That Tuesday in March when a simple magnet trick saved me from a huge repair bill.
I found a cracked flue tile in a 1950s house by running a strong magnet over the outside of the chimney, which stuck right where the liner was broken, a trick my mentor in Boise taught me that saved the homeowner about $2,000 in hidden damage.
That magnet trick is pure gold. Used the same method on a brick wall last fall to find the old steel nailing strips behind the plaster before drilling. Saved myself from hitting a pipe for sure. My old boss called it "seeing through walls for five bucks." Those little field tricks from mentors are the best.
Yeah that trick saved my drywall last week... was hanging a shelf and the magnet stuck hard about two inches left of where I was about to drill. Found a stud finder doesn't always pick up on those old metal lathe strips. My dad showed me that one years ago, just a cheap fridge magnet. Those simple fixes are always the best.