A fully wired and heated trailer provides this GC with an organized space from which to run a complex and long-term job. Read more
An engineer explains how wall thickness, rebar, and proper drainage all affect the ability of poured concrete foundation walls to resist lateral soil pressure. Read more
Engineered wood, fiber cement, and plastic can provide the look of natural wood siding and trim without the limitations of the real thing. Read more
A Cape Cod builder tells how to frame flat, squeak-free floors with wood I-joists. Read more
Dependable rural water supply starts with sizing the pump and using high-quality fittings. A master plumber explains the details. Read more
Two researchers dampened the noise from an industrial wood shop next to an office. Here are the details they used. Read more
Q&A: Tile for Steam Rooms
Q. My customer wants to have her combination steam room–shower tiled with a nonglazed floor and wall tile she has already purchased. Is the tile suitable for this type of application? I would use Hardie’s Tile Backer for a substrate and the appropriate thinset mortar. Read more
Q. When installing cedar clapboard, should gaps between the siding and trim be caulked? Read more
Q. What’s the best way to attach a deck ledger board to a wood-framed house with brick veneer? Read more
Q. Where can I find a key to architectural abbreviations used on blueprints? Read more
Q. Can asphalt felt be used directly under vinyl siding? I have heard that the two products are incompatible. Read more
Q. We’re framing a gable-roofed house with roof trusses. The roof includes a bumpout with a smaller gable roof that intersects the main roof, forming two valleys. A valley set will be installed on top of the main roof sheathing. The sheathing along the valley doesn’t have blocking for continuous nailing, and I’d rather not nail sheathing to sheathing. Should I install blocking between the framing members of the valley set to provide better nailing? Read more
Q. What’s the most cost-effective way to thaw a site for excavation? We are building a 16x24-foot addition with a crawlspace underneath, and the frost is already 12 inches deep. Read more
Q. If a copper water pipe is in contact with the metal sheathing of BX cable, can that contact cause the cable to corrode? Read more
Q. What is cellular-core PVC pipe? Is it as strong as solid PVC pipe? Read more
Q. I need to run wires through Boise Cascade I-joists. The joists come with prepunched holes, but the holes don’t line up. I’d like to drill some 1-inch holes in the joist webs. Are there any limitations on where these holes can be drilled? Read more
Q&A: Drooling Drip-Edge
Q. Most of the houses we build have 12/12 roofs with plumb fascias. Even though our roofer uses drip-edge, water still sometimes drools down the fascias. What are we doing wrong? Read more
Defining rooms in an open plan Read more
Building on spec Read more
Making sure you get paid Read more
Making sure of mortar types Read more
Roof framing videos Read more
Short-cut kitchen design tips Read more
New cordless brad nailers, new wormdrive saws Read more
A cheesy house Read more
