About the author

Todd Fratzel

I'm full time builder for a large construction company in New Hampshire. I run their design-build division that specializes in custom homes, commercial design-build projects and sub-divisions. I'm also a licensed civil and structural engineer with extensive experience in civil and structural design and home construction. My hope is that I can share my experience in the home construction, home improvement and home renovation profession with other builders and home owners. I'm also the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Tool Box Buzz. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or you'd like to inquire about advertising on this site.

Lawn Aerating Tips

By Todd Fratzel on Landscaping, Lawn Care

Lawn Aerating I’ve written several posts on aerating your lawn and the benefits it provides to healthy growing grass including one with core aeration tips. I’ve also written several posts about the John Deere Plug Aerator I bought to aerate my lawn. Now that I’ve had some time to work with the equipment I wanted…

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Cooking Safety On Decks

By Todd Fratzel on Decks & Porches, Safety

Every year dozens of homes are destroyed by fires that start while cooking on decks. After reading a friends blog the other day about a grease fire they had on their grill I thought I’d take the time to remind folks of the dangers that cooking on decks can pose. Grilling on your deck can…

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Building Material Costs Are Still Rising

By Todd Fratzel on Home Improvement Cost Savings

You would think that the slow down around the Country in the building industry would suggest that building material costs should be coming down. Well you would be wrong with that assumption. Today I read an interesting article, Builder’s ‘Dumbfounded’ By Continuing Cost Increases, that reveals a significant increase in building material costs this year.…

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Sheathing Interior Garage Walls With Plywood (Updated)

By Todd Fratzel on Garages, Insulation

Sheathing the interior garage walls with plywood is a great alternative to drywall. Let’s face it, garages take some abuse and when I see drywall inside the garage I just cringe. Drywall doesn’t do well when it get’s wet, it certainly won’t do well when you slam something against it and it’s a real pain…

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Recommended Hardwood Floor Installation Tools

By Todd Fratzel on Flooring, Power Tools

DIY Floor Installation Tools Installing hardwood floors is a great DIY project that will add value to your home and save you money at the same time. Most flooring sub-contractors get between $2 and $6 per square foot to install hardwood flooring. That’s just the labor cost not including the cost of the actual wood…

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How To Buy A Table Saw

By Todd Fratzel on Power Tools

How To Buy Table Saws If you don’t own a table saw then go out and buy a table saw! I can’t think of one tool in my workshop that is more important than the table saw. Having said that it’s important to buy a table saw that has all the features you need and…

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John Deere 40-Inch Plug Aerator Review

By Todd Fratzel on Landscaping, Product Reviews

John Deere Plug Aerator – 40″ Tow Behind Model I recently purchased a John Deere 40-Inch Plug Aerator to tow behind my John Deere X300 riding mower. Lawn Core Aeration is an important lawn care process which removes small plugs of grass, roots and soil. By removing the small plugs oxygen, water and nutrients are…

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Mosquito Fogger Review

By Todd Fratzel on Power Tools, Product Reviews

I was sent a mosquito fogger to use and write a review on. With all the rain we’ve had this summer there is still a pretty good crop of mosquitoes flying around our property. So I decided to give this piece of equipment a try and see how it works. The product that I’m reviewing…

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