Welcome to AskTheContractors.com. Thank you so much for joining me. Our website is filled with great information. We offer everything you need to know about your home. But today I have a special guest, a candidate for the governor of California. Mr. Doug Ose. Doug, you have been around the horn quite a bit. You’re […]

I’m thinking about buying a small historic New England (1800) colonial in need of great repair. Want to restore it and update the inside. What do we need to look for before taking on the project and buying the home? Is it better to inspect the house with a contractor, an inspector, an Architect, or […]

Question from Roy I’m building a sauna. I have never framed anything before but have done a bunch of reading and research on it so far. It’s 4ft x 5ft x 6.5feet (interior dimensions). All walls are load-bearing. So, I was framing my first wall and a split started to form near the end of the […]

Here is the question from C.H.: I have a contractor telling me that I do not need a floating cement system over an old concrete slab before installing tile on the floor. Is this true? Well, I haven’t seen your floor, but if it’s an older floor the best way to put tile over an […]

Are you thinking about starting a project? The housing economy is still on fire and a lot of people are going to be remodeling their homes in the next year. So that’s why you want to go to my website. I’m your host Todd Bird. How’s everyone doing today? This is where we cut through […]

I am trying to install a faux stone veneer around a TV Mount and a Fireplace on an interior drywall wall. Here is the question from Sara: What kind of Stone should I use for this project? This is a very common question we receive with interior remodels. I am going to answer it right […]

Question from Janet: Can you install regular windows (like the ones sold at “Big Box Stores”) in a manufactured home? Well, you know what? I am not exactly sure of the answer to that question. That’s why I rely on my website AskTheContractors.com for reliable subcontractors and contractors. …like Mark Cherry of Cherry Home Improvement. […]

“My outside faucet knob broke off and when I removed the broken knob, I notice that it fit into a piece that was flat on the top and on the bottom but rounded on each side, kind of like in parentheses.  I can’t find the replacement at my hardware store since they all fit circular […]

I’m specifying recessed lighting for a home remodel using led lights that don’t have housing. They’re RAB 4″ gimbal lights and are IC-rated and have a driver box. Our electrician says we need lights with housings to pass inspections. I’m guessing he normally uses housings with exposed studs to indicate where the lights will go. […]

I have a Tongue and Groove ceiling and there is a crack in one of the boards. Question from Josh: Can I fix this? Should I be concerned? This is a really, really good question. And a very important question. Josh actually sent me a picture and showed me exactly what was going on. I […]

“We are converting our garage into a heated space family room, the area that we are closing off in front of the door is 26′ x 8 1/2′. Here is the Question from Rachel “Can you tell me what type and number insulation would I need to buy for Georgia and how much do I need […]

Matt’s remodeling his bathroom, and he wants to know how to convert from copper to plastic piping, better known as Pex. He puts it as PVC, but it’s called Pex. (more…)

Question from Angela:How do I Measure Exterior Square Footage for Billing Purpose? Getting an accurate measurement of a new or existing home is very important… (more…)

I have some sections of rim joists that need replacing and repairing at my home. The sill plate appears to be fine in all locations. James is here with his Question: Can a 4-foot section of rotten rim joist be fixed by simply using blocks? And, if I need to contact a contractor, how much do jobs like this usually cost? Let me ask you a couple of questions first… You say you have the rim plate. You’re talking about the top, flat-area of the top of the wall… (more…)

I have a Quartz countertop installed in a bathroom. It is a solid surface product, so I was not expecting an unfinished underside, much like granite.  This is the Question: Can you explain why the underside would be finished this way? Is there anything I could do to clean Granite and Quartz to prevent dust & dirt from getting onto it? When you have a countertop installed, the underside is unfinished. The upside, the top side is buffed out and polished and it looks just so...

Welcome to Askthecontractors.com. It’s a new show and a New Year, with lots of exciting projects coming up around your home. I want to hear all about them. Send me your details of what you’re doing around your home. I know others want to hear about it too. “That’s what this show is all about. It’s about keeping your home in prime condition. And in order to keep it in prime condition, you’ll need help doing it.” Todd Bird, Host of Ask The Contractors You may need a new...

There is a lot that we are considering for purchase. It is between many houses and down a private road. It does not have utilities.  This is the Question: How much extra can I expect in permits, planning, and contracting to install water, power, and sewer? To help answer that question, I’ve brought on Nicole Anderson from the Anderson Group at Coldwell Banker. (more…)

This is the Question from Leslie:  I’m looking to build a climbing wall in my garage. Basically an 8ft wide x 12ft tall wall, slanted at a 45-degree angle. I need to anchor the top part of the wall to something, like the rafters. Is this a good idea? How much extra weight can I hang off the rafters? If not, what would be a good way to do so? One thought Leslie has is adding a 2′ x 6′ beam to join the two or three rafters off the roofline, and then anchoring the top of her wall to the...

It makes me feel good that I’m able to help homeowners with projects that could be considered challenging. Renovations can be trying on a family. It can even be trying on your pet dog. It’s a big disruption when you do a renovation so we want to help you do it the right way. We want you to have good memories and say this renovation was exciting and fun. We learned a lot. I get sad when I hear people saying, “I’ll never renovate again because we didn’t expect that…” ...

Question from Robin:“I have a large family of 10 people. We are looking into building a house. Who do we contact to have house plans created into a site plan?” Okay. This is a good question because this starts with preparation. [Click and follow along with the Full Transcript] (more…)

Are you getting ready for winter? Do you feel the chill out there? I do. It’s one of my favorite times of the year, and that’s Fall. Everything in the garden is starting to die off and look kinda creepy out there. It’s spooky and I really love that. And then of course, right after that turkey dinner we bring out the lights. Up goes the trees and before you know it, Christmas will be here. 2019 will be in the history books, so that’s kind of sad. But for 2019, I think it’s been a...

Question from Mimi:   We installed factory painted doors that have one panel with an embedded trim of molding around the panel. Since the molding protrudes, it has become very scratched up and chipped. I understand how to fill the chips, but I want to paint the moldings with the strongest paint to endure the wear and tear it may get.   The doors are painted with a glossy matte.   This is the Question:  Which paint type would you suggest that has the finest look and the strongest effect? ...

Question from JonThe contractor doing my bathroom renovation has used gold bond Purple XP (a water-resistant drywall) as a backer for the tile in my shower. This is the Question:   Is this an accepted practice or should I be concerned? To help answer this question we’re bringing on ATC contractor, Paul Reeves with Reeves Construction. [Click to Follow along with the full Transcript] (more…)

A lot is happening out there with smart technology. Now, I’m not a high-tech kind of guy. I need my 10-year old granddaughter to figure out a new phone whenever I get one, so that’s where I’m at in life. I’m your host Todd Bird. This is AskTheContractors.com. Your source for local Home Improvement Pros. We cut through it all and nail things down. Smart home devices are taking center stage this season, but there are so many choices to consider. Ira Victor, Digital Forensic...