March 31, 2010 AsktheBuilder Newsletter And Tips
What’s in This Issue?
Latest News
Selling My Home
Home Inspectors
Pearl from Trinidad
Albuquerque Meetup
Stain Solver Sale Postponed
Construction Details
Tim’s Tools
I do product reviews frequently. Please read my Disclosure Policy to understand the relationship between me and the companies that make the products or offer the services I review.
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Latest News
Since the last newsletter, I've been busy. We did the final push here at my Cincinnati house getting it ready for the first Open House, which was this past Sunday. My good friend Roger worked here for three days helping pack up my office and do any number of other tasks. Without his help, I was doomed. Kathy and I are both beat as you might expect. I know Roger was tired too!
Selling My Cincinnati, OH Home - Who Wants the AsktheBuilder Home?
If you've been a subscriber for the past year, you know I've been getting the house ready for sale as I've been in New Hampshire while Kathy was here in Cincinnati with Kelly. Both come to NH in August. Be sure to look at the photos and videos.
The Cincinnati Enquirer did a feature article on the house two weeks ago. The reporter, Amy Howell, did a magnificent job capturing the back story.
Here's the bottom line: You can buy the house. As you can imagine, it's truly one-of-a-kind. Or, if you know someone who wants it and they buy it, I'll pay you a finder's fee. All they have to do is identify you as a subscriber to my newsletter. I'll pay you a one percent finders fee. Do the math. That's a big number. The house is in excellent condition, as you might expect, and shows really well. Be sure to look at all the pages at the website.
Home Inspectors - Be Careful Out There!
While on the subject of my house, I'm confident the buyer will order a house inspection. No worries, as there are no major defects in my home.
But what if the wrong inspector shows up? Overnight I got a very troubling email from a home inspector named George that lives / works in New York. I'd prefer not to tell you his last name or the city for the obvious reasons. Here's what he sent to me:
"Mine is not a question but a comment. The present day fiber cement siding was started to be made in the mid 60 when asbestos fell apart. You are misleading people when you tell them it has been around for 90 years. The product we see today is a blend of cement, cellulose, and silicate. It does and will wick water if not sealed at cuts. It will fall apart and turn into mush if exposed to prolonged or constant moisture contact I worry as a Home Inspector when I see information like this. Please rethink these statements. I teach home inspectors, one of my classes is on Fiber Cement siding products."
So what's the error here? He went to my website where I have at least four or five columns about fiber-cement siding. The first few were written about ten years ago and document the history of the product. Here's the first column I wrote about fiber-cement siding.
You'll note in the column I clearly state that the original fiber cement used asbestos. Then at a later time, asbestos was removed and wood fibers substituted in its place.
Within the past two years, I wrote the latest column on fiber-cement siding talking about how it's having problems. This is what the inspector talked about in his email to me.
So what's the problem? In my opinion, this inspector - and he says he teaches other inspectors - isn't very thorough or he misinterprets things he sees. I never said in my columns that the original siding had wood fibers. I clearly state in the other one there are moisture issues.
What if your inspector makes mistakes like this while looking at a home you're buying? George gave me his phone number and said I can call. You bet I will today.
The first thing I'll be asking him is if he carries any certification. I'll wager you one pint of mocha chip ice cream from Aglamesis that George is *not* ASHI certified. If you want to take this bet, then email me immediately.
Pearl from Trinidad Needs Tile Advice
I just got an email from Pearl Bhagan who lives in Trinidad, West Indies. Here's what she wrote:
"We have made a tub enclosure from cement board. Other than using tiles over the cement board, what can I use that would look spectacular? Thank you so much."
Pearl sent a photo of a dramatic layered platform with steps leading up to the tub. She's mixing two different tiles and granite. So there's lots going on.
I suggested that she might consider accent tile in the field tile above the tub area. There are colored tile you can use for this as well as textured tile with unique patterns. You can also create your own design like my daughter did for her tub/shower area. Go to my past column about Granite Tile.
Albuquerque Meetup!
Last week, I announced I'll be in sunny Albuquerque, NM, April 16-20th. You and I can get together! I'll be in town for a secret Internet conference. My initial invitation may not have been enticing because I talked about golfing or lounging around the pool with you at the resort. That offer is still open. However, maybe you don't golf or soak, and instead you want to drink some bean juice. I'm doing that too!
Two of my very close Internet buddies will also be in town for the event. Randy Cassingham of This is True and Leo Notenboom of Ask Leo.
http://ask-leo.com/
Both of these wise men have newsletters similar to mine and are inviting their subscribers. We're all going to meet at Starbucks on Monday April 16th, between 5 and 6 p.m. Be at the Starbucks at 901 Rio Grande Blvd, Suite A-190 about 1/2 a mile north of old town. I'll be tweeting the event. See my Twitter address above.
Stain Solver Sale Postponed
Because it's Easter week, I'll not do the Stain Solver sale. Look for that huge announcement next Tuesday.
Construction Details
I get requests every week from visitors to the website about how things should be built or connected when you are doing building or remodeling. For example, you may want to know how a deck post should be anchored to a concrete pier. You may want to know the best pier design. A pier is a vertical column that transfers the weight of a structure to solid rock or good bearing soil.
You may want to know how to frame a wall. What does a door header look like? How many studs do you have under a header at a door or window? Maybe you want to know how to pour a footer or build a block wall and need a simple drawing of its cross section. Does this make sense?
Anyway, I've decided to build a collection of these construction details and sell them for next to nothing to help you build things the right way.
Here's where I need your help. What do you want to see? What are you having trouble visualizing? Email me back and *please* change the Subject Line to: Construction Details. I'll get started on this project immediately.
Tim's Tools
I want to announce another new feature at AsktheBuilder.com. Frequently, I get emails from people asking me what tools do I use and what products can be found in my home. It makes sense. If they work for me and I feel they are great quality, you'll feel comfortable about buying the same thing.
Here's a new page we just built and it will grow for sure. All the things you'll see here I own and use on a regular basis. I'll never put anything on this page that I haven't tested and like. So you can purchase them with confidence.
The links are affiliate links to Amazon.com. This means if you buy the item via that link, I do make a small commission. It's only fair that you know that. These are tools I'd have my Mom use if she was still here.
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