Q&A / 

Beware Egotistical and Closed-Minded Contractors -Nothing But Bad Happens Just three weeks ago, I shared a true story with you about my failed asphalt shingle roof. If you remember, it had a thirty-year warranty and after just twelve years, it began to experience catastrophic failure. Looking back now, I shared the wrong photograph with you. […]

READ THE ANSWER »

Low Water Flow in Luxury Shower - Pipe Size is Too Small Each week, I extract quite a few homeowners like you from wretched remodeling or home-building quagmires. I do it with a phone or video call. Feel free to set up a phone call with me here. In almost all cases, the root causes […]

READ THE ANSWER »

LVP Flooring Installation Tips & Area Rugs By: Tim Carter Several months ago, I shared a story about my first experience with luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring. I installed the LVP in a basement room that experienced water damage caused by a leaking water pipe. The product was affordable, it was easy to install, and […]

READ THE ANSWER »

        Here is the proof the copper works. Look at this photo I shot of the vacant Tilton, NH post office: Asphalt Shingles Curling and Crumbling - How to Prevent This is a true story about asphalt shingles curling. I live in central New Hampshire, and my house was built in 2001. […]

READ THE ANSWER »

Davinci Roofscapes Color Fade - Looks More Like Slate I installed Davinci Roofscapes Single-Width Slate shingles on my home during the summer of 2015. I did this just before I wrote my exposé book Roofing Ripoff. I created this post at the bequest of one of my newsletter subscribers who is considering purchasing DaVinci Roofscapes […]

READ THE ANSWER »

Why Tiny Houses are Big Bad Ideas By: Tim Carter I live in central New Hampshire (NH) on the west shore of Lake Winnisquam. This is the third-largest lake in NH. I kayak on the crystal-clear blue water as often as possible. The state of NH owns the 7.2 square miles of water but citizens […]

READ THE ANSWER »

Your Chimney Might Be Your Roof Leak Location Roof leaks plague countless homeowners each year. Talk to experienced roofers and they’ll be the first to tell you the vast majority of leaks happen at flashings. A roof flashing is a transitional material. It connects your roof to something that’s not your roof. Plumbing vent pipes, […]

READ THE ANSWER »

How Much Electricity Does an EV Consume When Charging? The following was published in the January 21, 2024 issue of the AsktheBuilder.com newsletter. You can get your free subscription by clicking here. Future Electric Brown & Blackouts at Your Home or Business I'll bet you think of electricity like you do oxygen. It's just there. […]

READ THE ANSWER »

Avoid Geologic Hazards When Building or Buying Land You probably don’t give much thought to the ground under or around your home. What follows are a few true stories that may change your perspective. If you’re in the market to purchase land to build your dream home or are looking to move to purchase an […]

READ THE ANSWER »

How to Stay Warm in Bitter Cold Weather - It's So Easy You may be one of the tens of millions of folks like me that live where it gets cold in the winter. If you’re blessed to live in the south or southwest, I do know there can be some cold waves that force […]

READ THE ANSWER »

SPONSORS /