February 24, 2009 AsktheBuilder News And Tips
What’s in This Issue?
NOTES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
BATHROOM MILDEW
GREAT RESTAURANT IN BURLINGTON, VT
MORE INSURANCE NEWS
NEW RECIPROCATING SAW BLADE
GREAT NECK 48-PIECE TOOL SET
FOGGED INSULATED GLASS IN RAHWAY, NJ
SAW BLADE SANDING DISCS
NEW VIDEOS
NEW COLUMNS
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
Two weeks ago, I got the flu and am now just getting back to full speed. The smallest hint of a head cold is still with me, and my sense of taste and smell is starting to regenerate. Thank goodness for that! There is a ton of news to share, and I have to admit that as I type this, I'm listening to one of my favorite songs - Hysteria, by Def Leppard. That's putting me in a great mood!
Notes From Around the World
Note, cards and emails continue to pour in about my dear mother-in-law. One of the most touching cards to arrive in my Mail Box came from halfway around the world. Valrie Beth from Perth, Australia, had a similar loss, and her handwritten card had me tearing up.
If you reached out to Kathy and I, we can't begin to tell you the power of your message. It's so uplifting to witness the caring and love that's out there, especially considering I've never met you face to face. I'm so blessed to have you as a subscriber.
Bathroom Mildew
Mold and mildew in tub and shower areas is a constant battle. In the grocery stores, you'll see products devoted specifically to this problem. Here's a tip that you might not have tried yet. To minimize or eliminate mildew in showers and tubs, you just have to get rid of the water.
All of that water that's left on the walls and floor is exactly what the mold and mildew need to grow. It takes hours and hours for that to evaporate after you leave the room. You'd be shocked to see how much water is left on the walls. When I squeegee my shower each day, it looks to me that about 2 to 3 ounces of water goes down the drain, maybe even a half a cup.
I've discovered that a squeegee can quickly get the water off the walls, shower door and floor after each shower. If you have a shower curtain, shake it sideways to try to get the water beads to jump off. Leave the shower curtain or the shower door open when you leave the room to help air get to the shower space. This promotes rapid drying. Leave the bathroom door open as well. You want the humidity in that room to drop as fast as possible.
A final idea, though more radical, is to place a floor fan in the bathroom and have it run as you dress. This idea is tough to do for a number of reasons. It can bother others who are still sleeping, it's hard to do, and it can become a fire hazard if you leave the house and forget it's on. There are humidistat controls you can wire in place of the standard on and off switch for your bathroom exhaust fan. This is the safest way to control air movement in your absence.
Great Restaurant in Burlington, VT
When I got back to New Hampshire after my mother-in-law's funeral, I had to drive my son back to college in Burlington, VT. He's a student at Champlain College. We got there at lunch time and grabbed a bite to eat at one of his favorite places, Sadie Katz Delicatessen, located at 189 Bank Street in downtown Burlington. I got a cup of the Mushroom and Barley soup and half a Reuben sandwich. WOW is all I can say!
What a great place! We got excellent service from a young man named Zack Rouda, and I was fortunate enough to talk with the owner, Glenn Walter, who was in the deli while we were eating. I always try to talk with the manager or owner whenever I get great service and food. All too often, people just complain, so it's really important for business managers and owners to hear when you're happy.
More Insurance News
I was flooded with emails from subscribers who have been sacrificed at the altars of the insurance companies. It should come as no surprise that not one insurance company executive reached out to me. If you've had a non-renewal notice sent to you concerning your homeowner's insurance, I want to hear from you. I'm collecting all the stories and giving you a platform so you can be heard.
I did hear from three insurance agents that confirmed my worst suspicions. Suffice it to say that I'll be following up with a blog post that will explain everything. I've never seen such a breach of ethics in my life. The ethics issue is centered on claims and your deductible limits. If you have a homeowner's insurance policy, what you think you purchased you DON'T have, and if you attempt to use your policy, you're punished. There's a massive lack of transparency on the part of many agents and insurance companies as to what the real unwritten practices are. The keyword here being unwritten. I'll go into much greater detail in my blog post.
Kimberly, a gracious subscriber, sent me a link to a website that I feel is required reading to all who have homeowner's insurance. Read this article and see if you don't agree that it’s a must-read. Feel free to pass this link to all your friends, neighbors, relatives and coworkers. Thanks Kimberly!
New Reciprocating Saw Blade
Bosch has recently released a new metal-cutting saw blade for reciprocating saws. It's called the Edge. The blade is thicker that helps it produce straighter cuts in thick metal. It also has new tooth geometry that cuts 20 percent faster. Check out the Edge.
Great Neck 48-Piece Tool Set
Before Christmas, I talked about this handy tool set. I wanted to mention it once more because it really has some well-designed tools that come in handy. Just last week, I used different tools in the set for different jobs. This tool set has the absolute coolest, sleekest, and most handsome razor knife box cutter you'll ever see. You have to see it to believe it. If you like red, you'll be all over this tool set and razor knife.
Fogged Insulated Glass in Rahway, NJ
Susan S., wrote me:
"When we bought our house five years ago, it already had replacement windows. Unfortunately, the quality was not very good and most are permanently stained between the double-glazing. My question is do they make a replacement sash for windows that already have a vinyl replacement frame?"
Susan, the answer is maybe and you may not need to go to that extent. Several years ago, I saw a demonstration of a technique developed by a Canadian company that cleans the fogged space inside of insulated glass. I know this process is still around as a month ago I saw a booth at the Boston Home and Garden show that was selling this service. Maybe you should see if someone purchased a franchise in your area by doing a search for "cleaning fogged glass" on the Internet. If you do discover a business does this, I suggest you have them only do one window to ensure that you're pleased with the final result.
Saw Blade Sanding Discs
I get pitched with inventions all the time. Just before I got the flu, I was sent a 10-inch saw blade that had sanding surfaces glued to the faces of the blade. This is a fascinating invention that produces one of those "Why didn't I think of that?" moments. It's called Final Cut. This product consists of sets of adhesive-backed sanding discs that you attach to saw blades you own.
This blade automatically sands the edge of the lumber you're cutting whether it be on your miter saw or table saw. At this time, the sanding discs are only available for 10-inch blades. These products are a must for any finish carpenter. Oh my gosh, do they produce satin-smooth cuts! These discs would have saved me hours of light sanding years ago when I was working with pre-stained woodwork.
If you attach a set to a new blade, you'll be making cuts so precise that your friends and neighbors will think you were abducted by Master-Carpenter Aliens, probed, tested and placed back here on Earth to infect all of us with the best-kept secrets of how ancient temple woodwork was created. I beg you to buy some of these sanding discs from this great man.
New Videos
Want to see me and my color-coordinated Craftsman Snow Blower? No kidding, this is a must-see video.
I got to take the first shot at the Lake Winnisquam Ice Golfing Tournament. Want to see a tee shot that goes about 575 yards? No kidding.
New Columns
Cement siding is great if installed correctly.
If you installed one of Bill Gates Windows products, you might be able to tackle installing windows in your home.
Have you ever wondered what a building inspector does?
Sandstone is a pretty cool rock. Can you use it in your home?
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