The Journal of Light Construction articles from June 2004

The Journal of Light Construction archives from June 2004

Advantages of design-build.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... To the Editor: Thank you for running Andrew DiGiammo's article "Shearwalls for Coastal Homes" (Practical Engineering, 2/04), which helps to explode the myth that shearwalls are only needed in earthquake zones. The wind forces discussed in...

Save a few arrows.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... To the Editor: In the March issue, Frank Woeste responded to a question (Q&A) about placing l/2-inch drywall on a ceiling framed at 16 inches on-center, stating that "it doesn't matter if the truss spacing is at 12, 16, or 24 inches. What...

Setting the Record Straight.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... To the Editor: In the article "Wood and Steel Deliver Double Price Whammy" (In the News, 4/04), I was either misquoted or there was an editorial error. In talking about material substitutions, I would never suggest using 15-gauge pieces...

Along with home building, theft is booming: busy, chaotic job sites are an easy mark for crooks of all stripes.(In The News)
June 1, 2004... If news reports from around the country are any indication, there's one growth sector in the economy that's every bit as hot as home building: stealing from job sites. Examples are everywhere. "Construction thefts jumped 84% between 2002 and...

Lumber trade deadlock drags on as wood prices surge.(In The News)
June 1, 2004... An international trade panel reviewing U.S. penalties and duties assessed on imported Canadian lumber ruled at the end of April that they violate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The panel concluded that the U.S. Commerce...

Denver mayor John Hickenlooper says that streamlining the city's bureaucratic review and approval process could cut the cost of new housing by 5%.(Offcuts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Denver mayor John Hickenlooper says that streamlining the city's bureaucratic review and approval process could cut the cost of new housing by 5%, according to a Rocky Mountain News report. Merely adopting the International Building Code so...

Wisconsin governor Jim Doyle has signed legislation to streamline the state's air and water permitting process.(Offcuts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Wisconsin governor Jim Doyle has signed legislation to streamline the state's air and water permitting process, according to press reports. Builders in the state supported the measure, which the governor said would help hold down the cost of...

New Jersey governor James McGreevey's 2004 budget proposal includes a 1% fee on the sales price of homes selling for $1 million or more.(Offcuts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... New Jersey governor James McGreevey's 2004 budget proposal includes a 1% fee on the sales price of homes selling for $1 million or more, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. The money raised by the "McMansion tax" and other fee increases...

LVL and sawn wood sandwich makes strong "hybrid" glulam.(In The News)(laminated veneer lumber)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... For long headers or girders, a builder's choices include sawn lumber built-up beams, laminated veneer lumber (LVL) members, and glulams. A relatively new glulam product out of the northwest U.S. combines the three. Called a "hybrid" glulam, the...

Losing court case, DOE brings back SEER-13 air-conditioner rule.(In The News)
June 1, 2004... Shortly after taking office, the Bush administration changed a Clinton ruling that would have made all new air conditioners meet a SEER-13 efficiency minimum by 2006; the Bush administration lowered the minimum to SEER-12. But a consumer...

The Building Industry Association of Washington may back a ballot initiative to make the director of the state's Department of Labor and Industries an elected rather than appointed official.(Offcuts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The Building Industry Association of Washington may back a ballot initiative to make the director of the state's Department of Labor and Industries an elected rather than appointed official, reports the Puget Sound Business Journal. One key...

Dog owners will share in a new "upscale urban amenity" if they buy a condo unit in Cristalla.(Offcuts)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Dog owners will share in a new "upscale urban amenity" if they buy a condo unit in Cristalla, a 22-story Seattle project under construction, reports the Puget Sound Business Journal. Architects have reserved part of the building's rooftop...

Unwilling feds launch red-tape remedy for red-legged frog.(In The News; conservation)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Its hand forced by a citizen lawsuit, the Fish & Wildlife Service in April proposed to designate a 4.1-million-acre portion of California as critical habitat for the California red-legged frog. Listed as a threatened species, the frog has been...

Shower pan on a slab.(Q&A)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Q. While I was removing the old tile from a concrete shower pan in a slab foundation, a portion of the 1x5-inch raised concrete lip separated from the slab below. It appears that the lip was formed and placed on top of the slab, and there is...

Waterproofing ICFs.(Q&A)(insulated concrete forms)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Q. Is there a spray-on waterproofing that's compatible with ICF foundations--that won't "melt" the polystyrene? A. Bruce Richgels responds: When waterproofing ICFs, we use a spray-on polymer-modified membrane--either Tremco's Tuff-N-Dri or...

Durability of Cedars.(Q&A)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Q. I'm pricing cedar for a replacement deck that was formerly built with treated yellow pine. A local supplier is telling, me his "northern white" cedar will last far longer than "Alaskan" cedar, which I can purchase for about half the price....

Making windows fit.(Design)(considerations for window design and placement)
June 1, 2004... It's easy to get carried away with window placement in a house design and end up with a jumbled-looking facade. This article illustrates some simple guidelines for making windows compatible with the other elements of a house. First, keep these...

Tracking changes--all of them.(Business)(custom builder )
June 1, 2004... Like any builder talking to a prospective customer, I get two questions more than any others: "How much will it cost? And when will it be done?" These are important, valid concerns, but the answers depend on another question: How many...

Good advice for young companies.(Business)
June 1, 2004... Rome wasn't built in a day, and my company didn't get to where it is overnight. I still wouldn't be anywhere without ideas and strategies that I've gleaned from other contractors over the years. My goals for the company have grown and changed...

Keeping labor codes practical.(Business)(job costing in construction industry)
June 1, 2004... One tricky part of tracking your company's labor hours is making sure that everyone is working from the same assumptions. "To avoid confusion, guesswork, and skewed reports, the company needs a good shared understanding of which tasks go into...

Subcontractor agreements: do they have to be in writing?(Legal)
June 1, 2004... Untimely or poor subcontractor work can prevent contractors from completing projects on schedule and within budget. To prepare for that possibility, it makes good business sense to create a written subcontractor agreement. A well-written...

Update: drugs and employer liability.(Legal)(Brief Article)(Column)
June 1, 2004... In last month's Legal column ("Drug Testing Employees"), I talked about what happens when one of your employees gets injured in an accident that was caused by his own use of illegal drugs. The column stated that an employee is entitled to...

Round-head stick nailers.(Tool Test)(Cover Story)
June 1, 2004... Pneumatic framing nailers have a big effect on the speed and quality of the work. Tasks that take forever with a hammer can be done in a fraction of the time with a framing gun. I run a framing crew on the Kitsap Peninsula, west of Seattle,...

Max PowerLite high-pressure nailer: even fully loaded, this coil framing nailer weighs less than stick nailers.(Max USA Corp.)(Advertisement)
June 1, 2004... Recently, JLC asked me to try out Max's new PowerLite framing system. The timing was excellent because our company's four-man crew was scheduled to frame 15 to 20 custom homes this year. That's twice what we normally build, so we were looking...

Framing a cross-vault ceiling: trial and error can't equal a calculator for laying out the arches.
June 1, 2004... As a custom framer, I welcome the challenge to do something a little out of the ordinary. A recent job called for a recessed cross-vault ceiling in a rectangular morning room off the kitchen. In that section of the house, we'd framed the basic...

Replacing Windows in stucco walls: the key to a crack-free, leakproof installation is to properly tie into the existing lath and building paper.(Column)
June 1, 2004... Drive through a neighborhood that has a lot of older stucco homes, and you'll probably notice some obvious patch jobs where windows have been replaced. Window replacement is one of the most common home improvements people make in any type of...

Creating high-end interiors with MDF: combining MDF trim with exotic or figured hardwoods creates a unique look for high-end homes.(Medium Density Fiberboard)(Column)
June 1, 2004... I've built homes and furniture in northwestern Vermont for 25 years, but for the past 10 years, my design-build firm has focused on the highly competitive new-home market. Most of my homes are in the "move-up" category in desirable...

Estimating finish carpentry: accurate labor estimates depend on good records from the field.(Column)
June 1, 2004... In 1979 I was trying hard to get a handle on my costs. I'd been a general contractor for only a few years, but I was already tired of late nights and blurry eyes trying to bid plan. I worried about my prices, too: I wasn't confident about the...

Landscape lighting: well-placed low-voltage lighting circuits can make a home's surroundings useful, beautiful, and safe.(Column)
June 1, 2004... As a partner in a landscaping design-build firm, I work from a broad palette of design elements. The basic forms, like walkways, patios, decks, and fences, serve as a visual and spatial frame for plantings, water features, sculptures, and other...

All decked out ...(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
June 1, 2004... Summer is the best time to enjoy the outdoor pleasures of home ownership--and it's the best time for construction pros to get out and sell those high-profit, high-demand decking projects to their homeowner customers. Few other areas in the...

Retrofitting a multihead shower.(Kitchen & Bath)
June 1, 2004... The rise of the multihead custom shower, or "vertical spa," proves once again that two heads are better than one--and, further, that six heads are unbelievably great. Odds are good that you'll be discussing this kind of shower as an upgrade...

Counter-Fit cooler.(Refrigerators)
June 1, 2004... Offered as an affordable alternative to a true counter-depth fridge, this refrigerator claims the largest storage capacity available in a unit its size--25.5 cubic feet in a nominal 3x6-foot package. Actual depth is just under 30 inches,...

German engineering.(Refrigerators)
June 1, 2004... High-end Liebherr refrigerators made their U.S. debut at the 2004 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and are just entering the market here via initially limited distributorship. Separate compressors and electronic controls provide independent...

Quiet operation.(Refrigerators)
June 1, 2004... Quiet Operation. My crazy grandparents liked to insist that "children should be seen and not heard." They'd have stood a much better chance of success if they'd picked on kitchen appliances instead. Thermador's side-by-side and bottom-mount...

Kitchen Canvas.(Refrigerators)
June 1, 2004... Kitchen Canvas. Adorned with worldclass images from the likes of Gauguin, Degas, Cezanne, and other renowned artists, this line of midsize and compact refrigerators is cool on the outside, too. For each Danby Art Cooler sold, the company has...

Custom corners.(Shower Enclosures)
June 1, 2004... Custom Corners. High-end design is likely to throw you a few curves. And we're not speaking figuratively. But frameless bent-glass shower enclosures are right up this company's alley. Pricing is based on square footage and the accessories...

Design flexibility.(Shower Enclosures)
June 1, 2004... Design Flexibility. The Paragon line offers a simplified system of parts and options to satisfy the demands of many enclosure designs, whether standard or custom. Infinitely adjustable interlocking corner posts adapt to virtually any angle, and...

Bath building blocks.(Shower Enclosures)
June 1, 2004... Bath Building Blocks. Glass block is an architectural standard, unlikely to become dated, however it's used. Three Glass Block Shower Systems--classic, neoangle, and walk-in--include all the major components and instructions necessary to build...

Solid-surface kit.(Shower Enclosures)
June 1, 2004... Solid-Surface Kit. Sometimes it makes sense to forgo the involvement of a specialty contractor. This authentic solid surface shower wall panel system fits base sizes 36x36, 34x48, and 32x62 inches square. The system is available in 29 solid and...

Made in the shade.(Products)
June 1, 2004... Wrap-around shades not only look cool, they also provide better protection from the sun and from flying debris. Unfortunately, radically curved frames make many prescription lenses impossible. After several of my sunglass choices were shot down...

Compact rack.(Products)
June 1, 2004... Conventional truck-mounted racks are great for dimensional lumber and ladders, but getting panel products and drywall up there can be a real chore--not to mention securing them. You could always fill the bed, but that means you'll need to pull...

Plug in.(Products)
June 1, 2004... Electrical devices haven't changed much in recent history. While they work just fine, they aren't very exciting to look at. If your customers are looking for something with a little more style, you might suggest Aspire Wiring Devices from...

Self-stick deck protection.(Decking)
June 1, 2004... Self-Stick Deck Protection. Anything you can do to increase the durability and performance of a customer's deck will separate you from the low-ball competition. One of the products that can help is Deck Protector from Grace. Similar to Vycor...

Easy-maintenance railing.(Decking)
June 1, 2004... Easy-Maintenance Railing. Customers are increasingly wary of any building product that requires continual upkeep--exterior railings and balustrades are no exception. One of the better-looking maintenance-free railing systems is GP's Vinyl...

Going postal.(Decking)
June 1, 2004... Going postal. I think one of the easiest ways to build a sturdy rail is simply to run the supporting posts long and install a rail and baluster system between them. But pressure-treated posts or columns look a little silly when they're combined...

New angle on decking.(Decking)
June 1, 2004... New Angle on Decking. Kroy, one of the leading manufacturers of vinyl decking, recently introduced a fiber composite version, According to the manufacturer, Timberlast polyethylene composite decking is stronger than competing products, allowing...

Wood-grain campaign.(Decking)
June 1, 2004... Wood-Grain Campaign. The current rage in composite decking is simulated wood grain, and Trex recently introduced its version to the growing market. Trex Accents is available in Saddle, Winchester Grey, and Madeira (reddish brown), and according...

Maintenance-free porch floor.(Decking)
June 1, 2004... Maintenance-Free Porch Floor. If you or any of your customers are looking for a low-maintenance porch flooring with a traditional look, you might consider the TenduraPlank Solids Collection. According to the manufacturer, the polypropylene...

Ventilation detour.(Roof Ventilation)
June 1, 2004... Ventilation Detour. When skylights, valleys, and other obstructions prevent the proper venting of attached rafter cavities, the usual fix of drilling holes to connect the space to adjacent cavities can be easy to forget and slow to execute....

Batten down.(Roof Ventilation)
June 1, 2004... Batten Down. Clay and concrete tile roofs can be tough to ventilate because the horizontal battens supporting the tiles prevent the free flow of air to the ridge. The usual solution is to run a vertical set of "sub battens" from the eave to the...

Installer-friendly fan.(Roof Ventilation)
June 1, 2004... Installer-Friendly Fan. If you're looking for a quick and easy fix for a poorly vented attic space, you might try a solar-powered ventilator. While roof-mounted solar ventilators have been around for several years, gable-mounted solar...

'Sno problem.(Roof Ventilation)
June 1, 2004... 'Sno Problem. Snowy northern and mountainous regions are troublesome for conventional ridge vents because blowing snow can find its way inside the attic, leading to wet insulation and mold. GAF's Cobra Snow Country Ridge Vent adds a fibrous...

Stainless is painless.(Pneumatic Fasteners)
June 1, 2004... Stainless Is Painless. If you want to be absolutely sure that your fasteners will hold up to the weather and the new pressure-treating formulas, then you should probably go with stainless. While stainless fasteners cost more than galvanized,...

Yes, plastic.(Pneumatic Fasteners)
June 1, 2004... Yes, Plastic. If you're concerned that the new pressure-treated lumber will corrode your fasteners in short order, you might try the collated plastic nails from Raptor. Designed for non-load-bearing applications, these fiber-reinforced 5d and...

Thick skinned.(Pneumatic Fasteners)
June 1, 2004... Thick Skinned. The new pressure-treating formulas wreak havoc on fasteners. Fortunately, Thickcoat Galvanization from Bostitch provides better protection from corrosion because the zinc coating is 2 1/2 times thicker than the coating on most...

Armor-piercing pins.(Pneumatic Fasteners)
June 1, 2004... Armor-Piercing Pins. Steel framing is great for straight walls that go together in a hurry, but steel members don't readily accept conventional, pneumatic finish nails. One solution is to use hardened chisel-point finish nails from Senco. At 1...

DrillSpotter exit hole locator.(Toolbox)(Advertisement)
June 1, 2004... Drilling a hole through a foundation wall or between floors can sometimes be a "guess and hope" job: guess where to drill and hope you don't destroy anything. Recently, I had to run some wires through a block foundation in a finished basement....

It wobbles, but it won't fall down.(Toolbox)(Wobble Light)
June 1, 2004... When my supposedly "professional-grade" halogen-tower work light took a dive for the third time in one day, there wasn't much left worth salvaging, so I collected the sad remains and chucked the whole thing into the dumpster. It was actually...

The baggy look.(Toolbox)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... I admit it: I've gone soft, and I wish I'd done it years ago. My first pickup was still brand new when one of my employees struck its open door with a metal toolbox. It didn't have to be that way. Although I've disparaged gatemouth bags for...

Unfailing scaling.(Layout Tools)
June 1, 2004... Extracting measurements from scaled drawings couldn't be easier with a Builderscale Planreader tape. One side of the tape has standard fractional measurements graduated in 16ths of an inch, but the other side shows measurements on a 1/4-inch...

Get in line.(Layout Tools)
June 1, 2004... When you're talking about framing layout, few tools are more important than a chalk line. Unfortunately, most tool manufacturers have done little to make them last longer or perform better. The notable exception is Tajima and its new Chalk-Rite...

Bigger is better.(Layout Tools)
June 1, 2004... Framing squares are indispensable for layout work, but some jobs, like locating partitions, laying out tile, and squaring corners, would benefit from a little extra length. The 3x4-foot aluminum Folding ASquare by Hanson has it. With a couple...

Anchor bolt marker.(Layout Tools)
June 1, 2004... With this tool, even your least skilled carpenter can transfer anchor bolt locations to sill plates quickly and accurately. The rotating head has five detented positions for anchor bolt sizes from 1/2 inch to 1 1/4 inches in diameter. After...

Fast-track layout.(Layout Tools)
June 1, 2004... Although production framers have made and used layout sticks for a couple of generations now, it's surprising how many carpenters don't know about them. Instead of ticking off stud locations from a tape, these 4-foot sticks allow you to mark...

Wacker Dirt Packer.(Compactors)
June 1, 2004... Portable rammers are very effective and work fast, but the constant vibration can be tiring. According to the maker, the handle system on Wacker's BS-50-2i reduces hand-arm vibration by 40%. The tool also features an efficient oil-injection...

Tiny Power Tamper.(Compactors)
June 1, 2004... A hand tamper is great for compacting post footings and prepping small walkways, but using it for any duration can be tough on your arms and back. If you own a rotary hammer, you can use the Bosch H31828 Tamper Plate instead. The 5-inchsquare...

Armored plate.(Compactors)
June 1, 2004... Plate compactors like the Multiquip MVH-306 are perfect for larger compacting jobs like driveways and retaining walls. The MVH-306 has an 18x34-inch plate that generates over 10,000 pounds of compaction force. The machine can be equipped with...

Remote-control Compaction.(Compactors)
June 1, 2004... One of the best ways to minimize the danger of working in trenches is to keep people out of them. That's the rationale behind the remote-control BCT13 Trench Compactor. The operator uses a 433-MHz transmitter to control the compactor while he...