JLC Online

Building a Ceiling Dome

Traditional plaster finishes off this simple, elegant bit of framing.
New Rules for Lead-Safe Remodeling

If you plan to work on pre-1978 houses, you’ll need certification by April 2010.
Installing Exterior Insulation in Cold Climates

Airtight construction and a thick layer of exterior foam save energy and reduce the risk of rot and mold.
Restoring an Old Barn

Carefully shoring the entire structure allowed it to be repaired one section at a time.

Letters

Missing lintel; residential sprinklers; solar on site; epoxy warning; scraper problem; more

In the News

Energy Star adopts tougher window standards; Entran II settlement winds down; OSHA trainer charged with selling fake certificates; more

Q&A: Fixing Hairline Stucco Cracks

Q: The stucco siding on my client's recently remodeled home has developed some small cracks. My stucco sub wants to patch them with plastic stucco cement and then prime the walls with latex mortar primer, but I'm afraid the problem will resurface. Is there a better way to fix hairline cracks?
Q&A: Squirrels and Cedar Siding

Q: We installed untreated cedar shingles on the exterior walls of a vacation home in central Maryland. Now the owners are complaining that squirrels are eating the new siding. And the squirrels really are eating it - they're not just trying to get inside the house. Is there anything we can apply to...
Q&A: Deep Traps

Q: My client's kitchen sink has a shallow 6-inch-deep bowl, and the drain connection is located in the wall rather than the floor. She would like to replace the sink with one that has a much deeper bowl, but that will place the bottom of the bowl at nearly the same level as the drain opening. Is it...

On the Job

Supporting an overhanging counter; quick tray ceiling; upside-down beam

Products

Sheathing panels; wood countertops; closet light; extra-thick PVC trim boards; corded housewrap; more

Power Tank CO2 System

As the owner of a company that does installations for a lumberyard, I do a lot of small to medium-sized finish jobs.

Ridgid R250AF18 Finish Nailer

Ridgid's new R250AF18 15-gauge finish nailer runs on a compact 18-volt lithium ion battery pack and weighs 2 pounds less than the competition, says Ridgid.
Knaack PowerCrew Power Supply

Now you can keep battery chargers or a heater running overnight without pinching an extension cord under the lid of your crew box.
Rapid Pro Mfg. Twist-n-Seal Caulk Tube Plugs

Tired of trying — and failing — to seal the ends of your half-used caulk tubes with tape or a nail?
Stanley-Bostitch CPACK300 Combination Kit

Bostitch's CPACK300 combination kit packages three finish tools with a 6-gallon oil-free pancake compressor and a hose.
Hitachi Nailers and Staplers

Hitachi has entered the floor-fastening market with five new nailers and staplers.
Tajima Tool Chalk-Rite Jam-Free CR301JF

Tajima's Chalk-Rite Jam-Free CR301JF holds 3 1/2 ounces of chalk — enough to snap 689 feet of lines, says the maker.
Landon Innovations LegUp Lifter

Wrestling a thick sheet of MDF onto a table saw by yourself can be a real feat, but attaching a LegUp pivoting sheet-goods lifter to your saw table or fence rail can help.
Tiger Claw Semi-Automatic Hidden Deck Fastener Installation Gun

Using hidden deck-fastening hardware makes for a neater-looking composite deck but takes longer than using face-installed screws.