shirlock homes

42,847 reputation

250102

bio	website	axiomhomeservices.com
	location	Windham, ME
	age	60
visits	member for	2 years, 9 months
	seen	2 hours ago
stats	profile views	2,303

General Building Contractor, Certified Home Inspector and Licensed EPA Renovator. I am winding down my years of pounding nails, building custom homes and additions, renovating kitchens and bathrooms, and converting cellars and attics into beautiful living spaces. I am doing more and more home inspections as my bones age and my back gives out. Now I find it easier to look objectively at home structures than to build them. My goal here on Stack Exchange is to help DIY'ers do it the right way and share my years of building experience with them. I may not always give the most popular answer, but I will always give my best informed advise.

	42,847 reputation	bio	website	axiomhomeservices.com	visits	member for	2 years, 9 months
250102 badges		location	Windham, ME		seen	2 hours ago

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May 9	answered	How much does weight affect a house?
May 9	comment	How should I build the concrete footings for my deck? Great pics. I have a buddy with a utility pole truck, so he drills the holes and sets the porch posts for me. I just have to plumb and backfill, sure makes like a lot easier.
May 8	comment	How do I remove a Kwikset deadbolt with no screws on the inside plate? Yep. sometimes a small metal push pin on the knob.
May 8	answered	How do I remove a Kwikset deadbolt with no screws on the inside plate?
May 8	comment	Why doesn't the paint stick to new ingrain wallpaper? do you mean new sheetrock or wall paper? why would you put up wall paper to paint it???? Confused!!!
May 8	comment	Should I seal bathroom ceiling and wall tiles? glazed tile does not need to be sealed, but grout should be and is really easy to do and very inexpensive.
May 8	answered	How should I build the concrete footings for my deck?
May 8	comment	Should I seal bathroom ceiling and wall tiles? Are they glazed tile and is the grout already sealed? any pics??
May 8	comment	What is “workmanlike manner”? @DMoore; wasn't suggesting you might debate with an inspector, just saying, because it happens all the time and a DIYer will not win the debate. @Argento; cross beaming is running wires under joists or beams and stapling them up, rather than boring holes at the right spot and chasing wires thru them.
May 8	comment	What should I expect when removing a chimney? If you don't want to drop the bricks down the flue and remove them from the bottom, build a wood slide out of plywood and 2X4's down the roof, so bricks will fall to the ground in a safe place and not damage the roofing.
May 8	answered	What is “workmanlike manner”?
May 8	comment	How do you keep from dropping grout all over when tiling? A float is a type of trowel. Your correct calling it a float.
May 8	comment	How do you keep from dropping grout all over when tiling? Yes. I use a silicone rubber covered 10 inch trowel. Never use a metal blade type tool to push grout, it will scratch the tile.
May 7	comment	Should I finish staining my half-stained deck with rain coming? Don't cover it with anything that will touch it !!!!! If the satin is not cured, it will stick and you will have a mess. Rather have water spots and do a second coat than have to deal with peeled stuck coatings.
May 7	answered	Should I finish staining my half-stained deck with rain coming?
May 6	comment	What techniques are there to smooth out or remove textured (knockdown) drywall? Skim coating is a good idea. Just be certain the texture is secure to the ceiling. Scrape off any loose material before mudding. Also use my secret skim mud recipe.
May 6	comment	What techniques are there to smooth out or remove textured (knockdown) drywall? did you mean 3/8" drywall????
May 6	comment	How to clean hard soap scum and lime from bathtub? try a product called "Barkeeper's Friend". It has a super fine abrasive that is safe for glossy surfaces and clear coats and Cyrillic acid which works well on dried on and old lime, calcium, and other solids. Worth a try and on the shelf at the grocery store. Also works wonders on dull headlight covers.
May 6	comment	How can I prevent a tankless propane on-demand water heater from freezing up in very cold climates? where the hell do you live that gets -50F ? WOW. BTW, an on demand water heater doesn't need to use the chimney. I usually has a direct vent/exhaust out the side of the building.
May 5	comment	How do you keep from dropping grout all over when tiling? feed the grout from the hawk directly to the wall with your trowel. Then just hold under, don't rest the hawk on the tile, a half inch away. Start at the bottom and work your way up. Push the grout up and sideways and you won't drop as much.