Built-Up Hot-Mop Roofing
A roofing contractor with 30-plus years in the business tells why traditional built-up roofing continues to be popular and describes how to lay down a long-lasting roof. Read more
Choosing Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring looks better than ever and is easy to install, but you have to select the right product for a durable installation. Read more
Ground-Source Heating & Cooling Gets Better
Direct-exchange heat-pump technology is pushing energy efficiency through the roof, and because it requires far fewer feet of ground loop, systems can be retrofitted even on small lots. Read more
Strong Rail-Post Connections for Wooden Decks
After testing deck ledger attachments, researchers at Virginia Tech crank up the loads on guardrail posts to see what it takes to make a code-worthy connection. Read more
Interview Getting Into Insurance Work
Insurance work may look like a gravy train of good-paying remodeling jobs, but there's a lot more to it. An adjuster-turned-restoration specialist explains the ropes. Read more
In The News
Storm-protection products take off; Arizona cracks down; Washington state's safety-inspection spat; private firms to conduct inspections in Houston; more Read more
Someone posted a question on JLC’s estimating forum recently about using standard assemblies to reduce the amount of time it takes to estimate. He wanted to know how to develop the assemblies and how detailed they ought to be. Read more
Legal
Why Operate Legally?
It's hard to be competitive when you do everything you're supposed to, yet know the system is rigged against you if you don't. Read more
Computer
Let BuildWorks Basic and Quicken Show You the Money
Compared with Timberline or Great Plains, Intuit's QuickBooks Pro is a simple entry-level accounting system. But "simple" is a relative term. For a small contractor who just needs a way to replace the checkbook in his back pocket, even QuickBooks can be overwhelming. Read more
Outdoor kitchen equipment; tile backers and substrates Read more
