JLC Classic
Foundation Footing Fundamentals
Concrete expert Brent Anderson explains the code rules and structural issues surrounding foundation footings. Included are discussions of when and where to place rebar and what to do if a footing is poured slightly out of place. Read more
Creating the job of “customer liaison” helped one remodeling business keep clients happy from the beginning to the end of a project. Here’s how it works. Read more
Pan Flashing a Chimney
In the face of Cape Cod’s wind-driven rain, lead pan flashings have successfully protected chimney openings for decades. A mason explains the installation process. Read more
Q&A: Job-Site Glues
Is white glue as strong as yellow glue? What’s the best glue to use when you can’t clamp the joint? We asked adhesives experts to answer these and many other questions, plus did a little testing of our own. Read more
Q: I have been called to inspect a shower with ceramic tile walls. The substrate is cementitious backerboard, and as far as I can tell, the tile was installed with thinset. There are hairline cracks running through the tiles on all three walls, both vertical and horizontal. There is a ceramic soap dish in the corner, and even it is cracked. It doesn’t appear that there has been any movement in the floor or the walls. What could be causing the cracking? Read more
Q: I have been called to solve an air-quality problem at a house with air-lock entries. The house has hydronic heat. The vestibules have no mechanical ventilation, and the air quality is poor. What type of ventilation do you suggest for these very small rooms? Read more
Makeup Air for Fireplaces and Exhaust Fans
Pat Huelman explains why a house with both a fireplace and a large cooktop exhaust fan can be a disastrous combination. Read more
Q: When I need a 6x6 deck post, I usually assemble a built-up column from three 2x6s. Is this kind of post equal in strength to a 6x6? Read more
Q&A: Finding the Center of a Circle
Q: If I am presented with a portion of a circle (an arc), how can I determine the size (diameter) of the circle that the arc is part of? Read more
Q: I have some 8x16-inch Douglas fir beams that have black stains from the steel saddles. How can I remove the stains? Can I use a solution of oxalic acid crystals? Read more
Q: What is the best exterior wood glue to use in below freezing temperatures? Read more
Q: What glues work best for repairing veneer over particleboard (for example, on a cabinet end panel)? Read more
Q: What glue works best to fasten wood trim to drywall in a house with steel studs, where the baseboards and casings need to be glued? Read more
Q: What’s the best wood glue for less than ideal joints requiring gap filling? Read more
Q: Is it possible for wood to be too wet for polyurethane glue? Read more
Q: What’s the best wood glue for end-grain applications — miter joints, for example? Read more
Q: For gluing joints in interior wood trim that will never get wet, is white carpenter’s glue as strong as yellow carpenter’s glue? Read more
Q: If a joint assembled with yellow carpenter’s glue freezes before it cures, will the joint lose its strength? Read more
Q: Are there any water-borne glues that are water-resistant? Read more
Q: For gluing exterior wood trim components that will be exposed to the weather, but not submerged under water, what’s best: resorcinol, epoxy, or a polyurethane glue? Read more
Q: What’s the difference between polyurethane construction adhesive and polyurethane caulk? In a pinch, can polyurethane caulk be used as an adhesive? Read more
Q: Some trim carpenters use a dab of hot-melt glue in the center of a joint bonded with yellow carpenter’s glue, so that the hot-melt glue holds the trim pieces together without clamping. Will such a joint be as strong as a clamped joint? Read more
Q: What is the best way to clean polyurethane adhesive from skin? How about from carpeting? Read more
Q: What glue works best with MDF? Read more
Q: Some builders use hot-melt glue for temporary jigs. Can hot-melt glue also be used for a permanent bond? What types of applications make sense for hot-melt glue? Read more
Q: What’s the best glue to use for a wood joint when it is impossible to clamp the joint? Read more
Q: Which construction adhesives are best for gluing plywood subfloors to joists under wet conditions? Read more
Q: After a wood joint glued with yellow carpenter’s glue has cured, is there any way to disassemble the joint? Read more
Q: Are there differences in performance between water-borne and solvent-borne construction adhesives? Read more
Q: Can silicone caulk be used as an exterior glue? How does it compare in strength to Titebond II or a polyurethane glue? Read more
Q: I’ve heard that an adhesive caulk does not bond as strongly as glue. Is an adhesive caulk like Phenoseal strong enough to attach a kitchen backsplash to drywall? Read more
Q: Are the terms "water-resistant" and "waterproof" based on any technical standards? Read more
Q: What is the best glue for fastening bathroom accessories to ceramic tile walls? Read more
Q: What type of glue is best for repairing laminate that is beginning to lift at the edge of a kitchen countertop? Read more
Elements of the well-designed addition Read more
An unconventional bonus plan Read more
Stopping a job during a dispute Read more
Bath designed for aging couple Read more
Hitachi Plasti-Tacker Pro review Read more
Everything you never wanted to know about septic systems Read more