answers to the questions in the comment section below:
Can you guess what will be powered by this 12/2 wg NMB cable? Copyright 2019 Tim Carter
This is an easy one. The National Electric Code requires this machine to be on a separate 20-amp circuit. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter
Yes, here's another no brainer. Once again, you need to put this machine on its own dedicated circuit. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter
I'm sure you can figure this one out, but don't guess too fast! What does it take to create ice? BONUS POINTS: Do you know what that small spool of orange cable is for? Put your answer in the comments below. Good luck! Copyright 2019 Tim Carter
The building inspector in your city or town may not require you to use a special foam to seal the holes in bottom and top wall plates through which electric cables pass. It's a VERY GOOD idea to use this product to stop the spread of fire in homes. It also stops cold air drafts too.
Here's the fire foam sealant I'm using on my daughter's new home:
This is fire foam sealant. It's easy to use and stops the spread of fire between floors. Copyright 2019 DAP CLICK or TAP HERE to have this foam delivered to your home.
New subscriber? I'm glad you're here and I hope I can save you lots of sweet moola and time moving forward.
Illustrious subscriber in good standing? I've got some goodies for you this issue.
Here's a reminder that the spring Stain Solver sale ends tonight. Kathy and I own the certified organic Stain Solver cleaner.
It's GREAT for any and all spring cleaning. If you can wash it in water, you can use Stain Solver.
Promo code: 19SPRING
CLICK OR TAP HERE to place your order.
I'm writing this newsletter from Bar Harbor, Maine. It's been a crazy week filled with finishing the electrical wiring in my daughter and son-in-law's new home.
Here are some stats:
Do you like fun little games? Then go guess what some of the circuits are in the house. Here's a clue:
CLICK or TAP HERE to see the rest of what's written on the 12/2 wg cable. See if you can guess all the other clever labels.
Ninety minutes ago as I was creating that new page at the website, my incoming email sound went off on my cell phone that's here on the table. It's important to realize it's a Sunday morning and it was about 6:40 am.
The email was from Ms. Angela Chamberlain. That name probably means nothing to you. Angie is the building inspector here in Bar Harbor, Maine. She's also the electrical and plumbing inspector.
I had emailed her three days ago asking if she requires fire foam sealant in the hundreds of holes my son-in-law and I drilled in the top and bottom plates of all the walls. What is fire foam sealant?
This is fire foam sealant. It's easy to use and stops the spread of fire between floors. Copyright 2019 DAP
The arrival of spring in Bar Harbor unleashes all the contractors. Angie is super busy and came into the office on a SUNDAY morning to catch up on email. I was STUNNED to hear from her less than two hours ago!
CLICK or TAP HERE and scroll to the bottom of the column to understand WHY I wanted to know the answer.
After all the final inspections are done where I have to deal with Angie on a professional level, I'm going to ask her if she'd agree to an in-depth interview. I feel she's an inspiration to young women all across the USA and the world for that matter. I'd publish the interview on my website and might even create a national story about it.
I've got quite a few interesting questions to ask her. I sure hope she agrees and her boss allows it. It would be fantastic publicity for the town of Bar Harbor and Angie too!
Two weeks ago I shared a story in a past newsletter about a subscriber who had a clog in his plumbing building drain caused by flushable wipes.
You might have been one of many who responded back to me sharing your story about these WRETCHED products. The response was so great I decided to dedicate one of my national columns to the topic.
CLICK or TAP HERE to discover WHY you should NOT flush these things down your toilet. Wait until you see the VIDEOS!!!!!!!
It's okay to use flushable wipes, but note in my column a suggestion on what to do with them. It's not hard and it's common sense.
You may still read a newspaper each day. In fact, my syndicated newspaper column may appear in your paper. If it doesn't you might want to reach out to your paper's editor and suggest they consider it. CLICK or TAP HERE and share this link with your paper's editor. Tell her/him how I've helped you in this newsletter and you just might make magic happen in your paper!
Are there other features you like in your local paper? It could be any column, feature, or even a cartoon. Did you know that it's VERY IMPORTANT for you to periodically write a short letter to the editor telling her/him WHY you like the column, cartoon, or feature?
If editors don't get periodic feedback from readers like you, they feel the column might not be useful.
Take a few moments and let the paper know HOW a column or feature helped you if you want to keep seeing it in your paper. Once a column, cartoon, or feature is cancelled, it's rarely re-introduced back into the paper.
That's enough for a Sunday morning. I need to write my 1,300th syndicated column after sending this newsletter to you. It's about unusual outdoor sheds and how to create the perfect one for yourself!
Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Certified Clean Man - www.StainSolver.com
Morse Maker - www.W3ATB.com
Do It Right, Not Over!
If you're a brand new subscriber, I need you to realize this issue of the newsletter is extraordinarily special.
I've NEVER produced an issue like you're about to read.
So hang in there and don't unsubscribe. You'll see a normal issue next week.
First and foremost Stain Solver is a certified organic multi-purpose cleaner made here in the USA with USA ingredients. If you can wash the item with water, Stain Solver can be used to clean it.
A special promo code and sale has been set up just for you for this newsletter issue. You'll discover it below.
My wife Kathy and I own Stain Solver. Ellen and Roger are two long-time team members who have been with us through thick and thin. Oh, the stories Ellen and Roger can tell you about how we used to mix, package and carry Stain Solver up from our basement!
"Tim, what's in this for ME? Why should I care about your Stain Solver anyway?"
Oh, that's a great question and I'm about to answer it. Don't bail on this newsletter. I GUARANTEE you'll be able to get something of yours clean that no dry cleaner or other product has been able to do.
It's important to realize if you've never used Stain Solver before, you've never experienced a truly remarkable cleaner that exceeds all the claims we, and happy customers, make about it.
Stain Solver was born out of research I was doing for a deck cleaning column back in 1994 I believe. It was a long time ago.
I was interviewing an innovative small deck sealer company based in the Midwest. I asked the owner, "I imagine you recommend a 50/50 mix of chlorine bleach and water to clean the deck before using your product."
That was, and to this day, the common advice given to clean decks. Yes, TOXIC chlorine bleach is still promoted by many to clean wood decks! It's a very bad idea to use it.
Many deck-cleaning products sold today at the big box stores you shop at are just chlorine bleach. If it says sodium hypochlorite on the label, it's NASTY chlorine bleach!
The owner of the sealer company replied, "Oh no, never use chlorine bleach. It removes the natural color from wood, it KILLS all the vegetation around the deck, and it's very corrosive to all the metal fasteners that hold the deck together. Chlorine bleach also destroys the lignin that holds the wood together. You want to use OXYGEN BLEACH."
I had never heard of oxygen bleach! The deck sealer company owner said, "Here, call Jef Morgan, the chemist and head of marketing for the chemical company that distributes the BEST oxygen bleach in the USA. He'll tell you all about it."
I called Jef. We had dinner the next week and he told me all about oxygen bleach and how it worked on wood. As we were about to order dessert, I asked, "So Jef, does oxygen bleach work to clean ANYTHING ELSE?"
The floodgates opened. We spent another ninety minutes at Montgomery Inn as Jef went down the list of ALL THE THINGS you can clean with oxygen bleach.
Jef wanted me to try it out. He sent me a 100-pound sack of the pure oxygen bleach. "Tim, go ahead and start experimenting with it. Share a bunch with your friends and neighbors. Give them this small booklet to help them understand how to use it. See what kind of feedback you get."
The booklet had a page devoted to each common thing you might try to clean. The instructions were pretty much always the same: Mix 4 tablespoons of the oxygen bleach powder with a quart of warm water and stir until dissolved.
You'd then apply this solution to a dirty object or soak a soiled garment in the solution. The point was to just get the item WET with the bubbling solution and let the oxygen bubbles start to clean.
After the solution would work on its own, you'd then scrub or agitate the item as you might in a washing machine and magic would happen after you rinse away all the grime, dirt and stains!
Kathy and I did what Jef recommended. We shared at least sixty pounds with my friends and neighbors.
Within a week, many were calling us back saying, "Holy crap! Where did you get this stuff? It's AMAZING!"
How amazing you ask? Here's my all-time FAVORITE before and after photo sent in by a customer. These have NOT been photoshopped:
CLICK or TAP HERE to read Georgia's unbelievable story about her son Curtis' baseball cap.
Our friends and neighbors would share a story of something that was ruined, or they thought was ruined, and how the magic powder had restored it.
A bank teller I saw each week while making deposits used it to clean up the rear seat in her brand new car. She had brought a tupperware container of beets to work and it leaked on the seat.
Beet stains are TOUGH to remove! They're like red wine. (Did I mention that Stain Solver gets out red wine stains?)
"Tim, I mixed up some like it said in the booklet and the beet juice stain DISAPPEARED in just a few minutes! Can you sell me some extra? I want to try it on a bunch of stained blouses of mine."
I just gave her some for free. She later told me Stain Solver restored ALL of her stained blouses that dry cleaners had been UNABLE to clean!
More and more stories came in from my friends and neighbors. I was STUNNED at all the things they were cleaning.
At that point, Kathy and I decided to start to sell this magic cleaner.
But we needed a name. This was 1995 and I knew it was a great stain remover so I went to the main public library in downtown Cincinnati with a friend, Nick Motz.
At that time, that library was a branch depository - or some other designation - of the US Patent and Trademark Office. They had these giant books of registered trademarks.
Kathy and I had come up with several names and I started to see which ones had already been trademarked.
Stain Solver withstood that challenge, we applied for the trademark and got it.
You may feel really comfortable buying things online now. But back in 1995, it was the Wild West. E-commerce was brand new. Shopping carts on websites were basic.
Many people were TERRIFIED to enter their credit card information on a website. Convincing them to buy online was not easy.
But we did it and still do it to this day. CLICK or TAP HERE to see our current shopping cart.
You already know it cleans wood decks - and all composite decking material too.
Stain Solver also cleans:
Here's a SHORT LIST of things Stain Solver can clean INSIDE your home:
I could go on and on and on and on.
There are HUNDREDS of things in your home you can clean with Stain Solver.
Once again, if you have a TOUGH STAIN on something and have tried other cleaners that delivered disappointing results, Stain Solver very likely will restore it.
CLICK or TAP HERE to watch my favorite cleaning videos.
CLICK or TAP HERE for the full Stain Solver Use Instructions.
Are you a subscriber who's been with me for years? You've seen all the past Stain Solver mentions and sales and ignored me, right?
You've never bought Stain Solver because you feel I'm making insane claims or it's too good to be true, right?
Tens of thousands of customers have trusted Kathy and I and are now REPEAT CUSTOMERS.
A very good customer in California buys Stain Solver in 50-pound buckets. Due to a serious and complex illness, she can't be around any toxic cleaners. Stain Solver is just about the ONLY THING she can use that doesn't bother her or make her sick. She is a big fan of Stain Solver and I'm a big fan of her!
Here's a proposition for you. Go ahead and buy some now. Use the following promo code below.
Ellen or I will personally answer any questions you have about how to use it. I will GLADLY call you on the phone and answer any questions you have if you are on the fence about buying.
If Stain Solver was a crap product, do you think in this day and age with social media we'd be able to survive? Bad products are beat to death with complaints and bad reviews.
This is why Stain Solver has SURVIVED. It's a fantastic product that really works so long as you follow our use instructions.
Here's where Kathy and I need your help.
Do you work in a school, motel, an office building, an auto repair business, a daycare center, a restaurant, etc.?
We've sold Stain Solver to the above businesses for YEARS and want to grow the B2B business.
A school in California buys SEVEN 50-pound buckets at a time from us to clean their school floors. CLICK or TAP HERE to see the order form.
A giant company in Cincinnati uses it in their tall office towers to clean up coffee spills in cubicles each night. They also use it on their bathroom tile floors.
A motel in West Virginia uses it to clean oil-stained carpeting in rooms from contract workers who work in the field on oil rigs.
Restaurants buy Stain Solver to deep clean greasy kitchen floors and to deep clean all the cutlery overnight so it's like brand new for the customers the next day.
I could go on and on and on about all the businesses that buy Stain Solver.
Can you help get the word out? Can your business try it?
Do you have QUESTIONS about how to use it at your business?
Okay, go ahead and try some Stain Solver now.
CLICK or TAP HERE to order Stain Solver.
Here's a promo code for 10% off and FREE SHIPPING to the lower 48 states here in the USA.
The promo code works on any purchase GREATER than $25.00.
This sale will last just ONE WEEK. Don't worry, I'll remind you in a few days.
If you've not used Stain Solver before, I GUARANTEE you'll be blown away. I WILL CALL YOU if need be to help you get the best results. Ellen or I will answer your questions.
Call this number M-F between 9 and 2 pm ET to get in touch with us: 513-407-8727.
That's quite enough for a Sunday morning.
Do you have questions about Stain Solver?
Reply to this email and I'll do my best to get back to you right away.
Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Co-Founder - www.StainSolver.com
Do It Right, Not Over!
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