Fences & Retaining Walls

• Products

  Quick hanger for heavy loads; vent-boot for the color conscious; solar-activated attic fan; spray-on roof patch; foundation crack repair kit; mortarless retaining wall; clear cement caulk; sound-reducing underlayment; premolded skylight curb flashing; more

   

• Q&A: Foundation Trench Near Concrete Driveway

  Q: Our remodeling company has contracted to do a room addition that will be elevated over an existing concrete driveway. We will need to install a concrete footing at the edge of the existing driveway slab. I’m worried that when we excavate for the footing, the fill under the slab will cave into...

   

• Deck Railing Options (Subscriber content)

  Plastic, wood-composite, and metal railing systems simplify installation and reduce maintenance while giving your clients the look they want.

   

• Practical Foundation Waterproofing (Subscriber content)

  Combined with a working drain, this new type of plastic membrane keeps groundwater out of the foundation while allowing moisture in the concrete to evaporate to the outside. Here’s how it’s installed.

   

• Toolbox: Pneumatic Concrete Nailer (Subscriber content)

  Hitachi pneumatic concrete nailer

   

• Prefab Shear Walls (Subscriber content)

  If the homes you’re building require tedious shear nailing and truckloads of metal connectors to protect against high wind or earthquake, you may want to consider these premanufactured panels. By saving time, they may save you money on your next engineered job.

   

• Products

  Rotting wood repair kit, removable concrete anchor, neck strap for safety glasses, hand cleaner towels, new slide dimmer switch, tough polycarbonate glazing panels

   

• Framing Layout Rules of Thumb

  A California framer tells how to translate the information on the blueprints into a fast, accurate layout of walls and headers.

   

• Making Paint Stick to Wood Siding & Trim (Subscriber content)

  Premature paint failure is a common problem — but it doesn’t have to be. One of the nation’s foremost experts on paint explains how to choose and apply finishes on various types of wood siding to reduce your chances of callbacks.

   

• Spray-Applied Foundation Waterproofing (Subscriber content)

  One way to ensure a dry basement is to coat the foundation with a waterproof membrane. We look at the available options and explain how to prepare for and apply them properly.