The Journal of Light Construction articles from April 2006

The Journal of Light Construction archives from April 2006

Incentives energize solar industry: two initiatives aim to reduce costs.(In the News)
April 1, 2006... Solar energy was first harnessed as a significant source of electricity in the 1950s, when Bell Labs created silicon-based photovoltaic cells to provide reliable power for telephone service. These PV cells were able to convert 6 percent of...

Former lead-paint makers are liable for creating a public nuisance, a Rhode Island superior court jury decided in February.(In the News)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Former lead-paint makers are liable for creating a public nuisance, a Rhode Island superior court jury decided in February. Three companies--Sherwin-Williams, NL Industries, and' Millennium Holdings--lost their cases; of the others named in...

Runaway remodeler Craig J. Oliver is being sought by the F.B.I. and the U.S. Marshals Service for scamming more than $2 million from 68 homeowners for unfinished and shoddy remodeling projects.(In the News)
April 1, 2006... Runaway remodeler Craig J. Oliver is being sought by the F.B.I. and the U.S. Marshals Service for scamming more than $2 million from 68 homeowners for unfinished and shoddy remodeling projects. The 52-year-old man was already missing when he...

Bay-state employers face strict sub vs. employee test.(In the News)
April 1, 2006... Is that worker an employee or an independent contractor? The difference matters when it comes to comp coverage, tax withholding, eligibility for unemployment benefits, and more. Nationwide, a longstanding 20-item IRS test spells out...

Two guides to energy-saving lighting design.(RESOURCES)
April 1, 2006... You don't have to live in California to appreciate the practical suggestions contained in "Residential Lighting Design Guide: Best Practices and Lighting Designs to Help Builders Comply with California's Title 24 Energy Code." This 25-page...

As a rule, you don't want to know what Roto-Rooter technicians find in a day's work, but the company's top five drainpipe recoveries of 2005 aren't your usual stoppages.(In the News)
April 1, 2006... As a rule, you don't want to know what Roto-Rooter technicians find in a day's work, but the company's top five drainpipe recoveries of 2005 aren't your usual stoppages. The first item on the list is a live Civil War cannon shell, found when...

Giving new meaning to the phrase "take the stairs," thieves swiped a banister from a Gilroy, Calif., home that was in the process of being remodeled.(In the News)
April 1, 2006... Giving new meaning to the phrase "take the stairs," thieves swiped a banister from a Gilroy, Calif., home that was in the process of being remodeled. Clearly, the burglars had some appreciation for architectural elements, as the wrought-iron...

Some 14 percent of illegal immigrants were employed in construction last year, says a Pew Hispanic Center report released March 7.(In the News)
April 1, 2006... Some 14 percent of illegal immigrants were employed in construction last year, says a Pew Hispanic Center report released March 7. The study also found high percentages of illegal immigrants in certain occupations: More than 20 percent of all...

Moving an electrical box.(Q&A.)
April 1, 2006... Q. Moving an Electrical Box On a current kitchen remodel, my electrician placed one of the electrical boxes for the countertop outlets too low. I need to raise it about an inch to clear a stone backsplash. There's enough stripped Type...

Tiling a curved wall.(Q&A)(Cape Cod Tile)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Q. Tiling a Curved Wall We've been asked to build a semicircular bathroom with tiled walls. What should we use as a substrate to cover the curved wail which will have about a 12- to 18-foot radius, and what should we use to waterproof...

Passive solar flooring.(Q&A)
April 1, 2006... Q. Passive Solar Flooring Instead of tile, my clients want to install a wood-finish floor over the insulated concrete slab of a planned passive solar addition. They've also asked us to install tubing in the slab to give them the option...

Girder truss to the rescue.(On the Job)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Well know what happens when you put an addition on a home and what once was an exterior bearing wall ends up in the middle of the room: You either drop a beam below the ceiling or, if you have the space (and the budget), you retrofit a flush...

Outdoor detour.(home design)(Column)
April 1, 2006... Recently, some clients called to ask about having a home theater installed in the unfinished attic of their beautifully furnished home. I immediately pictured my crew tromping through the house and up the stairs, hauling tools and materials...

Determining your break-even point.(Risk assessment)
April 1, 2006... Like many small contractors, you probably want your business to grow and produce more profit. But growth entails risks, including the possibility that hiring more managers or office people could increase overhead to such an extent that profit...

Idiot-proof your contracts.(Legal)(construction industry contracts)
April 1, 2006... You probably write your own contracts. By that I mean you buy a form book or copy contracts from other jobs. As someone who writes form books, I can tell you that it's fine to do this. I regularly advise people that writing construction...

Part one: installing an over-the-post handrail: simple-to-make railing stands allow accurate assembly right in position.
April 1, 2006... To allow plenty of room for we are running this article in two parts; part will appear next month. In this installment, author shows how he lays out balusters, landing newel, and accurately positions the and volute. In Part Two, he will...

Replacing a bearing wall with a flush beam: a shallow steel-reinforced beam preserved headroom in this low-ceilinged room.
April 1, 2006... When I'm reviewing the prints for remodeling job, one of the first items I check for is the addition of new structural beams, which always require plenty of manpower and extra work. But prints don't always give you a clear picture of actual...

Getting ready for drywall: careful planning and properly detailed framing will prevent cracks, pops, sags, and ridges.
April 1, 2006... Imagine the home as a work of art. The cabinetry, trim, and furnishings are the composition, and the drywall is the canvas they're arranged on. In building as in art, the quality of the canvas affects the quality of the finished piece. Think...

Seismic retrofit for cripple walls: a good job addresses the building's weakest link--where the foundation attaches to the first floor.
April 1, 2006... The Pacific coast of the United States is riddled with earthquake faults; sooner or later one of them will rupture with an intensity far greater than was experienced in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. That event caused more than $40 billion...

Remodeling for aging in place: aesthetics and safety go hand-in-hand in thoughtful barrier-free design.
April 1, 2006... When my business partner, Brian Bartholomew, and I began to support our elderly parents some years ago, we became acutely aware of a national phenomenon: the aging of America. Today, people aged 80 and older are the fastest-growing segment of...

New line.(Kitchen & Bath / Decorative Hardware)
April 1, 2006... A whopping 130 decorative pieces make up the new Allison Cabinet Hardware series. The trend-driven designs are sold in most major home centers and hardware stores for about $3 each. Amerock, 800/435-6959, www.amerock.com. Circle #1...

Happy hardware.(Kitchen & Bath / Decorative Hardware)
April 1, 2006... If you've got a client looking for whimsical cabinet hardware that wears its heart on its sleeve, look no further than HobKnobs' many offerings. Prices run from $7.50 to $22 apiece. HobKnobs, 770/631-4080, www.hobknobs.net. Circle #3 ...

Leather look.(Kitchen & Bath / Decorative Hardware)
April 1, 2006... The Paradigm Collection offers coordinated knobs, pulls, towel bars, and more in metal and genuine leather. Finish variations include black leather or brown suede in polished chrome or brushed nickel. Prices range from $22 for a cabinet knob...

French chic.(Kitchen & Bath / Decorative Hardware)
April 1, 2006... Rich metal finishes and jewel-faceted glass distinguish the coordinated cabinet knobs and door pulls in this French maker's Collection de Lalique (right) and Collection Cristal (below). Put a high-class finishing touch on your clients'...

Seamless underlayment.(Kitchen & Bath / Tile-Setting Problem-Solvers)
April 1, 2006... Pour uneven subfloors flat with self-leveling SL-150, a polymer-modified cement designed for use under tile--ceramic, stone, or vinyl--hardwood, and carpet. The product can be used in thicknesses of up to one inch and hardens in about four...

Mold-stopper.(Kitchen & Bath / Tile-Setting Problem-Solvers)
April 1, 2006... Antimicrobial technology prevents fungal growth in TexRite Grout, claims the maker. Sanded and unsanded versions come in 25-pound bags at a cost determined by individual distributors. Texas Cement Products, 800/669-0115, www.texrite.com....

Sure stick.(Kitchen & Bath / Tile-Setting Problem-Solvers)
April 1, 2006... Here's a tile-setting mortar formulated to eliminate back-buttering and ensure 100 percent coverage for full, superior contact between tile and underlayment. Polymer-modified Ultracontact comes in 50-pound bags, mixes with five quarts of...

Ready, set, grow: taking your business to the next level.(Remodeling: Leadership Conference)
April 1, 2006... Attend this information-packed conference and learn * How to be profitable doing more with less and how to make the most of adversity * Which cultural and economic forces will most strongly affect your business * Where to look...

Full-head cordless framer.(Products / Pneumatic Fasteners)
April 1, 2006... Paslode's cordless framing nailers have always been popular with professionals. However, some tasks require full-head nails, which means that clipped-head framers like Paslode's need proprietary nails with an offset head; these special nails...

Sheathing specialist.(Products / Pneumatic Fasteners)
April 1, 2006... With a head that's 30 percent larger than that of conventional sheathing nails and with 20 percent more shear strength, Bostitch's new Hurriquake Collated Nail weathers storms better than other collated nails, says the company. An update of...

Worry-free collated fasteners.(Products / Pneumatic Fasteners)
April 1, 2006... By now, quality-conscious contractors know that stainless-steel fasteners are the best choice for exterior work, especially for the new formulations of pressure-treated lumber. Swan Secure Products offers stainless collated nails and staples...

Thin is in.(Products / Skylights)
April 1, 2006... Designed for easy installation in roofs with 16-inch-o.c. framing, Insula-Dome 14-inch-wide skylights come in six standard sizes from 22 inches to 8 feet long. These narrow units speed installation by eliminating any need for extensive...

Premium-grade shade.(Products / Skylights)
April 1, 2006... Skylights are a great way to add a little ventilation or brightness to a living space, but blinding light from an overhead opening can be a real nuisance to folks trying to watch TV or to sleep--or to homeowners trying to keep summer...

Step-saver.(Products / Skylights)
April 1, 2006... Offered in nine standard sizes and featuring a one-piece curb, Wasco's E-Class SkyWindow boasts the largest glass area available and installs faster than any other major brand of skylight, says the company. Key to its speedy installation is a...

Safety in mind.(Products / Instantaneous Water Heaters)
April 1, 2006... Like many other manufacturers, Rheem has installed several safety features on its tankless water heaters that aren't commonly found on conventional heaters. Case in point: A safety film covering the heat exchanger in the RTG-74 shuts the unit...

Spot hot.(Products / Instantaneous Water Heaters)
April 1, 2006... It can take forever for hot water to get to a half-bath or sink located far from the water tank. But there's an easy fix: an electric point-of-use heater like Stiebel-Eltron's DHC. Electric point-of-use models don't need a flue, and since...

Steady as she goes.(Products / Instantaneous Water Heaters)
April 1, 2006... Modulating burners like those found in Bradford White's EverHot tankless gas water heaters save fuel and provide a more consistent water temperature than nonmodulating burners do. Available in two indoor and two outdoor models, the EverHot...

Grip-rite joist-hanger nailers.(Toolbox)
April 1, 2006... If there's one part of framing I don't enjoy, it's installing metal hardware--hangers, hurricane clips, hold-downs, straps, and anything else we're required to use. Lucky for us that there are specialized nail guns--hardware nailers--to make...

Freedom from exhaustion.(Toolbox / Masonry Tools)
April 1, 2006... Freedom from Exhaustion. Because of the very real risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, it's generally a bad idea to use a gas cutoff saw indoors. Instead, most contractors settle for less-powerful electric versions. But there's another option:...

Clear the air.(Toolbox / Masonry Tools)
April 1, 2006... What's worse than chasing mortar joints with a dusty handheld grinder? My answer: Nothing. Fortunately, though, you can cut down on the mess with Bosch's specialty 5-inch grinder. The maker claims that the see-through blade guard on the 1775E...

Mega mortar mixer.(Toolbox / Masonry Tools)
April 1, 2006... Mega Mortar Mixer. Mixing mortar or concrete by hand might be a good way to keep a brain-dead helper out of trouble for a while--but then again, maybe you should just send him home and rent a mixer. If you own a skid-steer loader, inquire at...

Soft landling.(Toolbox / Tool Storage)
April 1, 2006... Want your tools organized and within easy reach? Try a soft-sided tool organizer, such as CLC's new offerings. These specialized tool rigs have some cool features: an integral small-parts tray on the 1535 ($60); plenty of vertical tool...

Easy roller.(Toolbox / Tool Storage)
April 1, 2006... Ever find yourself envying your auto mechanic's cool roll-around tool chest--but just can't bring yourself to shell out thousands for your own? The Stanley four-drawer FatMax Rolling Tool Center may be just the ticket. Equipped with...

Walk-in tool storage.(Toolbox / Tool Storage)
April 1, 2006... Most contractors who leave their tools on site use some kind of a steel box to secure them. A box that's too small, though, makes things even easier for thieves: They can grab all the tools at once. For a toolbox that'll challenge even the...

How to dismantle a 400-year-old fireplace (very carefully).(Backfill)
April 1, 2006... There is currently a major expansion and remodeling program taking place at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. My crew and I were called upon to assist Louise Freedman of L.H. Freedman Studios in taking apart one of the exhibits, an ornate...