Recent content by HarryMonkey

No matter where I build, I would use the Simpson Strong-ties (or similar) to anchor the wood to the concrete and at least soak the bottom of the wooden posts in a solution of diesel oil and the Copper anti-termite solution on any piece that touches dirt or concrete---I use a metal barrel and...

Best hilly driveway I ever had was in the hills out behind Paso Robles, CA. Not a high rainfall area so that's a consideration. The driveway I'm referring to was 6 inches of crushed white shale. Once it got wet and driven on, it stayed put for years and needed only occasional touching up with...

Hope this isn't too arrogant-sounding, not my intention. I can't help but reply that I would never use one of the cheap no-touch detectors to prove a circuit dead. Used to prove it hot, OK. I confess I'm spooky enough to test my multimeter or Wiggins on a known hot circuit before I do a...

As a retired Journeyman Electrician, I won't make any judgements from reading emails---too easy to make an assumption and find out later it was wrong. What I usually do is to advise people to buy and read "Wiring Simplified" by Richter---I think it's still available at Home Depot and others...

Maybe hire a construction-type dirt-moving outfit. They can come in with the equipment to smooth dirt out (like a skiploader) and then run a compactor with the "sheepsfoot" or smooth rollers to compact it down for real. Then it would probably require a light discing and planting with grass or...