December 1, 2009 AsktheBuilder News And Tips
What’s in This Issue?
Thanksgiving
Buying a Foreclosed Home
Cool Hole Template Tool
Handy Soldering Torch
Practical Socket Wrench
Sears Hammerhead Auto-Hammer
Crazy Paint Brush
Latest Columns and Videos
The Fire Pit
I do product reviews frequently. Please read my Disclosure Policy to understand the relationship between the companies that make the products or offer the services I review and me.
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Thanksgiving
How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was not bad, but I've had better. There were too many empty chairs at the table. If you're a newer subscriber, then you may not know that my mom and my mother-in-law both passed away in the past 10 months. On top of that, my oldest daughter Meghan stayed up in New Hampshire because otherwise she would have turned right around to come back to Cincinnati for a mid-year graduation ceremony for a friend. I'm sure it could have been worse, as anyone with a loved one in harms way overseas can tell you.
But I was thankful for being back to see Kathy and Kelly and driving back with my son Tristan. It was also great to see my father-in-law. He's such a wise man, I just wish he'd spring for better hearing aids.
Christmas is just weeks away. This issue is full of gift ideas for yourself or if there is someone on your list who needs a cool tool.
Buying a Foreclosed Home
Jackie Perry of Hiram, Maine emailed me with a great question about a real-estate opportunity. She pondered:
Hi, My fiancé and I are looking at buying a foreclosed home that has been vacant for 3 years. It was built in 2001, and it has a full daylight walk-out basement made from poured concrete. The foundation has vertical cracks in multiple places along the walls, but also some larger cracks starting in the middle of the floor and spreading out, that are letting water in. We just noticed the water because of heavy rain. This house is at the top of a fairly large hill, so it is not typically a wet area, but there was previous water damage showing on the rugs and finished areas in the basement so this has happened before.
Is this cracking something that could be solved by fixing the exterior drainage then sealing them from both the outside and inside?
Or is this something we would have to fix structurally with the foundation itself. We are trying to decide if this house is worth fixing or if it is the next "MONEY PIT." Please Help!
Here's the action plan I proposed:
Jackie,
This could be a steal of a lifetime, but it could also be a nightmare. The BEST money you can spend right now is an inspection conducted by a residential structural engineer that specializes in foundations. You want to make sure the foundation is okay before you even consider any other issues.
Do a Google search in your area using this term: residential structural engineer your city
Where "your city" is the town or area where you live. If that search fails, get out the original search engine - The Yellow Pages - and look under - Engineers / Structural.
If the engineer's report comes back favorable - meaning that there is no issue or minor ones that can be easily repaired - then get a second inspection from an ASHI home inspector. These are the most-qualified home inspectors I know of. You want this second inspector to give the rest of the house a clean bill of health.
With these two professional opinions, you'll have an idea of what you're up against.
As for the wet basement issue, that's easily solved. I'm just about finished with the most authoritative book I'm aware of on Wet Basements and Crawlspaces - How to Fix Them Permanently.
That book should be complete in 60 days.
Cool Hole Template Tool
Have you struggled cutting out a perfect hole in drywall, plaster or expensive paneling for common round, square or rectangular electrical boxes? Those days may be over for you if you have the Cutzout templates and tool. Here's what they say at their website:
"CUTzOUT Installation Templates are cutting guide templates for spiral saws and rotary tools. They provide you an easy and fast way to cut perfect holes without mistakes or repairs for all kinds of new and old work plastic electrical boxes, new and old work steel electrical boxes, steel switch boxes, fiberglass electrical boxes, low-voltage boxes and brackets, ceiling boxes and pans, recessed lights, in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, breaker boxes, and much more."
I have a set and these are well made. They absolutely will allow you to cut perfect templates if you take the time to read the instructions. Go to their website and watch the videos to see how easy this template system is to use. Boy, do I wish I had this thing back when I was in the field each day! I can't tell you the number of times I sweated cutting holes into expensive paneling or in walls where there was no room for error.
Handy Soldering Torch
I just finished testing the Bernzomatic Quickfire Hand Torch. Wow! This is such an improvement over the traditional long propane canister torch you probably own as do I. If you like the way a cordless drill fits in your hand - giving you great control - you'll LOVE this torch. It looks and works just like a drill. The torch is 40 percent shorter than a traditional one, and it solders 30 percent faster with the larger flame. Whoever gets this as a gift will have a smile on their face for sure! Once out of the packaging, I had a flame at the end of the torch in seconds.
Practical Socket Wrench
Just yesterday I had to open up a little case that contain sockets and a rachet. I then assembled the tool so I could back out some lag bolts. I forgot I had the Black and Decker ReadyWrench at my desk. Idiot!! You can see at the Black and Decker site that the tool has two ends with a swiveling head at each end that has four sockets built into each end. Each socket is dual labeled like 9/16 inch or 14 mm. They say it's got 16 sockets, but I only count 8 that are dual labeled. I've never been able to get metric sockets to fit SAE bolts perfectly, but maybe Black and Decker knows something I don't. The bottom line is that this is one handy tool, and makes a perfect stocking stuffer.
Sears Hammerhead Auto-Hammer
For years, I used to attend the annual Sears Editors Conference. Those have not been held regularly since Kmart swallowed Sears. But I still stay in touch with one of the Sears PR folks, Mike Mangan. Mike sent me last week a tool I thought might be a gimmick. It was a battery-powered hammer. No way could that be practical. Well, I was wrong!
I just tested this sensational tool. It really works! It's powered by a 12-volt lithium-ion battery that's very compact. I was able to drive an 8d common nail into a 2x4 in less than eight seconds. No doubt I could do it faster with a hammer, but this tool is great for tight spaces or for someone who struggles with a hammer striking the nail squarely. Think of it as a mini jack hammer that creates 3,600 blows per minute. It even has its own built-in LED light to help you see.
The only thing I had to adjust to was holding the nail once the tool starts to work. With at traditional hammer, you want to get your hand out of the way so you don't smash a finger or thumb with a blow. With this tool, you need to hold the nail straight until the tool is really driving it. I suggest wearing ear plugs! You'll love this tool.
Crazy Paint Brush
Who would ever think you could make a major modification to a simple paint brush? Well, it's happened, and I think it just might work. When you think about how a traditional brush is held by your hand, and the motion you make when you apply paint, your wrist is bent. Why not bend the brush instead of your wrist? Duh!! Get the Right Brush, and you will have less fatigue and more control. Another great stocking stuffer.
Read the December 11, 2009 Newsletter for follow-up comments from my readers!
Latest Columns and Videos
I'll have some for you next week. For now, concentrate on these tools as great gifts.
The Fire Pit
If you're a new subscriber, I have a second newsletter that I produce. It's not about home improvement, but talks about my feeling about where our great nation is headed. If you're interested in discovering my take on politics, then come and sit around my Fire Pit. I'll warn you now, I'm right of center, love the Constitution and am attracted to self-sufficient people who get things done.
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