This is a special column about trust. It was inspired by no less than three emails and one phone call I had with visitors to my AsktheBuilder.com website and this column that appears in your paper. Lynn, who is building a new home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is now wringing her hands each day […]
DEAR TIM: My last house had a basement that leaked water. I’m building a new home and want my basement as dry as the Atacama Desert. I’m confident that my drain tile was not put in correctly at my last house. What are the best practices when installing drain tile around a foundation? What materials […]
DEAR TIM: My husband and I are in a small skirmish about our new brick veneer home. I want it to be somewhat distinctive where you incorporate random pieces of rock in the brick. Among other claims, he says this will weaken the brick and cause leaks. Is this true? He’s also worried that it […]
Granny Pod House Tips Occupant must be involved in planning Single story is best, but you may want an attic for future use Watch helpful videos below When occupant moves out, rent space on Airbnb CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! DEAR TIM: I believe I need a granny pod. My mother-in-law […]
Tim Carter finishes the installation of a new vinyl window in an existing frame wall covered with fiber cement siding. Watch the entire four-part series to see how to create the hole in the wall with precision. Discover tips about remodeling from national award-winning master carpenter and builder Tim Carter.
Tim Carter demonstrates in this third video of the series how to cut out the wall sheathing and install the much needed sill flashing. The window install has been happening over a period of days and it's being done on a garage that has fiber cement siding for the exterior. Tim shows the importance of […]
DEAR TIM: I have a house wrap installed on my house over plywood sheathing. No clapboards are in place yet. I'm getting moisture behind the house wrap that is of concern to me. The product was installed at about 55 F, last October. The moisture appears in varying temperatures and also whether or not exposed […]
Tim Carter in this video explains why houses feel cold even when the furnace is operating properly. Tim explains some of the reasons for heat loss in his December 28, 2017 AsktheBuilder Newsletter. In his February 21, 2016 AsktheBuilder Announcement, he explains the perspective differences in temperatures. He has a 47 degree swing in one […]
Tim Carter demonstrates in this second video of a four-part series how to create the actual rough window opening. Tim has removed the drywall and starts to install the king studs that run from the wall top plate to the bottom plate. Then he shows how to install the header across the top of the […]
Tim Carter shows in this first of four videos how to install a new window in an existing wall. This first video covers the planning and important tips to consider before demolition begins. Installing a new window is not as simple as you might think. There's much involved, even for a simple wall with wood […]
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