Fast Fixes for Closet Flanges
A few simple tools and techniques take most of the misery out of repairing these critical plumbing fittings Read more
Glass-Block Shower Window
A cast-in-place concrete sill sheds water outside and protects the framing on the inside Read more
Rotproof Fences
Keep water moving and seal up the end grain for a long-lasting fence in a wet climate Read more
Using a Tablet Computer
You write on it like a legal pad, but it has the computing and communication power of a desktop PC Read more
In the News
Coastal insurance crisis; concrete-canoe race; toilet testing; wetlands ruling; more Read more
Q&A
Rejuventating Aged Drywall
Q: My company is converting a garage with drywall on its walls and ceiling into living space.The joints have been taped with one coat of mud, but some of the tape is dry and loose, and the drywall's paper surface — which was never primed — has darkened an Read more
Q: I know that some framers are using lumber treated with SBX (sodium borate) as a substitute for ACQ because it is less corrosive to fasteners, but I'm concerned about short-term exposure to rain and the longevity of the borate treatment itself, which co Read more
Q&A
Fix for a Noisy Hot Water System
Why increasing the size of the expansion tank will reduce the clicking noises coming from a domestic hot water system. Read more
Q: We recently completed a house that features vertical T&G cedar siding, but now my clients are complaining about woodpeckers making holes in the siding. Are there any simple techniques for dealing with this problem? Read more
On the Job
Installing Sheet Piles
When you live on a barrier island, just keeping your little piece of real estate from washing away is a constant struggle. Fred Sprinkle, a foundation and excavation contractor on Dauphin Island, Ala., frequently uses vinyl sheet pilings to keep the ground beneath his clients' homes from ending up in the Gulf of Mexico. Read more
Design
Columns, Posts, Piers: What's Best for the Porch?
There's no question that a porch looks and feels best when all of its components relate to the rest of the house's design. In an earlier column, we focused on how porch guardrails can complement a home (5/06); here, we'll talk about ways that porch columns, posts, and piers can do the same. Read more
Business
Different Folks, Different Strokes
How to write a practical business plan; different folks, different strokes Read more
Legal
Keep Your License Current
The California Supreme Court recently made a decision that I personally disagree with. Does the court care what I think? I'm sure it doesn't. Do you care? Well, you should — even if you're in another state — because if you don't keep your license current, you could face the same problem as the unfortunate subcontractor in this case. Read more
Faucets; countertops Read more
Backfill
The Biggest Thing to Hit Town in 74 Million Years
About 80 miles northwest of Des Moines, Iowa, lies the small town of Manson. Nothing much has ever happened there, unless you count the time 74 million years ago when a giant meteor crashed nearby. Actually, calling it "giant" doesn't do it justice: The meteor was 1 1/2 miles across, weighed 10 billion tons, and was traveling at 45,000 mph. Read more
