i have an outdoor shed that is leaking under the sole plate. the construction is 2x4 walls with outside osb then lap siding hardy plank. there is also a Z strip between the bottom of the slab and osb. i have caulked all along the top and bottom of that Z strip and it still leaks. My question is, is Flex Seal really good or is there something else thats better? Thanks y'all ..read more

Hello everyone, I'm looking for advice on installing a vapor barrier in my crawl space. I'm planning to use a 6-mil polyethylene sheet, but I'm unsure about the proper technique for installation. Should the barrier cover the entire floor and overlap up the walls? How should I seal the seams and edges to ensure no moisture gets through? Also, is it necessary to add a drainage layer underneath the vapor barrier? Any tips or recommendations based on your experiences would be greatly... Read more ..read more

Hello everyone I bought this house last year, it has a big 5 to 6 car parking with blacktop. at the sides and towards the ends, I noticed there are cracks as seen in the picture. I would like to know how I can fix it? I would like to fix it this summer before it snows again and probably the ice will damage it more. is there some kind of Caulk? or something that I can fill in the gaps/cracks Thank you ..read more

I just completed a purchase of a house that claimed to have a “whole house RO system”. Yet, after moving in I believe I’ve discovered otherwise. Do I have any recourse and is there anything that can be determined from these pictures? Please excuse the clutter as I just moved in. Seems to be only one outlet to a water dispenser. The water coming out of the RO dispenser tastes like chemicals and has high flow, so I’m not sure if the system is junk or if the filters and membrane are shot... Read more ..read more

Hello. I have a wood bookcase with one shelf that's permanent, the others are removable. I need to extend the permanent shelf to hold a 36 lb receiver. The shelf isn't long enough to securely hold the receiver and I was wondering if I can purchase something that will allow me to extend the shelf. Ideas? Many thanks ..read more

I'm trying to learn how to repair the interior plaster on a structural brick wall. The house was built in 1911 but the wall in need of repair was likely built between 1925-1930. I have chiseled away all the old plaster so that the interior side of the brick is now exposed (I will be repointing the brick before sealing to waterproof the wall, since the reason for the repair is a moisture issue related to exterior brick issue). The plaster I removed appears to be 2 step, just a ~3/4-1" think... Read more ..read more

I've recently discovered that the double back door to my sunroom has a water infiltration issue on either side of the door, resulting in some rot of the subfloor inside. The sunroom was constructed over an existing deck by a contractor, so I'm not sure of the root cause. This has been in place for about eight to ten years. If I were to install a small overhang above the door, it may help to keep some of the water out. When it rains, a lot of water appears to be dripping off the gutter... Read more ..read more

Greetings ! We are looking to purchase this house in Iowa, however, I have a major concern about two sides of the basement walls. It appears that the wall has a serious structural problem. I am not sure whether the installed I-beams will keep the wall from further damage. Thanks for any helf ..read more

I am planning on replacing my first screen! The old spline measures between 0.149 and 0.164. I assume that is 0.160. Just want to make sure. Can I reuse the old spline? Perhaps not being round any more means I shouldn't. The store has MD and Phifer that look pretty much the same. I can't imagine why they have two brands. Is one better than the other? Thanks ..read more

While prepping and tuck pointing my house, I saw that there are dozens of bricks where either the brick or the mortar shrank. There is a tiny gap between mortar and brick, usually at the bottom. The gaps average about 1/16 to at most 1/8" tall. (A few are vertical.) To chisel/grind all of these joints completely out and re-point seems kind of a huge project. I saw some caulk that is made to tuck point. (Many brands) I thought perhaps this would be good for the tiny gaps. Have any of you... Read more ..read more