Exposed Aggregate Concrete
A concrete contractor explains how he creates good-looking walks, drives, and patios by combining aggregate finish concrete with inlayed brick and stone. Read more
Getting Pipe Staging Right
A contractor who depends on frame scaffolding for daily production shares his rules for safe setup and use. Read more
Oil Paints: Going, Going, Gone?
Environmental restrictions in the most populous areas of the country are making oils scarce, but painters have adapted as waterborne alternatives improve. If you're not in one of the affected states, here's a look at what's to come. Read more
Timber-Frame Roofs for Great Rooms
Classic mortise-and-tenon timber trusses add timeless appeal to open rooms without the expense of a whole-house frame. A timber framer tells how he coordinates the work with the builder. Read more
In the News
Southern California struggles to address wildfire risks; Florida grapples with soggy walls; a challenge to Michigan environmental law; more Read more
Q. I am about to install drywall in a workshop with 9-foot ceilings, and I don't see why I should install it the traditional way, horizontally. Why not buy 10-foot sheets, cut off one foot, and hang the board vertically? This would put all the butt seams Read more
Q. I've heard that in older buildings (at least 70 years old) the effective strength of wood members like joists and rafters increases with age. If that's true, how does one evaluate the increase? Or is the increase negligible? Read more
Placing Concrete in Hot Weather
It's critical not to let concrete dry out as it is curing; just how long to keep it wet depends on the air temperature and the mix. Read more
Business
WIP Your Company Into Shape
How often has this happened to you: After what looks like a really good month, you go out and buy an expensive piece of equipment, like a truck. Then the following month is a really bad one, and you wish you hadn't. Read more
Legal
When Employees Leave for Military Service
At the end of their military service, people who are honorably discharged are entitled to return to work, even when an absence spans up to five years. Read more
Solid surfacing; bathroom ventilation Read more
Backfill
Building in a Bubble
No, we're not talking about the coronavirus. Here's one builder's strategy for managing the least controllable of all contingencies: the weather. Read more
