Building on Solid Soil - Get a Free Soil Map My college degree is in geology. At the time I was in school, I had no idea how valuable this knowledge would be once I became a full-time builder. There’s a very good chance I was the only builder in Cincinnati, Ohio that knew soil […]
DIY Deck Building Tips - Prevent Deck Collapse! Are you about to build a deck yourself? Perhaps you’re going to hire a professional. My guess is you don’t know as much about the process as you should know. Add to the mix the cable TV shows that go on and on and on about how […]
Hardwood Floor Refinishing is Hard Work - Best Done by a Pro This past week I, along with my beautiful and patient bride of forty-nine years, had to endure the throbbing and nerve-rattling experience of a massive hardwood floor sander grinding off the finish from the birch hardwood in our home. We were huddled in […]
427 Silver Street Middleton NH - Masterclass in Easements My wife and I recently made an offer on a 90-acre parcel of land located at 427 Silver Street in Middleton, NH. It has a very large private 18-acre pond on it. But the parcel of land might also have a title defect. An Easement to […]
Blacktop Patching and Sealing Tips - Patch Then Wait 90 Days Who’s not seen asphalt paving? I have to believe you’ve walked across it on your own driveway, crossed public streets, and/or traipsed across parking lots paved with this magic mix of liquid asphalt cement, sand, and small stone chips. The professionals call it asphaltic […]
Why Concrete Pavers Suck - There are So Many Reasons It’s really important for businesses to introduce new products. Tens of thousands are introduced each year in the home improvement vertical. Once you’ve had enough trips around the sun, you can spot ones that have lots of sizzle but most likely won’t stand the test […]
DIY Tool Rental Tips - You Can Save Thousands of Dollars I do media scanning each week to keep abreast of all that has to do with building new homes, remodeling existing homes, new tools, financial news, etc. Unless you’re living under a rock and hibernating you’re surely aware that inflation is raging, interest rates […]
How to Plan the Perfect Patio - Go Big Just about fifty years ago I settled into my building career. My lovely wife and I purchased an FHA-repossessed house in Cincinnati, Ohio. I was twenty-two years old and a very wet-behind-the-ears builder. The hard dusty work was extremely rewarding and I recall talking to my […]
Lithium Battery Fires - The Problem is Very Serious This might be the most important column I’ve written in my 30-year career as a syndicated columnist. There’s a very high probability you have lithium-ion batteries in your home. They are now as common as ants at a summer picnic. The issue is the batteries can […]