September 2002 Table of Contents

Features
Building Squeak-Free Stairs

A stair builder shows how to scribe and install finish skirts, treads, and risers. Read more

Cordless Circular Saws

We rounded up the beefiest battery-operated saws on the market and put them to the test. Read more

Durable Trim For Coastal Construction

This New Jersey custom home builder has traded wood trim for PVC. Read more

How To Charge For Overhead

Forget material markups: This method, successfully practiced for 20 years by an Iowa remodeler, assigns overhead and profit expense to billed time on the job. Read more

Installing Crown Molding - Production Techniques

A finish contractor shares his production techniques for cutting and installing crown. Read more

Preventing The Cash-Flow Crunch Preventing The Cash-Flow Crunch

If you don't front-load your payment schedule, you may find that the cash crunch can put you out of business. Read more

Repairing Cantilevered Balconies

Unless flashed properly, cantilevered deck joists provide a path for rainwater to soak the wall framing. In this story, a specialty remodeler tells how he deals with the consequences. Read more

Waterproofing Basement Walls

We survey the major types of foundation waterproofing, from spray-on to peel-and-stick membranes. Read more

Letters
Letters To The Editor

Painting popcorn ceilings, repairing a stone foundation, garage floor finishes, cracked manufactured stone Read more

News
Notebook

Deck disasters, FBI plumbing inspector sting, California code excludes PEX, builder callback survey, demolition salvage Read more

Q & A
Q&A: Life Expectancy of Metal Roofs

Q. We're working on a 120-year-old house that still has its original standing-seam metal roof. A roof painter told the owner that this roof has 50 years of useful life left. Can a metal roof really last 170 years? Read more

Q&A: Stripping an EPDM Roof

Q. I have to strip off an EPDM roof. Is there anything special I need to know? Read more

Q&A: Flickering Lights

Q. I'm doing some wood siding repairs on a house, and every time I hit the trigger on my chop saw, the lights in the house flicker. The power company says the problem is with the house not their lines. But the lights in the house across the street flicker Read more

Q&A: Drywall Disposal On Site

Q. My excavation contractor offered to bury my scrap drywall on site, but I've heard buried gypsum can create a harmful gas. I've also read that it's okay to bury small amounts if you disperse it. Is it okay to bury drywall on site at all, and if so, what Read more

Securing Sidelights Securing Sidelights

I just replaced the insulating steel and fiberglass door in an entry door assembly with dual sidelights. Read more

By Design
Business
Legal Adviser
Kitchen & Bath
Products
Products Products

Cordless impact wrench, wall lift, cold-weather caulk, nonstick shovel, flexible duct, long-tail T-shirt, mini brake Read more

Toolbox
Toolbox: Contortionist Reciprocating Saw Toolbox: Contortionist Reciprocating Saw

Tiger Claw recip saw, Saw Muzzle dust port, Makita's newest cordless drill Read more

Tools of the Trade
Tool Test: 6-Inch Right-Angle Sanders

From stripping varnish to fine sanding, right-angle sanders do it all. Read more

Tool Test: Cordless Hammerdrills

Cordless hammerdrills give cordless drills a new level of convenience. Read more

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