A properly flashed water-resistant drainage plane is essential when installing stone veneer over a wood-framed wall.
A methodical approach and modern materials give new life to a time-honored architectural element.
Laminating a curved stair rail takes sturdy forms and a lot of clamps.
An engineered schedule of epoxied rebar pins reinforces the joints.
Modular designers have shown they can provide upscale packages, but are the homes up to the challenges of coastal construction?
Adjustable rods and shelving simplify layout and construction.
To ensure a long-lasting installation, use a membrane and a movement joint.
Installing insulation and ventilation under a new roof can solve heat-loss problems and prevent ice dams.
Building this elaborate entry porch off-site saved valuable time in the schedule.
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With careful preparation, this treatment gives a custom touch to a plain-Jane slab.
Traditional methods and materials prevent leaks for the life of the structure.
A deft reworking of existing space produces an expansive hub for cooking and entertainment.
Using simple techniques and specialized products, you can block out even live rock ’n ’roll.
Using a kit with kiln-dried logs reduces shrinkage and results in a tighter shell.
Specialized tools make for cleaner air and a healthier crew.
Cantilevering the floor and using the existing roof overhang kept costs down.
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.
Now is a good time to refine your green strategy in a way that guarantees profit.
You already flash around doors and windows; you should be flashing under them, too.
Use PVC trim to create a durable version of this classic cornice.
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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: We know that compact fluorescents deliver energy savings, but how about dimmer switches? The assumption is that homeowners will use them to turn down lights to save money — but do they actually save energy?
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Q: We’d like to start building basements with precast concrete panels, but we’ve been running into resistance from local code officials. Are basement windows required when a house is built with a full foundation?
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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...
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Q: I've completed a couple of projects with cellular PVC trim boards, and in both of them wide gaps have opened up in the joints even though we used both glue and nails during installation. Is there a way to prevent these gaps from occurring?
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Q: Recently I discovered that my faithful Kreg pocket-hole jig somehow got "lost" on my last job site. I want to replace it. Is upgrading to the Foreman pocket-hole cutter worthwhile, or should I just stick with the same jig?
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Q: I'm planning an addition for a client who wants to turn a 22-foot-high wall into a climbing wall. He would like this wall to closely resemble stone, but he doesn't want it to cost as much as natural stone. I've poured a lot of flat concrete, but I have never built something like this - so I...
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Q: On a recent project, several hundred screw pops showed up on the primed walls and ceilings. About half the boards in the house had to be rescrewed and patched, and all the drywall had to be reprimed. Although it was raining when the drywall was stocked, my drywaller says he did not use any of...
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Q. Plans for a freestanding deck call for new piers about 2 feet from the house foundation. Is it necessary to dig down to the bottom of the house's footing to reach undisturbed soil, or would the dirt around the foundation of a 60-year-old house be compacted enough to be con sidered undisturbed -...
Q. My clients have a garage with a conventionally framed 4/12 roof that they want to convert to living space. They like the idea of a vaulted ceiling but not the expense of the new structural ridge it would require. As a compromise, can I replace the existing ceiling joists with rafter ties?
Q. My client's metal fireplace is supplied by a makeup air system with a built-in circulation fan. This fan - which plugs into an accessible outlet - is triggered by a heat sensor in the fireplace. While effective, it's also very loud. To reduce the noise, I'd like to replace the fan's on/off...
Q: What's the best way to frame outside corners?
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Q: Does the addition of fibers eliminate the need for steel in a concrete-slab basement floor?
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Q: I know that knob-and-tube wiring can't be covered with insulation, but what about BX cable and joist-mounted junction boxes? Are there any restrictions on blowing cellulose insulation into an attic and burying the cable and junction boxes?
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Q: For one of our projects, we need to make a solid wood attachment to a glulam beam that seems to have a special finish on it. Should we use a particular type of glue to make the connection?
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Q: No-hub rubber couplings with band clamps on the ends are handy for making all sorts of plumbing connections, but are there limitations on where they can be used?
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Q: My painting subcontractor is recommending Thermo-Tek, a paint the manufacturer says is a radiant barrier. What can you tell me about products like this one or similar coatings made with something called ceramic microspheres that claim to have thermal characteristics and promise significant...
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Q: A design we're bidding on has several peeled cedar logs that function as both architectural and structural elements. Are there any rules of thumb for determining their strength so that they can be safely used without redundant grade-stamp framing - and so they meet the approval of a building...
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Q: When building a super-insulated house, one of the ways to increase insulation levels in the wall assembly is to increase the thickness of the wall. But instead of using double-wall framing, would it be okay to frame walls with I-joists?
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Q. In an older house wired with BX cable, can the original two-prong outlets be upgraded to three-prong grounded outlets, provided they're properly bonded to the original metallic boxes?
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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. After working for several years as an employee, I recently headed out on my own and began shopping around for liability insurance. Most policies offer "occurrence" coverage, but one company offers a "claims made" policy that provides similar coverage for less money. What's the difference between...
If several thousand dollars for an IR camera isn't in this year's tool budget, consider an infrared thermometer like the Fluke 566.
For my money, small telescopic mirrors are among the most useful inspection tools out there.
One of the most important diagnostic tools in the building-forensics toolbox is an infrared camera.
Still using that curly steel fish tape? Try the sectional fiberglass rods now favored by electricians and telecom contractors.
Like many tradespeople, I'd always lusted for a shiny new work truck with utility-bed locking boxes.
There are few things more satisfying than scribing a piece of trim and having it fit perfectly on the first try. Porter-Cable's 371 belt sander should make such precision scribing a lot easier.
If you don't have the right tools, fishing wires can be the ultimate exercise in frustration.
There's a lot to like about Milwaukee's newest compact cordless drill, model 2601-22.
DeWalt says its new 18-volt nanophosphate lithium-ion batteries can endure 2,000 charging cycles.
A conventional-sized cordless drill is a bit much for tasks like installing cabinet doors and electrical devices; a better option would be a cordless screwdriver such as Metabo's palm-sized PowerGrip II.
Bug holes and honeycombing in your concrete work compromise strength and can lead to questions from inspectors.
Trade professionals often talk about "the right tool for the job." When it comes to cutting and bending rebar, Rod Chomper's hydraulically operated RCBE-6 is that tool.
Pulling out steel-form stakes isn't anyone's idea of fun, but a neat tool promises to make the job a little easier.