June 2008 Table of Contents

Understanding energy consumption and moisture movement in the homes we build is hard enough; rampant half-truths and misconceptions only make it harder. Read more

Precise framing is the first step to ensuring a leakproof job. Read more

A small initial design contract can lead to a big job. Read more

Drywall back-blocking in action; A-frame appreciation; hard workers in California; more Read more

A proposed interior-design law stirs controversy in California; a fatal fall leads to criminal obstruction charge in Illinois; more Read more

Q: Are precast concrete foundation walls subject to the same dampproofing or waterproofing requirements as cast-in-place and block foundations? I've heard that because these walls are made of a high-strength concrete that's virtually nonporous and impervious to water, they don't require extra dampproofing or waterproofing. My building inspector disagrees. Read more

When explosives are out of the question, there's a quieter and safer way to break up rocks into smaller pieces. Read more

A minimum gap is needed for effective drainage and drying, but the size also depends on the climate. Read more

Avoiding plaster disaster; a floating sink Read more

If you and your project manager spend 13 hours preparing an estimate for a remodeling job, how much money have you invested in the project? Would you have been better off spending those 13 hours getting things done on one of your current projects? Read more

Contractors tend to avoid calling for legal help. Partly this is because they're used to solving their own problems, and partly it's because they don't want to rack up attorney's fees. But certain circumstances — let's call them legal emergencies — absolutely require immediate legal counsel. Read more

Appliances, fixtures, and finishes Read more

Windows; energy conservation Read more

Imagine a self-propelled wheelbarrow with four-wheel stability that's fun to operate. Read more

You could spend hours and hours with an iron rake and a wheelbarrow prepping the soil around your new spec house — or you could jump into a compact loader equipped with a Landscape Rake and do the job in a fraction of the time. Read more

SawStop's innovative blade-stopping cabinet saw is popular with furniture makers and cabinetmakers for good reason: Read more

When the original ProSite protractor was introduced several years ago, finish carpenters were delighted to discover a simple-to-use tool for measuring angles and determining miter-saw settings. Read more

I had a chance to check out Bosch's new ROS20VS random-orbit sander at the Builders' Show. Read more

Late last year Bosch introduced the Worksite Table Saw (model 4100), an improved version of its Benchtop Table Saw (model 4000). Read more

When a northeast storm cut a new opening through a barrier beach in the Cape Cod community of Chatham, Mass., in April 2007, owners of seasonal cottages on the narrow strip of sand were dismayed but not surprised: North Beach, as it's locally known, is in a continuous — and sometimes dramatic — state of flux. In 1987, a similar cut two miles to the south left a previously protected expanse of the bay shore exposed to the full force of ocean storms; 10 year-round mainland homes were destroyed as a result. Read more