May 2014 Table of Contents

A field guide filled with details and best practices for installing durable roofs. Read more

Air leaks through the building shell can have a significant effect on a home’s durability, energy use, and indoor air quality. Myron Ferguson explains how drywall can be an important part of the air barrier of an enclosure. Read more

How to lay out a mudsill on a stepped foundation with multiple jogs to ensure a level and square frame. Read more

Tips for soldering a lap seam; the usefulness of the GRK lap harness; and the future of vocational training. Read more

What's the best way to create a non-combustible surface behind a gas stove in a living room? Read more

If you want to cut out a doorway through a foundation, Steve Baczek has a strategy for protecting the footing and foundation from frost. Read more

Micro Blaster's rock-breaking system is inexpensive, easy to use, and requires no license or special training. Read more

These weatherproof brackets look like they were cut from solid timber, but consist of a thick tropical-hardwood veneer laminated over an engineered core. Read more

What to do when the scope of work changes and the customer disputes your claim for full payment. Read more

If you work with employees or subs, you need to be clear about what, exactly, the project entails and when it's expected to be completed. Everyone needs to understand. This job start package lays it all out. Read more

Mini-split heat pumps were a major topic at the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) BuildingEnergy 14 conference in Boston this year. Ted Cushman explains why and how these mini-splits shine in cold climates. Read more

The MicroDrawer microwave has 1.2-cubic-foot cavity space, the largest in the luxury segment, according to the company. Read more

QuickTie is an anchor-and-cable system for use in seismic areas or where builders have to meet a 90-mph wind code. Read more

Designed for embedding rebar or threaded rod into masonry, USP’s two-part epoxies include targeted formulas for nearly every jobsite condition. Read more

The TruTankless water heater squeezes 24 feet of heating element into a briefcase-size housing, so it can heat water at relatively low element temperatures. Read more

The Brisa “screen door” is actually a retractable screen housed in an aluminum frame. The frame attaches to a brickmold door casing in 30 minutes. Read more

Half the weight of standard concrete by volume and able to flex like wood without cracking, Concrete Lumber components are made from a patented lightweight concrete reinforced with pre-stressed wire. Read more

The laminated veneer lumber cores in GlassCraft’s plank-style doors should make them resistant to cracking and warping. Read more

This sliding maple rack with zinc hooks fits into a standard-depth base cabinet and extends fully into the workspace, making it easier to access pots and pans than from a drawer. Read more

With hundreds of drawer/door configurations, hardware pieces, organizational accessories, and finishes, the Tailored Vanity collection makes it easier to give clients what they want. Read more

The Benchmark convection wall oven includes optional side-opening doors, dampened hinges, a built-in meat thermometer, and an “EcoChef” feature that saves energy. Read more

A low-voltage heating pad on the back of the ShowerLite bathroom mirror warms the glass, eliminating fog. Read more

Boral's roof tile is designed to withstand hail balls of up to 2 inches in diameter at an impact speed of up to 70 mph. Read more

See how the new 18-volt Senco DS215-18V autofeed screw gun fared in our field-testing. Read more

Carbon steel Centerfire circular saw blades have a knife edge rather than saw teeth and are specifically designed to make smooth cuts in foam panels and insulating concrete forms. Read more

The M18 Fuel is the first cordless recip saw with a brushless motor from Milwaukee. See how it measures up in terms of speed, power, and runtime. Read more

Full-size handsaws, once indispensable to the day-to-day business of cutting lumber to size, are seldom seen on modern jobsites. But they have another, equally traditional use that persists today: as musical instruments. Read more

Enclosing an open second-story deck above a kitchen with through-wall flashing poses some unique challenges. Read more