AsktheBuilder.com Issue #1233 (I think)

May 14, 2023

Dear ,

Are you a brand new subscriber? Well, well, well. I'm so glad you're here!

What's in This Issue

You're about to discover:

• "You're NOT WORTH $50."
• Are you an Insurance Adjuster?
• Be Your Own Structural Engineer - Seriously!!!!
• Creating Lifetime Memories

Let's get started.

"Your Advice Isn't Worth $50"

Several days ago my phone rang. It was an older woman from the Chicagoland area. She had just finished reading my recent column about DIY Water Lines. Trust me, she had to be very diligent and determined to discover my phone number.

Before she could get too far, I politely injected, "Do you have a question about a product you've purchased from me or do you need more information before you make a purchase?

"No. I have a problem at my home."

"Oh, I'm happy to help you. It sounds like you're wanting professional advice. Just like attorneys, doctors, and CPAs charge for their knowledge, I do the same."

She replied, "Well, what does it cost?"

"I charge $50 for each 15 minutes that I help save you hundreds or thousands of dollars."

There was a brief hesitation.

"I don't think your advice is worth $50."

"Well, I'm sorry you feel that way and have a nice day." I then pushed the red button on my phone to end the call.

I'm only sharing this because I was astounded by her reasoning. My guess is she was about to hire a Chicago plumber that probably charges north of $800 per day. She knew she needed a second opinion but didn't want to pay for it.

My 47+ years of plumbing experience might have saved her vast amounts of money.

But we'll never know.

Are You an Insurance Adjuster?

Do you work now as an insurance adjuster or are you a retired one? I'm talking about one that deals with residential casualty losses not an automotive adjuster.

Or, perhaps you're in insurance agent that's ethically challenged? In either case, I'd love to talk with you.

I would be deeply indebted if I could chat with you OFF THE RECORD. I have some questions that no one is answering for me. I'm beginning to think I have uncovered a huge issue just like I did before I wrote my Roofing Ripoff expose' book.

Do You Know About Beams?

What do you know about bearing walls? What about the headers over windows and doors?

What about the beams, support columns, and joists for that deck you're going to build?

Do you know what a structural engineer charges per hour? I'm guessing it's close to $175, maybe more.

Did you know you can get just about all you need to know for less than $20 in an ebook I sell?

Go here now and get this super informative ebook. You'll be amazed at what you discover about all the bones in your home!

If you're not happy with the book, I give you ALL YOUR MONEY BACK. You have nothing to lose.

GO HERE to get my Basic Structural Concepts ebook.

Working With my Son

This past week I spent two very enjoyable days working with my son. He moved into his first home just about a year ago. Within a few months, he knew he wanted a patio like the one he grew up with back in Cincinnati. Here's a closeup photo I took about 15 years ago of the one I built for my lovely wife.

You're looking at traditional clay paving brick made by Belden Brick in Ohio. They're split pavers only 1 and 1/8-inch thick. I mortared them directly to a 5-inch-thick steel-reenforced concrete slab.

Six weeks ago Kathy and I helped our son lay out the patio with wood stakes and string. This is the least you should do to ensure your patio will be large enough. It's important for you to realize if you intend to have a table and chairs on the patio to seat four or more, you need a 12x12-foot area just for the table furniture!

Construction started by renting a tiny skid-steer loader you stand on. We used this to scrape off the grass and soil to get down to the required depth for the concrete slab.

We then installed the form boards including cutting special strips of plywood that I bent to create a few tight and longer sweeping curves.

A concrete contractor will install the slab in a few days simply because I no longer have a pool of experienced helpers to install the concrete with minimal stress and maximum perfection.

In a few weeks we'll start installing the brick. I'll be creating a few very detailed videos showing that step-by-step process. I plan to have a new bottle of Aleeve handy, trust me!

Did you discover something new reading in this issue? Perhaps you can reciprocate and purchase a mocha-chip ice cream cone for me.

That's enough for a Sunday morning.

Peace out.

Tim Carter

Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com

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