Best-Practice Wall Shingles
A rain screen offers the ultimate defense against water intrusion, provided you get the details right. That's easy enough to do with lap siding but considerably more complex with shingles. Custom home builder and remodeler Mike Guertin, who is accustomed to wind-swept rains in his area of the Ocean State, explains the different venting options available and provides practical trim details for best-practice wall shingling in coastal situations. Read more
Muddy Waters
Few dispute that construction-site erosion poses a significant problem. Muddy roads and cloudy streams tied to a decade-long nationwide building boom have left many residents eager for a clampdown, especially in coastal areas, where water quality is a crucial issue. For contractors, the upshot is steadily increasing pressure to do a better job at erosion control alongside stricter regulatory standards. But implementing an effective sediment-control plan is no slam dunk, and regulations vary. Aaron Hoover clarifies the murky realm of erosion control to help bridge this disconnect between the builder's understanding of what works and the regulator's compliance standards. Read more
Products
Structural Screws - Stainless Steel Air Nails - Dry Ply - Humidity Control - Termite-Tough Insulation - Trus Joist Shear Panels - Sliding-Glass Security - Rubber Soil - Soft, Hard Flooring - Metal Munchers - Impact-Resistant Skylights Read more
Interview: Restoring Trust
The projects that D.P. Thomas Construction complete each year on or near the water around Wrightsville Beach, N.C., range in cost from $150K to well past the million-dollar mark. What owner Dave Thomas started as a small remodeling firm in the 1970s has grown to become a local authority on the restoration of North Carolina's architectural history. Above all, Thomas looks to creating a good business relationship. His insight explains how historic preservation work can complicate a project but also bring substantial rewards, if the chemistry is right. Read more
