The Journal of Light Construction articles from July 2004

The Journal of Light Construction archives from July 2004

Deck ledger data stands.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... To the Editor: The authors of the article on deck ledger connections (3/04) are to be congratulated for their useful contribution to every residential designer's library. I hope they will continue to examine other building assemblies where...

Gutters in cold climates.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... To the Editor: I am writing in response to Mr. Henri de Marne's response (Q&A, 5/04) pertaining to the elimination of gutters in Northern climates. I am a builder in Maine and totally disagree with the idea of removing gutters. Time and...

In protest.(Letters)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... To the Editor: I read your "Success With Spanish-Speaking Employees" (5/04) piece with some dismay. Do we really believe that the illegal influx of hundreds of these people every day into our society and economy can happen without severe...

Porter-Cable 100 still available.(Letters)(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... To the Editor: In the May 2004 issue (Q&A), you reported that the Porter-Cable model 100 router is no longer available. In fact, in late 2002, Porter-Cable began producing the model 100 with a polished aluminum housing, giving it a new...

Cement shortage rains on home building parade: China's heavy buy orders have left U.S. ready-mix plants waiting for their ships to come in.(In The News)
July 1, 2004... The red-hot home-building industry cooled off only slightly in late spring, as buyer demand stayed strong despite small up-ticks in mortgage rates. But the rosy picture was marred by high prices and scarcities in the market for basic materials....

Creating a wetland bank, builder faces a tough slog.(In The News)
July 1, 2004... If you think it's hard to get a permit to destroy a wetland, try getting permission to make one. That's what Michigan builder Todd Bennett wants to do: Take the trees off a 160-acre parcel of wooded upland, excavate the sandy soil for fill,...

Horsehair in old plaster may be arsenic-laden, investigator warns.(In The News)
July 1, 2004... A Delaware engineer investigating old tannery sites is warning remodelers of a possible risk of arsenic exposure from old plaster that contains animal hair. Tasked with evaluating former tannery sites in Delaware, Kevin Hansen of the...

City officials in Dallas have informed 32 building inspectors that they will be fired for filing false paperwork.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... City officials in Dallas have informed 32 building inspectors that they will be fired for filing false paperwork to cover up the fact that they weren't working, the Dallas Morning News reported in June. Seventy building department employees in...

The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has received American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has received American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation as a standard-writing organization, and invites interested parties to help create a new ANSI standard on prescriptive design and...

Beazer Homes has set aside $24 million to pay anticipated claims related to mold in hundreds of Indiana homes.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Beazer Homes has set aside $24 million to pay anticipated claims related to mold in hundreds of Indiana homes, reports the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Beazer inherited hundreds of mold problems when it purchased Crossing Communities in 2002....

The Carmel, Ind., city council has withdrawn a proposed ban on vinyl and aluminum siding after critics labeled the idea "snobbery and exclusion".(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Carmel, Ind., city council has withdrawn a proposed ban on vinyl and aluminum siding after critics labeled the idea "snobbery and exclusion," according to the Indianapolis Star. Instead, the council recommended the creation of an...

A state analysis shows that Massachusetts towns typically profit from new home starts.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A state analysis shows that Massachusetts towns typically profit from new home starts, according to a Boston Globe report. The study of 215 communities showed that new tax revenue exceeded new school costs in 170 municipalities, and fell short...

Impact fees to fund school construction in Lee County, Fla., have been declared legal by a state judge.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Impact fees to fund school construction in Lee County, Fla., have been declared legal by a state judge, ending a three-year battle and opening the way for the county to start spending $40 million on new schools. Florida Circuit Judge James...

Four to five thousand Dallas construction trade workers may get help becoming homeowners themselves.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Four to five thousand Dallas construction trade workers may get help becoming homeowners themselves under a pilot program introduced by former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, according to a report in the Dallas Business Journal. Cisneros now...

California passes workers comp reform.(In The News)
July 1, 2004... California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger succeeded April 16 where previous governors have failed, gaining near-unanimous legislative approval for a sweeping reform of the state's workers compensation system. Signing the bill on April 19,...

New lightning-resistant flexible gas line shines during demonstration.(In The News)(Counterstrike)
July 1, 2004... OmegaFlex, Inc., the Exton, Pa.-based company that makes TracPipe flexible stainless steel gas piping (www.omegaflex.com), has introduced a new product called CounterStrike that is engineered to withstand lightning strikes better than standard...

Forming a brick shelf in a concrete foundation.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Q. I'm planning to form a simple 4-foot stem wall foundation for a single-story garage using plywood, snap ties, and walers. It needs to have a brick ledge for the top 10 to 12 inches, which will show above grade. What's a simple, effective way...

Buildup in shower drains.(Q&A)
July 1, 2004... Q. Recently I've nm into a couple of incidents where a crystallized white substance has formed on the shower floor and in the drain. In both cases the showers have mud-set floors and are entirely tiled. The water is from a public source. In one...

Reducing clearance to woodstove pipe.(Brief Article)(Column)
July 1, 2004... Q. Can I use type X "fire code" ,gypsum board to reduce clearances to combustibles for a woodstove pipe? For example, could I attach a layer or two of gypsum board to the side or bottom of a nearby cabinet to reduce the required 18-inch...

Locating a fireplace in a family room with a TV.(Design)
July 1, 2004... Few things say "home" more than a crackling fireplace. The warmth and glow of the hearth have nearly universal appeal. But like it or not, the fireplace often has to share the room with a TV. This poses a challenge to the designer--how to...

Managing cash flow.(Business)
July 1, 2004... Managing the work flow and finances of my construction company was fairly simple when I was starting out. Money came in faster than it went out, so I was able to pay the bills on time. This was especially important with subcontractors. If I...

Do you really want to be competitive?(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... I worked recently with a contractor looking to improve his bottom line, which was suffering mostly because it was costing him too much to produce the volume of work he was doing. As soon as I suggested he needed to bump up his markup, he...

Don't skimp on employee benefits.
July 1, 2004... When starting out in the construction business, you wear all the hats in the company. You probably have few, if any, employees (not counting your spouse who is doing all that paperwork without being paid, but that's another story). You file...

The first true digital clipboard.
July 1, 2004... I've written quite a bit about things I consider to be useful technology that can be taken into the field: tools like Punch List, which runs on Palm OS-based PDAs, and the various handheld versions of scheduling software and information...

Why subs must carry liability insurance.(Legal)
July 1, 2004... As the general contractor, you have liability insurance to protect you from claims for bodily injury or property damage caused toy your negligence. So why, you ask, is it important for your subs to have liability insurance, too? If they don't,...

Quicker coffered ceilings: careful layout and preassembly on the floor take the fuss out of this overhead trim job.
July 1, 2004... As a production finish carpenter, I'm always looking for faster, better ways to get the work done. Over the last two years, my crew and I have developed a method for building coffered ceilings in a fraction of the time it used to take--and with...

Sliding compound: miter saws: double-bevel saws with easy-to-use controls lead the pack.
July 1, 2004... As a finish carpenter who specializes in custom stairs and hand-railing, I've used sliding compound saws regularly for years, and have switched brands once or twice as my needs changed. Currently, I have two of these saws--a Bosch 4412 and a...

Preventing chimney cap failure: for a long-lasting cap, use stiff concrete and isolate the flue with a bond breaker.
July 1, 2004... Whether running up an exterior wall or emerging through the roof, the last few feet of chimneys are completely exposed to the wrath of Mother Nature. These positions mean that chimneys are regularly subjected to intense heat, windblown rain,...

Weatherstripping existing windows: installing replacement units is standard procedure, but sometimes it's better to fix what's there.
July 1, 2004... A few months ago I received a call from a prospective client who wanted to replace the casement windows in her home in Berkeley, Calif. I went over there thinking it would be a straightforward replacement. As soon as I saw the house, I could...

Pouring a structural slab: expanded polystyrene deck-pan forms are light, strong, and affordable.(Cover Story)
July 1, 2004... I'm a residential contractor in Harwich, Mass., a coastal area with salty air, strong winds, and cold winters. For the past five years, my company has been building custom homes using the ReddiForm ICF (insulating concrete form) system. While I...

Dry feet.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)
July 1, 2004... Footing drains are one of those things that your customers will never see and probably won't get too excited about--until water starts seeping into their basement. Perforated pipe and stone work fine, but if you're looking for a faster method,...

Cutting it close.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)
July 1, 2004... I-joist manufacturers are very specific about the size and location of holes for plumbing and mechanicals, and cutting nonstandard holes or getting too close to chords or bearing points can create a problem. Fortunately, the fix doesn't have to...

Corrosive personality.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Since the phaseout of CCA-treated lumber, deck builders have complained that the new pressure-treating formulas start rusting connectors and fasteners at an accelerated rate. Deck Protector is a 4-inch wide self-adhering flashing that isolates...

Faster flashing.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)
July 1, 2004... Pipes and electrical boxes on exterior walls can provide an easy route for water to get inside the structure, and caulks and sealants am a temporary fix at best. But you can permanently seal around pipes and electrical boxes with Quick Flash....

Sound-stopping gaskets.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Putting gaskets between building panels and framing members is one of the best ways to reduce sound transmission and prevent air leakage. Unfortunately, many framers think that gasket systems are too labor intensive and finicky for production...

Combo housewrap.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Rainscreen siding combined with an effective drainage plane is one of the best systems for preventing water infiltration and giving paints and stains their best chance at a long life. But furring out your siding and properly detailing flashings...

R-value verifier.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(Inspect-R Density Gauge)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... One of the commonly cited weaknesses of blow-in insulation systems is having to determine whether the product has been installed to the specified density--if it hasn't, performance could be significantly affected. Owens Corning, trying to get...

Brainy barrier.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... If you're concerned that the poly in your walls could prevent drying and lead to moisture damage or mold, you might consider the MemBrain vapor barrier from CertainTeed. Billed as the first "smart" vapor barrier, MemBrain's permeability varies...

Long-lasting flashing.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(YorkShield 106 HP Flashing )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Copper is beautiful and long lasting, but it's also expensive and reacts badly with ACQ-treated lumber. YorkShield 106 HP Flashing uses a 3-, 5-, or 7-ounce layer of copper (compared to 16-or 20-ounce for solid copper) bonded to a mesh...

Call me dusty.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(breathable bag)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Dusty shops and construction trailers aren't the best places for expensive computer equipment. Airborne grit can destroy your hard drive, leaving you without your most important business tool. You can provide a little more protection for your...

New glue.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Titebond wood glue has been around for a long time, but carpenters and woodworkers now have more adhesive choices than ever, so the company has developed a new waterproof formula to keep pace. Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue offers several...

Ultimate replacement window.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(Ultimate Insert Double Hung)(Replacement windows)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Replacement windows usually involve a compromise in aesthetics, but if you're looking for a wood replacement window that can match just about any architectural style, you might consider Marvin's Ultimate Insert Double Hung. Based on the...

Get the blues.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(Perfect Products)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Doorknobs are among the last things to go into a new or newly remodeled home, but sometimes it's important to keep doors closed for painting, to reduce dust, or to signal that a room is complete and there's no reason to go in. You could install...

Better bolt.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(MacLock Blade Locking System)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A deadbolt is a tenet of home security, but how much does it really help when faced with a flat bar? If your customer is looking for something better, you could suggest the MacLock Blade Locking System. The 28-inch sliding lock replaces the...

Bookcase bifold.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(SpaceXDoors)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... You wouldn't think that a bookcase and an interior door have much in common until you see the SpaceXDoor. This innovative product combines the two in a cool-looking, space-saving bifold, making what seems like the perfect closet door for home...

High-style drop ceiling.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(Techstyle ceiling )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Drop ceilings are a great option for basement or commercial spaces because the panels allow access to mechanical systems and easy upgrades of communication and data cabling. The only problem is a look that's strikingly reminiscent of your grade...

Rustic rail.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(J. Dubs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Lodge-style homes have a character that make spindle balustrades look a little out of place. If building a more appropriately styled railing with twigs and a drawknife isn't your idea of fine carpentry, you could suggest Balcony and Stair...

Leak-detector connector.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(Safety+Plus gas connector)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A broken appliance or supply line can fill a home with gas in a hurry, and the effects can be devastating. The Safety+Plus gas connector includes a magnetic valve that shuts off the flow of gas to an offending appliance during a major leak....

Space-saving hi-flow flue.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(SideShot 2)( Power-venting systems )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Masonry and B-vent chimneys are expensive to install, take up a lot of space, and require the efforts of three or four different trades. Power-venting systems replace the chimney with a fan-driven assembly that sends exhaust gasses through an...

Captivating stapler.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(Cap stapler )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... It's no surprise that cap nails hold building paper and housewrap better than staples, but driving them by hand is slow and the big head means they almost always hit the ground with the foot-poking, tire-popping side facing up. A new cap...

Rock on!(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(Bosch)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... If you're hoping to rally the troops for a full day of hard work, you could show up with a Bosch PowerBox Jobsite Radio. It provides four GFCI protected outlets instead of just occupying one in the wall. It includes a digital tuner with 10 AM...

Wrench-free sidewinder.(Innovative products for builders & remodelers: our annual pick of products designed to help you work faster, better, and smarter)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... It's hard enough keeping track of your circular saw, but homing on to those skinny blade wrenches is even tougher. The new Mag Series Circular Saws from Porter-Cable have a toot-less blade-changing system that eliminates the quest for the...

Grow your own.(Resources for Cabinetmakers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... While there's more than one way to build a cabinet, I've seen quite a few whose construction left more than a little to be desired. Quarter-scale DonMar-Wiesing-method cabinet models are effective teaching tools that make clear the components...

E unum, pluribus.(Resources for Cabinetmakers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... I've had it in mind for some time to ask builders which books (aside from JLC) they consider indispensable to their work. It's a good idea and I'll get to it, but I'd also like to suggest this book: Beautiful Built-Ins: Plans for Designing with...

Cam countertop connector.(Resources for Cabinetmakers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Show me a cool piece of hardware and I'll look for a dozen ways to use it, like the tail wagging the dog. Case in point: The toolless FlipBolt (FastCap, Bellingham, Wash.; 888/443-3748, www.fastcap.com), made to draw two sections of countertop...

Blanket application.(Radiant Heating)
July 1, 2004... This electric-blanket-like mat is designed for direct installation between ceramic tile and the subfloor, using the same mastic used to bond the flooring. Because of its closely spaced conductors, nail or staple penetrations are strongly...

Laminate companion.(Radiant Heating)
July 1, 2004... Laminate flooring, with its thin profile and "floating" installation, is a popular option in kitchens and bathrooms. The Environ II Heating mat uses ultra-thin (1/12-inch) heating wire embedded in foil, and may be installed directly under the...

Z-qual time.(Radiant Heating)
July 1, 2004... Thin, bronze Zmesh can be directly stapled to a wood subfloor and does not require embedment in thinset adhesive, concrete, or self-leveling underlayment. The low-volt mesh, which closely resembles conventional insect screen, can be freely...

Flexible mat.(Radiant Heating)
July 1, 2004... Don't try to simplify the layout by through-installing electrical warming mat under bathroom fixtures or kitchen cabinets--heat must always be allowed to dissipate from the floor into the room air to prevent excessive buildup. The backing mesh...

Modular faucet.(Kitchen Faucets)
July 1, 2004... If you've got a particular client who likes the look of one faucet but wishes it had a feature found on another, maybe you need to peruse just one more catalog. The Systema kitchen line offers an array of features that can be opted in or out to...

Go pro.(Kitchen Faucets)
July 1, 2004... If you've ever experienced the unparalleled pleasure of professional dishwashing, you can appreciate the convenience of a free-hanging pressure sprayer for pre- and post-wash rinsing. The Master Gourmet kitchen faucet also features a high arc...

Clearing the deck.(Kitchen Faucets)
July 1, 2004... A wall-mounted faucet can give the kitchen sink a less cluttered appearance, provide wipe-down access at the back rim, and offer better fill clearance over tall pots. The Polaris SL-0231 faucet is available with a 6- or 12-inch swivel spout and...

Suite simplicity.(Kitchen Faucets)
July 1, 2004... Choosing a theme is an effective decorating trick that can save you some selection time. The Waterhill kitchen and bath suite provides consistency of style from one room to the next. The two-handle bridge kitchen faucet updates a classic form...

Faster hot water.(Domestic Water)
July 1, 2004... Homeowners and businesses can waste 25 gallons of water every day waiting for it to get hot, but you can shorten the wait and reduce the unnecessary consumption with a circulating pump. Circulating pumps temper the water by periodically mixing...

All's well.(Domestic Water)
July 1, 2004... Few things are as disturbing as running out of domestic water, and it happens all too frequently to homeowners relying on a low-yield well. In most cases, the problem with low-yield wells is they don't collect groundwater fast enough to keep up...

Broken pipe protection.(Domestic Water)
July 1, 2004... Broken water pipes or leaks can ruin a home in a hurry. Stopping leaks before that happens is the rationale behind Liquid Breaker. Similar to a conventional breaker panel, the monitoring system uses small sensors connected to shut-off valves...

Low-tech light control.(Home Automation)
July 1, 2004... Home automation doesn't have to mean expensive controls and the ability to call your oven from the road. The Sensor Plug is a simple plug-in device that automatically turns on a connected device whenever somebody enters the space. Once...

Mood swings.(Home Automation)
July 1, 2004... For those who enjoy creating interior lighting scenes, the Toscana Deluxe Programmer from Leviton offers up to 64 whole-house lighting schemas. The DHC (Decora Home Controls) device uses x10 protocol and can handle up to 256 individual devices....

Sexy switches.(Home Automation)
July 1, 2004... Providing your customers with lighting controls that make their life easier without bogging them down in technology they don't need or understand is a delicate balance. If you're looking for a lighting controller that isn't too scary, you might...

Automation in a box.(Home Automation)
July 1, 2004... If you're building a customer's dream vacation home, you might suggest the Shell Home Genie. The home management system allows homeowners to control their heating and cooling, turn on lights or appliances, and capture video from a remote...

Stand tall.(Manufactured Fireplaces & Accessories)
July 1, 2004... The short firebox common to many manufactured fireplaces tends to look small and boxy when compared to a classic masonry fireplace. The Colonial Wood-Burning Fireplace from Lennox has a noticeably taller front opening that gives it a more...

Plug in.(Manufactured Fireplaces & Accessories)
July 1, 2004... I remember a childhood friend's family setting up their electric fireplace every year so they could have a place for hanging the stockings and snapping holiday photos. Unfortunately, the light bulb and rotating drum meant to simulate flames...

Breathing room.(Manufactured Fireplaces & Accessories)
July 1, 2004... While fireplaces are good for many things, improving indoor air quality doesn't usually jump to mind as one of them. The FreshAir Gas Fireplace is a little different. It uses a heat-recovery ventilator to extract heat from exhaust gases and to...

Rock solid.(Manufactured Fireplaces & Accessories)
July 1, 2004... I think of stone mantels as a defining detail in Edwardian manors and medieval castles, but they also make a nice addition to more modest properties. Forshaw makes a line of Stone Mantels that install quickly and easily--without a mason....

Top hat.(Manufactured Fireplaces & Accessories)
July 1, 2004... Forshaw's Chase Top Flashing is not a fireplace accessory that homeowners will display with their brass tools and bellows, but it's at least as important. Designed to cap offsite-built wood chases, it makes installing a manufactured fireplace...

Hilti reciprocating saws.(Toolbox)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2004... As a full-time remodeler in Northern California, I'm constantly reaching for recip saws. I use them for demo and for opening walls to get at plumbing and electrical wiring. Recently I had the opportunity to try two totally new recip saws from...

Safer, stiffer pump jacks.(Toolbox)
July 1, 2004... As a restoration carpenter in Boston, I do a lot of exterior work repairing soffits, siding, and trim. Many of the historic homes I work on have steep roofs and three-story elevations, so I'm regularly up more than 20 feet in the air. Working...

Turbo Sander.(Toolbox)(Product/Service Evaluation)
July 1, 2004... One of the dirtiest phases of a remodeling job comes when it's time to sand drywall. I thought we had tried everything to reduce the amount of dust, but while I was at the Remodelers' Show in Baltimore this past fall, I came across a drywall...

Black-light bar code.(Theft Prevention)
July 1, 2004... Serial numbers and tracking badges are often the only means of proving that a power tool is hot, but removing or obliterating them is easy. The new I.D.ology System from ToolWatch uses identification fluid made from special ink. Even if the...

Come out with your hands up!(Theft Prevention)
July 1, 2004... Vehicle and heavy-equipment theft is epidemic in this country, but the LoJack Theft Prevention System should help level the playing field. When a vehicle equipped with this system is reported stolen, the internal RF transmitter is remotely...

Wireless security system.(Theft Prevention)
July 1, 2004... A hard-wired security system installed on every job and inside your construction trailer might be a great way to reduce vandalism and theft, but installation is expensive and you need access to a phone line. The Tattletale alarm uses...

Ladder lockdown.(Theft Prevention)
July 1, 2004... You might think it would be tough stealing a 30- or 40-foot extension ladder in the middle of night or from an occupied construction site, but it happens every day. To prevent the loss of your expensive aerial equipment, you could try Reliable...

Computer-assisted tool tracking.(Theft Prevention)
July 1, 2004... Once you have more than a couple of employees, locating tools and preventing theft and loss becomes a constant struggle, but ToolWatch Express is meant to help. Designed for construction companies with 20 to 50 employees, the system uses...

Subtle soffit vent.(Backfill)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... We pay as much attention to the quality of our exterior trim as we do the interior trim on the upscale houses we build, so we don't want to see ugly strip vents or round metal button vents messing up the soffits. Instead, we've come up with a...