Surviving the Storm A ferocious Nor’easter lashed central New Hampshire last night and my family and I did a good job of surviving the storm. The howling wind and rain knocked out my electricity before midnight. My cable Internet access was cut as well. It was impossible to get a good night’s sleep. Standby Generator Read More »
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 »
Confused on how to cut crown molding? Should you use a compound miter saw or a sliding compound miter saw? Miter saws are wonderful tools, but a compound miter saw is not mission-critical when it comes time to cut crown molding. Discover the way I cut crown molding without using a compound miter saw.
"Moss, mold, and mildew need food to survive, just like you and me. The food sources can be an assortment of things..." Patio Moss Mold and Mildew Prevention Checklist Moss, mold, mildew, and algae feed off invisible food and water Pressure washing can damage precast colored pavers and brick WATCH the copper sulfate video below! Read More »
Brick Wall Leaks Driving Rain TIPS All brick walls leak water Water must be captured and released back to the outside WATCH brick wall construction video below Silane / siloxane sealers can stop most leaks in existing walls CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! DEAR TIM: As result of Hurricane Irma, I Read More »
How To Sink Finishing Nails TIPS Use a small nail set that's sized correctly Finish nail guns do a great job - ease gun to wood WATCH nail set and nail gun videos below Match nail set tip to small dimple in head of finish nail CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! Read More »
Mold growth is a major problem, which thousands of people are experiencing due to a number of factors. Mold takes root partly due to poor workmanship, a limited understanding of the dynamics of water and water vapor movement, and lack of adequate training for builders. Toxic mold concerns rarely happened in old homes. Stopping black mold and other mold types before they begin can be done, but your builder must be well versed in how to keep water at bay with modern building materials and proper construction.
If your bare concrete or concrete block foundation is exposed, you can use stucco to cover it up. You can add permanent colors to stucco and create very interesting textures with little effort. Be sure to clean the surface; applying stucco should be done in slightly warm weather.
When building a deck and using joist hangers, be sure to use the proper nails. Many joist support systems, or truss hangers, recommend nails or fasteners that are approved for their hangers. If the joist hangers your carpenter used are approved for use with the newer ACQ treated lumber, you should have nothing to worry about.
Crawl Space DIY Vapor Barrier TIPS Clear clutter and smooth dirt Fill holes in foundation to stop air and water WATCH vapor barrier video below Use cross-laminated vapor barrier material CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! DEAR TIM: The crawl space under my 1910 home is just exposed dirt and leftover building Read More »
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