For the best door security, install a deadbolt, reinforce the strike plate and tie it into the frame, and use forged, hardened, and corrosion-resistant lock components. Read more
Putting the Web to Work
From proposals to invoices, a custom home builder tells how almost any document can be shared online with everyone involved in a project. Read more
Realistic Scheduling for Remodelers
The owner and production manager of a high-end remodeling company tell how they build schedules they can stick to. Read more
Repairing Wooden Fences
A fence repair specialist explains the basics of a profitable remodeler's niche. Read more
Simple Frame & Panel Trim
With detailed planning and a few specialized tools, Craftsman-style wood paneling can be created on a production schedule and moderate budget. Read more
Venting Gas Appliances
Supply plenty of combustion air, keep the flue warm and dry, and don't restrict the flow of exhaust in the flue. Read more
In The News
Radiant-floor study, builder absolved in liability case, asphalt fumes not carcinogenic, high-tech pigments for cool roofs, more Read more
Q&A: Is It Necessary to Compact Slab Sub-Base?
Q. We need to pour a 24x24-foot concrete slab for an attached garage next to a precast foundation. The precast walls are 9 feet and 4 feet tall (see photo). Unfortunately, the trench overdig is 7 feet deep and as much as 4 feet wide in some places. We would prefer to avoid backfilling and tamping such a huge void. Is there another more cost-effective option? Read more
Q&A
Rules for Electrical Outlets
Here are a master electrician's guidelines for placing a home's electrical receptacles. Read more
Q. We built a custom home for a client in west Michigan a couple of years ago, and the home has had problems with ice ever since. It's a 1,450-square-foot ranch with cathedral ceilings and many can lights throughout. We used blown fiberglass insulation in the ceiling assemblies. From the beginning, the can lights (IC-rated) overheated and tripped their thermal-protection breakers. We finally resorted to pulling the insulation away from the housing of the can lights so they TAs a result, the heat from these lights now warms up the roof and has created a horrible ice problem instead. Last fall we even added four pot vents to the back of the roof in addition to the soffit-to-ridge venting. The homeowner called to report that the pot vents have improved the situation but not completely. I drive by this home frequently and see ice buildup there while other homes in the area are ice free. Read more
Q. I'm in discussions with an architect regarding the pros and cons of using Grace Ice and Water Shield or a similar membrane material as a housewrap. These materials are more expensive than Tyvek or 15# felt but can't be beat when it comes to the wind-driven rain we get here in the Florida Panhandle. My architect has cited Paul Fisette's articles on felt, housewraps, and flashings as his reason for requiring felt ("Making Walls Watertight," 12/95; "Housewrap vs. Felt," 11/98). But Paul Fisette works in a "heating" climate, not a "cooling" climate like ours. Would he recommend different details for a hot, humid climate? Read more
Stick-Framed Look on a Truss Budget
How a designer gave a second-story addition an appealing cottage look by using two different truss profiles. Read more
Choosing to Grow
If you want your business to grow, you'll need to learn how to delegate the production work so you can focus on selling and estimating jobs. Read more
Do you have to pay overtime? Read more
Toolbox: Easier Air Sealing
Flexible Products foam gun, Metabo Power Grip screwdriver, Permit Caddy, Bunny Plane, JoistMate Read more
