Builder Abandons Job TIPS Talk with general manager of local lumberyard Request detailed cost breakdown in bidding process Only pay for satisfactory work and materials stored on job site Plans and specifications must be excellent CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! This column will help prevent the agony caused when a builder Read More »
"I believe the reason they're so strong is that the manufacturers decided to make the concrete mix quite rich adding a small amount of extra Portland cement." Concrete Laundry Tub Checklist Concrete laundry tub is fantastic. Do not get rid of yours! Valuable!! Contain high amounts of Portland cement and wire mesh reinforcing WATCH concrete Read More »
Pergola Ideas for Small Patios TIPS Scale is very important - think Big for small patios Wind load is real and pergolas can blow over or away Use DIY copper rot treatment for buried posts Mix lumber species and stains for multi-colored WOW factor CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! DEAR TIM: Read More »
Avoid Change Orders Tim Carter, founder of AsktheBuilder.com, shares tips about change orders in this last video of a four-part series. Change orders are Death on a Stick. Change orders delay jobs. Change orders mean your plans were HORRIBLE. Change orders lead to big arguments. Tim shares how to AVOID change orders in this Read More »
Paying Contractors Tim Carter, founder of AsktheBuilder.com, discusses MONEY in video number three of a four-part series about finding the best contractor. Money is the only leverage you have in a job. You only want to pay for completed work that's done right. If you pay too much money up front, you can get Read More »
Contract & Specifications This is video number two of a four-part series. CLICK or TAP HERE for the FIRST video. CLICK or TAP HERE for video #3. CLICK or TAP HERE for video #4. In this video Tim discusses the importance of the contract. In a perfect world, and it happened only once during Read More »
Finding the best contractor This is video number one of a four-part series. CLICK or TAP HERE for video #2. CLICK or TAP HERE for video #3. CLICK or TAP HERE for video #4. Tim Carter, founder of AsktheBuilder.com and national award-winning builder, discusses how easy it is to locate the true professionals in your Read More »
New Home Quality Control I didn’t ask permission from my editor to depart from my normal question and answer format, but I’m sure he’ll agree this is a long overdue column. I’ve been writing this column now for over twenty-three years. Ask the Builder was first published October 2, 1993. It was my original goal Read More »
The following checklist is a FREE sample of some very important things you need to make sure happen as you build your new home or room addition. There are MANY OTHER THINGS that are important and they're included in a comprehensive checklist I created years ago. Don't count on the building code to protect you. It's Read More »
Modify Wood and Attic Trusses TIPS Trusses can be modified or changed Structural engineer must be consulted WATCH truss videos below! Replace with common rafters CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! Mike, from Cleveland, Ohio, wrote to me: Tim, great reading your tips. I've got a question, I would like to convert Read More »
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