The Journal of Light Construction articles from February 2004

The Journal of Light Construction archives from February 2004

Crawlspace insulation & fire codes.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... To the Editor: I found the article on conditioned crawlspaces ("Building a Sealed Crawlspace," 10/03) very informative. As a building inspector in New Jersey, I have promoted this concept for years. The only disturbing thing about the...

Nail gun injuries no accident.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... To the Editor: I read with great interest Ted Cushman's article on nail gun injuries (In the News, 10/03), in which he reported information from a study on nail gun injuries among residential carpenters. I conducted the study and would...

Commonsense installation.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... To the Editor: In the November 2003 Q&A, your expert advises against venting a bathroom fan through the soffit at the eaves because the moist air will "most likely" be drawn back into the attic. A dose of common sense might be in...

Likes fiber cement.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... To the Editor: I liked your article on fiber-cement board ("Installing Fiber-Cement Siding," 12/03); it's nice to see that there is someone else out there who installs correctly. I'm in the siding business in Wisconsin. We do a few big...

Builders face public heat in quality probes: New Jersey agency, Florida paper target sloppy work.(In The News)
February 1, 2004... High-profile investigations in two states have shined an unusually harsh spotlight this winter on quality control problems in the home building industry. In November, New Jersey's State Commission of Investigation slammed the state's builders...

Playing local politics, opponents slow I-Code advance.(In The News)(International Code)(International Building Code)
February 1, 2004... A steady wave of state-level adoptions has put the International Codes in a strong position nationally, with more than 30 states using the International Building Code statewide, and many states adopting the entire I-Code series. But...

Off cuts.(In The News)
February 1, 2004... California legislative leaders say it is unlikely the Democrat-controlled legislature will meet a March 1 deadline set by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for action on his proposal to reform workers' comp in the state, reports the Sacramento...

Subs take the fall in LA campaign donation crackdown.(In The News)(Los Angeles)
February 1, 2004... Los Angeles County district attorney, Steve Cooley says that Man Casden, one of the city's most prominent developers, is the target of his grand jury probe into illegal donations to Los Angeles politicians. But it wasn't Casden who had to face...

Town officials stymied on rebar rule.(In The News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... State authorities have blocked an attempt by the town of Amherst, N.Y., to require steel reinforcement for basement walls in all new homes in the town. Amherst has gone through intense political turmoil after unusual soil conditions led to a...

Massachusetts agency nails wetland violators with aerial photos.(In The News)(Department of Environmental Protection)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... After spending half a million dollars in 2001 on flyovers and infrared aerial photography, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officials have begun systematically identifying illegal destruction of wetlands, using computers to compare...

Supplying power to an outbuilding.(Q&A)
February 1, 2004... Q. What's the right way to deliver power to an outbuilding? I'd like to have a panel capable of powering a small shop. A. Rex Cauldwell responds: An outbuilding should be treated as a separate building, as opposed to an extension of the...

Should floor trusses be attached to walls below?(Q&A)
February 1, 2004... Q. What is the proper way to attach an interior basement wall to floor trusses--both perpendicular walls and walls that run parallel with the bottom chord and fall between the trusses. I have been told to nail directly to the trusses, and I...

Adequate compaction.(Q&A)(Brief Article)(Interview)
February 1, 2004... Q. When compacting a gravel base for a slab, how can you tell when the gravel is compact enough? A. Jay Meunier responds: The only positive way is to have a Proctor test done. A Proctor test uses special equipment, which a soils...

Outdoor living spaces.(Design)
February 1, 2004... Thanks to Southern California's mild, dry climate, outdoor living and entertaining have always been popular here. In the past, those sorts of activities often took place on a simple backyard patio. But in recent years, there's been a trend...

Using cost books for estimating.(Business)
February 1, 2004... As moderator of the estimating forum at jlconline.com, I'm often asked if cost books are a reliable way to get cost figures to use for estimating. There are many cost books available, updated yearly, by RS Means, Craftsman, BNI, Saylor's,...

When hidden conditions are hazardous materials.(Legal)
February 1, 2004... Suppose your crew starts excavation on a new job, and they uncover yellow canisters with skulls and crossbones on them. You don't know what's in them because you can't interpret the chemical notations, but it looks bad. What do you do? ...

Shearwalls for coastal homes: to stay clear of engineering headaches, learn the new codes and design with the rules in mind.(Practical Engineering)
February 1, 2004... As a design-build contractor specializing in custom homes near the water, I have to take wind loads into account on every project. The New England coastline where I work has been hit by hurricanes before and no doubt will be again; homes here...

Wormdrive saws: manufacturers have shaved off weight and added power to these West Coast favorites.(Tool Test)(Cover Story)
February 1, 2004... I'm a framer, and a circular saw is the most important power tool I own. The crew I'm on frames about a dozen houses per year. We're on the West Coast, so of course we use inline saws. Carpenters usually refer to inline saws as wormdrives,...

An invisible tile access panel: magnets and a zip cord make it possible to get to the motor on a jetted tub.
February 1, 2004... I don't know of any residential construction process that requires more people than installing and tiling a whirlpool tub. As a tile setter, I'm among the last in a long line of tradespeople involved, including framers, finish carpenters,...

Decorative floors with polymer overlays: these thin toppings make it possible to create colored concrete surfaces over existing slabs and wood-framed floors.
February 1, 2004... Tradesmen have been applying decorative finishes to freshly placed concrete for as long as the material has existed (see "Decorative Concrete," 1/03). By coloring and texturing concrete surfaces, skilled applicators can produce concrete floors...

Installing metal shingles: aluminum roofing combines long life and light weight with the familiar look of asphalt shingles.
February 1, 2004... When most people hear the words "metal roofing," they think of ridged or corrugated ag panels, or perhaps standing-seam roofing. Metal shingles are less familiar, but they're my favorite roofing material. I've installed dozens of metal-shingled...

Trussty connection.(Products)
February 1, 2004... Installing trusses on masonry walls usually means anchor bolts and treated plates. However, you can eliminate the additional step of plating and provide greater wind resistance with a new line of truss connectors from USE The HLPTA 75 Embedded...

Pint-sized heating plant.(Products)
February 1, 2004... While its diminutive stature might fool you, the Munchkin Gas-Fired Boiler is a full-power residential boiler with input ratings as high as 199,000 Btus. It weighs about 100 pounds and has an extremely small--31x21-inch--footprint, so it can...

Air superiority.(Products)
February 1, 2004... When you start your compressor, the motor hot only has to overcome its own inertia and the pump's, it also has to overcome crankcase oil that's thicker than normal. Both of these factors contribute to blown breakers and motor strain. You can...

High-temp underlayment.(Metal Roofing)
February 1, 2004... Temperatures under metal roofing can get hot enough to turn some asphalt-based roofing products into a syrupy liquid--generally not what you want from your roofing materials. If you're concerned that your present underlayment can't take the...

Metal mania.(Metal Roofing)
February 1, 2004... The market for metal roofing continues to grow every year. It's not surprising. The durable metal shingles have some distinct advantages over other roofing materials: They're noncombustible, lightweight, and offer excellent resistance to wind...

Green-free copper.(Metal Roofing)
February 1, 2004... When it comes to roofing, few materials can compete with copper for durability and a classic look. But the green of aged copper isn't for everyone, and it tan clash with some architectural designs and color schemes. If your customer has no...

Beat the heat.(Metal Roofing)
February 1, 2004... Few building materials get as hot as a metal roof under a sunny sky, but you can beat the heat with a new reflective coating. BASF's Ultra Cool Coating increases the reflectivity of metal roofing about 13%, which reduces cooling loads and attic...

Sky dome.(Skylights)
February 1, 2004... Custom skylights from O'Keeffe's could be called the ultimate in rooftop fenestration. This custom fabricator tan make skylights in just about any shape or design that you or your architect can come up with. Domes, barrel vaults, and pyramids...

Larger than life.(Skylights)
February 1, 2004... If your customer wants a skylight that provides a little more light and pizazz than the typical 22-inch model designed for between rafters, you might suggest the Architectural Series from Wasco. Offered in sizes from 4x4 feet to 9x12 feet,...

Plastic fantastic.(Skylights)
February 1, 2004... Four layers of specialty acrylic glazing in ODL's Quad-Glazed Prismatic 5kylights provide greater comfort and increased energy efficiency compared with conventional insulated glass, according to the manufacturer. A prismatic layer provides a...

Missile defense.(Skylights)
February 1, 2004... Hurricanes and tropical storms can turn ordinary objects into glass-smashing missiles, so in coastal areas it's important to use impact-resistant glass, to protect not only the structure but its occupants as well. Velux's Impact FCM has...

Hang on.(Cabinets)
February 1, 2004... If your clients have a glazed look in their eyes, try not to take it personally. Odds on, they're thinking about cabinet finishes. Glazing layers a secondary, contrasting color over the base, adding depth and "hanging" in corners and crevices...

Love beads?(Cabinets)
February 1, 2004... Beaded board wainscoting is a classic wall treatment that can add style to just about any room of the house. The Tucson line of cabinets, with its beaded panel treatment, could make itself equally at home in the kitchen, bathroom, family room,...

Installer's vacation.(Cabinets)
February 1, 2004... Kitchen Workstation Furniture is finished on at least three sides and is freestanding, making installation almost as simple as chopping a section of the baseboard out of the way. Or not. The retro-look design concept throws away built-in...

Top-shelf item.(Cabinets)
February 1, 2004... Stock cabinets have stock interiors. Fortunately, they're also easy to upgrade with some wizardly inserts. The chrome-plated Pull-Down Shelving System lowers shelf contents a full 10 inches and extends almost 15 inches, a clever way to add...

Faucet facelift.(Lavatories)
February 1, 2004... The Chateau line is an old friend to many a bathroom remodeler. Broad compatibility in a variety of settings makes it an easy client selection, and reliable performance at a sellable price makes it popular on the installer's side of the...

Antique-style console.(Lavatories)
February 1, 2004... One of the nice things about the Belle Epoch was that people began to embrace personal hygiene in a big way, helped along by indoor plumbing. And while contemporary shapes trend to streamlined minimalism, an elaborately curvy form on a nice...

Space and back saver.(Lavatories)
February 1, 2004... It is written: A standard-height lav rim must stand 32 inches above the floor. But what should be remembered is that that was written by the Marquis de Sade. Toto's classic-looking Promenade pedestal lavs break out of the mold at 35 inches...

Save the drywall.(Lavatories)
February 1, 2004... You won't have to break into the wall to convert to a wall-hung faucet look with this cabinet combo. The hutch backing the vanity conceals a 3 1/2-inch-deep cavity. The existing supply and waste can be extended in front of the wall, simplifying...

Ridgid R2600 sander.(Toolbox)(Column)
February 1, 2004... As a cabinetmaker, I use sanders almost every day. 1 was recently checking out the random-orbit sanders at the local home center when the 5-inch Ridgid R2600 caught my attention. Ridgid is new to the hand-held power tool market, so I looked it...

The corded hatchet.(Toolbox)(Column)
February 1, 2004... Working as an apprentice in Los Angeles, I got a lot of experience with reciprocating saws early in my career. I often worked cutting down walls in downtown high-rise buildings for eight hours straight. Given my experience, when Milwaukee...

Butt hinge template.(Routers And Accessories)
February 1, 2004... Using an adjustable hinge template is among the best ways to save time when hanging doors, and the Bosch 83038 Door and Jamb Hinge Template Kit has been the industry standard for nearly 50 years. What makes the template better than competitive...

Stouter router.(Routers And Accessories)
February 1, 2004... When Porter-Cable announced it was replacing its 690 router with a new model, legions of woodworkers, trim carpenters, and cabinetmakers were concerned. After all, the 690 and its predecessors have been around so long that most users have...

Power hinge prep.(Routers And Accessories)
February 1, 2004... Spending almost $500 on a router that only preps door hinges may seem a little crazy to some carpenters, but when you add up the cost of a good router ($200) and a hinge template ($230), you're almost there anyway. The Virutex Door Hinge Router...

Double identity.(Routers And Accessories)
February 1, 2004... Two-sided veneer plywood can present a challenge for conventional flush-trim bits--both down-cutting and up-cutting versions tan damage one side of the material. The unique Woodhaven Up/Down.Cut Flush Trim Bit uses up-cut and down-cut flutes on...

Two in one.(Sanders)
February 1, 2004... If sanding versatility is your aim, you might consider the Rotex Random-Orbit Sander from Festool. This heavy-duty 6-inch machine features two sanding modes, rotary random orbit for fast stock removal, and true random orbit for a fine finish....

High roller.(Sanders)
February 1, 2004... If awards were given for coolest-looking tools, I think the DeWalt DW433 Belt Sander would be in the running. But according to the manufacturer, the new sander's not just for show. The three-roller design lowers the tool's center of gravity for...

Attention to detail.(Sanders)
February 1, 2004... Cheap detail sanders that were all the rage only a few years ago saw their popularity plummet shortly after their heyday. Their usefulness was easy to question, especially among professionals, who complained that the sanding action was slow and...

Baby belt sander.(Sanders)
February 1, 2004... Hand sanding in tight spaces can really slow you down, but with a Compact Belt Sander from Bosch you can give up the aluminum-oxide origami and plug in the power tool. The 1 1/2 x 12-inch belt rides on a 15/16-inch front roller that allows the...

Paver art.(Backfill)(RocArt)
February 1, 2004... Randy Clarke has a practiced eye for pavers. He knows how regional differences in aggregate type affect color and texture. He understands how their appearance changes with dry and rainy weather, and he's quick to notice minor variations between...