Tim Carter – Page 5 –

These common items you may have in your home contain lithium batteries that can catch fire and explode.

Ask the Builder: Lithium batteries are all around you — and they can catch fire

May 12, 2023 at 4:44 p.m.

This might be the most important column I've written in my 30 years as a syndicated columnist. There's a very high probability you have lithium-ion batteries in your home. They...

These are the hot and cold PEX water lines in my own home. I know it appears complex, like spaghetti thrown on a wall, but it's not. DIY plumbing has never been easier. (Tim Carter/Tribune Content Agency)

Ask the Builder: DIY-friendly water lines in your home

May 5, 2023 at 1:17 p.m.

I'm blessed to be able to use this column to share my knowledge. It allows me to empower you to do many jobs you might never think of doing yourself....

If you use a handy power tool like this hammer drill and chisel, your mud shower pan floor will soon be chunks of rubble.

User Upload Caption: If you use a handy power tool like this hammer drill and chisel, your mud shower pan floor will soon be chunks of rubble. Tim Carter/Ask the Builder ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, TCN - OUTS **

How to demolish a mud shower pan

May 20, 2019 at 8:07 a.m.

Q: I've decided to do a major bathroom remodel job. One thing that needs to be demolished is a full ceramic tile shower with a seat and a concrete mud...

Proper grading and a good drain will solve soggy lawn

May 20, 2019 at 8:07 a.m.

Q: We just moved into our new brick two-story home, and I've got a problem with soggy lawn drainage. As you can see in my photo, the ground on one...

Before committing to a remodel, know the cost in detail

May 20, 2019 at 8:07 a.m.

Q: I want to remodel our dingy bath, but I need to get a handle on what the project will cost before I start. My wife doesn't want me to...

This bathroom fan vent pipe looks like a DIY installation, but it was actually installed by a pro. Never use duct tape in a hidden space; the adhesive bond will eventually fail.

The best way to vent a bathroom fan

May 20, 2019 at 8:06 a.m.

Q: I'm a do-it-yourselfer, and I'm going to remodel a bathroom. I don't like our current exhaust bath fan and am going to install a new one. I've done all...

Mix brick, rock to create an attractive, unique exterior

June 12, 2018 at 1:57 a.m.

Q: My husband and I are in a small skirmish about the brick veneer home we are building. I want it to be somewhat distinctive, incorporating random pieces of rock...

‘Granny pod’ needs her input, plus flexibility for future function

May 20, 2019 at 8:05 a.m.

Q: My wife and I are faced with moving her mom to an assisted care facility. The monthly costs for this are staggering. My mother-in-law is very mobile and needs...

Old Lumber vs. new: Preventing warping, twisting and rot

May 14, 2019 at 1:15 a.m.

DEAR TIM: I was at the home center yesterday trying to get some rough lumber for a project. I spent a long time trying to get pieces that were straight....

How to cut a common roof rafter

May 14, 2019 at 1:13 a.m.

DEAR TIM: I'm now retired and starting to attack a huge list of projects. One of them is building a simple shed, and I have no clue how to cut...

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