The Journal of Light Construction articles from July 2003

The Journal of Light Construction archives from July 2003

Better air flow may cure condensation problems. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... To the Editor: I have some additional thoughts about the window condensation problem in the May 2003 Q&A. Every time I have seen a condensation problem, it was eventually tracked to an air flow problem. I have seen such problems in cases...

More on hip framing. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... To the Editor: Thanks to Joe Fusco, Dave Holbrook, and the rest of you at JLC for the article "Laying Out a Split-Pitch Hip" (4/03). It has helped me to refine my thoughts when preparing a layout. I'd also like to offer some comments about...

Good communication. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... To the Editor: In the article "High-Tech Office in a Truck" (5/03), the author talks about his communication preferences and says about Nextel that "the walkie-talkies have a range of over 50 miles in flat areas, but when we are working in...

Performance guidelines come in handy. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2003... To the Editor: The article "Trade Standards" (Legal, 4/03) discusses two implied warranties, fitness-of-purpose and workmanlike manner. The first is basically covered by any good local building inspection. The author suggests handling the...

Western states face water-short future: as cities grow and water supplies tighten, builders must practice conservation and play politics. (In The News).
July 1, 2003... In February of this year, Denver was grappling with an ongoing municipal water crisis. A lingering drought had left area reservoirs 60% empty, and local governments were debating a continued ban on lawn watering and new caps on water hookups....

Nailed in one antitrust case, Weyerhaeuser faces follow-up suits. (In The News).
July 1, 2003... A small Washington lumber mill has bested forest-products giant Weyerhaeuser in federal court, winning treble damages of $78 million for alleged unfair competition. Ross-Simmons Company, a family-owned mill in Longview, Wash., said that...

How cold is too cold? Poured-wall pros pool experience. (In The News).
July 1, 2003... With sweat running down your back in July, it's hard to believe in winter. But if your October foundation work gets delayed until December, you may be interested in an upcoming report from the Concrete Foundation Association (CFA), a group of...

A New Jersey builder who hired detectives to secretly tape-record meetings with town officials. (Offcuts).
July 1, 2003... A New Jersey builder who hired detectives to secretly tape-record meetings with town officials can use the tapes as evidence in a lawsuit against the town despite ethical concerns, a state judge has ruled. The Newark Star-Ledger says an...

The Massachusetts legislature is considering two fire sprinkler bills. (Offcuts).
July 1, 2003... The Massachusetts legislature is considering two fire sprinkler bills, reports the Boston Globe. One would authorize towns to require sprinklers in new one-, two-, and three-family homes, and the other would require sprinklers in any new...

Referral fees--or kickbacks? Custom builders question payments to realtors. (In The News).
July 1, 2003... Paying real estate agents a commission is nothing unusual for a spec builder, for whom the transaction is like the sale of an existing home. But what if an agent sells a building lot, then approaches a custom builder with an offer to refer the...

American Polysteel has introduced an energy-efficient mortgage (EEM) program. (Offcuts).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... American Polysteel has introduced an energy-efficient mortgage (EEM) program in cooperation with First Federal Bank that covers the entire continental U.S., Polysteel announced in April. EEMs stretch allowable debt-to-income ratios for home...

The U.S. probably won't remove import duties from Canadian softwood. (Offcuts).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... The U.S. probably won't remove import duties from Canadian softwood despite a World Trade Organization ruling May 27 that said Washington calculated the duties improperly, according to the Toronto Globe and Mail. Instead, the Commerce...

Nevada legislators have passed a right-to-cure bill backed by builders. (Offcuts).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Nevada legislators have passed a right-to-cure bill backed by builders after homeowner, trial lawyer, and builder interests agreed on compromise language. The new law will require homeowners to give formal notice and allow a 105-day or 150-day...

Scheduling part-time office help. (Business Tune-Up).
July 1, 2003... Many of my clients have reached the point where they can no longer do all their office work themselves. Supervising three or more employees, plus selling and estimating enough jobs to keep them busy, usually forces the business owner to start...

A comeback for California condos? (In The News).
July 1, 2003... In recent years, the California condominium has looked more endangered than the California condor. Despite a huge demand for low-end units, condo construction has been stymied by litigation risks and development restrictions. But a report...

Reinforcing mud-bed tile floors. (Q&A).
July 1, 2003... Q. What's the right type of mesh to use in a mud-bed tile floor? Should I use a self-furring lath (like the type used in stucco work) so that it centers itself in the mud? A. Michael Byrne, a tilesetter and industry consultant from Los...

Assessing old structural timbers. (Q&A).
July 1, 2003... Q. I'm looking at a project to convert a 1920s-era three-story industrial building into residential lofts. Much of the heavy timber interior frame has been exposed to a lot of weather because of roof deterioration during years when the building...

Wood siding corner details. (Design).
July 1, 2003... Not counting things like geodesic domes and igloos, all houses have at least four outside corners. These are important design elements, and the treatment they receive can have a big effect on a structure's appearance. Let's take a look at three...

Deciphering catastrophic insurance. (Legal).
July 1, 2003... Builders often buy catastrophic insurance to protect themselves from unforeseeable disasters such as floods, fires, and tornados. This type of policy is also called builders' risk insurance, though in some markets builders' risk refers to a...

Working with shotcrete: spray-applied concrete is versatile, requires minimal formwork, and yields a high-strength finished product. .(Cover Story)
July 1, 2003... Shotcrete, or pneumatically applied concrete, is commonplace on commercial jobs and civil engineering projects. But as a specialty concrete contractor, I've found that it can also save a lot of time and effort on residential jobs. My company...

Making sense of the liability insurance crisis: as insurance carriers cancel coverage and raise rates, builders and remodelers across the country must adopt new risk management strategies.
July 1, 2003... For Brothers Strong, a remodeling firm in Houston, the difficulty began in January 2003, when its insurance carrier announced it was pulling out of the Texas market and canceled the company's general liability policy. Several other carriers...

Running crown on cathedral ceilings: four techniques for resolving those tricky intersections.
July 1, 2003... Like many carpenters, I always thought there was no good way to install crown molding on a cathedral or vaulted ceiling. For years, I would just shake my head whenever anyone suggested it. "Nah," I'd say knowingly, "that never looks good." Most...

Ideal seal. (Foundations).(Protecto Wrap)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Most building scientists agree that typical sill sealers don't do enough to prevent water and air infiltration. In fact, the foundation-to-mud-sill connection is one of the biggest energy wasters in most new homes. Triple Guard Energy Sill...

Flood damage prevention. (Foundations).(Smart Vent)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Flooding causes billions of dollars in property damage annually. Especially susceptible are floodplain crawlspace foundations, which can buckle inward when subjected to the extreme pressure of floodwater. The all-stainless Smart Vent Foundation...

Brace yourself. (Framing).(Vinco Manufacturing)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Made from 1-inch square tubing, the Plumb-Jack Adjustable Wall Brace replaces temporary lumber bracing with reusable and adjustable steel wall bracing. When placed on 8-foot centers, the bracing can be used with walls as high as 10 feet and can...

Better ledger. (Framing).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Detailing a ledger board to adequately prevent water infiltration is a job that's hard to get right. Rick Jewell, a builder who's repaired dozens of homes with rotten band joists resulting from poor ledger installation, has come up with the...

Big rig. (Tools & Equipment).(Occidental Leather's vest-like tool bag)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... You seldom find a carpenter or tradesperson who has no complaint with his tool rig. Most complaints center on two general areas: insufficient capacity and inadequate comfort. The Tool Chest from Occidental Leather addresses both problems. The...

Graph panels. (Framing).(Martco)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Don't throw away your tape measure just yet, but Martco's Grid Panel System could give it a little more downtime. This system of plywood and OSB panels uses a grid-style set of markings with 1/2-inch increments in the field and 1/8-inch marks...

Tool transport for pros. (Tools & Equipment).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... With their undivided interiors, toolboxes and gatemouth bags require constant rummaging around and sorting through to find the tool you're after. Bucket organizers are slightly better, but they're tippy and their cavernous interiors inevitably...

Organizational plan. (Tools & Equipment).(Easi File storage bag for blueprints)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Carrying and organizing a large set of plans is a constant struggle, and the inevitable coffee stains and dog-eared pages that result add little to your professional look. But keeping blueprints neat and presentable is all in a day's work with...

Switch hitter. (Tools & Equipment).(Stanley Bostitch)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Changing the contact foot on the Bostitch N88RH-MCN-2 nailer converts the tool from a standard framing nailer to a positive-placement, metal connectar nailer. Both feet are included, and they can be swapped, without tools, in a couple of...

Super slicer. (Tools & Equipment).(RDR Tools)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Versatile and razor sharp, an ordinary utility knife is one of the handiest tools around. Unfortunately, though, it's too big and bulky to make a comfortable pocketknife. The Super Knife is an anodized-aluminum utility knife that folds into a...

No-complaint no-paint window. (Doors & Windows).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Low maintenance, low cost, and easy installation make vinyl windows a favorite of homeowners and builders alike, but their clunky frames and styling make them less appealing to customers trying to match existing millwork or seeking a more...

Screen test. (Doors & Windows).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Casement windows generally have better thermal performance than other types of windows, and they have no meeting rail to obstruct the view. But for many homeowners those benefits are more than offset by the ugly metal-framed interior screens...

Self-stick solar. (Electrical).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... With brownouts on the West Coast and rising electricity prices everywhere, residential photovoltaic energy production is looking better all the time. Uni-Solar's collection of residential Solar Electric Racks, Electric Shingles, and Solar...

"i" opener. (Doors & Windows).
July 1, 2003... By eliminating the trolley and rail from its i-drive garage door opener, Wayne-Dalton not only has made garage door installation easier, but has simplified life for the builder, too. The new opener mounts directly on the header above the door,...

Stone-friendly sink. (Kitchen & Bath).
July 1, 2003... Generally, stainless-steel sinks get (and deserve)little fanfare, but the Blanco Module, a high-quality, 18-gauge stainless sink with a 4-inch backsplash and integral countertop section, should make homeowners and kitchen installers very happy....

Labor-saving switch. (Electrical).
July 1, 2003... Using an air-actuated switch, similar to those found on whirlpool spas, the ISE Sinktop Switch makes retrofitting a garbage disposal a breeze. There's no need to fish a wire up to a wall-mounted toggle switch, because the (white or chrome) push...

Show them you care. (Kitchen & Bath).
July 1, 2003... Washing dishes in the tub or laundry sink gets remodeling clients cranky in a hurry, but the all-stainless Portable Kitchenette allows for easy food preparation and cleanup while the kitchen is temporarily out of commission. The portable unit...

Power shower. (Kitchen & Bath).
July 1, 2003... Homeowners love showers with multiple jets, but often the existing 1/2-inch plumbing system can't handle the added volume, and new, budget-killing 3/4-inch supply lines seem to be the only option. But you can be a hero with Delta's Monitor 1800...

A/C goes digital. (Hvac).
July 1, 2003... By combining a digitally controlled solenoid valve with a scroll-type compressor, Samsung's DVM System Air Conditioner allows builders to effectively cool large, spread-out homes with a single outdoor condensing unit. The valve allows the...

Pipe dreams. (Hvac).
July 1, 2003... While a wall filled with dials, valves, and pipes might show off your heating contractor's expertise, the maze of pipes and wires might scare clients concerned about reliability and future service. To simplify the process of installing hydronic...

Better indoor air. (Hvac).
July 1, 2003... Although it's generally agreed that a heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) improves indoor air quality, high prices have prevented many homeowners and builders from installing them. But Broan's GuardianPlus wholehouse filters and HRVs cost...

Common-sense ventilation. (Hvac).
July 1, 2003... Exhaust-only ventilation systems are popular with many builders because they're inexpensive and easy to install, but they can draw make-up air from questionable sources like basements, wall cavities, and garages. Providing a better home...

Installing high-velocity Hvac: provide efficient heating and cooling in one easy-to-install package.
July 1, 2003... For years, I was a staunch radiant heating installer who picked up a few air-conditioning jobs to fill in the slow summer months in New Hampshire. But a growing demand from my customers for year-round indoor climate control led me to look for a...

First time out with ICFs: for a problem-free job, brace thoroughly, add superplasticizer to the mix, and place the concrete in lifts.
July 1, 2003... As a design-build contractor in an area with no shortage of upscale home buyers, I have quite a few clients who care more about getting a good product than they do about watching every dime. As a result, I often have a chance to try out new...

Turning the kitchen and bath green. (Kitchen & Bath).
July 1, 2003... In steadily increasing numbers, consumers are seeking out renewable materials for their new homes and improvement projects. Not coincidentally, environmentally oriented building material suppliers are more than holding their own. According to...

Solid switching. (Solid-Surfacing).
July 1, 2003... Really put the finishing touches to your kitchen and bathroom solid-surfacing installations with switches, GFCI outlets, phone jacks, coverplates, knobs, pulls, and more made in matching or complementary Corian colors. Let's see your wallpaper...

Metalflake accents. (Solid-Surfacing).
July 1, 2003... The sparkle of copper, silver, or mother-of-pearl and abalone is added to the translucent, flaky matrix in the Metallics line of Avonite solid surfacing, producing reflections that flash and change with the viewing angle. Viewed head-on, the...

Solidaminated sink. (Solid-Surfacing).
July 1, 2003... I saw this technique modeled at this year's Kitchen and Bath Industry Show and did a double take. Yes, that's standard high-pressure laminate bonded directly to the lip of a solid-surface undermount sink. The Karran double-bowl sink is made of...

Variable base storage. (Storage Accessories).
July 1, 2003... Here's a rather obvious photo series that reminds me of one of those evolutionary ape-to-man illustrations. Anyway, it's a handy way to show your clients some useful variations on base cabinet storage. These five configuration options represent...

Reach-extending insert. (Storage Accessories).
July 1, 2003... Your ordinary average wall cabinet is just waiting to spill its guts all over the first overreaching, height-challenged user to come along. This clever chrome-on-steel insert, the Premiere Pull-Down Shelving System, pulls forward 143/4 inches...

Vanity's sanity restored. (Storage Accessories).
July 1, 2003... Fully enclosed vanity bases may not be the hottest trend anymore, but they sure had storage space going for them. The 28- by 20-inch Brook Console Table looks airy and open but still manages to accommodate a little stealthy stowage to either...

Stop sorta sorting. (Storage Accessories).
July 1, 2003... Fixed-compartment utensil trays, organizers, inserts, or whatever you want to call them, all impose a standardized configuration that may conform poorly to your customer's tool collection. The valendrawerganizer system employs a peg-board-style...

Metal cutting goes cordless. (Toolbox).
July 1, 2003... Working as a carpenter, my medium is generally wood, but like many builders, I often find myself cutting things like threaded rod, metal roofing, steel studs, and rebar. While I typically use a reciprocating saw or a circular saw with an...

Time-saving siding gauge. (Tools That Measure Up).
July 1, 2003... Malco's Panel Gauges not only give your siding the correct 1 1/4-inch overlap without measuring, they temporarily support both ends of the siding panel for easier installation, even when you're working solo. The stainless-steel gauges are made...

McGyver's layout tool. (Tools That Measure Up).
July 1, 2003... The manufacturer calls it the Swiss Army Knife of layout tools. It has almost as many functions but, sadly, no bottle opener. The Precision T is a 48-inch, aluminum straightedge with fold-out tabs for laying out plates. The 1 1/2-inch-wide tabs...

Even spacing for your casing. (Tools That Measure Up).
July 1, 2003... Made specifically to speed the installation of door and window casing, the Trim-Loc practically guarantees consistent reveals, and it's small enough to fit inside your toolbelt. Tape-measure slots hold your tape at a proper 3/16-inch reveal for...

Magnetic personality. (Tools That Measure Up).
July 1, 2003... Klein's new magnetic-tipped tape measures have a rare-earth magnet on the tip for easier solo measurements. The new tapes range in length from 16 to 30 feet and have a sturdy rubber-covered housing for increased grip and impact resistance. The...

Get a handle on vandals. (Labor-Saving Painting Tools).
July 1, 2003... Graffiti is a problem for many homeowners and builders in urban areas. Anything stationary for more than a minute is a potential easel for an urban artiste. Dumond Chemicals, the makers of Peel Away stripper, recently introduced two new...

Wet-paint blues. (Labor-Saving Painting Tools).
July 1, 2003... If your nearsighted painter or helper is leaving the ceiling of your projects a little blotchy, you might suggest Ace's Simply Magic Ceiling Paint. The flat white ceiling paint includes a blue colorant that's added to the can just before...

Scraping by. (Labor-Saving Painting Tools).
July 1, 2003... Scraping paint is about as exciting as watching it dry, so anything that promises to make the tedious process go faster deserves some serious consideration. Warner's Carbide 100X Paint Scrapers are a definite improvement over traditional...

Peel-and-stick protection. (Labor-Saving Painting Tools).
July 1, 2003... Masking door hinges can really slow the otherwise rapid progress of paint spraying. But Door Hinge Protectors from Paint and Peel cover radius-corner 3 1/2-inch butt hinges in a single step without masking tape. According to the maker, the...

A quick shave. (Labor-Saving Painting Tools).
July 1, 2003... Promising to strip siding at the rate of 4 square feet per minute, the Paint Shaver uses a three-wing carbide cutter to quickly remove paint from flat surfaces. An acrylic shield with a profile-conforming base controls airborne particles and...

Rip it up. (Time-Saving Saw Blades).
July 1, 2003... Promising straight, smooth rips without jointing or sanding, Freud recently introduced the Glue Line Ripping Blade. The carbide-tipped, 30-tooth blade comes in Teflon-coated (LM74R) and polished (LM74M) versions. The 10-inch blades have a...

Pull out the grout. (Time-Saving Saw Blades).
July 1, 2003... Regrouting or replacing a tile can go a lot smoother and faster with a Grout Grabber grout removal tool. According to the manufacturer, the offset, carbide-abrasive blade fits most common reciprocating saws. The 1/16-inch-thick blades can be...

Terra cutter. (Time-Saving Saw Blades).
July 1, 2003... If you've ever had to cut terra cotta (clay) waste pipe as part, of a remodeling project, you know the brittle material is hard to get through without damaging it. Probably the best way for non-plumbers to cut the material is with an abrasive...

Metal-cutting converter. (Time-Saving Saw Blades).
July 1, 2003... Many carbide-tipped metal-cuRing blades are meant only for slower-turning cutoff saws, but Tenryu's Steel-Pro PRF- 18548DS Ferrous Metal-Cutting Blade is made for faster-spinning 7 1/4-inch circular saws. The PRF 18548DS blade's 48 teeth have...

Up-to-date roof. (Backfill).
July 1, 2003... Bennington, Vermont, is located at the southern edge of a historic slate-quarrying region that stretches along more than 50 miles of the Vermont-New York slate line. Slate roofs are common on older buildings of all kinds throughout the area, so...