A Builder's Guide to Energy Codes
A close look at current energy codes - and where they're headed. Read more
Dressing Up an Eyebrow Dormer
Use this no-math template method to match complex shapes with heat-formed PVC trim. Read more
Recessed Window Openings
A properly prepared opening, preformed corners, and layered flashing prevent leaks. Read more
Testing for Moisture In Concrete Slabs
Before installing flooring over concrete, do a calcium chloride test to make sure it's truly dry. Read more
In the News
Homes for injured veterans; layoffs in the housing sector; call 811 before digging; more Read more
Q: A client has asked me to build a practical outbuilding with a wood floor system. For simplicity's sake, I'd like to place it on a Sonotube foundation and use continuous-span wood I-joists. The bottom of the I-joists will be about 16 to 24 inches off the ground, and the perimeter joists will be completely protected from the weather by the siding and water table. Is it okay to use I-joists in this situation? Read more
Paint for Wood Windows
Polyurethane enamels might be fine for boats, but shouldn't be used on house windows. Read more
Q: I'd like to use a coated glass mat tile backerboard like DensShield in a shower stall, but would like to stop the tile about 78 inches above the floor rather than completely covering the walls and ceiling. Is it okay to continue the backerboard all the way up to the 8-foot-high ceiling - which would be covered with the same material - and then simply paint the nontiled areas? If so, how should the textured surface of the tile backer be prepped for a smooth, painted finish? Read more
In this article I'll share some of the lessons we've learned over the last seven years of design-build work. We still have much to master — if only I live that long. Read more
Legal
Why Your Contract Should Contain an Indemnification Clause
Say a GC signs a contract to build a fence for a homeowner. After the job is done, the homeowner hits the fence with his car but does not repair the damage. A couple of weeks later the fence falls on a neighbor who is walking down the sidewalk. Who is liable for the neighbor's injury? Read more
Backfill
A Carpenter's Home Is His Castle
As a union carpenter, T.J. Baker works on large, complicated structures like baseball stadiums, computer-chip factories, and high-rise hotels. So what does he do in his spare time? The same thing most carpenters do: He remodels his house. Read more
