Bidding Large Jobs
To avoid costly errors, be methodical about the way you collect and compare prices. Read more
Fast Closets With Melamine
Dadoes and pocket screws make strong, tight joints, while pre-edged material saves labor. Read more
Flashing A Flanged Window
A few minutes of time and a few dollars of materials can prevent expensive headaches. Read more
Installing a Wide Door In a Tall Brick Wall
In this renovation, engineered steel braces support a solid brick wall from the outside without disturbing the interior. Read more
Tuning Up a Pneumatic Nailer
You can do it yourself as easily as you can drop the tool off at the tool shop. Read more
In The News
Florida sings the blue-tarp blues; California chooses I-Codes; second-home market flourishes; GM investigated for truck-tailgate failures; more Read more
Can Wind Short-Circuit a Ridge Vent?
A short lesson on the main driving forces that push attic air up and out of the ridge vent. Read more
Q. I have a leak in my recently installed radiant tubing, no doubt caused by freezing last winter before the system was fully operational. The tubing is a 300-foot run buried in a 4-inch concrete slab. Is there some kind of "stop leak" that can be circula Read more
Q. Solar modules that can be installed in place of roof shingles seem to make more sense than PV modules mounted on racks above the roof (see "Installing Solar Electric Power," 3/05). Besides being much less noticeable, it seems that using photovoltaic sh Read more
Soundproofing a Through-Wall Air Conditioner
The solution to a neighbor's noisy air conditioner lies at your own bedroom window. Read more
Too often, business owners will print a profit-and-loss statement (P&L, also called an income statement) and then look at just the bottom line net profit. Read more
Recently, my little town hit the big time. It has been talked about on television and radio, and written about in newspapers and thousands of blogs. Why? Because a local employer fired four employees who would not quit smoking in the privacy of their own homes. Read more
Kitchen & Bath: Venting With Air-Admittance Valves
Venting with air-admittance valves; undercounter appliances; showerheads Read more
Backfill
Great import: Yin Yu Tang
Should you ever find yourself in historic Salem, Mass., skip the wacko occult shops — okay, stock up on black candles or whatever — and head over to the Peabody Essex Museum for a walk-through tour of beautiful Yin Yu Tang, an estate built circa 1800 to 1825 in Southeastern China. Read more
