Beware of How-Not-to-Do-It Videos on YouTube

For every video that contains decent information on YouTube, there are 20 or 30 others that are nonsense.

This new home in central New Hampshire has 2x6 exterior walls. If you minimize air leakage, your heating bills will be very reasonable. Tim Carter/Tribune Content Agency/TNS

You may think that YouTube is an oasis of helpful home improvement videos. After all, anyone with a smartphone can upload a video in seconds. Each week I scour YouTube for videos I feel may help you save time and money. With each passing day, I’m convinced that YouTube is a cesspool of bad advice. For every decent video that contains good information, I see 20 or 30 that are created by fools.

Allow me to share a few examples. There are a disturbing number of videos showing an easy way to create concrete walkways, sidewalks and door stoops. The uninformed folks on the video buy bags of dry concrete mix from a local hardware store, lumber yard or big box store.