Installing Prefinished Strip Flooring
The prep work is the same as for unfinished strip flooring, but the installation requires more care because of the prefinished surface. Read more
Major Surgery for a Failing Fat Wall
The worst decades for building science weren’t in the 1800s; they were late 1970s through 1990s. Here’s one from the 80’s that’s getting a major overhaul. Read more
A Tiny But Roomy Bathroom
Choosing the right products can make the most out of limited space. Read more
Letters from readers Read more
Concrete for an ICF Foundation
How the right concrete mix and good placement practices will keep defects in an ICF foundation to a minimum. Read more
Q&A
Pressure-Testing Exit Plumbing
To keep sewer gas out of a house, pay attention to fixture traps, the integrity of the exit plumbing, and whether or not the house has balanced ventilation. Read more
Finishing Old, Unpainted Drywall
Why a stain-blocking primer may be needed before texturing or painting older drywall. Read more
Wayland Passive House: The Airtight Insulated Shell
JLC follows the action as the Auburndale Builders crew applies airtight taped fabric and exterior rock wool insulation to a Passive House under construction in Wayland, Massachusetts. Read more
Rethinking Window Flashing
Flashing windows the "right way" requires three sets of instructions - for the flashing tape, the housewrap, and the window. Which set do you follow? Read more
Drain Pain: Furnace Condensate Proves Tricky to Manage
High-efficiency boilers, furnaces, and water heaters produce acidic water that can pose a disposal problem no matter how you handle it. Read more
The Traveling Timber Frame
When timber framer R. A. Krouse travels to a country fair, he brings along a barn. Read more