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And West Egg ... installs retaining walls? Well, kind of. The water in the lake the I live on has been drawn down this Fall to address "curly leaf turions and undesirable rough fish". I took this opportunity to use some of the exposed rocks in the lake and build a retaining wall on our lake frontage. Tennessee Ernie Ford's "16 tons" came to mind while I was working. I'm not quite as good as the rock whisperer that did an amazing job in our backyard but my raw materials were free. No need to visit the gym today, this was backbreaking work ... happy that I did my part to help with soil erosion. I'm going to go on record and say this was my last retaining wall made of stone.

My wife and I just got back from an extended vacation this past weekend and I started going through my mail on Monday. An e-mail from MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (MDH) informed me that my license for radon measurement is coming due at the end of the year. This prompted me to review the requirements for annual CEUs. I've taken 7 out of the 8 hours of training needed!! I'm in good shape. The state of Minnesota has very rigorous licensing requirements and I remember the initial training and tests that I needed to take and pass. It was no easy feat for me. There are only ~350 licensed radon measurement professionals in MN. Safety was always a focus of mine during my 40 years in corporate America. I have checked the radon levels in my home to ensure the safety and health of my family and I encourage you to do the same. There is a great deal of information to help the homeowner learn more about radon at the MDH website. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/radon/index.html

Today's blog is about asphalt driveways. As promised at the beginning of the summer I've now finished a six part series with great questions to ask contractors that may be working on the following projects at your house: June 28 Exterior Painting July 11 Re-roofing July 24 Seamless gutters August 3 Ceramic Tile Floor August 19 Concrete Driveway September 5 Asphalt Driveway Fly-by-night contractors are common in the asphalt industry, but there are ways to avoid them. First, don’t buy from door-knockers—reputable contractors seldom resort to this technique to get jobs. Then ask your contractor the following questions to get a long-lasting driveway and the most bang from your buck:

A concrete driveway is a big investment that will last a long time if it’s done right. But choose your contractor carefully. Poorly installed concrete can crack, buckle and heave, leaving you wishing you’d spent a little extra up front for a first-class job. Here's some questions to ask your contractor before starting.

Properly installed tile floors should last decades. But poorly installed floors will start to crack or fall apart in a matter of years, if not months. Here are some questions to ask your tile contractor to ensure a long-lasting job.

“Seamless aluminum” gutters are the most common contractor-installed gutters. The quality of these installations can vary widely, so hire a contractor who’s been in business for several years and can show you examples of past work. Then ask these questions to be certain you’re getting the best-quality job.

When it’s time to reroof, it pays to make sure the materials and workmanship are first rate. A poorly installed roof can cost you a small fortune if it leaks and fails to protect the structure below. When you get bids from contractors, be sure they’re licensed, bonded and insured and can provide references from past customers. I've included questions to ask your contractor and reference information from the state of MN.

Even if you’re an avid DIYer, you’ll eventually need a job done that’s just too big or complex to tackle by yourself. That’s when you hire a contractor. But how do you know you’re getting the best deal? Well, first, make sure you follow all the time-honored advice like asking friends and family to recommend a contractor, making sure you hire someone you’re comfortable with, and verifying that the contractor has been in business for a while and has liability and worker’s compensation insurance. Then when you meet with your contractors to discuss the job, you should ask these questions to be confident that you’re getting the most for your remodeling dollar. This is a new six part series for the summer, starting out with Exterior Painting. Painting the outside of a house is a big and often expensive job. The last thing you want is to face the project again in a few years when poorly applied paint starts to flake and peel. You can greatly improve the odds of getting a job that lasts 8 to 10 years by asking these questions before you hire a painter. Read the entire article below:

If you had a home inspection on an older home, your home inspector most likely suggested having a sewer scope inspection completed. The value of a sewer scope is priceless, I mean who wants to wake up and can’t flush the toilet or have some sewage back up into their home? I cringe at the thought of finding something like that in my home and I see plenty of things as an inspector so how do you think you would feel? So let’s jump into it this guide discussing sewer scope inspections. Read entire article below:

And West Egg ... installs egress windows? Well kind of. The 50 year old me would have dug out and hauled the dirt to install the window well, cut the CMU, framed the opening with treated lumber, and installed the window. The 65 year old me wrote a check. I did complete all the interior finish work. That amounted to rough framing the opening, insulating, sheet rocking, building & installing the new 12" wide jamb, and of course the window trim. I painted the wall and window trim to match existing. Very pleased with the results. We now have a legal (and safer) bedroom in our lower level. For more information on what the MN requirements are for a bedroom read the following article:

Have you ever experienced the annoyance of a leaky faucet? Not only can it be irritating to listen to that constant drip-drip-drip, but it can also waste a significant amount of water over time. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to fix a leaky faucet, helping you save water and money in the process. Read the entire article below:

And West Egg .... builds and installs docks. I just finished this simple 4' x 8' Tommy Dock from Home Depot for a great neighbor down the street. Sturdy aluminum frame with two 4' x 4' composite decking inserts made this a little easier for one person to transport down to the lake and install. This dock will now allow their family access to the lake for their canoes and kayaks. Happy paddling.