DEAR TIM: I’m in the planning stages for building a new home and I don’t want bounce in my floors. My last home felt like a trampoline yet it was built to code. My new home is going to have a massive kitchen with a giant island that will have a 10-foot by 5-foot solid […]
DEAR TIM: My relatives want to repair failing decorative iron columns and short stubby brick pillars that are part of a front porch on a home that's about 100 years old. A giant section of the house overhangs the front porch and I'm certain the decorative ironwork is helping to hold up the second story. […]
Gordon Doughman is a subscriber to my FREE newsletter. He was kind enough to share a fascinating discovery he made. Allow him to share the story: "Tim, I know in several of your recent newsletters you discussed galvanized nails and the performance difference between hot dipped versus electroplated nails. I recently rebuilt my deck (capped […]
DEAR TIM: I would like to remove the two corner walls in my kitchen that are common with my living and dining room. This will allow me to install more cabinets and a countertop with a bar to eat at. The entire house will seem more open. Can the walls be removed? What's involved? Who […]
Tommy Cummings is perplexed in Fife Lake, MI. Here's one of the shortest questions I've ever received. "I'm using 2x6 studs. How is the correct way to build my window headers?" Well here's my answer: Two Or More Methods Tommy, there's two parts to this answer, the method and the engineering solution. Different carpenters will do this […]
Helen Jennings wants to create a new door in the exterior wall of an ancient stone home in Holmbridge, West Yorkshire England! Here's what she sent me: "Do you think it would be possible to knock a doorway through this side external wall on the same level as the front door? I'd also want to add a […]
Ines Turpin hails from Allen, Oklahoma. She wants to know about building a full-sized Lego house. Can you guess my answer? "Is it possible to build a house from stackable 2x2x12 or 6 blocks that are designed as Legos? You see this blocks used by concrete companies as retaining blocks for sand and gravel." Here's my […]
Andrew Binosa lives in Duluth, GA. The photo he sent me made me LAUGH OUT LOUD! Read Andy's question, look at the photo and see if you don't chuckle! "Hi Tim, I built a deck at the rear and below it is a concrete patio. Is there a minimum anchor type that I need to anchor […]
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 […]
Sherina Derobertis is thinking of buying a foreclosure in Alabama. Allow her to fill you in. "Hi Tim and Happy New Year. I'm looking to purchase a foreclosure in Alabama and I wanted to ask if you could tell via a photo if the wall is load-bearing? If I purchase the house I'd definitely have to […]
Subscribe to the FREE Ask the Builder newsletter to receive professional advice for your home. Complete the form below and each week you'll get:
Unsubscribe at any time. We respect your email privacy.