Dylan, who hales from Southampton, England in the UK, has an issue with grout in his toilet. "I have a clump of grout in my toilet bend which a dumbhead tiler poured down my toilet last night and it's set. What is the best way to remove it? I have a grout remover and was thinking Read More »
Rick Castelli is doing some remodeling in his Falls Church, VA home. Let him give you the background about the masonry opening. "We have a 1947 Cape Cod with masonry walls. The picture shows the old rear exterior wall where a previous owner removed a back door and window in the kitchen to open up into Read More »
You may be one of my loyal subscribers who's told me how much you appreciate the short Sunday emails, especially ones with new products. I've got some great ones for you today. But first, I want you to see what I saw yesterday. CLICK HERE for a BIGGER photo with more detail and the story Read More »
Jim Elliott had some engineered hardwood installed at his home in Encinitas, CA. However, the installers were rookies. Let Jim tell you why: "We just had engineered hardwood flooring installed in our living room and dining room by a contractor. I wasn't available to make an examination of the floor until after they had left our Read More »
Kate Knight, who lives in Brentwood NH eighty miles south southeast of my house, has a problem with her new shower valve. Let her describe it: "Recently we had a new valve put in our shower which is bigger than our last one coupled with a water saver shower head. We also moved our toilet Read More »
Old Man Winter and his girlfriend Mother Nature can wreak havoc with your home's plumbing pipes if you don't protect them from freezing. Most people only have this happen to them once if their house turns into Niagara or Victoria Falls once the pipes thaw out and they're not home to stop the damage. I Read More »
As you might expect, the Sunday eBlast about the GAF shingle class action lawsuit got some attention. CLICK HERE to get all your questions answered about this serious matter. I'll do my best in the future to keep you up to date on this and other home improvement class action suits. I want to Thank Read More »
Curtis Gomes runs a building and remodeling business in Providence, RI just south of where I live. Read what he sent me: "At what temperature is it too cold to pour concrete in sonotubes? 30 degrees F?" Here's my answer: Curtis, believe it or not, you can pour concrete successfully at much colder temperatures, even Read More »
"The most common cause of a stopper that doesn’t respond to the up and down motion of the visible control rod at the top of the faucet is the nut on the flat bar is loose." Adjust Bathroom Sink Stopper Checklist Does control rod at the top go up and down? Does stopper move at Read More »
DEAR TIM: My exterior doors have leaded-glass inserts that I don’t feel are insulated well. I’m confused as I can’t feel the leaded glass because it’s sandwiched between two pieces of glass. On cold days when I stand in front of the door I feel air movement. How can I make sure this door is Read More »
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