If you have access to a forklift with a telescoping boom, building on the ground is more efficient than framing on the roof. Read more
Solid bracing and strong connections are the keys to a durable, bounce-free structure. Read more
This 3-D modeling program can be tough to master. Here’s how three builders learned what they needed to know. Read more
Even when a location is protected, there are situations where the IRC requires treated wood when it attaches to concrete. Read more
Here's how to reassemble a split column - which can't be used in load-bearing applications - around a structural post. Read more
It's almost 2012 and time again for annual planning. Read more
Fiber-cement siding manufacturer Nichiha recently introduced a low-priced line of shakes. Read more
This year Kohler added three bathtubs to its Rªve collection of modern geometric bathroom fixtures. Read more
Lavi Industries recently introduced a complete line of stainless steel tubing, brackets, and fittings that can be used to assemble — without welding — almost any type of interior or exterior handrail. Read more
With KleerSnap Post Wrap, it takes as little as 10 minutes for a single worker to trim out a post, says the maker. Read more
When you need to increase air movement between rooms, the Perfect Balance In-Door Pressure Balancer offers a more elegant solution than leaving an enormous gap beneath the door. Read more
Mansfield Plumbing Products recently added a line of air baths to its Pro-Fit collection of whirlpools and soaker tubs. Read more
Wolf says its PVC Decking offers the performance of premium PVC at a more affordable price. Read more
Drywood is a structural wall and roof panel with an integral weather barrier that eliminates the need for roofing felt, waterproof membranes, or housewrap. Read more
Although BellaStone looks remarkably authentic — thanks to the real stone used in the manufacturing process — the 50-inch-by-24-inch panels weigh a fifth as much as traditional stone and install 50 percent faster, says the maker. Read more
The Trex Transcend Decking & Railing System is made from the same durable, low-maintenance material as the company’s standard products, with one difference: The tops and sides of the boards have a hard-shell coating with a wood-grain pattern and low-sheen finish that allegedly resists stains, scratches, and mold. Read more
The Ciencia solid-surface shower is primarily designed as a replacement for an outdated bathtub. Read more
EcoShield Deck Tile is a wood-plastic composite that’s made with 95 percent recycled content and never needs staining or painting, says the maker. Read more
According to Metabo, the new ASR 35 Vacuum Cleaner was specifically designed to stand up to the rigors of continuous use in operations that generate clouds of dust. Read more
The maker of the Combination-3D try square claims that it can do the work of a saddle square, a marking gauge, a bevel gauge, and a combination square — with no loss of accuracy. Read more
Switch to Paslode’s Engineered Lumber Nails and you can eliminate the tedium of fixing proud nails and pulling bent ones, says the company. Read more
Milwaukee has expanded its lineup of hand tools to include such new items as Tongue and Groove Pliers, Reaming Pliers, Aviation Snips, and a PEX/Tubing Cutter. Read more
Earlier this year, timber-framer Paul Freeman, owner of Brooks Post & Beam in Lyndeborough, N.H., realized he had a problem. Read more