The Journal of Light Construction articles from December 2004

The Journal of Light Construction archives from December 2004

Supreme Court to hear eminent domain case: should cities seize private land for private development? They often do, but the practice is under attack.(In The News)
December 1, 2004... The Supreme Court announced in September that it will take up Kelo vs. City of New London, a property-rights case that pits Connecticut homeowners against a city government that wants to take their homes through the power of eminent domain....

Unsound decks still making news.(In The News)(accidents)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A 10-by-35-foot deck off the second story of a home near Tacoma, Wash., collapsed onto the concrete patio below during a family gathering on October 15. According to Associated Press reports, as many as 16 people were on the deck when it...

Price forecasters offer guarded optimism.(In The News)
December 1, 2004... For builders who spent the past year grappling with sudden price spikes for a wide array of construction materials, the price/availability forecast for the next six to 12 months comes with two reasons for cautious optimism. The first concerns...

Humidity control: more than one way to skin a cat.(In The News)(surveys)
December 1, 2004... Air conditioners are supposed to dehumidify as well as cool, but they face new challenges in the modern home. In energy-efficient buildings, units sized to cool efficiently on a midsummer "design day" may not run long enough to dry out the...

Car big loser in confrontation with house.(In The News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A Florida couple were awakened by a light thud last June only to find that a drunk driver had crashed into their home. The car was totaled. But the house, which had been built with insulated concrete forms from Albuquerque-based American...

A new California law protects builders.(Offcuts)(Land Reuse and Revitalization Act )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A new California law protects builders who develop urban brownfield parcels. Sponsored by two Democratic legislators and signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in late September, the California Land Reuse and Revitalization Act shields...

There's no evidence that mold causes cancer.(Offcuts)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... There's no evidence that mold causes cancer, fatigue, or neurological problems, says a recent study conducted by the Institute of Medicine for the National Academy of Sciences. However, that doesn't let builders and owners off the hook, as...

Pasco County, Fla., builders have to help fund shelters.(Offcuts)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Pasco County, Fla., builders have to help fund shelters and road improvements on evacuation routes. The county, which is just north of Tampa, recently instituted a Hurricane Impact Fee of $241 on new homes in evacuation zones, of which $238...

Shade trees are a great amenity.(Offcuts)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Shade trees are a great amenity, but they may not lower air conditioning bills. According to an article in the July/ August issue of Home Energy magazine, researchers who analyzed data from 105 Tucson, Ariz., homes found no landscaping...

Strictly green in Vermont.(In The News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... On October 2, a Plainfield, Vt., home (below) became the first house to earn official certification from the country's most demanding green-building program, Vermont Builds Greener (VBG). To even be considered for certification, a home...

Massachusetts case challenges "pay when paid" contracts.(In The News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... A "pay when paid" clause in a construction contract states that subs don't have to be paid until the general contractor gets paid. But a recent Massachusetts legal challenge could be "a wake-up call for contractors," according to the lawyer...

Weep holes in Brick Veneer.(Q & A)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Q. Are weep holes in a typical wood-frame brick-veneer home required anywhere other than at the bottom? What about over and under windows? Also, is it required that a brick window sill be pitched? Are weep holes required in faux-stone...

Securing dishwashers to stone counters.(Q & A)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Q. I've been unsuccessful in finding a permanent method of securing dishwashers to the underside of stone countertops. I've tried using construction adhesive and epoxy to secure the small metal tabs, but with no long-term success. One...

Compacting stump holes.(Q & A)
December 1, 2004... Q. I'm about to pour a slab on a site where several stumps were removed, leaving 2- and 3-foot-deep holes about 4 feet across. The backhoe operator went ahead and filled in the holes with dirt from the site (sandy loam, pretty good stuff),...

Finding your niche.(Business)(management tips)
December 1, 2004... There's an old saying that you can't be all things to all people. Yet how many times have you seen ads for contractors that include the words "specializing in" and then go on to list every conceivable service from additions to professional...

Looking back at a job well done.(Business)(personal narratives)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Like many companies, we hold an annual holiday party at the end of each year--a time to get together with spouses and significant others, relax, and enjoy one another's company. Several years ago, on a lark, I put together a PowerPoint...

How bidding errors affect the contract.(Legal)
December 1, 2004... I just had to explain the doctrine of "mutual mistake" to a small bidder on a local construction project. It was painful for both of us: painful for me because I didn't like telling him he was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and...

Manufactured-stone nightmares: without proper flashing, heavy-duty building paper, and weep holes, walls behind cast-stone veneer can get wet.
December 1, 2004... As a contractor specializing in remediation and repairs, I've been concentrating for years on fixing failed applications of EIFS and traditional stucco. I've learned from experience that most stucco failures result from improper flashing and...

Stair-building tools: specialized tools and templates make this tricky job go faster.
December 1, 2004... I was a lot more courageous in my youth: I tore through empty subdivisions at breakneck speed on my minibike, raced through prickly pear cactuses on horseback, and even built my first stair--three stories high--using only a framing square, a...

New life for old kitchen cabinets: done properly, refacing provides high-quality cost savings on kitchen remodels.
December 1, 2004... I've been a designer and a quality-oriented remodeler for 28 years. Seven years ago, if any of my customers had suggested refacing rather than replacing their tired-looking kitchen cabinets, I would have discouraged them in no uncertain...

Basic scheduling for increased efficiency: a combination of to-do lists, paper calendars, and a computer contact manager keeps multiple jobs on track.
December 1, 2004... How often have you heard customers complain that building projects seem disorganized and out of control? It doesn't have to be that way. While it's tree that the construction process can be chaotic, there are strategies you can use to manage...

Tool-activated vacuums.(Tool Test)
December 1, 2004... A shop vacuum may not be the first piece of equipment you buy when you go into the construction business, but it's a tool no contractor can afford to be without. My company does remodeling, and cleanup is an important part of the job,...

My favorite dish.(Products)
December 1, 2004... Satellite television is increasingly popular, but until now I haven't seen a good method for roof mounting a dish. The CommDeck is an 18-gauge self-flashing galvanized platform for mounting small satellite dishes. Available in black, brown,...

Maintenance-free frame.(Products)
December 1, 2004... A wet location combined with minimal homeowner maintenance can turn a door frame spongy after only a year or two. If you're dealing with a damp site and would like to spare your customers annual scraping and painting, consider using the...

Double-duty closet lighting.(Products)
December 1, 2004... Lighting a dark closet isn't the easiest task. The National Electric Code prohibits some types of fixtures, and getting light exactly where you need it can be a challenge. Here's a great solution: the Closet Rod Light from Outwater. Available...

Quick finish.(Windows)
December 1, 2004... One of the best ways to save time and money when you're installing wood windows is to I have the interior prefinished at the factory. Peachtree recently started offering a prefinished interior on the 500 Series windows and patio doors. While...

Discreet screen.(Windows)
December 1, 2004... Screens generally don't do much for the aesthetics of a home. Don't believe me? Look at the catalogs and marketing materials from just about any window manufacturer--they almost never depict windows with the screens installed. For screens...

Less expensive grille option.(Windows)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Simulated divided lights (SDLs) are a great way to dress up ordinary windows, especially if you're going for a historic look or replacing units on an older home. Most optional SDL systems use a spacer bar between the two panes of glass, but...

Snug fit.(Heating Products)
December 1, 2004... Refrigerant lines for residential air conditioners and heat pumps require a pretty big hole in the side of the building. You could seal the opening with duct sealing compound or caulk, but a big blob of either substance doesn't look too swift...

Two zones are better than one.(Heating Products)
December 1, 2004... Zoned heating systems in residential applications are increasingly popular because they maximize comfort and save energy. The SlimZone Classic II is a good example of a relatively simple and easy-to-install two-zone control panel. It allows...

Energy-saving blower motor.(Heating Products)
December 1, 2004... Electronically commutated motors (ECMs) in forced-air furnaces use about half the electricity of more conventional blower motors, says a study released last year by the Energy Center of Wisconsin. The study examined the energy consumption of...

Peak performance.(Historic Restoration Products)
December 1, 2004... In addition to elaborate millwork and paint schemes, Victorian homes often boast decorative metal accents, including decorative ridge metal and cresting. Sadly, these elements are often sacrificed when replacement pieces prove tough to find....

Open and shut case.(Historic Restoration Products)
December 1, 2004... Shutters are a key component of many historic homes--and I'm not talking about the tacky plastic versions from the lumberyard or home center. When nothing but real wood will do, consider Cedar Shutters from Timberlane Woodcrafters. Made from...

Southern hospitality.(Historic Restoration Products)
December 1, 2004... Getting the paint colors right is one of the most important aspects of any historic restoration. Last spring, Duron started selling a line of paints inspired by the colors of homes and commercial buildings in historic Charleston, S.C....

One-piece upright.(Toilets)
December 1, 2004... Beleaguered users of the raised-seat toilet, rejoice! The Champion's sloping, seamless deck provides positive drainage and eliminates the uncleanable crevice between tank and bowl. Thanks to a 3.5-inch-diameter valve and a "flapperless" Flush...

Dual water saver.(Toilets)
December 1, 2004... At first flush, it's hard to believe that a mere dollop of water could be so effective. Nonetheless, the Rockton delivers the goods with a two-way selectable flush button. Liquid waste is escorted out with a light .8-gallon flush, while solid...

Flushing up.(Toilets)
December 1, 2004... With the ability to pump 9 feet vertically and 100 feet horizontally, the Sanistar macerating toilet opens otherwise plumbing-challenged spaces--like a basement, garage, or closet--to bathroom development without floor demolition. The...

No sweat.(Toilets)
December 1, 2004... Why haven't toilets always been flushed this way? Within its conventional-looking tank, the Niagara Flapperless toilet conceals a tipping reservoir. The flush handle rotates the reservoir to dump a precise 1.6 gallons down the open...

Carved relief.(Countertop Edge Treatments)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The versatility of a routered edge is no match for the deeply profiled patterns offered by Omnitones and MetalTones Solid Surface Edge Treatments. The metal finishes contain real metal and must be polished with compound and steel wool to...

Smooth transitions.(Countertop Edge Treatments)
December 1, 2004... Combining solid-surface edges, laminate facing, and an MDF backer, Gem-Lot provides a seamless transition between laminate countertop and edge. A proprietary router bit for the T-lock backer profile makes alignment just about foolproof;...

Mixed media.(Countertop Edge Treatments)
December 1, 2004... Just as you can "upscale" a laminate countertop by applying a solid-surface edge, so can you incorporate some of laminate's extensive color and pattern options into a solid-surface countertop. The LaKor Solid Surface Edge features an accent...

Border control.(Countertop Edge Treatments)
December 1, 2004... The time is long past when you could distinguish your kitchen work merely by specifying solid surfacing. That's one reason you might consider adding a Pinske Edge Decorative Inlay to your next countertop project. The company offers four...

Great curves.(Tile Tools)
December 1, 2004... If complex curves are finding their way into your tile work, there's really only one tool for the job: the Revolution Tile Saw. It uses a 10-inch ring blade that can cut 2 1/2 inches thick, 25 inches long, and up to 18 inches on the diagonal....

Clean machine.(Tile Tools)
December 1, 2004... Grouting tile is a slow and messy job, but the 18418 Professional Grout Cleaning Set aims to cut down on the mess and speed up the process. The system's long-handled sponge is cleaned on a stainless tray that's suspended just above the water...

Holey tile.(Tile Tools)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Drilling holes in tile and glass can be an exercise in frustration if you don't have the right tool. Fortunately, the seven-piece PH 5050 Perfect Hole Cutter Kit from Nattco will drill holes in porcelain, glass, glass tile, marble, and...

Heavy-duty leather.(Toolbelts & Bags)
December 1, 2004... For maximum durability, there's nothing like genuine full-grain leather. Occidental Leather makes a complete collection of full-grain leather belts, bags, and accessories produced from thick-skinned American cows. For framing carpenters,...

Rock solid.(Toolbelts & Bags)
December 1, 2004... Disappointed with the durability of your lightweight nail apron? Take a look at Boulder Bag's wares. The company--which offers tool bags to accommodate the specific needs of most trades--says its products last three times longer than most...

Super size it.(Toolbelts & Bags)
December 1, 2004... Since introducing the Veto Pro Pac a couple of years ago, former builder Roger Brouard has sold about 8,000 of his well-crafted and functional tool bags. He recently introduced two new sizes to complement the original XL. One side of the XXL...

Plenty of pockets.(Toolbelts & Bags)
December 1, 2004... With Milwaukee's new five-piece, 33-pocket Heavy-Duty Too/Belt, you've got no excuse to leave any tools in the truck. Made from ripstop polyester for lightweight durability, the heavy-duty belt boasts built-in suspender clips, a roller...

Tool-toting backpack.(Toolbelts & Bags)
December 1, 2004... Duluth Trading's new tool-carrying system makes long walks from the truck much easier. Configured like a conventional backpack, the Master Series Tool Backpack offers lots of space for tools and frees your arms for carrying other items. Small...

Job-site radios.(Toolbox)(product information)
December 1, 2004... I have never been on a job site where there wasn't someone playing music or listening to the radio. I consider a radio one of the most important tools I have, because it makes for a happier and more productive crew. A few years back,...

Build a boat in the basement? Not a bad idea.(Backfill)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... When a ship runs aground, it's said to have foundered. But what's the term for a ship built underground? Nautical references joined the standard architectural fare on architect Charlie Hildebrand's office shelves when clients of the...