Tim Carter

Ask the Builder: Stop giving contractors money upfront

October 6, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

I've set an ambitious goal for this column. I hope it will save collectively at least $100 million. If you and every other reader follow the advice I'm about to...

The green stain on the yellow siding is algae here at my own home. (Tim Carter/Tribune Content Agency/TNS)

Ask the Builder: How to remove — and prevent — algae, mold and mildew

September 29, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

Days ago, Jerry stopped by my website, AsktheBuilder.com. He reads my column each week in his local paper and was perplexed by algae growth on the exterior of his home....

This porch was built in 1949. Its best days are undoubtedly behind it. (Tim Carter/Tribune Content Agency/TNS)

Ask the Builder: Front porch repair or replace?

September 22, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

In the past week, Don asked me for advice. He lives in the northeast corner of North Carolina just 15 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. His front porch stoop is...

Does your three-season room look similar to this? These rooms, if not built correctly, can create many problems you'd never imagine. (Tim Carter/Tribune Content Agency/TNS)

Ask the Builder: Three-season room challenges

September 15, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

Not too long ago, Philip reached out to me. I've mentioned in past columns that each week I solve countless problems for homeowners just like you. For me, it's similar...

You may have exterior wood on your home that looks similar to this. There are several ways to minimize or eliminate maintenance of these surfaces. (Tim Carter/Tribune Content Agency)

Ask the Builder: How to minimize maintenance on your exterior wood

September 8, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

One of the things I enjoy most about writing my column is communicating with readers just like you. As often happens, a reader will visit my AsktheBuilder.com website and use...

While you may think this structure looks sound, it's not. Fortunately, the town inspector saw it and is forcing the owner to tear it down. (Tim Carter/Tribune Content Agency/TNS)

Ask the Builder: Will your DIY project kill or injure yourself or others?

August 25, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

I live in rural central New Hampshire. It's the "Live Free or Die" state. I believe in that motto to a very large degree, but I'm also interested in making...

Look at how the shingles getting regular doses of copper ions look as good as the day they were installed. Copyright 2023 Tim Carter

Ask the Builder: How to make your asphalt shingles last 50 years

August 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

Eight years ago I was in the middle of a roof replacement project on my own home. My 30-year warranted asphalt shingles looked like they were 50 years old. They...

These are just a few samples of the many types of sandpaper in my shop. The small one is a flexible pad made to sand three-dimensional shapes. (Tim Carter/Tribune Content Agency/TNS)

Ask the Builder: How much do you know about sandpaper?

August 11, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

I'm thankful to have had enough trips around the sun that my adult children are finally calling me for advice about their projects. I hope you're blessed to experience this...

This inexpensive tarp controls the amount of sunlight that can pass through it. It may look ugly, but it keeps the room inside the house 15 degrees cooler. It's just one way to combat heat inside a home. (Tim Carter/Tribune Content Agency/TNS)

Ask the Builder: The truth about you and your hot house

August 4, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

Are you hot and bothered? It's been a very hot summer so far with record temperatures in many states. Where I live in central New Hampshire, we've had a long...

This new home should have been finished a month ago. If things continue to creep along, my guess is the owners will move in about 10 months from now. (Tim Carter/Tribune Content Agency/TNS)

Ask the Builder: Building and remodeling budgets

July 28, 2023 at 7:22 p.m.

Are you thinking of building a new home or doing a major remodeling project? If so, I've got some sobering news for you. After reading this column, you may understand...

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