The Journal of Light Construction articles from July 2005

The Journal of Light Construction archives from July 2005

New look, same book.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... What's going on, you're asking? Not much--a nominal change, really As in, we're giving the magazine the nickname that most everyone already calls it (say Journal of Light Construction three times fast and you'll know why). We've been...

Nice ice advice.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... Contrary to the advice in the story "Retreating Snows Leave Legacy of Roof-Ice Repairs" (In the News, 4/05), you should never put ice-melting chemicals on a roof with ice backup problems. The reason the ice gets attention in the first place is...

Hiding vent holes in eaves blocks.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... In the item on ventilation and eaves blocking in seismic zones (Q&A, 3/05), the author discusses shear issues and the relative lateral strengths of two different venting details. I didn't run the numbers, but it seems that if someone wanted the...

NAHB opposes ICC Energy Code Amendments.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... Your readers have good reason to be concerned about a proposed change to the ICC energy code ("DOE Study Criticizes Energy Code Amendments," In the News, 4/05), because the new insulation requirement changes conventional construction practices....

Setting the record straight.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... Without knowing me or my business, Mr. Kenneth Benson (Letters, 4/05) accuses me of locking out minorities. For the record, two of my three primary subcontractors are black and my best helper is a woman. I pay 30 percent more than the going...

The missing page.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... I enjoyed Leland Stone's "A Handyman's Guide to Self-Preservation" (Business, 3/05). I run a small contracting business in the Seattle area and found his insights applicable to my business. He has found answers to many of the communication...

Builders received kickbacks, say regulators; homeowners refunded $24 million in settlement with title insurer.(In the News)
July 1, 2005... Without admitting any wrongdoing, First American Title Insurance Co. of Santa Aria, Calif., agreed in February to refund $24 million to homeowners in Colorado, Arizona, California, and other states in response to allegations that the company...

Is a drainage ditch a wetland?(National Association of Home Builders )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... NAHB doesn't think so, and wants Congress to use language in upcoming legislation that makes this clear. Other items on the association's lay 26 "Wetlands Wish List" include limiting the wetland-permitting process to 120 days or less, and...

Defective blade guard prompts recall.(In the News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... A circular saw that JLC reviewed in November 2004 ("Sidewinder Circ Saws") was included in a May 18 recall by Robert Bosch Tool Corp. and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Some 69,000 saws sold from February 2004 through April 2005...

FDIC study sheds new light on boom markets.(In the News)(Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)
July 1, 2005... In case you haven't noticed, there's a nationwide boom going on in the housing market. For years, pundits have worried and argued about whether the boom presages an inevitable bust, with home values dropping, equity disappearing, and work for...

CO incident leads to new legislation.(In the News)
July 1, 2005... No criminal charges will be filed following an investigation into a deadly carbon monoxide leak on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington, Vt. (see In the News, 4/05). According to forensic engineers and state inspectors, the heating...

Q. Why doesn't a post-tensioned slab buckle?(Q & A)
July 1, 2005... Q. Is it possible that a post-tensioned garage slab could literally buckle in half when the tendons are tensioned, or does rebar in the slab prevent that from happening? Also, why are these types of slabs so common in Las Vegas? Is it because...

Q. Best flooring for a humid climate.(Q & A)(floor coverings)
July 1, 2005... Q. I'm planning on installing laminate flooring on the first floor of my North Carolina house, which is built on a ventilated crawlspace. But I'm concerned that the laminate finish will trap moisture and eventually lead to rot damage in the...

Q. Getting rid of that smoky smell.(Q & A)
July 1, 2005... Q. In a recently purchased house, one of the bedrooms was used as a smoking room by a previous owner and still smells of cigarette smoke. To get rid of the odor, my clients washed the floors, walls, ceiling, and all the windows and woodwork,...

New technology safeguards against deck enemies.(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... Exclusive Antimicrobial Composite Expected to Break the Market Wide Open Correct Building Products has boldly raced in front of the composite decking pack with the only product on the market that takes on the most common sources of...

A simple truss-rolling trick.(On the Job)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... My crews used to install gable trusses by nailing a piece of two-by lumber to the gable wall of the house in such a way that it stuck up high enough to catch the top chord of the truss when we rolled it. The two-by, which was braced to a stake...

Inexpensive clamps.(On the Job)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... If you've ever installed split columns around a structural post, you know how hard it is to come up with enough fabric band clamps to glue up more than one or two at a time. It always bothered me to leave clamps on overnight, because who knows...

Easy bullnose corner.(On the Job)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... When saw Norco's "conversion corner" at the JLC Live show, my immediate reaction was, "Why didn't someone think of this sooner?" I could kick myself for all the three-piece corners I've mitered, or the hundreds of dollars I could have saved on...

Guidelines for bay windows.(Design)
July 1, 2005... A bay window relates to an exterior wall much the same way that a dormer relates to a primary roof. Like a dormer, a bay window captures extra space and daylight for the primary volume. Also like a dormer, it can enliven an exterior elevation....

Preventing remodeling sticker shock.
July 1, 2005... Increasingly, we contractors are getting involved in projects early in the design phase, through either design-build or negotiated contracts. When this is the case, one of our key roles is to provide realistic, accountable budget feedback to...

A new way to install slate roofs; this batten and clip system reduces the slate required to cover the roof by nearly half.
July 1, 2005... I've been a builder for 16 years and have specialized in roofing for the last five. I do mainly asphalt roofs, but like most roofers in northern New England I've also done my share of traditional slate roofs and slate repairs. So I was...

What's the secret of today's top remodelers?(PAID ADVERTISEMENT)
July 1, 2005... Successful remodelers capitalize on current consumer trends in the design of their projects. Today's most popular trend is self-expression. Consumers want their coffee drinks just the way they like them. And they download only their favorite...

Why stucco walls got wet; designs, methods, codes, and workmanship all played a role in Florida's soggy storm experience.
July 1, 2005... The four hurricanes that struck Florida last summer proved the effectiveness of the tough building codes passed by the state after Hurricane Andrew's strike in 1992. Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne killed dozens of people, hut not...

Innovative products 2005: our annual pick of products designed to help you work smarter, faster, and better.(Water Out Flashing)
July 1, 2005... Sticking with tried-and-true building materials is just good sense. Custom building and remodeling are complicated enough; there's no need to increase your liability by experimenting with every new product that comes along. On the other hand,...

Door planers for door hangers: a good fence, versatile controls, and a long base for controlling snipe are key.
July 1, 2005... After a recent discussion about door planers on the jlconline.com finish-carpentry forum, a fellow door hanger, Al Constantin, and I decided we weren't qualified to judge which plane was best for working doors because neither of us had used all...

Installing manufactured stone over ICFs: to ensure good adhesion, use an acrylic mortar admix and make sure the faux stones are fully bedded.(insulating concrete forms)
July 1, 2005... My partners and I were recently hired to apply a manufactured-stone veneer to the above-grade face of a drive-in basement foundation. Though we had previously worked with other, geometric veneers under the same brand name, Cultured Stone (Owens...

Click-lock linoleum.(Kitchen & Bath / Resilient Flooring)
July 1, 2005... Genuine linoleum--a durable, versatile, all-natural floor covering--offers unlimited and distinctive decorative options. The material can be a snap to install, too: Marmoleum Click is a new line of 12-by-1 12-inch tiles and 12-by-36-inch panels...

Veni, vidi, vinyl.(Kitchen & Bath / Resilient Flooring)
July 1, 2005... Conquer any preconceived notions about ho-hum vinyl-flooring designs with Mannington's Style & Pace, which serves up unusual patterns and a subtle color palette. Available in a wide variety of styles, the flooring comes in 12-foot-wide rolls...

Stone substitute.(Kitchen & Bath / Resilient Flooring)
July 1, 2005... Travertine and tumbled marble are beautiful--but the open porosity of these stones may not suit a kitchen or bathroom installation. Enter Solidity resilient flooring, a stone-look solid-vinyl tile with an aluminum oxide finish for enhanced...

Natural resilience.(Kitchen & Bath / Resilient Flooring)
July 1, 2005... Sliced, diced, and dyed in exciting colors and patterns, natural cork makes for a unique and long-lasting floor. Its resilience, durability, and comfort are practically unrivaled by other flooring materials. Composed from the waste products of...

Lightweight contender.(Kitchen & Bath / Stone Countertops)
July 1, 2005... Rocksolid Granit, a 1/4-inch-thick engineered stone, can be flexed to cover curved surfaces with radiuses as tight as 30 inches. Because the product weighs only about 3 pounds per square foot, it can be placed over existing countertops. The...

Clean and seal.(Kitchen & Bath / Stone Countertops)
July 1, 2005... Stone may be less vulnerable to damage and discoloration than other materials, but it still requires care and maintenance. Stone Care's water-based products are designed to safely clean and preserve every conceivable type of stone and...

Eye-popping rock.(Kitchen & Bath / Stone Countertops)
July 1, 2005... Composed of such semiprecious stones as jasper, rose quartz, carnelian, and agate, Concetto countertops are among the most striking you're likely to find. The line encompasses eight styles, at a cost of $400 to $500 per square foot installed....

Cootie-conscious clients?(Kitchen & Bath / Stone Countertops)
July 1, 2005... Silestone Leather quartz surfacing's unique finish lends this normally glossy material a softer, more matte quality. The product's antimicrobial protection allegedly inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew. Slabs come in 20 colors at...

Air superiority.(Products / Truck Accessories)
July 1, 2005... Tired of wrestling a 100-pound wheelbarrow compressor out of your pickup every day? Switch to a truck-mounted version. The Maxus EX8006 packs a 30-gallon tank, an electric start, and a 13-hp Honda GX engine. Its oil-bath cast-iron pump delivers...

Tub dumper.(Products / Truck Accessories)
July 1, 2005... Although landscaper-size dump trucks offer time and labor savings, they also deliver a bone-jarring ride and aren't particularly well suited for family camping trips. If you need the occasional convenience of a dump body without the entire...

Flying carpet.(Products / Truck Accessories)
July 1, 2005... Plastic bed liners wear like iron, but your stuff is apt to slide all over their slippery surface. Spray-on liners are better at keeping your tools and building materials contained, but they're tough on your knees and on finish grades of...

Dust collection.(Products / Wood Flooring)(Oneida Vac Systems)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Floor sanders generate a lot of dust, creating a nuisance for homeowners and a nasty health hazard for workers. But it doesn't have to be that way: According to its maker, the Floor Sanding Dust Containment System eliminates almost all of the...

High and dry.(Products / Wood Flooring)
July 1, 2005... Thanks to plastic channels that promote air circulation and prevent moisture absorption, the click-together floating floor Subflor Supreme is perfect for basement slabs and other damp areas, says the manufacturer. Made from water-resistant OSB...

Thin is in.(Products / Wood Flooring)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Despite their good looks, durability, and easy maintenance, hardwood strips aren't always the best floor-covering choice. Installation on slabs and below grade can be tricky, and placement over radiant heat can result in undesirable expansion...

Super screws.(Products / Structural Fastener & Connectors)
July 1, 2005... As far as I'm concerned, self-drilling structural screws like GRK's RS5 (Rugged Structural Screw) are among the best structural fasteners ever invented. The new, hardened stainless-steel version is appropriate both for general exterior use and...

Cool connections.(Products / Structural Fastener & Connectors)
July 1, 2005... Beams and structural timbers often require exposed connectors, yet conventional galvanized connectors aren't really meant for display. For a solution to this quandary, check out Simpson's Architectural Products Group, a line of decorative...

Stainless-steel concrete crews.(Products / Structural Fastener & Connectors)
July 1, 2005... In response to widespread concerns about corrosion associated with the new formulations of chemicals in pressure-treated lumber, Powers Fasteners has launched a line of 410 stainless-steel self-tapping concrete screws. Stainless Steel Tappers...

Ridgid R3210 Wormdrive Saw.(Toolbox)
July 1, 2005... Over the last few years, there have been quite a few changes to in-line circular saws. Manufacturers have made them lighter and more powerful, and have added many features. About a year ago, I tested eight in-line saws for an article in JLC...

Super sawyer.(Toolbox / Demolition Tools)
July 1, 2005... Whenever lunchtime bull sessions turn to favorite demo tools, Milwaukee's Sawzall always tops somebody's list. Dubbed the 6523-21 Super Sawzall, the newest version of the venerable demo tool has an eight-position rotating handle and a more...

Kick-ass bar.(Toolbox / Demolition Tools)
July 1, 2005... Stanley sent JLC a FatMax 36-inch Wrecking Bar shortly after introducing it. Few tools, I have to say, have generated as much interest around the office as this good-looking bright-yellow crowbar. Instead of the hex-shaped tool steel commonly...

Dawg pound.(Toolbox / Demolition Tools)
July 1, 2005... When remodeler John Foley couldn't find the right tool for removing drywall, he went straight to the Dawgs--the Demo Dawgs. The professional-grade tools in his new line promise to be among the most versatile available. Suitable for knocking...

Your friend lefty.(Toolbox / Drill Bits & Drivers)
July 1, 2005... As if breaking a bolt or fastener weren't bad enough, drilling it out so you can use an extractor often makes the situation even worse. The problem is that conventional right-handed bits tend to tighten the bolt further, increasing the...

Sheet-metal hole saw.(Toolbox / Drill Bits & Drivers)
July 1, 2005... Recently, I had the unfortunate task of drilling holes in light-gauge metal studs while running some wire. I wasn't expecting it to be a big deal, but soon discovered that the metal would heat up and deform very quickly, making it surprisingly...

Tight-space turner.(Toolbox / Drill Bits & Drivers)
July 1, 2005... Looking for a way to turn fasteners in all those tight spaces? Check out the cool new Model 49-22-8510 RAD (right-angle drill) Attachment from Milwaukee. It features a sturdy-looking, all-metal housing and an adjustable secondary handle for...

Satellite radio setup.(Backfill)(Column)
July 1, 2005... Like many tradesmen, I find it easier to get through the day if there's music playing in the background. I used to listen to FM radio, but the commercials drove me nuts. When I heard about satellite radio, I signed up immediately and now get...