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!

Gladiator Mobile Workstation

Posted on by Tim Carter
Gladiator Mobile Workstation

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.

Gladiator Mobile Workstation

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?

Workstation is Simple & STRONG

I opened the box on its side and slid out the few parts. Here's all that was in the box:

  • solid thick hardwood top
  • two leg sets
  • bottom shelf
  • four swivel casters
  • bolts and wrenches
  • instructions

In less than twenty minutes it was assembled and ready for use.

 

Gladiator Mobile Workstation

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

 

Gladiator Mobile Workstation

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

 

Gladiator Mobile Workstation

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

 

Gladiator Mobile Workstation

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

 

Gladiator Mobile Workstation

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

CLICK HERE RIGHT NOW TO BUY THIS AMAZING WORKSTATION.

Insulated Concrete Foundation Forms & Attach Wood to Concrete

Posted on by Tim Carter
house foundation

This is a house foundation that’s being built with insulated concrete forms. (C) Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

Insulated Concrete Foundation Forms

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.

insulated concrete form footing footer

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’.“

Attach Wood To Concrete

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

May 19, 2019 AsktheBuilder Newsletter

Posted on by Tim Carter

Are you a new subscriber? Greetings and salutations! Are you a seasoned subscriber? You know I love you too!

The New House Update

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.
Heat Transfer Plates
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.

Other Great Products

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:

The Best Plumbing Vent Flashing

roof-vent-flashing

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.

The No-Pest Dryer and Bathroom Exhaust Vent

no pest dryer vent

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.

Flushable Wipes Dust Up

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.

flushable-wipes
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

Posted on by Tim Carter

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.

No Pest Dryer Vent - Mine Works Well

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.

Clever No Pest Dryer Vent Design Stops Intruders

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.

Can This Vent Cover Be Used For Bathroom Exhaust Too?

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

Clothes Dryer Vents

A-Frame House Problems – They Hide at First

Posted on by Tim Carter
A-frame house

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

A-Frame House Problems - They Can be Aplenty

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.

Should I Rent an A-Frame Before Buying One?

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.

What are the Top A-Frame House Problems?

In my opinion, here are the top five problems:

  • massive summer heat gain if the large windows face south (assuming you're in the Northern Hemisphere)
  • lack of large amounts of vertical walls to hang things
  • hard to re-roof - staging required
  • acoustic issues with sound bouncing off hard wall surfaces
  • energy loss through huge window walls

Are A-Frame Houses Functional?

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.

Are A-Frame Houses Strong?

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.

How Do You Minimize Exterior Maintenance?

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.

Do A-Frame Houses Have Open Floor Plans?

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?

How Can you Hang Things on Sloped Walls?

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.

Should I Hope I'll Like an A-Frame House?

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 – Imagine Anything Even Spaceships

Posted on by Tim Carter
unique garden shed

Unique Shed Designs | This is a unique small garden shed with an organic roof! (C) Copyright 2021 Tim Carter

Unique Shed Designs - Dream It & Build It

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.

Is a Shed a DIY Project?

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.

shed plan section

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.

What are the Top Five Shed Building Tips?

The top five shed-building tips are:

  • don't make the shed too small
  • use treated-lumber joists and flooring or poured concrete
  • use an overhead 6-foot-wide door - inexpensive!
  • make the walls 9 or 10-feet tall
  • match the style of your home for increased appeal
  • Are There DIY Shed-Building Videos?

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.

How Do You Size a Shed?

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.

What Do You Need to Size a Shed?

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.

Should Shed Footings Be Below the Frost Level?

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.

Are Pre-Built Sheds Good?

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.

Should I Put Natural Light in my 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.

Should I Install an Overhead Door?

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.

Do You Need Lots of Tools to Build a Shed?

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

Posted on by Tim Carter
label electrical wires

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

Label Electrical Wires - Have Some Fun Be Reasonable

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:

  • labels help remind you how to name circuit breakers
  • labels help you know what wire is which in an attic or crawlspace
  • labels help you when you tear into a wall years from now

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.

Label Wires and Smile

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:

label electric wires

Can you guess what will be powered by this 12/2 wg NMB cable? Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

label electrical wires

This is an easy one. The National Electric Code requires this machine to be on a separate 20-amp circuit. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

label electrical wires

Yes, here's another no brainer. Once again, you need to put this machine on its own dedicated circuit. Copyright 2019 Tim Carter

label electrical wires

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

Fire Foam Sealant For Cables

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:

fire foam sealant

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.