The Journal of Light Construction articles from June 2003

The Journal of Light Construction archives from June 2003

Not all windows leak. (Letters).
June 1, 2003... To the Editor: In the article "Water-Managed Wall Systems" (3/03), Joseph Lstiburek states, "In America, we build as if windows don't leak" and "All windows leak at the joints." He cites "a survey of over 3,500 vinyl windows that were less...

Brick veneer no-no. (Letters).
June 1, 2003... To the Editor: In the article "Water-Managed Wall Systems," the brick veneer drawing on page 57 shows galvanized or stainless-steel nails or screws as brick ties. This is a real no-no! All building codes that I am aware of require...

Fast and loose. (Letters).
June 1, 2003... To the Editor: The article "Water-Managed Wall Systems" by Joe Lstiburek addresses an area of intense, interest in the construction industry and has a lot of useful information. However, there are parts of it that play a little fast and...

Housewrap maker counters. (Letters).
June 1, 2003... To the Editor: Dr. Lstiburek ("Water-Managed Wall Systems") offers an excellent discussion about proper installation of materials to shed water and concludes that design alone will not keep all moisture out of a wall system. It follows...

Home shows rule. (Letters).
June 1, 2003... To the Editor: I thoroughly enjoyed Tom Peterson's article "Marketing by Home Show" (Business, 4/03). I am the organizer of a small local co-op home show, and many of our exhibitors are looking for information like this. Having...

Coffered ceiling details. (Letters).
June 1, 2003... To the Editor: Regarding the article "Building a Coffered Ceiling" (4/03): Note the outside corner molding used by early craftsmen. This molding installs quickly, provides a shadow line, and conceals gaps while allowing for expansion and...

State home builder associations push lawsuit alternatives; "right-to-cure" bills give builders a chance to fix problems before lawyers get involved. (In The News).
June 1, 2003... State home builder associations are gaining ground in a nationwide push to provide alternatives to construction defect litigation, one factor in the current critical shortage of builder's liability insurance. In 2002, "right-to-cure" (or...

New water heater standard will save lives. (In The News).
June 1, 2003... Starting this July, 30-, 40-, and 50-gallon water heaters must be manufactured to a new ANSI performance standard that will require the units to pass a realistic performance test verifying that they will not ignite flammable vapors. An industry...

Montana's high court has thrown out a law allowing only property owners to vote. (Off Cuts).
June 1, 2003... Montana's high court has thrown out a law allowing only property owners to vote on city inspection powers outside the city limits, reports the Montana Standard. At least six of the state's cities conduct building inspections in a four-mile-wide...

After a near collision with a police cruiser, a man driving a stolen road grader. (Off Cuts).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... After a near collision with a police cruiser, a man driving a stolen road grader from a construction site led the Carlsbad, N.M., officers on a 10-mph low-speed chase for several hundred feet before bailing out to flee on foot, according to an...

U.S. lumber consumption broke records in 2002. (Off Cuts).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... U.S. lumber consumption broke records in 2002, according to the Western Wood Products Association. The WWPA estimates that the nation used 56.3 billion board feet last year, including 18.1 billion board feet in remodeling (up 12% on the year)...

DIY giant Home Depot has opened its first multistory home center. (Off Cuts).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2003... DIY giant Home Depot has opened its first multistory home center, according to the Home Channel News. Located on North Halsted Street in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, the store will carry a modified mix of products designed to appeal to...

Low lumber prices edging European imports out of the U.S. market. (In The News).
June 1, 2003... One year ago, when the U.S. slapped heavy import duties on Canadian framing lumber, European lumber producers saw what looked like a golden opportunity. On the assumption that the 29% duty on Canadian lumber would mean higher prices and...

Business tune-up: choosing the right crew leader. (In The News).
June 1, 2003... A lot of the construction companies consult with have a basic problem--a lack of leadership among the field crew. It becomes particularly noticeable when the owner is withdrawing from the field in order to spend more time working on his...

A "creek daylighting" initiative will be on the September primary ballot in Seattle, Wash. (Off Cuts).
June 1, 2003... A "creek daylighting" initiative will be on the September primary ballot in Seattle, Wash., after 20,000 voters signed a petition in favor of it, according to the Seattle Times. Designed to restore salmon habitat, Initiative 80 (the "Save...

A North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) binational panel has accepted a friend-of-the-court brief opposing a U.S. ruling that Canadian wood imports threaten the U.S. timber industry. (Off Cuts).
June 1, 2003... A North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) binational panel has accepted a friend-of-the-court brief opposing a U.S. ruling that Canadian wood imports threaten the U.S. timber industry. In the brief, NAHB and the National Lumber and Building...

Shingles get tough to match wind codes. (In The News).
June 1, 2003... As the international codes spread to more states, coastal builders are starting to see tougher wind-resistant design standards. In many areas, shingles tested to handle 110-mph winds will be the rule, and in some places codes may also require...

Not your basic basement. (In The News).
June 1, 2003... Basements seldom attract much attention. But here's one that deserves to: an Olathe, Kan., hillside foundation that steps up 32 feet in elevation and includes a fish pool and a fountain. The winner of the Concrete Foundation Association's...

Can you combine ridge and gable vents? (Q&A).
June 1, 2003... Q. I'm reroofing an older ranch house that has continuous soffit vent panels and gable-end attic vents but no ridge vents. I'm wondering if I should add a continuous ridge vent; it would be fairly easy to do while the roof is stripped. Is it...

Bending a base cap. (Q&A).
June 1, 2003... Q. I was recently asked to add a cherry base cap along the finished stringer of a custom staircase that makes a broad sweeping curve along the wall in several places. What's the best way to make this molding? Should I use a softer, more pliable...

Rigid foam under siding? (Q&A).
June 1, 2003... Q. I'm removing the wood siding from a '70s colonial, down to the sheathing, and plan to put up vinyl siding. I'm thinking of covering the exterior with foil-faced foam for extra insulation but am concerned about trapping moisture in the walls....

Trimming a Dutch Colonial gambrel. (Design).
June 1, 2003... The Dutch Colonial style was brought to the New World by Dutch immigrants who settled along the Hudson River in New York State before scattering across Delaware, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Most of the original Dutch Colonial houses were built...

Keeping a lid on workers' comp costs. (Business).
June 1, 2003... Every year, a notice comes in the mail from our insurance carrier informing us that we're due for an audit of our workers' compensation exposure. If you've been through one of these, you know that it's either a relative breeze or a royal pain,...

The limited liability corporation: is it for you? (Legal).
June 1, 2003... Limited liability corporations (LLCs) have become "hot" during the past decade, with more and more businesses adopting the form. What's the appeal? The biggest reason to switch from a plain-vanilla sole proprietorship is to limit...

Building better decks: for greater profits, use premium materials, production building methods, and a menu of custom touches. (Cover Story).
June 1, 2003... My company has been building custom sun decks and porches in northern Virginia for the past 17 years. In that time, we've developed uniform production methods and selected premium materials that enable us to sell more than 120 projects every...

Indoor mold causes & cures.
June 1, 2003... Over the last few years, "mold" has turned into the ugliest four-letter word on the job site. The mold monster has become the bane of builders, insurers, realtors, and homeowners from coast to coast. The effects of mold on human health are...

Cool roofs for hot climates: lighten the loads on home air conditioners with reflective roofing, radiant barriers, or better insulation and ventilation.
June 1, 2003... Even in hot, sunny climates, it's common to see dark shingle roofs. That heat-absorbing choice carries a significant energy penalty: In sunny climates, heat gain through the roof makes up a major share of a house's cooling load. People try...

A simple new-house manual: this well-thought-out owner's guide reassures home buyers, reduces service calls, and builds referrals.
June 1, 2003... When you buy a washing machine, a VCR, or a new car, you get an owner's manual. Buy a house, and you get a telephone call saying that the key is under the rock by the back door. In fact, you get more in the way of instruction with a $5...

Installing over-the-post handrailing: a site-built pitch block permits accurate fitting of curved transitions, and a matching jig ensures that the cuts are dead on.
June 1, 2003... Building stairs is one of the most difficult parts of building a house, and building handrails is the most difficult part of stair building. There are two types of open handrail systems. The first is the post-to-post system, in which the rail...

A masonry chimney in six hours.
June 1, 2003... Several years ago, while on vacation at Disney World, I was struck by the variety of "brick" and "stone" surfaces created with cast concrete. My partner, Keith Knickerbocker, and I wondered whether it would be possible to use this method to...

Taking control of document management. (Computers).
June 1, 2003... I hope that last month I got you fired up about installing a file server on your home or office network. To recap, I suggested that you centralize your data in one place--on a "black box" network attached storage (NAS) appliance, or an...

Cabinet upgrades. (Kitchen & Bath).
June 1, 2003... Good ideas are frequently left unexplored and unexploited in a typical kitchen installation, whether in a new home or a remodel. Even if the workmanship is technically flawless, the new kitchen is often less than it could and should be, in both...

Improved Liner Panel. (Products).
June 1, 2003... USG's Sheetrock Gypsum Liner Panels have a mold-resistant blue face and back paper that resists damage from wetting better than previous versions, according to the manufacturer. The 1-inch-thick panels are made primarily for area-separation...

Hot roof. (Products).
June 1, 2003... With summer upon us, it's tough to think about ice damming, but now is the prime season for correcting problem roofs. Hotshingle Heating Elements use a thin, copper heating element to melt accumulated snow and ice before damming can occur,...

High-strength Screed. (Products).
June 1, 2003... Aluminum Screeds from Marshalltown are made from a premium alloy that's durable and warp resistant, according to the manufacturer. The screeds are available in lengths from 6 to 24 feet long. The ends are capped to make cleanup easier and...

No-glue bamboo. (Products).
June 1, 2003... Bamboo flooring has grown steadily in popularity since its introduction about ten years ago. The durable material is harvested every six years, and advocates say it's among the most environmentally responsible of floor coverings. Timber Grass,...

Chimney pots. (On The Job).
June 1, 2003... Chimney pots have been enjoying a tremendous resurgence in popularity. Although the added height created by a chimney pot is a cost-effective way to improve draft, most are purchased simply as a good-looking architectural element. Because they...

Plastic arbor. (Products).
June 1, 2003... With its flat-topped pergola roof and lattice walls, the Fairfield Arbor could easily be mistaken for a painted-wood arbor. In fact, it's all vinyl and impervious to rot and insects. According to the maker, the vinyl formulation is high in...

Prefinished decking. (Products).
June 1, 2003... Customers looking for a long-lasting deck that's not made of plastic might consider Meridian. The prestained decking and railing components are made from Shorea maxwelliana, a clear tropical hardwood that looks a lot like teak. All components...

Go-anywhere water heater. (Products).
June 1, 2003... Gas water heaters require a flue, which limits where they can be installed. But direct-vent units, like Rheem's PowerVent 2, can be vented horizontally through an exterior wall up to 75 feet away with inexpensive, 3-inch plastic pipe. The water...

Better pipe strapping. (Products).
June 1, 2003... Easier to install and more flexible than conventional metal pipe strapping, polypropylene Duct Master Support Strap has 450 pounds of tensile strength. The flexible webbing passes the UL 732 burn test for flame spread and smoke development and...

Safety glasses. (Products).
June 1, 2003... Promising unsurpassed comfort and durability; Klein's new line of stylish, wraparound Protective Eyewear give users a choice of temple lengths and protective coatings. UV, scratch-resistant, and antifog coatings are offered in three frame...

Laundry tub with a twist. (Products).
June 1, 2003... Although it looks similar to an ordinary deep-basin sink, the SinkSpa Jetted Sink is actually a spa tub for clothing. Using three water jets, it creates a gentle swirling motion for effective cleaning of delicate garments automatically, without...

Pet rock. (Products).
June 1, 2003... Hiding cleanouts or septic vent pipes in a residential landscape can be challenging. But Topp Industries' Plastic Landscape Rocks can hide just about anything, except maybe a real boulder The hollow rocks have a 9 1/2-inch opening at the bottom...

Glue for CMUs. (Products).
June 1, 2003... OSI's Low-VOC Landscape Block Adhesive is designed to prevent cap blocks in masonry retaining walls from shifting when a homeowner is mowing the grass or landscaping. The adhesive can also be used to secure brick, slate, stone, wood, and metal....

Hammer drill or rotary hammer? (Toolbox).
June 1, 2003... As the marketing manager for a power tool company, I'm often asked about the difference between hammer drills and rotary hammers. Buyers want to know why there's such a price difference between the two, and which tool is best suited for...

Snapped in ink. (Toolbits).
June 1, 2003... Snapping chalk lines in wet or damp weather is typically an exercise in frustration. Chalk sticks to the line without leaving a mark, and the wet string inevitably tangles inside the case. Another problem with chalk is fat, fuzzy lines that...

Site office in a box. (Toolbits).
June 1, 2003... Finding a secure space for tool storage and a convenient place to review plans is the unfulfilled dream of most builders. With an angled desk and 9 cubic feet of storage underneath, the 119 Portable Field Station from Knaack provides both in a...

Laser guidance system. (Toolbox).
June 1, 2003... Manufacturers have installed lasers on miter saws for years now with little professional acceptance. Even carpenters who are comfortable with technology tend to see lasers only as cool gadgets; others see them as fragile and gimmicky. I've seen...

Poor man's HRV. (Backfill).
June 1, 2003... As most energy-conscious builders know, a tight house needs a reliable source of flesh exterior air. This is particularly true of houses with fireplaces, high-powered exhaust fans, and other appliances that tend to depressurize the living...