Q.What is the purpose of tar-papering a roof other than to keep water out until the shingles are laid down? It seems that if water does get past the shingles that the tar paper, having all of those staple and nail holes, would do little to keep the water out.
Q. I've been a builder for more than 20 years and have come across my first serious mold problem ? in my own home in Maine. The house was for sale and under contract pending a building inspection. The inspection revealed mold growth on one entire underside of the roof sheathing (the other side was not affected). The home has adequate soffit-to-ridge ventilation, and no signs of bath ventilation failure or roof leaks. However, there is a lake 75 feet away to the north, on the affected side. Could this be the cause? Can I remove the mold myself?
Q. The building codes don't allow you to rip graded lumber to a narrower width (to make a 2x6 and a 2x4 out of a 2x10, for example). But what about ripping LVL?
Q. I'm doing a basement remodel and am thinking of finishing the block foundation walls by painting the masonry with Drylok, then adhering 4-mil poly over that. Next, I plan to fur the walls with Z-studs, put 2 inches of foil-faced polyiso board between t
Q. Is there any way to can keep mice out of insulation? I am working on a remote cabin in southern Illinois, and the mice seem to come and go at will. I'm getting ready to insulate another room and I don't want to provide new places for the rodents to nes
