Clips for flat tiles; mounting blocks; aluminum-and-glass railing; crawlspace ventilation; fibercement siding panels; more More
A reinforced mortar-bed substrate is key to success. More
Grinding down highs is an option, but Tim Uhler says that filling in the low spots... More
Chinese drywall investigated in Florida; West Virginia builder sued for installing fake radon systems; green building stats fall short; more More
Q: Using a heat gun is an approved method for removing cured epoxy grout from tiles and fixtures [see Q&A, 5/08]. But can the same technique be used when the tile has been installed over Schluter’s Kerdi waterproofing membrane, or would the heat damage the membrane? More
Q: I built a lot of homes in upstate New York in the 1980s using 2x6 studs, fiberglass batts, and a poly vapor retarder for the shell. Given the rising cost of heating and cooling, the owners are asking about energy upgrades to their walls. I'd like to suggest adding 1 or 2 inches of rigid foam on top of the existing OSB or plywood sheathing, followed by new siding. Would the presence of polyethylene vapor retarders make this a risky retrofit strategy? More
Vapor retarders in North Carolina; cost of curved coffered ceiling; hiring illegal immigrants More
Where unstable soil and periodic tidal flooding are a concern, helical piers... More
Using a heat gun to soften cured epoxy grout makes it easier to scrape the excess... More
