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e-z toilet bolt cutting
4 commentstoilet bolts hold down ,to the toilet flange,are cut with bolt cutters....instead of using a hacksaw
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EXTERIOR TRIM
Shoreline Millwork has been in the exterior trim business for 25+ years and our quality is unsurpassed www.Shorelinemillwork.com for all your PVC needs
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Noisy Roofers!
1 commentWhile I was working on inside framing, "The Boys" were cowering from the racket of roofers overhead. Normally, jobsite noises don't make them flinch and they never share a crate, but the rythms...
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Vinyl Siding Installation
House was striped of old vinyl and cedar shakes down to bear sheathing installed new tyvex house wrap new Pella double hung windows harvey Fiberglass front door 5'vinyl slider door vinyl bay window...
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Portable Mitre Saw Workstation
2 commentsThis table is about the 4th generation of an original design, as it has been redesigned with each new saw and from what was learned through use. It started out quite light but has gained weight...
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Portable Miter Saw Stand
I don't have room to store my tools anywhere except my truck, so I needed a table that could collapse down and fit into my full-length pickup truck. It started out as stand that I bought at the...
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Free FH backissues: #12 thru #71 and #118 thru #147
Thanks to all who called. The collection was picked-up this morning by a long time carpenter in nearby Royce City, TX, who also was the first to telephone.
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Miter Saw Stand
This is my miter saw stand. It uses a Rockler shop stand (18" x 24" which is 1/8" thick steel and very heavy duty) which I then modified as you see. The wings fold up/down for easy storing or for...
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Load Bearing? Where?
1 commentSome of thethings found in a couple of pre-drywall inspections. One of our regional builders whose goal is to build to code and and not a dollar more.
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Free FH backissues: #12 thru #71 and #118 thru #147
See how it was done with square nails! (1983-1992 and 1998-2002)My parents collection, in fine shape. You pay shipping from Dallas (about 71lbs.). I can't trash themnbsp...
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Cricket? What's a cricket?
2 commentsI was asked to inspect this roof before its sale. There was evidence of leaks on the inside ceiling, but the owner assured the buyer that they had just had a new roof installed to fix the problem...
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Some flimsy metal with some shims stuck in the gap is weather tight for a new door, right?
I thought by buying a high end patio door through the showroom and using their recommended installer, the installation would be then best. The door they replaced was rotted (which they said...
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Attempting to install a skylight
1 commentThis chap apparently was attempting to install a skylight in the roof of his house, failed to follow the instructions and got a little carried away when he started stipping the roof ....
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Light Weight Miter Table
1 commentThis miter stand/table is about ten years old. It is made with a single 4x8 sheet of 1/2 ply, 1x1 pine to brace the corners, a diagonal oak brace underneath and some sturdy yet inexpensive...
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"Koby-TEETH" Works For Food! :)
1 commentOur German Shepherds frequent our home construction site.
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Paint Brush - keeping it from drying until the next use
1 commentJust saw the Chuck Miller video on using a ziplock bag to put your wet paint brush in, but I think this trick is easier, less messy, cheaper, and more effective. Take a length of SaranCling...
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MOUSSIE'S FIRST SNOW
1 commentthis is Chocolate Mousse, my 18 month old standard poodle enjoying his first snow.
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hard to drive or walk home to take a leak
7 commentsI always try to imagine the exact moment that it dawned on someone that something might be wrong.
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If You Cover Up Rot, It Goes Away . . . Right?
Normal 0 . . . uhh, no – not so much. I periodically run into this sort of lapse in judgment while doing inspections. This is a load-bearing roof beam on a mid-century modern home...
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Pawprints? What pawprints?
3 commentsCharlie helps finish new Carlisle wide plank wood flloor in our living room
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Talk about inefficient...
Credit for finding this gem goes to Andy Engel. He sent it to me awhile back as a two part email. The first photo is the clue - showing a whole lot of blackened fiberglass insulation near an air...
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Truss Bracing? We Don't Need No Stinking Truss Bracing!!!
7 commentsTruss Failure Recipe: Take one truss package, and install hastily on Friday; add one weekend, and whip with high winds; Serve up to builder's risk insurance company
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Log Cabin Nightmare
4 commentsHere is a great big black eye for the building trades. These photos are all from the same home that I inspected for the Homeowner. This is a Cape style, Log Cabin with half loft & half...
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Recycled Material
1 commentSome projects are so special that they need a little special attention. This blog is all about recycling, recycling of material in which came from my current project. My current project...
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OMG! Another beam repair with the customary "Tail Light Guarantee"
5 commentsThis is a load-bearing roof beam on a mid-century modern home. The beam is exposed on the interior and spans from, and is framed into, opposing exterior walls. The cantilevered end supports the...
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You know they designed the attic ventilation to take care of this!!!!!!
3 commentsThe pipe in the middle of the second picture is a fireplace flue! This photo was taken at the "meter release" inspection after drywall is installed, etc. The fireplace this is connected to wasnt...
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Sloppy Housewrap Install
2 commentsThis is a classic example of not understanding what housewrap is supposed to do. Just because it's protected by an overhang doesn't mean it shouldn't go all the way up the sheathing to prevent air...
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Extreme amateur mason
We uncovered this sub-amateur masonry job during a whole-house remodel. We were planning only to re-top the chimney due to failing mortar. What's amazing is this stood for about 20 years before we...
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How to move a light fixture...NOT!
1 commentAs part of the reno for our new addition, the existing duct work had to be extended into the new room. The contractor chose to extend it from the duct feeding into the basement bathroom, and that...
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Screened in Porch Swing Failure
Porch swing failure. When we arrived we noticed her porch swing was at a serious tilt. Customer had a screened in porch with vinyl covering a tradional plywood ceiling. Two...
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Explosive Furnace Installation
11 commentsThis is a home that was recently renovated that I was performing a home inspection on for a client. The contractor was on site and decided to turn the gas on at the meter while I was upstairs...
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How to Paint Fiber-Cement Siding
Painter Jim Lacey shares some tips for caulking and painting fiber-cement siding. read more
