DEAR TIM: The brick in the front of my home have been flaking off. This is a southwest-facing wall. Can you tell me why this is happening? Is there a way to repair the brick? What can I do to stop any further flaking and damage? Was the wrong brick used to build my home? […]
Disaster Plan This column is a departure from my normal question and answer format. You can thank the editor of a large East Coast newspaper for the inspiration. She asked me to write a special column about preparing for storms, but she resisted doing a survey of her readers to see what information would best […]
It's been a few weeks since I've reached out. There are a couple of reasons. I discovered that during the summer months you, and other subscribers, tend to get busy. As such, interest in the newsletter wanes. Because of this, I don't want great information to fall through the cracks. That's why I coast a […]
I was a Boy Scout fifty years ago, and the motto hammered into my head still rings true: Be Prepared. Lessons I discovered in Boy Scouts stuck with me all these years and they’re relevant to you on Long Island as the storm season approaches. September 21, 2016, marks the grim 77th anniversary of the […]
Tim Carter describes what Trex RainEscape is. This was what my photo in the August 13, 2016 Newsletter showed. Well, while under construction! This is not a how-to-install-it video. Go to Trex RainEscape for detailed installation videos. This product protects that area below your deck by channeling water away from that area. LOOK AT PHOTO […]
Trex Protect Joist Tape Tim Carter shows what Trex Protect Joist Tape is and how to install it to keep the nails and decks on your deck so they don't come loose. If you can fog a mirror, you can install this great product. CLICK HERE to purchase the special tape Tim used on his […]
DEAR TIM: I recently moved into a neglected house. While working on the landscaping in the front yard, I discovered that the top of the foundation was below grade. Two courses of brick on top of the foundation were covered by a mixture of dirt and mulch. What’s your opinion about how much mulch one […]
Yes, I'm alive! You may have been one who recently emailed me wondering why I've gone dark. It's been at least a month since I've sent out a newsletter. If you're a new subscriber, this is not a typical newsletter. So hang in there. A week ago, I got back from a ten-day trip to […]
"Years ago, I fell under the spell of what many blacktop sealer manufacturers said about the necessity of sealing blacktop driveways. Much of what they said made some sense, but there was always a nagging thought or two in my head that conflicted with what I was being told." Seal Blacktop Driveway Checklist Never seal […]
"Brick walls leak water. They’ve always leaked water. Builders and masons from hundreds of years ago knew this and..." Brick Weep Holes Tips Water gets behind brick walls Weep holes allow water to exit the wall Mortar can clog weep holes Flashings must be installed too DEAR TIM: I live in a brick townhouse. In […]
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