NEW HOME IMPROVEMENT COLUMN DEBUTS

Today the Southeast Missourian launches a new home improvement column. "Ask the Builder" will run each Wednesday.

Author Tim Carter's nationally syndicated column runs in nearly 100 newspapers across the country, both large and small. This marks his first newspaper in Missouri.

Carter's column is written in a question-and-answer format with readers. Topics cover a wide range: appliances, cabinets, dry wall, plaster, fireplaces, heating, air conditioning, masonry, plumbing, caulks, doors, electric lighting, flooring, insulation, paints, stains, sealers, roofing, skylights, tools, siding, software, windows and home technology.

The Cincinnati resident began fixing up old houses after college graduation. In addition to rehabilitating houses, he did contract work for other homeowners and eventually began to build custom homes.

"I had always wanted to write a book about the pitfalls of building and remodeling," he said. That idea grew into the syndicated column, which began Oct. 2, 1993.

"I've done everything I've written about," he said. "I'm a licensed master plumber and master carpenter."

Carter receives ribbing about having the same first name as "Tim the tool man" on Home Improvement. But he takes it in stride.

His newspaper column is geared for both women and men.

"I've found that women make 75 percent of all decisions in the building and remodeling process, and 95 percent of all purchasing decisions," he said.

In 1993, Carter was selected as one of the top 50 remodelers in the United States by Remodeling magazine.

He also has a popular Web site, where an archive of his columns can be found by subject. It is located at www.askthebuilder.com

Carter hosts a weekly radio program in Cincinnati and is in the processing of syndicating that show as well. He'll tape the first radio show for syndication in Chicago on Monday.