Q&A / 

Masonry structures are not waterproof. Water will pass through stone, block, brick and mortar. If improper installation of your masonry walls can't be easily repaired, you may be able to stop the leaks with high quality water repellents.

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Column and beam construction must be done with properly sized beams to support a load bearing wall. Columns must be properly located, and the choice of a steel beam, wood beams, or beams made of laminate or other materials available today is also best left to the pros! Solid column and beam construction calls for the hiring of a structural engineer to get you started.

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Brick water repellents stop water infiltration into your brick and masonry walls. Coat them with a clear water repellent. Be sure your don't coat the brick with a film forming sealer that can cause damage to the brick itself.

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Stair trim molding confuses some rookie carpenters. They realize that stair trim design is perfected when you take the stair trim piece and run it up the stair stringers, but cutting the required angles causes confusion. If you want to learn how to do stair trim and stair risers trim, then this column might be a great place to start.

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Removing ceramic tile can be hard work. The job is somewhat easy if the tile is adhered to cement board that is nailed to a wood subfloor. If the ceramic tile is cemented to a concrete slab, it may be very difficult to remove the tile.

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  Tape measure markings are black lines that represent fractions of an inch. The length of the line gives you a clue as to the fraction. Special markings are for different on-center measurements. Revised February 2018 Tape Measure Markings TIPS Black lines are fractions of an inch Line mark length is the secret decoder 16-inch […]

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Many homeowners experience mold and mildew on their lumber as houses are built or room additions are constructed. The good news is the lumber is going to be fine and there's rarely any damage to the wood. If it's just surface mold or mildew, it will clean off.

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Soil stability is extremely important for foundations. Connections between foundations, no matter how strong, depend on soil and footers for strength. For waterproofing, apply special waterproofing compounds to the exterior of the finished foundation.

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Washing Machine Drain Vent TIPS 2-inch pipe for washing machine drain Standpipe 24 inches above p-trap Branch arm to vertical stack Relax, I'm a master plumber 😉 CLICK HERE to Get Tim's FREE & FUNNY Newsletter! Want to listen to this column? Use the following audio player: Kevin's Shortcut Vent Kevin Garretty emailed me about […]

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