"Are you really the one who responds on your Message Center?"

Yes, it’s really me who answers all of your questions.

"Can Carter come to my house?" or "How do the locations get chosen?"
We get a lot of messages from everywhere. It’s up to me and the producers to decide on what is the best possible job to take. Trust me, I want to help everyone who writes in. Maybe at some point we will, so be patient. For now, just submit your requests to the email address, carter@highnoontv.com.

"On your shows, do you have any planning input?"
I do the planning with the help from designers.

"I’d love to contribute to your charity, “Carter’s Kids”. How do I get involved?"
You can send donations and general inquiries to:
Carter’s Kids
2629 Manhattan Ave., PMB 283
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
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"Do you have any plans to expand ‘Carter’s Kids’ to other cities across the U.S.?"
Right now we’re focusing on California but we hope to expand soon.

Sent by shelleyo on December 28, 2007. "Hi, Car(pen)ter, ;) My son went to Old St. Augustine, FL and saw how the carpenters built furniture 150 years ago. He was so taken with it, he asked for a draw knife for Christmas. I got it for him, but now what can he do? He's nine years old, do you have any tips for kids who might be interested in building with wood? I know he sounds young, but he is very sharp. I'm not really sure what he can make, without a carpenter's bench from the 1800's, with this thing. LOL. Love the show. Shelley, Orlando, FL"
Hey Shelley! Make sure he's careful with that knife. They can be pretty sharp and dangerous too. Draw knives work great for carving and we use them all the time. I have a pretty good feeling that if he's using it now he won’t have any problem making new things!

"Where do you get your tool trailer?"
Here’s the link: www.ToolTrailer.com. They got great mobile workshops there.
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"I need to buy tools and I don’t have much to spend. What are the fundamental tools that I need for work around the house?"
Start off with buying these fundamental tools: tape measure, hammer, nails and a framing kit. Getting a framing kit is great especially if you hang a lot of pictures. The next level of tools to get would be sets of different wrenches or maybe screwdrivers.

"What are some basic power tools everyone should have?"
Get a power drill. Of course you can use it as a drill, but with the right extensions, it can be used as a power screwdriver.
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"What’s the difference between a framing nailer and a finishing nailer?"
The finish nailer fires tiny nails (usually 16 or 18 gauge) into your material. A framing nailer fires a much larger nail that will hold your house together for a substantial amount of time.

Sent by cinevic89 on December 14, 2007. "Hello Carter: What would you recommend for my yard? Here's my dilemma. I have two dogs, so I think sod is not good because they will ruin it, more importantly it wastes a lot of water. However, using any type of stone I'm afraid will hurt their paws. I was thinking concrete, but it is too expensive and not very pretty. Do you know of a good green solution that will work with my doggies? I was thinking river rocks but I don't know if that's even possible. Thank you for your time Carter. Victor"
In my backyard, I have a hard landscape or “hardscape” That would be great for a dog. I used gravel for the base and to add color, I placed plants that are native to the area. If you don't want to go that route, add in pavers or flagstone for a nice path for your dog.

Sent by devilina on December 30, 2007. "Do you have any low cost tips you can share with me on a way that I can spruce up a very dated kitchen with minimal storage space?"
I like to replace cabinet doors, but if that’s too much, just change the hardware or maybe repaint everything. Those are little changes that can go a long way.
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"How do I keep a cold room warm"
The primary sources of heat loss are windows and vents. Check if your windows are triple or at least double paned. Make sure you check your seals. Old seals can deteriorate so change them if you need to. This is also important: You may also want to check your insulation and doors for drafts. You can buy an infrared gun for about $40, it can help you detect cold spots.

"Are there any green products you recommend for cleaning the kitchen and the bathroom?"
Shaklee! They’ve been around for years and they make great products which I use religiously!

"What should I consider when taking out a room wall?"
The first concern is safety. Make sure the wall is not a load-bearing structure. Also make sure you won't hit any electrical, plumbing, or ventilation systems. If any of those are detected, you'll need to make plans to reroute them. If everything is clear, taking out a wall can be great and it does create more space. Just remember that if you ever sell your home you may lose some potential buyers because you've lost a room.

"Can you give me some tips on conserving energy?"
Check out my Conserve page to keep your home Red, Hot and Green.

"When I close my door, it rubs on the top of the door jam. I also notice a crack on the top of the door frame. What could it mean?"
This could mean the house is shifting. Homes can shift forever. There may be another issue. The framework around the door might not be that strong. Humidity can also cause the door to swell and crack.