Clean Algae Off Siding - Liquid Soap and Oxygen Bleach Not a week goes by that I don’t get a question about cleaning this or that. These questions flow through the Ask Tim page on my www.AsktheBuilder.com website. As it turns out, I happen to know lots about cleaning things. I attribute much of this […]
Repair Stucco Wall - Why It Failed My wife and I are the head ushers at our church. Each Sunday when we arrive early, we walk up a ramp that allows those attending mass in a wheelchair an easy way into Sacred Heart Church in Laconia, NH. The ramp was built with two poured concrete […]
Does Treated Wood Rot? - You Bet it Does QUESTION: Tim, my next-door neighbor discovered that many of his outdoor deck floor joists are rotting. The rot is along the top where the decking attaches to them. It’s treated lumber rated for outdoor exposure. How can this be possible? I thought treated lumber was rot-proof […]
How Long Can Concrete Last - Over a Hundred Years! You may be holed up in your home as I am. Lately, I’ve been spending some time looking at the thousands of photographs I’ve shot over the past few years. When I travel and see something interesting about construction, building, or historic value, I always […]
Composite Deck Survey March 2021 Please complete this survey. You'll get two amazing FREE PDF documents if you enter your name and email address at the end of the survey. Loading…
Roof Replacement Costs 2021 (Installation, Replacement, Pricing) A study by the National Association of Realtors Research Group recently found that U.S. homeowners spend approximately $300 billion a year on home repairs and home renovations. That same study found that replacing a roof — whether it’s because the roof was leaking, very old, or simply aesthetically […]
Chimney Repair Costs 2021 (Replacing, Removal, Maintenance) A fireplace is a beautiful and cozy addition to your home, but it is important to keep your chimney in good repair and up to code in order to prevent leaks, carbon monoxide and smoke intrusion, and chimney fires. Chimney damage can be caused by a number of […]
Dry Well Installation - They Rarely Work Do you think a dry well installation job is going to solve your drainage problem? You've come to the right place. I'm a college-trained geologist with a focus in hydrogeology - the study of groundwater. Why Don't Dry Wells Work? Dry wells don't work in most cases because […]
"It’s important for you to consider the amount of water that comes off a roof." QUESTION: Tim, I think I’ve got a good idea. I’m re-roofing two of my barns with metal roofing. I was thinking of extending the roof past the walls 18-inches so dripping water falls farther away from the barn walls. Right […]
Reinforcing Steel in Footings - It's 100X Stronger Than Concrete QUESTION: Tim, I’m flummoxed. I’m about to build a large detached garage. The plans call for a 10-inch-thick by 20-inch-wide poured concrete footing with two 1/2-inch steel bars that run continuously in the concrete. One bidding contractor says this steel is a waste of time […]
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