The Journal of Light Construction articles from August 2004

The Journal of Light Construction archives from August 2004

Deck ledger question.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... To the Editor: I just finished reading "Load-Tested Deck Ledger Connections" (3/04)--my reading has fallen behind--and I'm glad you finally came through with the information that had intrigued many of us who read your magazine. The...

Why not make changes?(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... To the Editor: As a new small business, we've learned a lot from your news, business, and legal articles. For example, the article "Tracking Changes--All of Them" (Business, 6/04) brought to my attention the need to document how a change...

Duct tape for dummies.(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... To the Editor: I routinely lock my keys in my truck--a dumb move I execute about once a month. Having learned the hard way, I now secure a backup key with duct tape on the bottom of the tail gate. it's not visible, does not come in contact...

Spanish language resources.(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... To the Editor: Congratulations to Jon Vara for the great article, "Success With Spanish Speaking Employees" (5/04). I'm a bilingual trainer with Oregon OSHA. I have recently completed training bilingual materials for the residential...

House traps & plumbing code.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... To the Editor: Regarding the item "Getting Rid of Vent Gas Smell" (Q&A, 3/04): 1 have been a plumber for more than 30 years and have pumped septic tanks for the last 25 years. You are really covering up the real problem--the septic tank...

Faulty vault math.(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2004... To the Editor: Regarding the article on cross-vaulted ceilings (6/04): The formula for finding the radius of an arch based on the arch's width and rise was correct in the article, but the radii given did not work out using the given arch...

Collapse of overloaded deck teaches useful lessons: standard residential decks aren't capable of supporting heavy objects like pools.(In The News)
August 1, 2004... Independence Day weekend came and went this year without any reports of fatal catastrophes involving outdoor wood decks or porches. But as happens every summer, a few smaller deck failures have made the news, including one case in Hughsonville,...

Franchise firm offers builders a business in a box.(In The News)(Epmark Inc.)
August 1, 2004... In many industries, entrepreneurs looking to open a business have the ready option of buying a franchise. Want to serve burgers? Open a McDonald's. Sell cars? Any automaker can set you up. Want to help the local ladies buff up? There's probably...

Massachusetts is set for a major revision of wetlands enforcement policies.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Massachusetts is set for a major revision of wetlands enforcement policies, according to the Boston Globe. The new rules will focus enforcement efforts on major violators, and devote less time and attention to reviewing small permit...

Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation in June ordered employees on 29 home construction sites to stop working.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation in June ordered employees on 29 home construction sites to stop working when the workers or their employers could not show proof of workers comp insurance coverage, reports the Tampa Tribune. The...

A Washington State Supreme Court decision gives change-order procedures the strict force of law in the state.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... A Washington State Supreme Court decision gives change-order procedures the strict force of law in the state, according to executives of the Bellevue law firm Bemtson Porter & Co., PLLC. Previously, an owner's general awareness of changed...

When his permit application was denied, a Georgia developer who wanted to re-zone 34 acres from agricultural to residential use decided to raise a stink--literally.(Off Cuts)(Bob Cain )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... When his permit application was denied, a Georgia developer who wanted to re-zone 34 acres from agricultural to residential use decided to raise a stink--literally. The New York Times says developer Bob Cain decided to dump copious quantities...

Colorado voters take aim at construction liability reforms.(In The News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Colorado builders are gearing up to resist a threatened voter backlash against the state s recently adopted construction liability reforms. House Bill 1161, passed last year by the Colorado legislature, requires homeowners and builders to try...

Fish and Wildlife permits in limbo as judge vacates "no surprises" policy.(In The News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Building industry lobbyists reacted with dismay to a June ruling in federal court that suspends the Fish and Wildlife Service's "no surprises" rule for land-use permits issued under the FWS Habitat Conservation Program. The "no surprises"...

An Indiana builder's down-payment gift program has drawn a homeowner lawsuit based on allegations of deceptive selling.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... An Indiana builder's down-payment gift program has drawn a homeowner lawsuit based on allegations of deceptive selling, reports the Indianapolis Star. Indiana attorney Eric Pavlack is seeking class-action status for a suit charging that...

The New Haven County, Conn., Home Builders Association has its first woman president.(Off Cuts)(Liz Verna)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The New Haven County, Conn., Home Builders Association has its first woman president. Liz Verna, co-owner of Verna Builders and Developers in Wallingford, Conn., took over the job in June after serving on the board of directors for 10 years,...

Chicago, Illinois is set to start a comprehensive rezoning process.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Chicago, Illinois is set to start a comprehensive rezoning process that will define the look and feel of city neighborhoods for decades to come. The Chicago Tribune says the city council has passed a drastic revision and expansion of Chicago's...

"Who steals my purse steals trash," said Shakespeare. The playwright made no reference to those villains who would rob us of our rocks, but outlaws are making a practice of it in commuter towns outside New York City.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... "Who steals my purse steals trash," said Shakespeare. The playwright made no reference to those villains who would rob us of our rocks, but outlaws are making a practice of it in commuter towns outside New York City. A New Canaan resident told...

Industry experts see price relief for lumber, not structured panels.(In The News)
August 1, 2004... Lumber industry trend-watchers are looking for a slide in lumber prices through late summer and into fall. Press reports in June and July indicated that gradual interest-rate hikes by the U.S. Federal Reserve could cool consumer demand across...

Cost-effectiveness of solar equipment.(Q&A)(Interview)
August 1, 2004... Q. How cost-effective are solar panels? A. Martin Holladay responds: The term "solar panel" can refer to two different types of equipment: photovoltaic (PV) modules or solar thermal collectors. PV modules generate DC power to charge...

Setting ceramic tile over long-span steel joists.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Q. the plans for a new house call for saltillo tile over a 3/4-inch plywood sub-floor with 1/2-inch concrete backerboard (Durock) thinset and screwed to the plywood. The floor joists are Dietrich Trade Ready Floor System 12-gauge steel joists...

Determining labor productivity rates.(Business)
August 1, 2004... I recently asked the participants in jlconline's Estimating and Takeoff forum what part of the estimating process was most difficult for them. The nearly unanimous answer was "estimating labor costs." Labor costs are harder to estimate...

How long should you keep business records?(Legal)
August 1, 2004... What should you do with all those old business records that you store in file cabinets, boxes, and stacks in the corner? Do you have to keep them forever? Of course, the answer is no. Last winter my husband and I went through the papers...

Building a timber barn: these buildings capture the visual appeal of traditional timber framing without elaborate joinery.
August 1, 2004... I built my first timber-frame barn in 1986 at the request of a homeowner who wanted to replicate the style of an existing barn in town, which dated from the early 1800s. With permission, I photographed and examined the details of that building,...

Cast-in-place concrete counters: for a durable, attractive counter, use the right concrete mix and skilled finishers.
August 1, 2004... Despite the simple, rugged nature of the material, concrete counters have become very popular in high-end kitchens and baths. Some homeowners choose this material because it can be produced in any color or texture they want. Others just like...

Stacked-tank compressors: the best portable compressors are quiet, easy to transport, and hard to damage.(Tool Test)
August 1, 2004... An air compressor isn't the first tool people notice when they come on site. If you're like me, you try to put it out of the way so you don't have to listen to it. I might not see my compressor all day long, yet it's one of the most important...

Fitting up a custom saw trailer: this rig boosts production by slashing setup time.(Parlee Projects, Inc.)
August 1, 2004... Like many of the contractors in this area, the first contractor worked for had a portable saw trailer for each crew. When I went out on my own, he gave me one of the old trailers, and my company has been using trailers ever since. I've built a...

Fixing a wet crawlspace: a thorough cleanup, dehumidification, and an air-sealed poly ground cover can turn a slimy crawlspace into a dry, safe environment.
August 1, 2004... In North Carolina, where I live and work, enclosed crawlspace foundations with small vent openings are very common. Most of those crawlspaces experience high humidity, and many have problems with mold and rot. My contracting firm, The Healthy...

The mother of all hole saws.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)
August 1, 2004... One of the great things about I-joists is that you can cut monstrous holes for ductwork and other mechanicals. But using a recip saw to make those holes is slow, and there's always a risk of cutting into a flange. A better method is the Matrix...

Don't forget to flush.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)(Flush Cut Adapter)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Making flush cuts with a recip saw usually, requires dragging your knuckles and bending the blade--a bloodletting practice that can damage materials you want to salvage and greatly reduce a blade's lifespan. But the Flush Cut Adapter does the...

Wood razor.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)
August 1, 2004... Comparing a Microplane rasp to a Surform rasp is like comparing a Ferrari to a Checker cab--they'll both get you where you're going, but one can do it a lot faster. After trying a Microplane a few weeks ago, I would guess that the...

Better blade.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)(CMP-2)
August 1, 2004... I was under the impression that knives with breakaway blades were only for scrapbooks until I saw these utility knives from Olfa. The pro-grade tools not only give you a new edge in seconds, but a blade with a few segments left can be extended...

A new angle on miters.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)(ProSite Protractor)
August 1, 2004... Determining accurate miter settings for crown molding and inside and outside corners can involve a lot of trial and error, but a new tool from Starrett can speed the process considerably. The sturdy aluminum ProSite Protractor gives you both...

Copy machine.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)(Angleizer)
August 1, 2004... A template is often the fastest and most accurate way to make complicated cuts on floor tile or trim. If you don't feel like carrying scraps of plywood in your toolbelt, you could use the Angleizer. It's a four-sided adjustable template made...

Board bender.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)(BowJak)
August 1, 2004... I've found that, unless you're a deck builder, most board straighteners aren't very useful. They're big and bulky and rely on some method to grab the joist--not much good if you're installing hardwood over a subfloor. The BowJak is the one...

No knuckle dragging.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)
August 1, 2004... Nailing off subfloor with a framing nailer is fast and easy, but bending over a nail-gun with your knuckles dragging won't do much for your image, and it certainly won't help your back. You can make the whole process a lot more civilized and...

Fall-arrest for tools.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)
August 1, 2004... If you've ever watched your cordless drill take a suicidal leap from two stories high, you know that there's little you can do except pick up the pieces after it hits the ground. But you can prevent such a needless tragedy with the MultiHoldit....

Miter marker.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)
August 1, 2004... We all know that the world is built from miters other than 45 and 90 degrees. The Accur-8 Folding Miter Square from Swanson not only gives you the most common 45- and 90-degree angles, it also shows 22 1/2, 67 1/2, 112 1/2, 135, and 157 1/2...

Angle finder.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)(Slant AL200)
August 1, 2004... Determining the angle of trim, roof pitches, and sloping ceilings is a lot easier with a new tool from Tajima. The Slant AL200 has a rotating bubble level controlled by a thumbwheel on the housing. By rotating the level you can determine the...

Job-site jaws.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)
August 1, 2004... Few tools have as many practical uses as a pair of locking pliers. But getting the proper jaw adjustment usually takes a few tries. The new SeberGrip pliers, however, automatically adjust the jaws to the right size without the trial and error...

King Kong's carrier.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)
August 1, 2004... The half-dozen panel carriers I've seen come and go at the local lumberyard all required that you lift the panel and put the carrier at the bottom. At that point you've already lifted the panel, so why not keep going? The Gorilla Gripper is...

Cabinet caddy.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)(Speed Doll-ie)(FastCap)
August 1, 2004... Carrying and placing a kitchen's worth of cabinets can be tough on your back, but the Speed Doll-ie from FastCap can make it easier. The aluminum dolly allows you to scoop up a cabinet and roll it into place on rubber wheels that won't mar...

Space makers.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)
August 1, 2004... I can't think of too many on-site projects that take up more space than painting an entire home's worth of trim or interior doors. There's also the challenge of finding a place that's clean and won't see any other activity. If such a place...

Keep your cool.(Time-Saving Tools For Framers And Finish Carpenters)
August 1, 2004... Working in hot weather can really slow production and can be downright dangerous. If the troops need a space to cool off or you want to be a little more comfortable indoors, you might consider the Port-a-Cool. The portable evaporative cooler...

Hidden hanger.(Products)
August 1, 2004... Roof-mounted hangers are usually the only option when installing gutters on a house with angled fascia or crown-molding detail on the overhangs. But roof hangers have a couple of significant drawbacks. First, the brackets are right out there in...

Two for one.(Products)
August 1, 2004... It might not be the right product for a million-dollar spec home, but for more modest projects, the Fiber Care Tub and Shower seems like a winner. The fiberglass unit includes a 5-foot or 6-foot tub and a 42-inch shower molded in one piece. The...

Bigger is better.(Products)(CraftMaster Manufacturing, Inc)(Miratec)
August 1, 2004... If you're in need of a wider composite trim board for column wraps, friezes, water tables, or arches, you might consider MiraTEC. The company's newly introduced 5/4-inch (1-inch actual) by 16-inch board joins the 4/4-inch (3/4-inch actual) by...

On track.(Products)
August 1, 2004... A damaged patio door track can be a tough fix, and with workers carrying heavy objects in and out all day long, it's often just a matter of time before an accident happens. The FlipGard protects that vulnerable component with a sturdy temporary...

No-frills furnace.(Products)
August 1, 2004... If you're looking for a quiet, dependable 90%-efficiency furnace with a minimum of frills, the Comfortmaker PS90-DV fits the bill. According to the manufacturer, the unit is only 40 inches tall and can be installed in up-flow, down-flow, and...

Louver maneuver.(Interior Doors)
August 1, 2004... Louvered closet doors are a great idea. Not only do they prevent clothes from getting musty, but they also look great and give bedrooms a relaxing cabana-like feel. The only drawback is the time it takes to prime and paint all those little...

Chalk line.(Interior Doors)
August 1, 2004... Adding some character to a kid's bedroom or a kitchen space could be as easy as installing a new Chalkboard Panel door from Simpson. The unique product replaces the wood panel(s) on one side with a 1/4.inch.thick magnetic chalkboard. The doors...

Custom cut.(Interior Doors)(Bollection Door Company)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... If you or your customer is looking for completely custom MDF interior doors, Bollection Door Company can make just about anything you or your designer can come up with. Besides the company's custom capabilities, they also have an extensive...

Precious metal.(Interior Doors)
August 1, 2004... While most MDF doors have traditional styling, some customers crave something a little different. In addition to more typical four- or six-panel offerings, TruStile makes a line of MDF doors that definitely goes beyond the ordinary. Their...

Zone defense.(AC Products)
August 1, 2004... Effective zoning is one of the drawbacks of forced-air heating and air-conditioning systems. If your customers are complaining that they're heating or cooling unused spaces, you might suggest the easy-to-install retrofit dampers from Arzel...

Seal the deal.(AC Products)
August 1, 2004... Sealing hvac ducts makes balancing systems easier and prevents the wasting of conditioned air inside wall cavities and chases. Most building scientists and conscientious hvac contractors agree that the best way to prevent air leakage is with...

High style.(AC Products)
August 1, 2004... While working as an apprentice in my uncle's heating and refrigeration business, I remember a discussion he had with a style-conscious customer. This educated woman was totally unconcerned with the brand of her new air conditioning system, its...

TrussLok screws.(On The Job)(Olympic Manufacturing Group)
August 1, 2004... Like most builders today, I regularly use built-up LVL (laminated veneer lumber) beams in new construction and additions. For strength and straightness, they're unbeatable. But if there's one thing I hate, it's nailing them together. Gun nails...

Profiles in stainless.(Pro-Style Gas Ranges)
August 1, 2004... I predict that the candidate who promises a commercial range in every kitchen will be the next president. But it's a tall order to fill with prices for pro-style stoves soaring from $2,000 to infinity and beyond. Fortunately, according to a...

A real pro.(Pro-Style Gas Ranges)
August 1, 2004... Ironically, true professional equipment is not what you get in the typical pro-style range, but rather a unit designed from the ground up for residential use. The maker of BlueStar "genuine restaurant ranges" claims to produce the sole...

A range of ranges arranged.(Pro-Style Gas Ranges)
August 1, 2004... With sizes including 24-inch, 30-inch, and 36-inch widths, this line of pro-style ranges will suit almost any kitchen, and at a reasonable price. The 36-inch Pro-Series P36S338BP features two high-power burners, at 15,000 and 12,000 BTUs...

Double duty.(Pro-Style Gas Ranges)
August 1, 2004... This gas range kicks pro-brand butt in independent reviews, and is available in stainless steel as a $180 option. An immediately obvious feature of the Gemini MGR6772BDS 30-inch range is its double oven, capable of simultaneously cooking...

Basin in a barrel.(Vanities)
August 1, 2004... It's been a while since this vanity's debut--ten years, in fact. To celebrate, this base from the Starck 1 series is being re-issued with a "genuine Macassar ebony veneer." This darkest of woods is interspersed with contrasting bands of yellow...

Sixty-inch cabinet.(Vanities)
August 1, 2004... One advantage of a one-piece cabinet of this size is that more cubic inches can be dedicated to function instead of lost to the redundant partitions of a multiple cabinet assembly. The Harbour Court production vanity is large enough for two...

Think big.(Vanities)
August 1, 2004... Add water and this cabinet grows into a vanity and then some. The Brighton Arch style shown features "linen" white full overlay thermofoil door and drawer fronts, concealed hinges, and 3/4-inch wood drawer construction. With bathroom storage...

Made-to-order.(Vanities)
August 1, 2004... Trend watchers report a slight decline in the carved country cabinet look. Clean, uncluttered lines characterize this Practically Basics vanity. The model shown features a white frost finish on solid beech. And although they may never be moved,...

Bosch 1590 EVS jigsaw.(Toolbox)
August 1, 2004... Ween JLC asked me if I wanted to view the Bosch 1590 EV5 jigsaw, I thought this would be a great opportunity to upgrade my 20-year-old basic-model jigsaw. It had been a while since I'd looked at jigsaws, so when I pulled this one out of...

Wrench-free blade changes: Porter-Cable's 324MAG circular saw.(Toolbox)
August 1, 2004... I recently had a chance to try out one of the latest additions to Porter-Cable's line of circular saws: the 324MAG introduced this past March. This is one of four new saws (two blade-left and two blade-right) that include a toolless...

Wide format.(Concrete Tools)
August 1, 2004... If you're hoping to pick up the pace on your next slab pour, you shouldn't be without one of these little gems. The Hog line of magnesium floats are 3 3/4 inches wide, making them about 1/2 inch wider than many mag floats. According to the...

Tie one on.(Concrete Tools)
August 1, 2004... If tying rebar all day isn't your idea of a good time, you might try a Max RB392. This 3 1/2-pound cordless tool will tie together two pieces of bar in less than one second. It uses three wraps of 21-gauge wire for increased strength. It can...

Not the same old grind.(Concrete Tools)
August 1, 2004... Concrete grinders are often huge walk-behind machines. But for smaller projects, the Bosch 1773AK surfacing grinder might be a better choice. The handheld machine uses a 5-inch diamond cup wheel and features what the maker claims is the "most...

Bag blender.(Concrete Tools)
August 1, 2004... Mixing one or two bags of concrete or mortar mix is no big deal, but if your job calls for a steady diet of bagged concrete, you might look to a portable mixer like the PortoMix from Stow. With a capacity of up to 3 cubic feet, the mini mixer...

Vinyl-bead stapler.(Specialty Nailers)
August 1, 2004... Trimtex vinyl corner bead has proved its value to many builders and remodelers who appreciate the product's unique profiles and durability. The only drawback I can find is the expensive spray adhesive commonly used to attach it. An alternative...

Fun gun.(Specialty Nailers)
August 1, 2004... Looking a lot like a laser gun from a sci-fi movie, the Makita AG 125 uses repetitive blows like a palm nailer to shoot individual bulk nails from 3 to 4 7/8 inches. While it won't fit in extremely tight spaces like a palm nailer, the larger...

Heavy hitter.(Specialty Nailers)
August 1, 2004... Sometimes bigger is better. If you're looking for a nailer that can shoot longer nails for timber construction, dock building, or other heavy-duty applications, check out the D 160 from Quicknail. This monster will shoot up to 6 3/8-inch nails...

Tar-paper stapler.(Specialty Nailers)
August 1, 2004... About two years ago, my wife decided she wanted to tackle some upholstery projects. Figuring there's no bad reason to buy a pneumatic tool, I got her a US58 Upholstery Stapler from Porter-Cable. After the sofa was done, I decided to try it for...

Rock runner.(Specialty Nailers)
August 1, 2004... I think anything that promises to make hanging drywall faster and easier deserves a serious look. Although it looks a lot like a siding or roofing gun, Max's CN351R-ST is a coil drywall nailer. The single-purpose nailer has adjustable...

Slim pin for trim.(Specialty Nailers)
August 1, 2004... Ask any finish carpenter who's recently purchased a micropinner like the FinishPro 10 from Senco, and I think they'll tell you it's changed their life. What's so great about these tools is that the 23-gauge fasteners don't have a head and the...

Hmmm ... and that Louis XIV chair would make an excellent drill press.(Backfill)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... My father was a grocery store manager; he couldn't even drive a nail. So I guess I must have my grandfather's genes, which were then passed on to my son Richard, whom I admire as a master craftsman. My grandfather came to the United States...