Floor Trusses - No Interior Bearing Walls QUESTION #1: Tim, is it possible to build a multi-story home with no, or few, interior bearing walls or beams? I’ve looked at lumber span tables and regular lumber doesn’t seem to be able to do what I want to be done. What are my options and have Read More »
Are you a new subscriber? Thanks for your trust. Are you one of my friends, you know, you've been here long enough to start to get a handle on the situation? Thanks for maintaining our friendship. First and foremost, Merry Christmas! That's what I say. If you happen to celebrate a different holiday Read More »
Dickies Sanded Flex Coveralls - Warm & Dry I had the good fortune to have a pair of Dickies Sanded Flex Coveralls on while I was overseeing the construction of my daughter's home in Downeast Maine in late December, 2018. (This column was SO GOOD that I shared with the 31,000 subscribers who read both Read More »
Are you a brand new subscriber? Welcome and thanks for your trust. Honorable subscriber of record? Thanks for remaining on the list. You're a blessing! This is going to be a pictorial newsletter as I'm up in Bar Harbor right now getting ready for my third day of taping hours of video footage of the framing Read More »
Stop Water Vapor Now QUESTION #1: Hey Tim, I’m flummoxed. I’ve seen videos and read online articles about needing a vapor barrier in the walls of my home and possibly under concrete slabs. My builder says these things are a waste of money. I need your vote of confidence and written words to give me Read More »
Blasting Ledge - Not DIY - No Way - No How Blasting ledge was done years ago with hand-held star-bit drills and sledgehammers. Two men would drill down about 18 inches, pack the hole with black powder, light a fuse, and run for their lives. Black powder was very dangerous to use and many Read More »
Deck Beams and Posts QUESTION #1: Tim, I really need your help. My husband is making a mess of a deck extension project. I’m concerned he’s using the wrong-sized lumber and the connections between pieces of lumber don’t appear to be secure to me. Are you able to share deck-construction basics so my kids and Read More »
Your Pesky Dryer Vent Pipe QUESTION #1: I need your advice, Tim. My clothes dryer stopped getting my clothes dry. The problem was traced to the vent line being squished behind the dryer. I was also told the flexible plastic pipe was inferior. Can you share your magic way of connecting clothes dryers to vent Read More »
If you're a new subscriber, greetings and salutations! If you've been getting the newsletter for a while, thanks for remaining here. This has been one of the craziest years of my life. All sorts of great things have been happening with my three kids. Just last week, my son got a fantastic new programming job Read More »
Capturing Radon Secrets DEAR TIM: I’m building a new home and someone at a Christmas party asked me what my builder was going to do about radon. I’ve never heard of radon and thought it was a joke. Is radon an issue and what can be done about it in new construction? The foundation is Read More »
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