News
The DIY Challenge
Sara – Her Electrical Problem Hi Brian! I took your class at the Lindenhurst library for electrical. Yesterday morning we woke up at like 8:30am and half the power was…
Read MoreThe Challenging Brick Step Repair Project- Chapter 2, “OMG, all the brick bullnose steps were loose”.
Look What I Found After Hope’s Great Fall, my investigation of all the front steps leading into our home uncovered some of the poorest construction practice I have ever seen,…
Read MoreThe Challenging Brick Step Repair Project- Chapter 1, “The Great Fall”
It’s a typical Monday night, BBQ chicken for dinner, finishing up some projects around the house, waiting for Hope to get home from work. Hope works late Monday nights, gets…
Read MoreBaron Of Whitfield’s DIY Story
“Greetings Brian, I need your advice on how do I determine if the switch is faulty? I get a short in power when I turn on the switch the light…
Read MoreTIP of the Month: GFCI and Their Importance
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) looks very much like a typical receptacle except that it has a test and reset button. Have you tested yours? To Protect Against Shocks,…
Read MoreWell, It’s Just Something I Love to Do!
In August, it will be 39 years that Hope and I started our own vegetable garden. Growing your own vegetables and fruit, getting your hands dirty with Our Earth, using…
Read MoreMy Battle With Termite Damage Comes to A Close- Chapter 6 “Installing the New Floor Joist”
Man oh man, this was one of the hardest projects that I have undertaken. Every step of the way, a new challenge presented itself. Almost done! One more step to…
Read MoreMy Battle With Termite Damage Continues Chapter 5- “Removing the Damaged Floor Joist”
The Big Question: How do you remove a 12′ long damaged floor joist, in the basement, that has: wires, gas pipes, heating pipes, hot and cold water pipes, in the…
Read MoreA Student Takes The DIY Challenge
Every so often, one of my students takes the DIY Challenge; calls me for advise, and shares their experience with me. It is so rewarding, as your Home Improvement Teacher,…
Read MoreMy Battle With Termite Damage Continues Chapter 4- “Constructing and Installing the Temporary Support Wall”
Even though there was no support on the foundation end of the floor joist, due to the TERMITES GRAND DINNER, I felt the joist was still supporting the weight above…
Read MoreMy Battle With Termite Damage- Chapter 3 “Getting My Bolts In Order”
Chapter 3 is all about getting the project organized. Remember in Chapter 2, I disconnected all the pipes and the wires from the damaged joist. Before the removal of the…
Read MoreMy Battle With Termite Damage- Chapter 2 “Time To Get Ready”
Getting the space ready to remove & replace the damaged floor joist is a major challenge. Workspace has to be organized. I developed a Project Planner. You can read more…
Read MoreMy DIY Battle With Termite Damage-Chapter 1
Look What I Found! Why did I not see this 35 years ago? When you buy a house, a mandatory part of the mortgage application is a termite inspection, which…
Read MoreCall for Help, My Toilet Bowl Is Leaking!
Brian, I need your help! I received a call from Don, one of my students. He had water leaking from one of the toilets in his house. He needed a…
Read MoreMy Great Maine Adventure Chapter 11 “WHAT I LEARNED”
Organization, planning, thinking out of the box, hard work, dedication, communication, and companionship helped Pamela and me accomplish an unbelievable amount of work in three weeks. Pamela and I worked…
Read MoreMy Great Maine Adventure Chapter 10 “Stairway To Heaven”
Liliane’s Post and Beam house has two levels. On the first floor is the kitchen, living room, bathroom (not really), master bedroom, wood burning stove, and dining area. Upstairs is…
Read MoreHelp! My Hot Water Tank is Leaking
It was my late afternoon coffee break, I was sitting in my Tundra enjoying my pumpkin spice latte. As I was turning the key to start the truck, my cell…
Read MoreMy Great Maine Adventure Chapter Nine “Face Lift”
I could’t believe it, just a few years ago Hope and I spent two weeks taking care of the exterior of Liliane’s house. We pressure washed, repaired damaged trim, painted,…
Read MoreMy Great Maine Adventure Chapter Eight “Really X 2”
We have to be proactive in taking care of our homes. As we saw in chapter six, this did not happen; we had to rebuild the rear staircase and landing.…
Read MoreMy Great Maine Adventure Chapter Seven: “A True Wilderness Experience”
A True Wilderness Experience Many of you asked, what it was like to live off the grid in the wilderness of Moosehead Lake. Well, not too bad. Challenges: If it…
Read More