September 8, 2010 AsktheBuilder Tips And News
What’s in This Issue?
Latest News
Roofing Checklist & Telephone Seminar
Shopping Cart Rewards Program
Trex Decking & Spots
AsktheBuilder October Event
Fall Tool Storage Tip
Latest Columns
Fire Pit
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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The unpacking continues up here in New Hampshire. I have days/weeks of work ahead of me, but I'm making progress. Now that we're past Labor Day, the lake is tranquil. I know those who come up here for the summer are sad to go home, but there will be next season! Two months from now, we'll be cranking my dock out of the water. We wait for the last possible day to do it, because it's a sad day for us.
Before starting that process we have a humorous ceremony at the end of the dock. We ask Mother Nature to cast a protective spell on the lake and all creatures in and above it who enjoy its splendor. This all makes sense if you could come up here and see the lake, or loch as we call it here at the Looney Bin.
Roofing Checklist and Telephone Seminar
I promised you that I'd have the information about the exciting live seminar where I get to answer your questions about roofing. Well, I'm working out all the details in the next few days. Watch for the actual announcement next week. Oh, it's going to be tons of fun and you'll come away with a ton of information about your roof!
Shopping Cart Rewards Program
Roger, my right-hand virtual assistant, set up a few months back a great Rewards program at the shopping cart. Your loyalty and repeat purchases enable you to get automatic future discounts. We feel you should be rewarded for your allegiance to AsktheBuilder.com! You can get the complete rundown at the shopping cart.
Here's the Executive Summary: When you complete your fifth purchase, you get 10 percent off your next few purchases. If you continue to patronize the store, after you complete your ninth purchase, your discount jumps to 15 percent. Tell me that isn't a sweet deal. To qualify for these discounts, you must create an account at the store. Be sure to use a password you remember.
Speaking of the cart, this Sunday we have to work under the hood. Sometime between 4 am and Noon ET on Sunday the cart will not be available for about an hour.
Trex Decking and Spots
Two days ago, I wrote a column about a real issue on at least two decks I know of, mine and Trish's in Connecticut. If you have a composite deck, especially a Trex one, you should read this column. It may explain why your deck is not looking like you remember it on the day it was installed.
AsktheBuilder EVENT in October - Plan to Attend!
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Ro Wyman, Lauren Collins and Abbey Taylor of Cabinetry Concepts in Lebanon, NH. Kathy and I visited their wonderful showroom so we could start to finalize the details about redoing our kitchen here at our NH house. We've decided to use Plato cabinets, and they're a distributor for these amazing cabinets.
Last week, Ro asked me if I'd consider doing a live presentation at their showroom on an upcoming Saturday in October. I jumped at that chance as these events are a ton of fun. I get to meet you and you get to walk away with some free knowledge, possible prizes, and some very sweet deals. Even though you may not live in NH or VT, you may want to do a road trip to come to the event. There's great scenery and everyone is going to walk away with either prizes or unbelievable coupons. Keep reading.
But I'm need your help to determine what we're going to do that day. In other words, if you had a magic wand and waved it, what would you have me say or do? What would motivate you to come to Lebanon, NH that crisp Saturday in October?
If this event attracts the crowd I believe it will, it could turn into a road trip across the country. I did five city road show about ten years ago for the wood industry. It was a blast. Please complete this survey (survey now closed) to help guide what we're going to do together. You get a sweet treat from me after you finish the survey. Read the Boo-Boo Newsletter about this survey.
I'm arranging to have some great tools and other things to give away as door prizes. The fine folks at Plato have agreed to give away, to those who walk through the door, a special coupon good for a whopping 10 percent discount off their cabinets. That one coupon could be worth THOUSANDS of dollars alone should you have a new or remodeled kitchen happening soon at your home!
If you're a PR person and want me to give away one of your client's tools or products, email me immediately.
I'll have the exact date for you next week, but it's looking like October 9th. Remember, that's tentative. I'll lock in the date no later than next week. I'd love to see you at this event!
Remember, there's a SURPRISE for you after you take the survey.
Fall Tool Storage Tip
If you're getting ready to store yard tools like shovels, rakes, etc. after their final use, be sure to clean them and apply a light coat of oil to any steel surfaces. The oil helps prevent rust from condensation that will form on the tools before you next use them.
Don't forget about garden hoses! Remove them from your frost-proof hose bibs and TURN the water on briefly after disconnecting the hose. This allows the bib to drain so it won't freeze over the winter.
Latest Columns
Tim Carter's Fire Pit
This past week we had two great fires at the fire pit next to the lake. Part of the chatter as the flames illuminated the darkness at water's edge drifted to what I routinely talk about at my other NON-home-improvement website. You may like what you see there.
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