Q: We are working on a house with water in the basement. The homeowner got a bid... More
Writing a good set of specs is just as important as drawing the plans. Here’s how to organize your specs and what to include in them. More
Q: I’m sealing an exterior wood door. What is the best finish to use? More
Q: We are working on an old house that has settled. The house must be jacked up so the floor can be leveled. But this will leave gaps between the joists and sill plates, or between the sill plates and the foundation. Should we raise the sill plates to the joists and shim between the sill and the foundation, or is it necessary to raise the foundation by grouting some kind of extension in place? More
Q: We are repairing an oak strip floor. Several boards obviously need to be replaced because of visible termite damage. Is there some way to evaluate the unseen damage to the rest of the floor? More
Q: What is the maximum joist spacing for ceiling drywall? Does it matter if the panels are oriented parallel or perpendicular to the joists? More
Q: Can 6x6 pressure-treated deck posts be sunk into the ground or should they be supported on concrete piers? More
Q: There are ghost lines of the wall studs on siding that is coated with a semi-transparent stain. What might be causing this? More
Q: We need to level a concrete floor. Is there a way to grind or pulverize the old slab? Are there any other options? More
Q: Can I use rigid foam panels sandwiched between subfloor and finish floor to insulate over a crawlspace? More
