JLC's annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter. Read more
Pouring a Structural Slab
Commercial-grade steel deck pans worked well for placing the slab on this steep-site garage addition. Read more
Preventing Chimney Cap Failure
Chimney caps are too often poorly detailed and are the first part of the chimney to degrade. A mason explains how to build a durable cap. Read more
Quicker Coffered Ceilings
This production-oriented method greatly speeds this common ceiling treatment without sacrificing construction quality or aesthetics. Read more
Weatherstripping Existing Windows
A California remodeler tells how he retrofits weatherstripping on existing wood windows for sound and thermal insulation. Read more
Cement shortage, creating a wetland, health concern about old plaster, workers comp reform in California, lightning- resistant flexible gas line Read more
Q&A
Forming a Brick Shelf in a Concrete Foundation
Q. I'm planning to form a simple 4-foot stem wall foundation for a single-story garage using plywood, snap ties, and walers. It needs to have a brick ledge for the top 10 to 12 inches, which will show above grade. What's a simple, effective way to do this Read more
Q. Recently I've run into a couple of incidents where a crystallized white substance has formed on the shower floor and in the drain. In both cases the showers have mud-set floors and are entirely tiled. The water is from a public source. In one case, the Read more
Q&A
Reducing Clearance to Woodstove Pipe
Q. Can I use type X "fire code" gypsum board to reduce clearances to combustibles for a woodstove pipe? For example, could I attach a layer or two of gypsum board to the side or bottom of a nearby cabinet to reduce the required 18-inch clearance? Read more
Design
Locating a Fireplace in a Family Room with a TV
Locating a fireplace in a family room with a TV Read more
As the general contractor, you have liability insurance to protect you from claims for bodily injury or property damage caused by your negligence. So why, you ask, is it important for your subs to have liability insurance, too? Read more
Backfill
Subtle Soffit Vent
We pay as much attention to the quality of our exterior trim as we do the interior trim on the upscale houses we build, so we don't want to see ugly strip vents or round metal button vents messing up the soffits. Read more
