Author Note: The patio featured in this column was a rush job for my wife. I feel the best way to install a patio is to mortar brick to a 5-inch-thick steel-reinforced concrete slab. You can read about this method in my past columns: Concrete Patio with Brick My Mother-in-Law's Patio Before I was a […]
Best Stair Layout - It's All About Human Stride You probably give little thought to why the stairs in your home are built the way they are. I’m talking about how high you need to lift your foot to get up to the next step and how deep the flat tread is when your foot […]
Install New Outlet and Switch - It's Easy Electrical Phone Coaching HELP: If you need a voice or video coaching call to help you install an electrical outlet or switch, you can talk to Ask the Builder founder Tim Carter. CLICK HERE NOW to get help. Are you aware how expensive it is to hire […]
Leather Honey Review - It's Sticky, and It Works I tested Leather Honey cleaner and conditioner on my dirty Georgia Boot leather work boots. The results were astounding. These boots are some of the best I've ever worn and I want to keep them in perfect condition. The public relations firm that represents Leather Honey […]
Asphalt Shingle Alternatives - They Cost More But are Worth It Are you about to install a new roof on your home or small business? The odds are you’ll be giving serious consideration to asphalt shingles. This building material has dominated the USA residential roofing market for just about 100 years. Go back farther in […]
Bath Vent Fan Facts - Your Roof is Not Leaking You may have had the good fortune to live and work inside old homes. I’m talking about houses that were built over 100 years ago. The architects who designed them and the builders who built them were wise. I started my building career in Cincinnati, […]
Building Code Tips - Code Officials Should Consider Doing More to Help Homeowners I’m helping my son on the weekends finish the basement in his 3-year-old house. He’s adding 1,300 square feet of finished living space. We met with the local building inspector a few days ago. Dawn gave us the thumbs up on the […]
Best Exterior Nails and Screws are Double Hot-Dipped Galvanized or Stainless Steel I was blessed by God to learn my craft of building and remodeling in Cincinnati, Ohio. The first few years of my career had me working on houses that were close to 100 years old. I have no recollection of seeing rusty roofing […]
House Settlement Debunked - Lumber Shrinkage Often, the Culprit Roy subscribes to my free newsletter and reached out to me about a month ago for one of my phone consult calls. He needed help engineering a drainage system around his house to stop water from infiltrating his basement. I offer a house-drainage design service. I […]
Water Loss Causes Shrinkage Cracks & More Paula asked me a question about shrinkage cracks affecting her new deck. She sent me three photos showing all sorts of cracks in the handrails, railing posts, and decking. The cracks were in brand-new treated lumber installed in April 2023. The wood has not been sealed since then. […]
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