Q&A / 

Theresa Jordan lives up in a suburb of Chicago, Arlington Heights, IL. But she's got a very big problem with backflow valves in her sewer line that are now creating backups in her home. She can tell the story much better than I can. Here it is: "Where I live, we have combined storm and sanitary Read More »

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Susan Coyle wants to dress up her home in Atascadero, CA, with some nice extruded fiberglass window boxes. Here's what she asked: "Is there a specific brand of extruded fiberglass window box that you recommend?" Susan, I don't know that there are any standout brands. I have about ten wonderful extruded fiberglass window boxes here at Read More »

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Alice Happel might live in a high-rise condo on East Wacker Drive in Chicago, IL. I only say this because I've stayed in a wonderful one owned by a friend of mine, Dave Wiener, on that street next to the Chicago River. Wowza did it have a great view! Alice, though, has an undermount sink that Read More »

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DEAR TIM: My husband and I are doing a bathroom remodel. The biggest change is the bathtub. The builder put in a smallish tub and I’m now going with a luxurious soaking tub. Our house is on a slab. Are the tub drain holes, the one at the bottom and the one higher up the Read More »

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Julie has a nice home in Quebec, Canada. But she's got a problem with some sloppy mortar around her metal fireplace. Here's what she has to say: "We have a fire place with stones all around, I am trying to find the best option to hide the cement on the fireplace. I find it really ugly and Read More »

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DEAR TIM: My backyard is not level. The ground slopes from the left to the right as you look out my back kitchen window. The land in the subdivision slopes this general direction until it hits a small creek three blocks away. Ever since my neighbor built an in-ground swimming pool I have water ponding Read More »

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Tim Carter shot this video on February 12, 2015, in Meredith, NH. It's a massive layout allowing multiple trains to operate at the same time going either direction. Sophisticated electronics in the locomotives create real sounds and allow only that engine to respond to the controls each operator uses. Fascinating technology.

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Eric Sygnatur owns a Hyattsville, MD townhouse located just outside of Washington, DC where it's very humid. He's got a strange stain on the exterior concrete block. "Tim, my townhouse is five years old. There is a stain on some of the masonry that I thought might "wash away" or fade with time, but it hasn't. Any Read More »

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