An experienced builder of energy-efficient homes explains the framing and air-sealing details necessary to build a tight, well-ventilated home. Read more
The hard cost of labor includes taxes, insurance, employee benefits, vehicle expenses, and more. Failing to account for these expenses will take a large chunk out of your bottom line, as this remodeling contractor illustrates. Read more
A coil roofing nailer pays for itself in time saved even if you do only a couple of roofs a year. We take a close look at the major brands. Read more
In this design-build project, a remodeling company turned a little-used sunroom addition back into an elegant open-air porch. Read more
Retrofitting a Skylight in a Truss Roof
A flared skylight well provides the best result, but you can't just slice through a bunch of trusses to get there. Read more
Fiberglass, composite, and a few new options have expanded the choices of entry doors beyond steel and wood. Read more
Preventing Frost Action on Structural Posts
Q: In New York state, we built a pergola (a type of garden trellis) using 8x8 pressure-treated posts set 4 feet into the ground. During the first winter, the frost lifted the posts. What should we have done to keep the posts from heaving? Read more
Q: How do eastern white cedar and western red cedar shingles compare for durability? I’ve heard that red cedar is more durable, but I wonder if the difference is enough to affect the service life of roofing or siding. Read more
Proper Shingle Overhang
How far beyond the drip-edge should an asphalt shingle extend, and is the amount of overhang the same at the rake as at the eave? Read more
Q&A: Double-Side Vapor Barrier
Q: As part of the gut remodel of a 1940 house near Houston, Texas, we installed 3/4-inch rigid foam over the exterior wall sheathing, followed by vinyl siding. On the interior, we exposed the 2x4 studs and installed fiberglass batts. Then we installed 1/2-inch foil-faced rigid foam followed by drywall. In that climate, will these “foam sandwich” walls trap moisture? Read more
What’s the Dewpoint?
When people refer to the dewpoint in a wall assembly, are they talking about a location or a temperature? Read more
Q: What factors must be considered when deciding whether to use a large hot-air furnace with two zones or two smaller furnaces? Read more
Q: I’m building a roofed porch with tongue-and-groove fir decking in New England. The boards will be primed and painted on all sides before installation. The joists run perpendicular to the building, and I’d like to install the flooring parallel to the long dimension of the porch. Does the orientation of the porch boards matter? Read more
Q: Before installing a thin concrete or gypcrete floor over a plywood subfloor, what kind of membrane should be installed over the plywood? Read more
Rethinking the bay window Read more
Beating the stress of running a remodeling business Read more
Protecting your logo Read more
Strategies for successful backup Read more
Epoxy coatings for garage floors Read more
Building with SIPs Read more
Two-tone kitchen design Read more
Using a pocket-hole jig on site Read more