JLC Online

Building a Tight House

A double stud wall allows for plenty of cellulose insulation and reduces thermal bridging.
Condensing Storage Water Heaters

These heaters are up to 96 percent efficient and typically easier to retrofit than tankless models .
Custom Door Trim On an MDF Budget

You can mill five sets of casing from a single sheet.

Letters

Fire-sprinkler costs reconsidered; epoxy for wood rot; credit-card commiseration; a vote for country of origin

In the News

Pennsylvania house is first recipient of new green standard’s top rating; Pulte buys Centex; sprinkler battle continues at state level; more

Q&A: Attaching Deck Ledgers to I-Joist Cantilevers

Q: When I-joists are cantilevered over the foundation wall rather than directly supported at the sill plate, can a deck ledger be safely attached to the engineered rim joist?
Q&A: Glass Tile and Kerdi Membranes

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...
Q&A: Mudsills and Out-of-Level Foundations

Q: Recently we contracted to do a house with precast foundation walls that were set out of level - up to 3/4 inch over 30 feet, in some places. What's the best way to shim and air-seal the mudsill?

Products

Wall-mounted heaters; quick disconnect; screws for exotic hardwoods; foil sheathing; flexible ducts; rot-resistant pine; more

Bosch and Rockwell Multi-Tools

It used to be that if you wanted a multi-tool — an oscillating sander/cutter — you had to buy one of Fein's MultiMasters.
Milwaukee 6477-20 Wormdrive Saw

None of my power tools gets used more than my wormdrive saw.

Stiletto Multifunctional Flat and Glazer's Bars

Stiletto's six new titanium pry bars weigh 45 percent less than equivalent-sized steel bars, says the company.
Bucket Boss Bucket Seat Pro

The Bucket Seat Pro from Bucket Boss protects your bucket's contents, provides a convenient place to sit, and — with its two removable dividers — serves as a four- or six-compartment parts organizer.
Master Lock Truck Bed U-Lock Anchors

Leaving valuable tools and equipment in the back of your pickup — even for a quick run into the store — can be risky, but many truck beds don't have a place you can attach a lock to.
Milwaukee 2451-22 Cordless Impact Wrench

Most cordless impact wrenches have 1/2-inch anvils for large sockets and deliver bolt-snapping torque that can overwhelm smaller tasks.
Jackson Professional Tools Total Control Elite Demolition Hammer

Jackson's Total Control Elite Demolition Hammer is a sledgehammer with a difference: One of the striking faces tapers down to about 3/8 inch thick for rough prying — or for concentrating the striking force along a line to break concrete more easily.
PDY Systems Lift-n-Lock Organizer

Small items can be difficult to keep isolated in a portable parts box.
Stanley Hand Planes

Stanley has redesigned some of its most popular hand planes.