Providing Employee Benefits
The owner of a remodeling business tells how the company institutes and manages benefits to attract and keep quality employees. Read more
Spray Foam Insulation
Forget the separate air barrier, and hold the vapor retarder: Sprayed-in-place polyurethane foam takes the place of both and offers increased structural stiffness as well as other benefits Read more
Safety Lessons From the Field
Reading the accident stories from these five construction veterans might just keep you from becoming the next cautionary tale. Read more
10-Inch Portable Table Saws
The newest 10-inch job-site table saws combine the rip capacity of contractor models with the portability of 81/4-inch machines. JLC compares seven models. Read more
Attaching Deck Ledgers
Problems with deck attachment are common and the issues complex. Three experts home in on the forces at work between the deck ledger and the band joist and offer connection details that will support anticipated loads. Read more
In The News
Buffalo's flawed foundations, soggy building season, blast-resistant insulating windows, sealed crawlspaces, N.Y. scaffold law Read more
Q. We're renovating a home with hardwood floors that are somewhat worn and lack luster but don't seem to need resanding. Is there a way to restore the finish without sanding? Read more
Q. I have a client who had a tile floor put down a few years ago. The tile installer told her the grout already had a sealer in it so no additional sealer was ever put on. Now the grout is stained, and she has been trying to clean it with bleach (the grout is white) but cannot stand the fumes. Is there anything that can be used to clean the grout that would be fairly simple to use and not smell too bad? Read more
Q. I recently requested a quote for 1x4 T&G fir for a covered porch. The lumber supplier added two new species, meranti and Brazilian redwood, to the quote list. How do those woods stack up against Douglas fir, which has been used traditionally for porch floors in my area? I plan to paint all sides of the flooring. Read more
