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Q: Can the roots of a tree actually dry out the soil beneath a foundation enough to cause the concrete to crack?
A roundup of tools and materials found on the floor at JLC Live in Providence, R.I .
Q: The manufacturer of the glass tile my client chose for her shower recommends that it be installed with modified thinset mortar. But Schluter, maker of the Kerdi waterproofing membrane I typically use, specifies unmodified thinset mortar for both installing its membrane and setting tile. Does...
Airtight construction and a thick layer of exterior foam save energy and reduce the risk of rot and mold.
Leak-free chimney; stainless steel screws and copper; subslab vapor-barrier details; credit card warning
All-in-one flashing panel; spray-foam insulation; shower seat; lightweight steel beams; grass driveway mats; push-fit fittings; more
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Q: Is there a way to dampen the sound of a PVC waste pipe, other than tearing out the plastic and installing cast iron?
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Q: Using a heat gun is an approved method for removing cured epoxy grout from tiles and fixtures [see Q&A, 5/08]. But can the same technique be used when the tile has been installed over Schluter’s Kerdi waterproofing membrane, or would the heat damage the membrane?
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Q: I built a lot of homes in upstate New York in the 1980s using 2x6 studs, fiberglass batts, and a poly vapor retarder for the shell. Given the rising cost of heating and cooling, the owners are asking about energy upgrades to their walls. I'd like to suggest adding 1 or 2 inches of rigid foam on...
A properly flashed water-resistant drainage plane is essential when installing stone veneer over a wood-framed wall.
Despite the inherent strength of brick, a brick veneer wall is not invulnerable during a storm. If the wind blows hard enough, poorly secured brick veneer can literally crumble. And because bricks and mortar are porous, they can transmit moisture to the main wall if that wall has not been properly...
A kitchen bump-out provided the perfect opportunity for a small terrace off the master bedroom.
With nowhere to go but down, this basement addition carves out extra living space from within the home’s existing footprint.
A successful job starts with a moisture test.
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Q. When fastening ZIP System sheathing to wall and roof framing with our pneumatic nailers, we've found that it's difficult to keep nail heads from penetrating the applied protective barrier on the face of the panels. Won't these holes compromise the moisture barrier's integrity and lead to...
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Q: Are precast concrete foundation walls subject to the same dampproofing or waterproofing requirements as cast-in-place and block foundations? I've heard that because these walls are made of a high-strength concrete that's virtually nonporous and impervious to water, they don't require extra...
Understanding energy consumption and moisture movement in the homes we build is hard enough; rampant half-truths and misconceptions only make it harder.
Housewrap; asphalt roofing
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Q: I'm building a house in North Carolina, which has a mixed-humid climate (climate zone 3). My local building inspector - backed up by his boss - requires a polyethylene vapor retarder on the interior side of cellulose-insulated walls. My insulation contractor says that interior polyethylene is...
How to reduce the risk of mold claims