There is an epoxy we have used in the past but only to repair unusual trim pieces that we couldn't make. I forget the name of it but it's a 2-part epoxy that I say in This Old House one time. Mostly we have the tools and ability to remake most trim pieces to match the old...like peace, we do alot of work on older homes in and around Atlanta. I grew up in a house from the 1700s and learned the trade working on older homes.

Many homeowners simply get talked into doing whatever the "contractor" wants to do...which is usually whatever is best for his pocket. The other problem in our market is that the "contractor" was often something else not long ago and may not have a clue about how to do the work you hired him to do.

Pat - no a silly question - we do often use SEASONED pressure treated wood (we've allowed it to dry out for at least 6 months) for replacing thresholds or even trim in areas that stay damp. Some of our gorgeous house designs created maintenance nightmares for us. We prime & back-prime it with an oil-based primer and have had good results.

Theresa D - if you can be patient....we're in Gwinnett all the time....send me an address and we'll fix your problem at no charge. Where we can, we've started doing that for Hometalk clients....ticks me off that you paid in full and got ripped off...it just gives a bad name to our trade. Just be a patient....we're busy...I have one Hometalker who's been waiting about a month to get me on a roof...but it's worth the wait I think!

Never pay a contractor in full until the job is 100% complete. Many of us will take deposits when the job is sold....with draws during the project if it is a larger one but most good contractors allow for the client to withold 5 or 10% from final payment until an agreed upon punchlist, if any, is completed. HandyANDY has it written into our contract that way and I'm sure Peace & Exovations do a similar thing.

When working on a structural wall, I do use jacks of one sort or another to support or lift back up again.