Q: What’s the best way to support a new garage slab next to an existing foundation... More
Making durable patches in stucco finishes is as much art as science. A veteran stucco contractor shows how to use dry dusting, fog coats, and trowel mix plastering both to repair damaged stucco and to blend new stucco work with old. More
When a tile job fails, it’s easy to blame the materials. But in most cases, shoddy... More
Q: On a recent house we built, cracking has occurred where nonbearing interior... More
Q: As a general contractor in the Blue Ridge mountains of southwestern Virginia,... More
Q: I’ve noticed that whenever I finish drywall, fine cracks start appearing at inside corners a couple of days after the job’s done. What is causing the cracks? More
When a house frame shrinks, it can leave bumps and dips in the floor, cause doors to bind, and open cracks in drywall and casing joints. Proper selection of materials and attention to framing details can keep these problems to a minimum. More
Q: What would cause the sole plate of a nonbearing partition wall to pull away... More
It’s inevitable: A concrete slab is going to crack. But how much it cracks, and where, depends on the amount of water in the mix, where you place control joints, and how you finish the slab. Here’s what you need to know for good results. More