September 2011 Table of Contents

As a structural engineer with the APA/Engineered Wood Association, I perform forensic assessments of single- family homes after hurricanes and tornados. Read more

I don't think my client was planning on an energy retrofit when he first talked to me about repairing and repainting the shingle siding on his 120-year-old Massachusetts home. Read more

In the Seattle area, where I work, we get a lot of rain. From the mid-90s to the mid-2000s, there were many high-profile cases of water damage caused by improperly detailed siding, mostly on condos and other multifamily housing. Read more

Recently my Chicago-based construction company renovated a second-floor apartment in a 19-story building to make it more user-friendly for disabled and elderly residents. Read more

Flashing error; SIPs for tight houses; don't glue sheathing in seismic zones; phone smarts Read more

EPA abandons lead clearance requirement; California risks forfeiting home-weatherization funds; Nevada's OSHA program told to ramp up citations; more Read more

It makes as much sense keeping the summer heat out as keeping the winter heat in. Read more

Glenn Mathewson explains why the rules for connecting girders to a deck ledger can be different from those for joists. Read more

In this article I'll describe the method I use to install replacement windows - a method developed over 15 years and hundreds of windows. Read more

In July we discussed the basics of a purchasing system, and how it can help you control costs and improve the quality of your projects. Read more

According to Generac, the new CorePower System offers all the safety and convenience of an automatic standby power supply at a price only a little higher than that of a portable generator. Read more

OSI QUAD is a premium exterior sealant that sticks to wet surfaces, does not accumulate dust, and “self-tools” into a concave shape, says the maker. Read more

Pyrolave is made from slabs of lava extracted from a volcanic crater in France, then glazed with enamel and fired in a 1,000°F kiln. Read more

CertainTeed’s Highland Slate is a single-layer fiberglass shingle that duplicates the texture and color of natural slate. Read more

Kohler’s Wellworth Toilet — which has been around for 75 years — hasn’t changed much on the outside, but its inner workings have been completely re-engineered. Read more

Instead of replacing a leaky window or door, consider using Window and Door Weatherseals from Conservation Technology to fill in the gaps. Read more

Designed specifically for overhead cabinets, the Aventos Lift System makes it possible to lift even the heaviest door with the touch of a finger, says the maker. Read more

Looking for a way to capture water that doesn’t involve conspicuous rain barrels? Read more

Formica says its 180fx laminates look just like natural stone countertops but cost a lot less. Read more

The Kitchen Power Grommet provides convenient access to electricity on virtually any countertop. Read more

Each board in the new Heritage Collection of 2x6 redwood decking is hand-picked and run through the planer at low speed to give it a refined finish, says the maker. Read more

An easy way to add pizzazz to a humdrum kitchen is to upgrade the cabinet pulls. Read more

General’s Digital Sliding T-Bevel can be used to replicate an angle or determine its exact measurement. Read more

Unlike most leveling devices, the Xtenda-Leg offers an unlimited range of adjustability. Read more

Thanks to teeth that face in two directions, Dual Cut jigsaw blades can perform burr-free cuts on both sides of a workpiece, says the maker. Read more

Until now, if you wanted to vibrate a small concrete pour, you either rented a commercial-grade vibrator or banged on the forms with a hammer. Read more

The materials for this project arrived on the job the usual way — via truck delivery — but that was pretty much where any resemblance to a normal job ended. Read more