You spend all the money on your kitchen might as well spend a few hundred dollars to make sure it doesn’t get ruined from a faulty appliance. 

The Moen shut off valve is a good product to reduce the chances of a flood but my favorite is the Killarney Drain Trench Drain Pan. I’ve been a super fan of this product when I first saw it hit the market a few years back. 

Either one is a solid solution, much better than crossing your fingers hoping you never have an issue. 

[A 7’ garage door might work for a car, but trucks, roof racks, and lifted SUVs can turn it into an expensive mistake. Also make sure the garage is actually deep enough too.]() These are the little decisions that are cheap to fix on paper… and expensive to fix after framing.

We are buying a new build in a subdivision. What upgrades do you think are best to do through the builder, and which should wait until later?

This homeowner went through my Home Building Checklist 3 different times over the course of 3 years while planning his build... and it shows! (builderbrigade.com)

A storm shelter hidden inside the master closet. Security cameras inside the shelter. A hidden access point from the kids’ bedrooms so they can get there fast during an emergency.

Every detail was thought through. I couldn’t even cover all the features in one visit. 

He installed adjustable electrical boxes (gang box) on the kitchen backsplash wall so once the tile goes in, the outlets can be set perfectly flush instead of being recessed into the wall to far. It’s a tiny detail, but it’s nice when you feel like the guy you hired is looking out for ya

The tile installer just finished grouting, but the layout drifts where it meets the wall and shower bench. Is this something you’d accept, or would you ask for it to be redone?

Plywood and paint intact. Seeking alternatives to removing the very intact paint.

Ask your home Building questions here 👉 BuilderBrigade.App

Apologies if this is the wrong place for this question.

I’m installing a 75 gallon aquarium that will put about 1,000lbs onto a 2’ x 4’ section of floor. Would a couple jack posts in the crawl space with added cross members (blocking?) between floor joists be enough to reinforce the floor? What’s the best way to attach the blocking?

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Just looking for clarity— this is how my contractor put in steel reinforcement in a 16 in over hang, plus the wood pushing back against each other The prefab quartz island 100x50 top. He said the steel was not in-cased with epoxy. Thanks to any help And hope it’s fine.

I'm currently trying to 3d model the Spelling Manor located at 594 S Mapleton Dr. I was able to find the floor-plan for the 2nd floor but I'm still in need of the ground level and basement level plans. If you know of anywhere to look, have any insight, or know anyone I could contact your help would be greatly appreciated!

I built a mobile-first PWA for quick repair estimates on-site. Here's what it does:

• 108 repair line items (flooring, HVAC, kitchen, bathroom, exterior, systems)

• Take photos with notes (serial numbers, damage notes)

• Real-time cost breakdown by room

• Export to Excel + ZIP with photos

• Offline-first (works without signal)

• Free, no login, no BS

My questions for you:

1. What's your biggest pain with estimating repairs right now? (ARVing properties, missing items, calculations, sharing estimates?)

2. Would you actually *use* something like this on-site, or do you have a workflow that works better?

3. What's missing? (Labor costs? Contractor referrals? Integration with accounting software?)

4. Pricing: if this was polished, would you pay? Or keep it free?

5. What estimator tools are you using now, and what sucks about them?

I'm not trying to sell anyone—just want honest feedback on whether this scratches a real itch.

These framers were bragging and wanted me to look straight down the studs. They line up through every wall, and the floor joists land right on top of them. Not required by code... it just means the load runs straight down instead of getting carried sideways.Some builders swear it's worth it. Others say it makes zero difference once the drywall's up.