A New Look for Old Paneling
Skim-coating the walls with setting compound is easier than starting from scratch. Read more
Tool Test: Lithium-Ion Cordless Kits
These new tools promise longer runtimes, lighter batteries, and impressive power. But do they deliver? Read more
Replacement Window Basics
As long as you've measured carefully, you can install a high-quality insert in less than an hour. Read more
Wet-Set Mudsills
With careful layout, placing sills directly into the wet concrete can save time. Read more
In the News
Remodeling study predicts growth; builder gets jail time for worker's death; more Read more
Q&A
Lumpy Setting Compounds
Q: When we're working with what we call "hot mud"- setting-type drywall compounds that come in powdered form - it seems almost impossible to mix the stuff up without getting lumps. Do you have any suggestions for smoothing out the consistency? Read more
Q: When installing stained vertical cedar siding or fascia trim, what type of glue should be used for splices and corners? Some contractors like to dab a little stain on the cut ends of 3-degree splices or on 4-degree corner miters, but is there an exteri Read more
Q: Is ACQ-treated lumber and plywood suitable for building permanent wood foundations? Read more
Q: Does faded aluminum siding with a chalklike residue on the surface require any special preparation before repainting? Read more
Q: A winter's worth of rain fell on a large hillside home we're building before we could complete the roof. Though we tarped the project, rainwater seeped through the first-floor decking and into the floor framing of a basement wine cellar. I suspect that Read more
Design
Keeping an Eye on Chimneys
Though it's but a single element, a chimney can do much to enhance a house's overall design. In its materials and form — how it rises and terminates — a successful chimney respects the context of the surrounding home. Read more
Business
Scheduling With Post-it Notes
When I was in commercial construction, I used formal scheduling procedures on all of my projects. With formal scheduling, each task or activity in the job is written down, placed in sequence, and assigned a certain amount of time. Read more
Legal
Making Change Orders Work for You
Many of the costly owner/contractor disputes I see in my legal practice involve change orders — or the lack thereof. I know of innumerable residential contractors who, having failed to obtain signed change orders, have eaten hundreds or even thousands of dollars of legitimate extra work at the end of a job just so they could get the homeowner to release that final check. Read more
Tiling; toilets Read more
Backfill
Hammer Museum
If you're feeling that hammers are beginning to seem sort of, well, last century, there's a place in Alaska that you should visit. Read more
