Treated Lumber Cracking - STOP Cracks By Using Great Sealer Below Treated lumber cracking happens because water soaks into the wood. The wood swells creating stress within the wood's cellular structure. When the water evaporates, the wood shrinks. This movement causes tension forces that start to tear the lumber apart. The cracks you see Read More »
Alta Norway Mudslide - Often Disaster Can be Predicted The tragedy of the eight houses being swept into the ocean may have been prevented. Norway has quick clays and they are not very strong soils. There could be historical data that told of other past mudslides in this area. Geologic mapping might identify them as Read More »
How to Flash Siding Block - You Need Thin Stainless Steel Watch this video to understand one correct way to flash a siding block for light fixtures, hose bibs, appliance vents, etc. It's much easier to install the special stainless steel flashing tape as you're installing the siding rather than to do a repair. CLICK Read More »
Storm Damage Help - You'll Probably Be On Your Own AUTHOR'S NOTE: If you have a story to share about how you got no, or little help, from local agencies in a major storm, PLEASE SHARE it with me so I can post it here at the bottom of the page. Share it using the Read More »
Garage Planning Ideas - Make it Bigger DEAR TIM: I can’t tell you how many thousands of dollars I’ve spent on remote storage facility fees. I want to put all my stuff on my own land in a dream garage. I realize a garage can be detached as well as attached to my home. Have Read More »
Metal Roof Color Temperature - Color Matters Big Time I used my FLIR infrared camera to determine the temperature of three pieces of metal I had painted three different colors. The experiment was done at the end of May 2020 in central New Hampshire. I took the photos just a few minutes after solar noon. Read More »
Water Leak Electrical Panel Podcast: Tim Carter received a water leak electrical panel email from Kathleen in Millersville, MD. Read her email below and then CLICK to LISTEN to the Water Leak in Electrical Panel Podcast. Here's what Kathleen wrote: "Tim, Every time it rains there is a slow trickle of water that seeps down Read More »
Animated GIF by Marty Hovey Copyright 1995 Marty Hovey Water Damage Drywall Repair Podcast: Tim Carter received a water damage drywall repair email from Phil. Phil lives in Australia and is a virtual friend of Tim's. Here's what Phil wrote: "Tim, I’ve got a small area of drywall that is a bit of a Read More »
Ask The Builder · 69: Free Standing Tree House Animated GIF by Marty Hovey Copyright 1995 Marty Hovey Free Standing Tree House Podcast: Tim Carter received a free standing tree house email from Joe who lives in South Carolina. He sent an amazing video you MUST watch below. I pray that Joe leaves Read More »
Crawlspace Wall Insulation Podcast: Tim Carter received a great crawlspace wall insulation email from Craig who lives in Ohio. He sent amazing photos you can see below. Craig wrote: "Hi Tim, My crawlspace is about 660 square feet. I've attached pictures of the current condition in the crawl space. The insulation was simply nailed into Read More »
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