Callbacks typically result from three things: poor design, faulty construction, or the actions of a clueless homeowner. While this is true everywhere, coastal environments are a whole lot less forgiving of such errors. Wind-driven rain and infrequent drying opportunities can drive moisture deep...
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Q: Can you skim-coat plaster over regular drywall? If not, is there a way to prep standard drywall so that a veneer plaster finish can be applied over it?
Strong framing and proper substrate details reduce the chances of cracking
Barrier Housewrap ~ Strong Hold ~ High-Performance Hips ~ Leakproof Liner ~Denailing Gun ~ The Next Cordless Revolution ~ Cedar Look-Alike ~ Modern Metal ~ PVC Trim Kits ~ New Cordless Nailer
Contributing R-3 to R-7.5 per inch, sheet foam is a handy way to boost a wall's total R-value without adding too much thickness. Rigid foam sheathing can also function well as a drainage plane to help keep wind-blown water out of walls, and it can act as both an air barrier and as a vapor barrier...
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Q. I'm renovating an uninsulated cape built with concrete-block walls. The plans call for gutting and reframing the interior and installing shingle siding on the exterior. Because the building needs to be insulated to comply with local (Long Island, N.Y.) code, I was considering adding a layer of...
Q: What's the best way to detail the joint between a deck-mounted tub that lacks an integral tiling flange and the tiled tub surround so that it won't leak?
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Dampproofing vs. waterproofing; sound control; concealed electrical splices; more
Look for an easy-to-load magazine and a trouble-free feed system.
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Q: After stripping the original siding from a 30-year-old house, I'm being asked to re-side with 4x8 and 4x9 fiber-cement panels designed to look like stucco. The installation instructions permit caulking at the vertical joints, but call for Z-flashing at
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Q: While building a new home in upstate New York, we installed R-15 kraft-faced insulation in the walls, but the local building inspector then made us install 4-mil poly over the kraft paper facing. We've been told by other builders and inspectors that this is not a good practice. Is this double...
Regardless of what the flood maps say today, the statistics show that flood zones will likely change during the service life of a home, making flooding an often inevitable consequence of coastal living. The answer, says building scientist Joseph Lstiburek, is to use drainable, dryable assemblies...
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GreenGuard helps reduce mold risk A new certification program designed to prevent mold can help developers avoid unwanted delays and keep deals from going sour.
Developers concerned about the cost of mold-related lawsuits have a new tool to help them manage some of the financial risk such litigation entails.
Providing an air space behind wood trim and siding is the best way to make them last.
Membrane deck flashing; quick brick shelf
For doors with applied casings, simple flashings made from self-healing membrane serve the same purpose as fins
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Q. Drip-Edge and Roofing Membranes When using peel-and-stick roofing membranes, does it matter if the membrane goes under rather than over the metal drip edge at the eaves? In my work as a home inspector, I've noticed that these membranes get installed bo
Building scientists Jeff and John Tooley have been a committed father-and-son team diagnosing homes for moisture and energy problems for decades. In their combined experience, they have come to understand that the difference between a home that works and one laden with moisture and energy problems...
While curb appeal still holds some cachet with buyers, it's what lies beneath a beautiful facade that really counts in the long run. Ted Cushman reports on the hard-won experience of Smokey Saduk, who has pioneered the use of low-maintenance synthetics backed by an impeccable weather barrier to...
Installing Ipe Decking - Latent Cooling Loads