Tim Carter

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Using the Humble Plumbing Loop Vent for Kitchen Islands

Have you heard the old saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know”? It’s an axiom homeowners should ...

Home August 13, 2022
Why Your Deck Is Like a Toddler

Do you own anything made of wood that lives its life outdoors? It could be a stunning deck, ...

Home August 8, 2022
Save Big Money on Exterior House Projects by Doing Them Yourself

The volume of incoming requests I receive from DIYers at the Ask Tim page of AsktheBuilder.com is rising ...

Home July 31, 2022
Fluffy Salt Crystals Are Not Mold

I routinely presume that people know all about efflorescence, but in fact many don’t understand it at all. ...

Home July 22, 2022
Ask the Builder: Solving Sewer Gas Mysteries

I’ve always loved doing plumbing work because it’s a true three-dimensional puzzle. I've been a master plumber since ...

Home July 18, 2022
Ask the Builder: The Power of Books and Shelves

I’ve had enough trips around the sun that I often find myself thinking of what might be inside ...

Home July 8, 2022
Ask the Builder: Lost Building Secrets That Prevent Wood Rot

Hours before I began to write this column, I was backing my car into a parking spot at ...

Home July 1, 2022
Taking the Leap Into DIY

In this column I want to inspire you as dark financial storm clouds form on the horizon. Over ...

Home June 24, 2022
Water in Your Yard Creates Peace

Before I got married, I was invited to lunch with my future wife and her parents at a ...

Home June 17, 2022
Good Flashings Defend Against Roof Leaks

Several weeks ago, I wrote about the different types of roofs you can use on your home. I ...

Home June 16, 2022
Get Fancy With Wood Fencing

You’ve heard the wise saying, “Good fences make good neighbors.” It’s been around in one form or the ...

Home June 15, 2022
Ask the Builder: Drain Swampy Yards and Stop Wet Basements

Ande lives in Puyallup, Washington, and reads my weekly column in her paper. She’s got a very common ...

Home May 29, 2022
Ask the Builder: Which Roof Is Best in Life?

My guess is you don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the roof over your head. You ...

Home May 20, 2022
Ask the Builder: Think Before Cutting the Cord

Do you have a love affair with power tools? If so, my guess is you may have succumbed ...

Home May 16, 2022
Ask the Builder: Pondering Window Replacements? Stop and Think

A good friend who lives in the Chicago suburbs reached out to me a few weeks ago. He ...

Home May 6, 2022
Ask the Builder: Bringing Stamped Concrete Back to Life

If you’ve witnessed hundreds and hundreds of full moons in your lifetime and make frequent use of your ...

Home April 29, 2022
Ask the Builder: Spending a Lot on Storage Fees? Build Your Own Shed

It seems like every week I get at least one email or a question on my live stream ...

Home April 20, 2022
Your Deck’s Weakest Link: Collapse Hazard!

Deck collapses happen all the time, and many of them never make the news. Several years ago, I ...

Home April 15, 2022
Ask the Builder: Build That Brick Patio or Sidewalk Now

There’s something soothing about brick patios and sidewalks, which is something I learned while installing a patio for ...

Home April 8, 2022
How to Transform Concrete to Any Color

Every day, I receive quite a few emails via the Ask Tim page AskTheBuilder.com. A common question, believe ...

Home April 4, 2022
What You Learn Nosing Around an Old House

Days ago, I was in the basement of an old house with my son. We were looking at ...

Home March 25, 2022
Installing Mortarless Stone Veneers

Do you follow trends in design, building, clothes and so forth? You probably realize that the motive force ...

Home March 18, 2022
Thinking of Renovating an Old House? You’ll Need a Good Checklist

Not too long ago, I was driving to get an estimate to install a new muffler on my ...

Home March 15, 2022
Ask the Builder: Building a Stone Wall and Arch

My grandfather was a baker in Cincinnati in the very early 1900s. He and my grandmother owned and ...

Home March 10, 2022
Troubleshooting Failing Floor Tile Grout

A few days ago, I was singing "Happy Birthday" for the third time to my granddaughter in the ...

Home March 9, 2022
What’s the Best Heating System?

You might overhear several pickup truck owners bragging about how their Ford or Chevy truck is better than ...

Home March 8, 2022