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Dust is the usual cause of this problem, but not the only cause. Moisture in the drywall and joint compound does this, moisture behind the sheetrock,and also surface contaminants like Murphy's oil soap' residue can cause this. Kilz original is suitable under latex, but normally we use PVA...

I've found a few 'flex' ducts which looked OK but were 'sagged' in places and those contained water which was impairing airflow. Best practice with these and dryer vents is to use the minimum "flex" pipe necessary and run the rest solid pipe with downhill sloping to the exhaust..

No, TBH on repaints I rarely use primers without a specific reason or need to do so. Bonding primers and stainblockers are great where needed but a waste when not needed. If the surface underneath doesn't have a problem then paint will adhere just fine- that's what it's designed to do. Good...

It will help where the paint is losing adhesion, but the problem will still be there under places where the paint is still intact even with the primer over it. Old latex paints from the 60's would sometimes do this over unprimed oil paint. Sometimes a few years, sometimes decades but eventually...

It might be what is on my non-walkable 1994 camper roof, which is called "Bud board", essentially what the OP described- just very thick non-corrugated cardboard. In my case it was used as a cheaper alternative to 3/8" plywood. There is (or was) available "Celotex" in various thicknesses, often...

Working in a 1955ish home today. Master bedroom door at the end of the hall had a site-built jamb which was constructed such that the casing trim on both sides wasn't ripped down to fit the walls. This left me fitting a door 31" wide at the top and 31 3/8" at the bottom, luckily the top was...

Some higher-end locks come with a flanged plastic cup meant to be inletted into the jamb with the strike plate fitting on top. Don't know if they can be had separately. Haven't seen them in a few years as I'm supplied cheap stuff anymore.

When it gets bad or when I feel like it. I'm not a 'pig' but a little dust or dirt never killed anybody.

I can't recall the name for it but there should be flashing tucked into the mortar (cut in) and pointed with mortar. This is the flashing that prevents water from entering between brick and roof. There should aso be step flashing with each course of shingles,and underneath that I like to run a...

Today? Did some aluminum trim on windows, then came home in first gear which was all that was working after a mile from the jobsite. This after having the transmission fully rebuilt about 6 months ago. It had a problem shortly after they got done; they put a selector switch in and said something...

Don't know the size, haven't seen under the oversized cap which is just above ground level. No groundwater problem because it's in a rain-tight above-grade building at the very top of a small mountain :D Thanks for the tip on Gould, would you say they're better than Grundfos? Phil

Codes vary wherever you are, but if you ask at a plumbing supply store (NOT Lowes, Home Depot or a local hardware store), the friendly counterman will know what the Pro plumbers in your area do because he sells them those supplies. Return the favor by buying your pipe and fittings from them...

I can see both sides, but the key here is that the same guy did the original wiring and the new WH install, so he had to know the wiring was inadequate. Code was violated the moment he hooked up the wiring, and regardless of any "warranty period" all work must meet code. As long as the repairs...

I make my own. Two long rectangles of plywood with a slot in the middle of both, and two triangles at the ends. Carriage bolts, washers and wing nuts attach everything. Perfect pattern every time. Works as well as the $100+ store-bought ones which I've also used. Pro Tip: When working against...

Crazy question- are you on city water? If so then adding or swapping to a venturi pump powered by water might solve the larger problem. Or if you're not in an evacuation prone area, a generator is useful in other ways too. You can put DriCore right back with no more worries after either of these...

Nope, just having some Phun. And NOT planning to advance from being a Jr. Grammar Police- I do like the shiny plastic badge I got out of my Cracker Jack's box :p I heard there's a move afoot out there to split California into 3 States. I wonder what they will name them?Insane, Lessane, and...

A friend's well pump is on the way out with foot valve leakage. Vintage and brand unknown but at least 25 years old in a 250' well (according to the seller and her memory) so not worth repairing. She wants to drop in a new pump before a she retires while she can afford it instead of being...

Codes vary and now in 3 of the 5 counties I work in, you can't run the T&P drain into the pan anymore- it must exit the house and drain to within 6" of the ground. One county also requires a "Bell" fitting inside the house so you will see it flowing if it releases. Haven't worked in the local...

I know nothing about these, but a bit of digging discovered a toll-free phone number for "Technical Assistance" - 866-673-0427 It's been my experience that emails often go unanswered for whatever reasons, though I suspect it's usually because it's easy to delete an email that might require...

After too many years of fixing wood gates I'm pretty opinionated :rolleyes: First, with gates that heavy a 4X4 post is marginal and will need to be well into the ground. 3' is my minimum and I prefer deeper when helper is doing the digging :p. I'd use a 6X6 there if it were my fence. I also like...