The Journal of Light Construction articles from February 2005

The Journal of Light Construction archives from February 2005

No daddy with deep pockets.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... Regarding the ongoing debate over Hispanic labor in the market, here in my area of coastal South Carolina, I have tried for many years, through family, friends, and business contacts, to hire part-time unskilled labor. No experience necessary,...

Help wanted.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... How can we, as building craftsmen who are aging, encourage our society to bring back trade schools and a guildlike system to train the next generation? I haven't found a young person who wants to work with his or her hands for the last 10...

Strong hips.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... I appreciated the article "Building a Strong Cathedral Hip Roof" (11/04), by David West, which drove home the importance of resisting the outward thrust generated by sloping roof members without horizontal ties. After 25 years of structural...

Attic mold.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... After reading the Q&A regarding attic mold (11/04), I thought about two other causes I have run into more than once. One is bath fans vented directly into the attic, and the other is a plumbing vent pipe not extended through the roof. Both will...

Water-heater efficiency.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... The article on twin water heaters (Kitchen & Bath, 10/04) suggests that standard efficiency for domestic hot-water heaters is around 80 percent. But according to the GAMA directory (an independent testing agency), standard water heaters start...

More on tandem compressors.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... Years ago, I tried to double up my compressors the way Carl Hagstrom showed (Letters, 11/04), but I had a problem with "feedback" from one compressor into the other one and usually ended up with one compressor running continuously. So I fitted...

WallShield price correction.(Letters)(Correction Notice)
February 1, 2005... The price given for VaproShield's WallShield housewrap, featured in January 2005 Products, was incorrect. The product costs 45 cents per square foot. For mort, information, call 866/731-7663 or go to www. vaproshield.com. We regret the error.

Florida hurricane damage spurs interest in storm-protection products: structural damage was limited, but wind-driven rain and debris took their toll.(In The News)
February 1, 2005... The consequences of last fall's severe hurricane season have been well-documented--extensive home damage, a massive rebuilding project, and a shortage of labor and materials that has impeded the rebuilding process. But at least one industry is...

Arizona cracks down on unlicensed contractors.(In The News)
February 1, 2005... Two years ago, the state of Arizona concluded that it had a major problem regulating building contractors. A 2003 report from the auditor general's office cited an increase in consumer complaints about shoddy workmanship and a lack of state...

The city of Polson, Mont., is being sued over the sudden collapse of a deck last summer at a bar and restaurant.(Offcuts)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The city of Poison, Mont., is being sued over the sudden collapse of a deck last summer at a bar and restaurant; 80 people were injured. Since JLC reported on the incident in its September 2004 issue ("Deck Collapse Injures Scores," In the...

Despite low interest rates, rising prices have put California real estate even further beyond the reach of most buyers.(Offcuts)
February 1, 2005... Despite low interest rates, rising prices have put California real estate even further beyond the reach of most buyers, according to a survey released in December by the California Association of Realtors. The association's quarterly Homebuyer...

New York Governor Goerge Pataki has vetoed legislation to limit the use of plastic plumbing in larger homes and commercial buildings.(Offcuts)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... New York Governor George Pataki has vetoed legislation to limit the use of plastic plumbing in larger homes and commercial buildings, reports the Buffalo News. Plumbers' unions had pushed the measure, citing a supposed toxic threat from plastic...

Safety inspections turn ugly in Pacific Northwest.(In The News)
February 1, 2005... In the state of Washington, the question of how inspectors gain access to job sites for safety inspections has turned into a contentious dispute. On one side is the state's Building Industry Association (BIA); on the other, the state Department...

Homeowners associations struggle to cope with developers' legacy.(In The News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... For the past two decades, developers have been selling homes in soup-to-nuts planned communities where buyers pay monthly fees to maintain such infrastructure systems as water, sewer, and telephone. When the development is completed,...

Private firms allowed to conduct Houston inspections.(In The News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... As part of a move to privatize the building inspection process in the city of Houston, private firms will now be allowed to perform inspections of residential buildings. The privatization initiative, which went into effect at the end of...

Smart wall could reduce construction costs.(In The News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Philadelphia architect Michael Rosen has developed a prefabricated utility wall that he hopes will bring the benefits of plug-and-play to any new home's electrical and mechanical systems. The Rosen CoreWall is a structural insulated panel (SIP)...

Cul-de-sacs have been a staple in new developments since the 1950s.(Offcuts)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Cul-de-sacs have been a staple in new developments since the 1950s. The practice of placing homes close together and facing one another was supposed to encourage people to interact with their neighbors, but it doesn't seem to be working....

A Gratiot County, Mich., storm-drain project was halted so that an endangered plant species could grow near the project site.(Offcuts)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... A Gratiot County, Mich., storm-drain project was halted so that an endangered plant species could grow near the project site, according to a story in the Grand Rapids Press. Although American slough grass has never been seen in the area, that...

Developing unit-cost assemblies for estimating.(Business)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Someone posted a question on JLC's estimating forum recently about using standard assemblies to reduce the amount of time it takes to estimate. He wanted to know how to develop the assemblies and how detailed they ought to be. It's not the...

Let BuildWorks Basic and Quicken show you the money.(Computers)(accounting software)
February 1, 2005... Compared with Timberline or Great Plains, Intuit's QuickBooks Pro is a simple entry-level accounting system. But "simple" is a relative term. For a small contractor who just needs a way to replace the checkbook in his back pocket, even...

Why operate legally?(Legal)
February 1, 2005... True, the temptations loom large and numerous: You're not good at paperwork or taking tests, so why sit through a test for a license? And why pay for all those building permits just so the inspector can hassle you to death? Why carry all that...

Built-up hot-mop roofing: for a leak-free BUR, choose materials that are appropriate to the climate and slope and pay careful attention to flashings, penetrations, and terminations.(built-up roofing (BUR))(Cover Story)
February 1, 2005... During my 30 years in the roofing business, I've installed many types of roofing and seen a number of products come and go. But one system that never goes out of style is the traditional built-up hot-mop roof. I learned how to do built-up...

Strong rail-post connections for wooden decks: where common connection details fail to meet code loads, prefab galvanized hold-down hardware passes the test.(Practical Engineering)
February 1, 2005... During the last several years, wood science researchers at Virginia Tech have scrutinized the structural connections commonly found in residential wood decks. This work resulted in the publication of the Manual for the Inspection of Residential...

Heating & cooling gets better: direct-exchange geothermal technology offers higher efficiencies than standard water-source heat pumps, and can be retrofitted even on small lots.(Ground-Source)
February 1, 2005... Although they're still far from familiar, ground-source heat pumps have been installed for more than 30 years throughout the U.S. Also called geothermal heat pumps, they are recognized by the EPA and the DOE as the most efficient heating and...

Choosing laminate flooring: to avoid callbacks, use the right grade and protect it against wetting.
February 1, 2005... If you haven't yet had to specify a laminate flooring system for one of your jobs, chances are you will. Just 10 years after it was first introduced to the U.S. by way of Europe, this material has managed to capture 17 percent of the...

Getting into insurance work: a restoration specialist explains how to survive in a competitive niche.(Interview)(Kevin Dietmeyer)(Minute Men Construction Inc.)(Interview)
February 1, 2005... To the uninitiated, insurance companies seem to have bottomless pockets and limitless work for willing contractors. The reality is a bit different. While insurance restoration can be a lucrative source of steady income, it's competitive and...

Tight-budget transom.(Products)
February 1, 2005... A fixed transom mulled to a traditional double-hung window looks great and can help a window package complement the tall ceilings commonly found in modern homes. The problem is that mulled transoms are pretty expensive, especially considering...

Garage-door facelift.(Products)
February 1, 2005... If your customer is looking for an easy way to upgrade a boring garage door, check out TransformaDoor Garage Door Siding. Available in three stained colors--light, medium, and dark--the composite panels attach to the face of the existing door,...

Boot rack.(Products)
February 1, 2005... Duct boots serving heat or AC registers often require wood blocking or other improvised methods for mounting. Unfortunately, adding blocking can be a big pain for hvac installers who aren't equipped for carpentry work. There is a solution,...

A perfect match.(Caulks & Sealants)
February 1, 2005... Finding caulk that's an exact match with paint or bath-fixture colors can be an impossible task. You either have to paint the caulk later or be content with "close enough." But if you need--or are willing to buy--at least three cases (36...

The good stuff.(Caulks & Sealants)
February 1, 2005... Interestingly, Sashco started out making windows (hence the name), but couldn't find a good sealant to glaze its steel sash. So the company's founder started making his own. Eventually Sashco focused all its efforts on producing quality caulks...

Short-term sealant.(Caulks & Sealants)
February 1, 2005... Caulk and sealant manufacturers are always trying to outdo each other by boasting that they have the longest-lasting products with the best adhesion. I haven't seen too many that claim their sealant pulls off without a struggle--except for Seal...

Made in the shade.(Landscaping Products)
February 1, 2005... Re-create a day at the beach in your customer's backyard with an Isla Sidepost Umbrella from ShadeMaker. Its sturdy anodized-aluminum mast and stainless-steel hardware make it suitable for coastal areas and other wet, windy climates, and the...

Warm feelings.(Landscaping Products)
February 1, 2005... Help your clients keep warm outside when temperatures start dropping. The propaneor natural-gas Patioflame campfire puts out 60,000 Btu and includes a five-piece ceramic log set. It's made from stainless steel and is approved for installation...

That's concrete? No way!(Landscaping Products)
February 1, 2005... For a good-looking, affordable alternative to stone walkways, try concrete patio blocks from Nantucket Pavers. Available in rectangular sizes from 12 inches square to 18 by 36 inches, Bluestone-Style Paver Blocks boast a textured surface and...

Landscape tiedown.(Landscaping Products)
February 1, 2005... The Duckbill Anchor serves as an underground toggle bolt for jobs like straightening trees and securing garden benches. After driving it into the ground with a steel rod, you lock it into position by pulling up on the attached cable. The...

Problem-solving power plant.(Standby Generators)
February 1, 2005... A loss of electricity doesn't just mean there's no AC or TV--it can also lead to more serious problems like spoiled food and ruptured pipes. Standby generators can minimize the inconvenience and potential damage caused by a power failure....

Powerful ally.(Standby Generators)
February 1, 2005... One of the realities of being a home builder is that your customers expect you to be an expert on every aspect of home construction and design. If you don't feel confident explaining all the intricacies of standby power generation or specifying...

Keep your cool.(Standby Generators)
February 1, 2005... When people think of Kohler, they usually think of bath fixtures, but the company is also among the country's largest producers of backup generators for residential and commercial applications. Kohler says its new 12,000-watt generator, Model...

Grilling powerhouse.(Outdoor Kitchen Equipment)
February 1, 2005... Available in drop-in, slide-in, and freestanding models, the Char-Glo outdoor barbecue offers up to 80,000 Btu of cowabunga under the grill, plus a rotisserie, a broiler, a gourmet smoker tray, and electronic ignition. Unit prices range from...

Blast the cold.(Outdoor Kitchen Equipment)
February 1, 2005... Frigid-climate clients who spend a small fortune on an outdoor kitchen will freeze their lobster tails all winter long without a Phoenix III Patio Heater. The natural-gas or propane heater produces up to 40,000 Btu and provides a...

Backyard gourmet.(Outdoor Kitchen Equipment)
February 1, 2005... If you're starting from scratch, the NPT BBQ Island provides one-stop shopping for modular barbecue island components and proprietary appliances. Island modules can be arranged in countless custom layouts, or you can default to a stock...

Get out!(Outdoor Kitchen Equipment)
February 1, 2005... Stirring? Frying? Take that spattering mess outdoors where it belongs, over the wok ring option mounted on a Built-in Grill. This comprehensive line of outdoor kitchen components boasts stainless steel construction, commercial styling, and...

Lightweight backerboard.(Tile Backers And Substrates)
February 1, 2005... The 8-pound, cement-faced, completely waterproof ProPannel promises to change the way you feel about cutting and hanging cement backerboard. Concerned about durability? This 3-by-5-foot, 1/2-inch-thick extruded polystyrene panel is rated for...

Two-part membrane.(Tile Backers And Substrates)
February 1, 2005... If brush-on waterproofing and anti-fracture membranes appeal to you, but you're leery of an unreinforced system, consider the AVM System 700 monolithic waterproofing membrane. The 100 percent acrylic, water-based product roller-applies over a...

Shower prep system.(Tile Backers And Substrates)
February 1, 2005... With the Kerdi-Shower-Kit, you've got everything you need to create a watertight shower assembly without a mortar bed or special backerboard. The kit contains a presloped polystyrene base and entry curb, a proprietary drain system, and a...

Quick work.(Tile Backers And Substrates)
February 1, 2005... A double coat of this latex waterproofing and anti-fracture membrane can be applied in a day and prepares shower walls, plywood underlayment, and concrete slabs for vertical and horizontal thinset ceramic tile. Spread D-222 Duraguard with a...

Layout multitool.(Framing Tools)
February 1, 2005... Do-it-all tools rarely prove to be as useful as their manufacturers claim, but this may be one of the exceptions. The Universal Square from D-Unique is meant to replace your conventional rafter square, but it also helps with other common...

Old-school square.(Framing Tools)
February 1, 2005... For job-site versatility, few tools can beat a traditional framing square. If you're looking for a sturdy, high-quality one that won't rust, check out the Carpenter's Stainless-Steel Square from Lee Valley. The 16-by-24-inch square has...

A friend to lean on.(Framing Tools)
February 1, 2005... Straightening walls is a critical step in any framing project. While most carpenters use wood bracing and kickers to pull wavy walls in line, metal bracing can be a faster and easier method. Qual Craft's 2620 Wall Brace is made from...

Corrective measures.(Framing Tools)
February 1, 2005... I know I should be focusing on framing tools here--not demo tools--but sometimes framers make mistakes and sometimes customers and architects change their minds. In these instances, you need a tool to get things back on track right away, and...

Tow-behind panel producer.(Framing Tools)
February 1, 2005... Taking a cue from the modular building industry, framer Tim Fleeman has designed and engineered a tool that he says can cut framing time in half. The Portaframer is a tow-behind trailer that supports and lays out stud walls up to 10 feet high...

String manager.(Framing Tools)
February 1, 2005... Fighting with a string line is not a good way to start a framing project. To get a better handle on your spools, give Stringliner Pro a try. Unlike the original Stringliner, the Pro version includes a crank handle that makes reeling in a...

Cell-phone services.(Job-Site Communication)
February 1, 2005... Remember when cellular technology meant carrying a portable phone the size of a shoebox? Fortunately, times have changed. Today's cellular phones are smaller and way more multifunctional. Cellular provider Nextel offers some really cool...

Instant photography.(Job-Site Communication)
February 1, 2005... Before digital, Polaroid dominated the world of job-site photography. Now the company is hoping to recapture some of its previous market share with the recently launched One600 JobPro Camera. The new camera can focus on objects as close as two...

Long-range radio.(Job-Site Communication)
February 1, 2005... On a commercial or large residential site, keeping track of your employees or even just asking one of them a question can mean walking around for 15 minutes. If you don't have that kind of time to waste, try a Motorola XTN Series Radio. These...

DeWalt D25900 demolition hammer.(Toolbox)(Product/Service Evaluation)
February 1, 2005... I recently took on a large commercial kitchen renovation that involved removing one masonry bearing wall and cutting new doorways in another. That much heavy demolition requires more than a 10-pound sledgehammer and some elbow grease--just...

Scrap vs. itch.(Backfill)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... A low-slope roof pitch doesn't leave much in the way of navigable attic space above a flat ceiling. That doesn't prevent use of the void for duct and wiring runs, and it doesn't affect the requirement for a scuttle for service access. But,...