Q&A / 

Quick Column Summary: Plastic fiber gutter guards After testing, these will fail Get micromesh gutter guards Video links, test results Tracy, who eats lots of cajun food in Plaquemine, LA, asked me about a poor-quality gutter guard I reviewed in a past video of mine. Here's what she said: "In your video about gutter guards, the […]

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Last week I was having a rare phone conversation with my editor at the syndicate that distributes my Ask the Builder column. Dave's a great editor and a DIY enthusiast. Somehow the conversation drifted to how he looks for help online to do projects and to help guide him when he decides he needs to […]

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Quick Column Summary: No one buys paint online Color needs to be seen in person Order from home I don't have a record of when the meeting happened, but my guess is it was 2004. I was in the offices of Miller Brothers Paint in Norwood, Ohio meeting with the owner of the company and […]

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Quick Column Summary: Flooded, drywall damaged How high up do you replace Make it easy on the drywall finisher Add extra electrical outlets now Ms. Lisa Reynolds, who works for the Federal Department of the Interior in Colorado, had her offices flood with water.  Heck, I'll let her tell you the rest: "Our office suffered […]

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Quick Column Summary: Want to hang porch swing without thru bolts What size eyelet lag bolt Not safe to use single eyelet bolts Hang from a created, steel bar Sean Kelliher, who lives in Readington, NJ, reached out with a compliment and a question. "I'm an avid reader of all your tips and you've been […]

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Quick Column Summary: Patched drywall does not match finish Get the right brush and finishing compound Practice the pattern on scrap drywall John Ryland, from Maumee, Ohio, has a tough a problem as any tailor trying to patch clothes. "I took down a small wall in our kitchen and either side of where the wall […]

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Quick Column Summary: How do you use a drill Modern drills have more options for use Drill bits for different materials Tim's tips list DEAR TIM: Last week you helped Sally use a circular saw. I’ve watched people use a simple electric drill for years but never held one in my hand. Can you teach […]

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How to Use a Circular Saw Quick Column Summary: Advice for a novice using power tools Purchase high quality tools Read the Manuals cover to cover Practice, practice, practice cutting DEAR TIM: I'm brand new to the world of DIY. My husband and I just bought our first old home and have lots of projects […]

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I know, I'm the AsktheBuilder guy. But guess what? I've always loved trains and had a rare opportunity to become a real conductor on the Hobo Railroad the spring and summer of 2014.  This train operates out of Meredith, NH during the spring, summer and fall. There are daily one and two-hour train rides in the summer […]

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