Building Confidence

Welcome to Dave's Shop Talk's Home Improvement Newsletter of questions from our members on their construction projects, a Tip of the Month and a home remodeling article, both from our website at https://daveosborne.com.

What's Happening

I will be going to my Aunts' house, in a few days to install a laminate floor, for them. I plan to take some pictures for you and discuss this in our next newsletter.

My brother Dan's new site Free Choice Coupons is growing. The purpose of my brother's site is to make it possible for little companies to use the power of coupons to get new customers. The first coupon was made in 1888 by Coca Cola. It took 21 years before the next company, Post Cereals, started using coupons in 1909. Coupons became widely used during the 1930's, the period of the Great Depression. By the 1940's coupons were being used by the big companies to take business away from the little guys. That trend has continued right up to the present day. Dan and his partners worked out a way to level the playing field, so small companies and individual service people can use the pulling power of coupons to take back their local neighbourhood customers from the international corporations.

You can help by spreading the word to small companies and service people in your area. You can even collect a healthy reward for your good work! See Free Choice Coupons Commissions System for details.

Tip of the Month

When trimming off an asphalt shingle roof, use a utility knife with a hooked blade. You'll find it cuts easier than a straight blade and stays sharper longer.
Checkout: https://daveosborne.com/newsletters/0405.php

Ask Dave!

Hi Robb,

It is best to not have a 3" or 4" drain in the outside wall, if you can get away without it. Try to have the drain stack go up an interior wall, if possible. You can have a toilet about 10 ft away from the stack, with the sink about 6' max so it gives you a bit of leeway. Definitely, don't have the supply lines in the outside wall. Most, builders will put a 4" stack in a 2x6 interior wall, a 2x4 wall is just not big enough to allow for the 4" pipe.

Hope this helps,

I can send a drawing, if you need one. I'm on a cruise ship right now, enjoying Hawaii for the first time.

Let me know if you need anything further,

Dave

Hi Abe,

If you have a chalk line in the box, just fill it with chalk, pull the line out. Hook the end of the line onto a nail on the floor and pull the box, with the wind up lever in the straight down position, until you get to the mark on the opposite side of the floor. Hold the line tight and pull up on the string and let go. This leaves a chalk line along the floor. Now, if the chalk line is new, you need to pull about half the line out - tie it to a stump or something and walk away, until half is out. Add the chalk to the box, but don't fill it up, so you can have room for the line. The chalk line gets better with use. I was in Mexico, working and it was so dry there that the chalk would not stick to the line. I had to dampen the line from time to time.

I like the HardieBacker board. This is from their website:

Hope this helps,

Dave

Feature Article of the Month

(taken from our website: DaveOsborne.com

Remodeling 7: How to Install a Skylight in an Existing Roof

"Location, location, location!", is what they say in real estate, but it's just as important with skylights.

In this home improvement article, we will talk about a 2'x4' skylight, so if you have a larger skylight, just adjust the numbers.

With most skylights there are two locations to consider, the ... read more at https://daveosborne.com/dave/articles/how-install-skylight-roof.php

Almost the End

We hope you investigate our resources on our website: https://daveosborne.com/dave/index.php

Our site is a paid subscription site which has not only articles and plans, but a dictionary of common construction terms, tables on joist and rafter spans, converters and calculators, tips and jigs to make building projects easier and of course, this free monthly Newsletters.

Thanks for your continued questions and comments,

Hi, I'm Dave Osborne. With over 50 years experience as a journeyman carpenter, foreman and contractor in heavy construction I enjoyed working with apprentices and sharing the tricks of the trade that others shared with me. Now I get emails from Members all over the world and we include many of my answers in our Free Monthly Newsletters. Some of my answers include drawings and instructions specific to a project, but may also answer your questions. I use correct construction terminology, so you can confidently inform your building supply dealers or contractors exactly what you need.