April 20, 2010 Newsletter and Tips
Copyright 2010 - Tim Carter
Remember, Do it Right, Not Over!
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If you have a question for me, don't hit the Reply button just yet.
Go immediately to my web site and type in the keywords about your
problem into my Search engine. The search box is at the top of
every page of my web site. You could have your answer in seconds if
you do this! Please pay attention to all links you see at my web site. The exact products and services you often need are right in front of you, and you might be ignoring them.
Latest News
I've been on the road the past two weeks. It was a combination
business/pleasure trip. The first week I spent with two great
friends Steve and Rusty as we drove from Los Angeles, CA to Zion
National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon,
Monument Valley and then on to Albuquerque, NM. Steve, Rusty and I
are members of a secret Internet entrepreneur group that meet twice
a year. Our Spring meeting this year was at the Hyatt Tamaya Resort
in Albuquerque, NM.
We also stopped and hiked through a slot canyon near the Glen
Canyon Dam that forms Lake Powell. It was the Lower Antelope Slot
Canyon near Page, AZ. The slot canyon was absolutely amazing. Here
are links to a few Google Picasa photo albums of the first five
days of the trip. Thanks Google for this great service!
But one of the best highlights of the entire trip happened this
past Saturday at the end of the trip. You know that old saying,
"Save the best for last." I did just that by planning a visit with
one of my oldest subscribers, Ms. Patricia Allen. What I mean by
oldest is the length of time Pat has been a subscriber. We tried to
set the exact date, but couldn't. However, we know for a fact that
Pat subscribed around 1998 or possibly 1997. That's just after I
started this newsletter.
I truly enjoy visiting subscribers and try to go out of my way to
have these meetings. Thanks Pat for allowing me to spend the
afternoon and evening with you! My friend Rusty and his wife Ann
were also at dinner with us.
Campbell Hausfeld Pressure Washer
A month ago I got to test a wonderful pressure washer made by
Campbell Hausfeld. It was model PW2770. I found it easy to use and
it started with ease. I did have to fill the engine with oil before
I started it, but that was no big deal. Be sure you always check
the oil level before you start any equipment that has an engine.
The machine comes with five different tips from 0 degrees all the
way up to 40 degrees. It produced 2,750 PSI of pressure which can
really blast away algae and dirt from masonry surfaces. I used the
machine to clean my brick patios. I loved the easy way to connect
the hose to the machine as well as the cleaning wand.
My only complaint was the design of the handle. It seems to me that
it was on the wrong side of the machine. To move the pressure
washer from point to point, you have to lift up on the handle like
a wheelbarrow. I found that to be very awkward. I tested another
Campbell Hausfeld pressure washer a few years back, and the handle
design was completely opposite. You just had to tilt the handle
back like a two-wheeled hand cart to move the machine. I found that
older design much more user friendly.
All in all I give this pressure washer two hammers up! It's a great
buy and well made.
Painting a Tile Backsplash
Nicole from Teaneck, NJ emailed me asking:
Nicole, I would paint the tile first then grout it. Paint is very
soft, especially if it's not cured. To protect the paint from the
grouting process, I would apply two or three coats of water-based
clear urethane before grouting.
business/pleasure trip. The first week I spent with two great
friends Steve and Rusty as we drove from Los Angeles, CA to Zion
National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon,
Monument Valley and then on to Albuquerque, NM. Steve, Rusty and I
are members of a secret Internet entrepreneur group that meet twice
a year. Our Spring meeting this year was at the Hyatt Tamaya Resort
in Albuquerque, NM.
We also stopped and hiked through a slot canyon near the Glen
Canyon Dam that forms Lake Powell. It was the Lower Antelope Slot
Canyon near Page, AZ. The slot canyon was absolutely amazing. Here
are links to a few Google Picasa photo albums of the first five
days of the trip. Thanks Google for this great service!
But one of the best highlights of the entire trip happened this
past Saturday at the end of the trip. You know that old saying,
"Save the best for last." I did just that by planning a visit with
one of my oldest subscribers, Ms. Patricia Allen. What I mean by
oldest is the length of time Pat has been a subscriber. We tried to
set the exact date, but couldn't. However, we know for a fact that
Pat subscribed around 1998 or possibly 1997. That's just after I
started this newsletter.
I truly enjoy visiting subscribers and try to go out of my way to
have these meetings. Thanks Pat for allowing me to spend the
afternoon and evening with you! My friend Rusty and his wife Ann
were also at dinner with us.
Campbell Hausfeld Pressure Washer
A month ago I got to test a wonderful pressure washer made by
Campbell Hausfeld. It was model PW2770. I found it easy to use and
it started with ease. I did have to fill the engine with oil before
I started it, but that was no big deal. Be sure you always check
the oil level before you start any equipment that has an engine.
The machine comes with five different tips from 0 degrees all the
way up to 40 degrees. It produced 2,750 PSI of pressure which can
really blast away algae and dirt from masonry surfaces. I used the
machine to clean my brick patios. I loved the easy way to connect
the hose to the machine as well as the cleaning wand.
My only complaint was the design of the handle. It seems to me that
it was on the wrong side of the machine. To move the pressure
washer from point to point, you have to lift up on the handle like
a wheelbarrow. I found that to be very awkward. I tested another
Campbell Hausfeld pressure washer a few years back, and the handle
design was completely opposite. You just had to tilt the handle
back like a two-wheeled hand cart to move the machine. I found that
older design much more user friendly.
All in all I give this pressure washer two hammers up! It's a great
buy and well made.
Painting a Tile Backsplash
Nicole from Teaneck, NJ emailed me asking:
"I would like to paint over the ceramic tile that makes up my
kitchen back splash. The previous owners never grouted the tile so
I'm wondering if I should apply the grout before I paint the tiles
or after? I'd like to apply it after so I don't have to worry about
painting the grout lines separately but I'm not sure if the process
will scratch the newly applied paint. Please help. Thanks!"
Nicole, I would paint the tile first then grout it. Paint is very
soft, especially if it's not cured. To protect the paint from the
grouting process, I would apply two or three coats of water-based
clear urethane before grouting.
Allow the paint to dry for three days before you apply the first coat of urethane.
Then allow the urethane to cure for at least a week before grouting. If you
scratch the urethane while grouting, you should be able to touch it
up with a small brush and not see the scuff mark.
Humorous and Embarrassing Home-Improvement Moments
I'm starting a new project. I want to collect hundreds or thousands
of funny and embarrassing home-improvement moments. I don't know
about you, but with the stress of everyday life getting worse, I
feel we need more laughter each week. I'll share one of these
stories each week with you in this newsletter and package all of
them to share in different volumes as time goes on. I can't do this
alone! I need your stories. Submit one here.
scratch the urethane while grouting, you should be able to touch it
up with a small brush and not see the scuff mark.
Humorous and Embarrassing Home-Improvement Moments
I'm starting a new project. I want to collect hundreds or thousands
of funny and embarrassing home-improvement moments. I don't know
about you, but with the stress of everyday life getting worse, I
feel we need more laughter each week. I'll share one of these
stories each week with you in this newsletter and package all of
them to share in different volumes as time goes on. I can't do this
alone! I need your stories. Submit one here.
I'll start it off with this true story. Yes, even I have had my
share of embarrassing moments.
When I first started my tiny remodeling company just after getting
out of college in 1974, I was hired to do my first crown molding
job in a tiny breakfast nook. How hard could that be I thought. It
was obvious that you just cut the wood trim at 45-degree angles and
nail it up.
Well, no matter how I put it in the saw and cut it at a 45-degree
angle, the gaps where two pieces met in a corner were so big you
could taxi a 747 jet airliner through them. Here's a photo of what
one of the joints looked like. Ugh!!
After two hours of frustration, the woman who hired me politely
asked me to pack up my tools and go home. I was mortified. Instead
of going home with my tail between my legs, I went directly to the
public library. In about ten minutes I discovered exactly what I
was doing wrong.
That event was the seed from which my Crown Molding Ebook grew, as
I knew other people would make the same mistake I made that morning.
I would be honored if you would send me your stories of your
embarrassing or funny moments. All I need is the story, but if you
also have photographs of these funny or embarrassing situations,
that's all the better! Share your story and any photos or videos. Thanks!
Stains on Siding From Nails
Speaking of photographs, I recently solved a problem for a visitor
to my website in about five seconds. I was able to do this because
he sent me a close-up photo of stains on his wood siding. This
gentleman though the stains were from the caulk or spackle used to
cover the nails.
The photos clearly showed the stains were caused by rusting nails.
If you want to use the best nails for exterior siding, invest in
stainless steel nails. At the very least, use double hot-dipped hot
galvanized nails. Here are links to a few past columns where I
discuss the difference between galvanized and stainless-steel nails.
Grumblings About Sales
Over the past two weeks I received several gripes about the extra
emails I've been sending concerning the checklist sales and Stain
Solver sales. While at my secret conference, I discovered one of my
very close friends wrote a column at his website to explain why he
has ads and such on his site and newsletter. It was one of those V8
moments, and I slapped myself on the head. Duh! So I wrote this
column answering Dan one of my subscribers. I'd be very interested
in your feedback.
Before you respond, know that there were a grand total of four
complaints about the excessive emails and there were thousands of
people who took advantage of the promotions. If you want to know my
opinion, that tells me all I need to know.
Applications for Smart Phones
Last week I received an email from Marvin Windows about their new
application for iPhones. It's called Window Shopping. Here's what
it said in their press release about the software:
The Window Shopping app is a tool to help homeowners plan basic
designs for windows and doors, inside and outside the house. After
taking a photo of an interior or exterior space that could use an
upgrade, the app user can choose from nearly 50 resizable photos of
Marvin windows and doors, arrange them over the photo, and save or
send the photo to share with friends, family or a local Marvin
dealer.
I downloaded it with ease on my iPhone. But I was in a hotel room
in Phoenix and not able to aim it at one of my house windows.
Speaking of apps, I'm getting ready to develop some AsktheBuilder
ones. Once again I could use your help. What applications for your
phone would be helpful? Let me know.
Latest Columns
You may have some questions about Window Coverings. This column may
help you.
Can you imagine opening a tub of premixed sanded grout? That's
Urethane Grout!
AsktheBuilder.com
P.O. Box 887
Meredith, NH 03253-0887, USA
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