Q. Some of the brickwork on a house I built has developed a white stain that resembles efflorescence but is limited to only two areas: a mailbox and a window. The gutter above the window overflows occasionally, but the water doesn't appear to actually fal More
Pavers, decorative concrete, and stone decking products bring style and texture to outdoor surfaces. More
Few places in construction are mistakes harder to correct than the surface of a... More
Long before I became a builder, I used gasoline-powered portable cut-off saws in the Air Force for crash and rescue recovery work to cut through automobile and airplane wreckage and buildings. I left the Air Force long ago, but not the saws. Now I build homes in Santa Fe, N.M., and work with as much adobe, concrete, stucco, and re-bar as I-joists and OSB. My Air Force experience gave me a real appreciation for these tools, so anytime I have to cut concrete, masonry, or steel I reach for one. It also showed me that nobody in their right mind would look forward to using them?they're loud, expensive, and incredibly messy, whether wet cutting or dry. But when it comes to cutting tough materials, they're also the best tools for the job. More
Products from Henkel, Open Energy, American Clay and Teragren More
Products from Minwax, Duron, Waterlox and Kemiko More
When the paint begins to fail on a wood balustrade, suddenly the price of polyurethane no longer seems so high. More
Designed to provide exceptional thermal protection, Perfect Fit Carbtex gloves feature an oxidized outer shell in the fiber that creates a protective barrier to the inner thermoplastic core. More
Q. Drip-Edge and Roofing Membranes When using peel-and-stick roofing membranes, does it matter if the membrane goes under rather than over the metal drip edge at the eaves? In my work as a home inspector, I've noticed that these membranes get installed bo More
Q. Getting Rid of That Smoky Smell In a recently purchased house, one of the bedrooms was used as a smoking room by a previous owner and still smells of cigarette smoke. To get rid of the odor, my clients washed the floors, walls, ceiling, and all the win More
