The Journal of Light Construction articles from March 2006

The Journal of Light Construction archives from March 2006

Radon check during excavation.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Scott Anderson's "Foolproof Cure for Wet Basements" (12/05) is a great article with a lot of helpful detail. One additional step that could help homeowners would be to check the radon levels in the basement during the excavation work, in...

Beware backfill pressure.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Having read Mr. Anderson's article on basement drainage systems, I wanted to add a word of caution about the tremendous force that the earth backfill places on the outside of the basement wall. I was contracted to finish the inside of a...

Notice to purchasers of JLC Field Guide, Volume 2.(Letters)
March 1, 2006... We have recently published the second volume of JLC Field Guide to Residential Construction. Volume 2 covers electrical, plumbing, hvac and energy, and interiors. We hope it will be a useful tool for the builders and remodelers who purchase it....

Nothing's foolproof.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Regarding the article "Foolproof Cure for Wet Basements": I'm not sure anything is "foolproof." The interior perimeter drainage system has its place and can work very well. However, I don't think your magazine should suggest it's foolproof...

Spanish: good for business.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Andy Podoliuk (Letters, 12/05) represents a viewpoint I find as offensive as the offense he took at "?Habla Espanol?" (8/05). In a perfect world, no one would go anyplace or do anything without speaking the host country's language perfectly....

Mold precautions.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... The dangers to people in construction posed by mold ("Mold and the Law," Legal, 11/05) are real, but stem mainly from public hysteria, fomented by the legal trade. The author's statement that "people have died because their lungs were bleeding"...

Source for rising hinges.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... Approximately 20 years ago, I purchased 4-inch butt hinges that raise the door as it swings inward about an inch, so that it can pass over throw rugs. I don't remember the manufacturer, but I remember the name of the hardware...

Human counterweights: bad idea.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... I was appalled at the photo you chose to print in "Very Old Growth" (Backfill, 1/06). I refer to the bottom left photo showing two workers serving as counterweights. First of all, if an added counterweight is needed to lift a load, this is...

Soggy competition.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... I happened to be on the mall in Washington, D.C., when the Solar Decathlon, featuring student-built solar-powered houses, opened to the public (In the News, 12/05). Unlike the blue sky shown in the photos accompanying the article, the sky...

Strength of wet panels.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... The response to the question "Does flooding damage framing lumber?" (Q&A, 11/05) mostly hit the mark. However, the reader is led to believe that the process of wetting and drying compromises the integrity of plywood and OSB. Clearly this is not...

Stair stringers: watch the run.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... I'm writing concerning "Housed-Stringer Exterior Stairs" (11/05). As I am not a carpenter, much of the article was beyond my needs, but as a code inspector, the part that was germane to my job caught my eye. The article gives instructions...

Working wireless.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2006... I agree with David Grubb (On the Job, 10/05) on the usefulness of on-site Internet access. We've been using the Verizon air card with great success. In town, it's broadband and very fast. It also works--although a little slower--anywhere there...

Primed for lead-safe classes: updated EPA lead-paint rules will mandate certification.(In the News)
March 1, 2006... Under new rules proposed by the EPA on December 29, anyone who disturbs more than 2 square feet of lead paint in regulated housing while working for compensation must first acquire certification through an EPA-accredited course. The training...

Rhode Island's Lead Hazard Mitigation Act was struck down as unconstitutional by a state Superior Court.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... Rhode Island's Lead Hazard Mitigation Act was struck down as unconstitutional by a state Superior Court. The law had exempted owner-occupied housing of three or fewer rental units, but in January Judge Stephen J. Fortunato Jr. disagreed with...

Former manufacturers of lead-based paint lost another battle in January, when Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle vetoed legislation that would have required lead-poisoned plaintiffs to identify the maker of the paint that caused the poisoning.(In the News)
March 1, 2006... Former manufacturers of lead-based paint lost another battle in January, when Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle vetoed legislation that would have required lead-poisoned plaintiffs to identify the maker of the paint that caused the poisoning. Given...

Helping hurricane victims: priceless.(In the News)
March 1, 2006... For me, 2006 started off with the most rewarding construction project I've ever worked on: I headed down to Alabama in January with a group of carpenters to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The trip proved to be one of the most...

Paying to clean up California's air.(In the News)
March 1, 2006... As housing has become more scarce and expensive in California's urban areas, people have moved farther away front the cities, enduring long commutes in exchange for lower mortgage payments. The resulting increase in building activities and...

Cement imports from Mexico will increase by almost a third--to 3 million metric tons per year--under an agreement being negotiated at press time by the U.S. Department of Commerce.(In the News)
March 1, 2006... Cement imports from Mexico will increase by almost a third--to 3 million metric tons per year--under an agreement being negotiated at press time by the U.S. Department of Commerce. As part of the deal, antidumping duties are scheduled to drop...

In another development that will help ease regional cement shortages (see In the News, 10/05), Florida's largest cement plant is increasing production after getting approval from the state's Department of Environmental Protection.(In the News)
March 1, 2006... In another development that will help ease regional cement shortages (see In the News, 10/05), Florida's largest cement plant is increasing production after getting approval from the state's Department of Environmental Protection. Titan...

A house built 7 feet too close to the street must be taken down, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Alfred Nance ruled in December.(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... A house built 7 feet too close to the street must be taken down, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Alfred Nance ruled in December. Channel WBAL reports that the builder, CK Williams, has declared bankruptcy, leaving homeowner Deanna Malone...

Dyed in the wood.(In the News)
March 1, 2006... Because of hurricane damage to southern-pine forests, there may be more blue-stained lumber on the market this year. Created by microscopic fungi that feed on nutrients in the cells of the sapwood, the discoloration is not the same as mold,...

Q. Making long trim from MDF.(medium density fiberboard)(Brief article)(Column)
March 1, 2006... Because it's a lot cheaper than most primed stock, I'd like to use MDF for running trim. But that means I'll have a lot more butt joints, especially if I use 8-foot sheets, which I find to be more manageable on site than 10- or 12-foot sheets,...

Q. Is all drywall mud the same?(finishing using mud)(Column)
March 1, 2006... My drywall sub's crew members ran out of mud before they were able to finish the third coat of a recent project. But when the local lumberyard delivered three buckets of the familiar green-labeled compound, the two tapers refused to use it and...

Q. Protecting water heaters with expansion tanks.(Q&A)
March 1, 2006... We recently had to replace our relatively new gas-fired water heater when its internal flue tube collapsed, ruining the thermostat and causing hot combustion gases to spew out the front. The installer, who claimed that the water heater was...

Q. Fixing a ceiling stain.(uses of bleach)(Brief article)(Column)
March 1, 2006... When a leak left water stains on our client's No. 2 pine ceiling, a painter tried to sand and bleach the marks, and then applied a natural oil stain to match the ceiling's clear finish. Unfortunately, the repairs turned a little yellow. What...

Q. Anchoring a railing to stone.(design)(Brief article)(Column)
March 1, 2006... I need to secure the base of a wrought-iron handrail to an exterior granite landing. My plan is to drill holes into the stone and use anchors. What's the best way to do this without cracking the stone, and what should I use for anchors? I am...

Q. Skip the primer?(exterior door finishes)(Column)
March 1, 2006... Recently I discovered that an inexperienced member of my crew mistakenly used finish paint instead of an actual primer to prime a fir exterior door Now the door has two coats of a 100 percent acrylic house paint, but no primer underneath. Since...

Simple panel wainscot.(home design)(Column)
March 1, 2006... I grew up in a 250-year-old home in eastern Pennsylvania that was full of interior architectural details--huge strap hinges, exposed log ceiling joists, a raised-panel wainscot in the dining room. Even as a young boy, I admired those panels and...

Giving freestanding garages their due.(design)(Column)
March 1, 2006... Americans love their cars--along with any excuse for extra living space. So it's no wonder that most new houses include garages containing additional space for a bedroom, an entertainment room, or a home office. Unlike an attached garage,...

The myth & math of square-foot cost.(tips to contractors about how to communicate with customers)(Column)
March 1, 2006... No contractor wants to talk to customers about square-foot cost. But the topic will inevitably arise, because everything about planning a construction project--especially a new home--leads the customer to think in terms of cost per square foot....

When a customer or supplier goes bankrupt: collecting a debt costs time and money; in some cases it may be cheaper to let it go. If the amount is large, though, call your lawyer right away.(Column)
March 1, 2006... There you are, just trying to make an honest living as a contractor, when all of a sudden somebody you're doing business with declares bankruptcy. How will this affect you? Answering that question is difficult--but I can guarantee you the...

Retrofitting an engineered shear panel: prefab panels made it possible to open up the floor plan by removing part of an interior shear wall.(Cover story)
March 1, 2006... Last fall, my employer signed a contract to remodel a kitchen in San Ramon, Calif. It was my job as project manager to work out the details with the client and manage the actual construction. The home was a 1980s single-story contemporary...

Building a stone retaining wall: fully settled subsoils, a well-compacted base of crushed stone, and good drainage are essential for long-lasting results.(Column)
March 1, 2006... When we design and build a stone retaining wall, our goal isn't merely to change grade or hold back an embankment; we also aim to enhance the landscape. The retaining wall shown on these pages, for instance, which we built around a new...

Detailing rain-screen siding: providing an air space behind wood trim and siding is the best way to make them last.
March 1, 2006... Most of us have worked on old homes where exterior trim and siding were still in great shape: no cupping, bowing, twisting, or rot. As often as not, the wood is old-growth Doug fir, and none of it--the back of the siding, the back of the brick...

Innovations in sound control: new materials and techniques make it easier to manage noise in home theaters and other loud spaces.(Column)
March 1, 2006... When I formed my acoustical consulting company in 1981, I planned to focus on common residential acoustic problems like plumbing, equipment, and footstep noise, and on ensuring speech privacy. However, I quickly discovered that few...

Practical passive solar: extra insulation, smart window placement, and thermal mass add comfort and generate energy savings for this New England home.(Column)
March 1, 2006... As a builder of energy-efficient homes, I'm often approached by clients who want some form of solar energy at work in their new home or addition. A new house we recently designed and built had the two key components of a successful solar...

Concrete Aesthetic.(Kitchen & Bath: solid surfacing)
March 1, 2006... Want the look of concrete with the performance of solid surfacing? Six new Corian colors mimic the real thing while sparing you and your clients its shortcomings--cracking, honeycombing, discoloration. Corian costs $45 to $75 per square foot...

Great Waste.(Kitchen & Bath: solid surfacing)
March 1, 2006... True to its name, the surfacing in the Avonite Recycled Collection contains at least 40 percent post-industrial polyester and acrylic waste. The 1/2-inch-thick sheets come in six naturalistic shades and cost about $50 to $70 per square foot...

Solid-surface stall.(Kitchen & Bath: Solid Surfacing)
March 1, 2006... These 1/4-inch-thick Shower and Tub Wall Surfaces allow you to custom-fit a smooth, easy-to-clean shower or tub surround. Components come in seven solid and matrix colors to match or contrast with optional solid-surface shower pans. Prices for...

Aluminum alternative.(Kitchen & Bath: Solid Surfacing)
March 1, 2006... Made from recycled aluminum shavings and resin binders, Alkemi can be machined using ordinary woodworking tools. Sheets come in textured or honed finishes; in 1/2- and 3/4-inch thicknesses; and in two sizes: 36 inches by 96 inches and 36 inches...

Pop-up down-draft.(Kitchen & Bath: Ventilation)
March 1, 2006... Keep sightlines above islands and other stove locations free and clear by installing a 27000 or 28000 Downdraft Series extractor. Available in two sizes--30 and 36 inches wide--the units can be raised during use and, when idle, retracted flush...

Sleek slide-out.(Kitchen & Bath: Ventilation)
March 1, 2006... The pull-out visor on the Cristal HC extends beyond the wall cabinets for efficient ventilation, then tucks away into an 11-inch-deep hood liner. Operated by an integral three-speed controller, the 500-cfm blower hides inside a standard wall...

Culinary art.(Kitchen & Bath: Ventilation)
March 1, 2006... The Om vent hood--part of the Elica Collection--consists of a circle in a square executed in reverse-silk-screened glass. Although it hangs against the wall like a modern objet d'art, its purpose is actually to recirculate (at 450 cfm) cooking...

Start from scratch.(Kitchen & Bath: Ventilation)
March 1, 2006... Build a hood shroud on your own and equip it with a high-efficiency, low-noise BUF-Pro series hood liner. With several units to choose from, you should be able to satisfy your clients' specific needs, whether for compact size, quiet operation,...

Overachiever.(Products / synthetic roof underlayments)
March 1, 2006... Thirty-pound felt just isn't what it used to be--and in wet and windy conditions it was never that great to begin with. If your weather forecast looks a little iffy and your budget allows it, try one of the new synthetic underlayments. Grace...

Cool cover.(Products / synthetic roof underlayments)
March 1, 2006... Like other synthetic roofing underlayments, Titanium UDL weighs much less than roofing felt and has better tear and water resistance. Unlike some other synthetic underlayments, though, it's light gray instead of black, which should keep the...

Do-it-all wrap.(Products / synthetic roof underlayments)
March 1, 2006... Typar touts its polypropylene Roof-Wrap 30 as an ideal underlayment for shingles, cedar shakes, tile, slate, and metal. Polypropylene underlayments tend to have excellent tear resistance and won't crack or become brittle in cold temperatures....

Pass the test.(Products / Deck Railings)
March 1, 2006... Increasingly, building-inspection departments and code-enforcement officers want documentation proving that deck-railing assemblies are strong enough to prevent structural failure, When installed according to the maker's directions, the QS Pro...

Rugged rail.(Products / Deck Railings)
March 1, 2006... Most vinyl rail systems use conventional pressure-treated posts and aluminum-reinforced rail sections. Certain Teed's latest introduction is different. Made from the company's PVC--and maple-flour-based fiber composite and wrapped with a white...

Glass act.(Products / Deck Railings)
March 1, 2006... When it comes to decks, the truism that accessories complete the outfit couldn't be more apropos. If your customers are looking for a way to set their deck apart, suggest Woodway's Glass Post Caps, Available in several hues--cobalt blue, amber,...

Petite Heat.(Products / Fireplaces)
March 1, 2006... Not every residential space calls for a huge fireplace. With a freestanding unit like the Paloma, smaller areas-bedrooms, home offices, small condos, urban apartments--can soak up some extra heat and ambiance without being overwhelmed. The...

Bonfire.(Products / Fireplaces)
March 1, 2006... With a firebox roughly the size of a hefty beer cooler, the Villa Vista is purportedly the biggest EPA II-approved wood-burning manufactured fireplace on the market. According to the maker, the unit's 70,000-Btu (input) catalytic burner can...

Made-to-Order Mantel.(Products / Fireplaces)
March 1, 2006... A classic wood mantel is a great way to finish off a fireplace, but some rooms require a different look. In such cases, you might want to check out Sonoma Stone's custom Fireplace Surrounds. Composed of cast concrete in 40 standard and hundreds...

Remodeling: leadership conference.
March 1, 2006... Attend this information-packed conference and learn How to be profitable doing more with less and how to make the most of adversity Which cultural and economic forces will most strongly affect your business Where to look for new...

DeWalt DW304PK recip saw.(Heavy-Duty Reciprocating Saw Kit from DeWalt Industrial Tools and Accessories)
March 1, 2006... Some time ago, JLC sent me a DeWalt DW304PK recip-saw kit to test. I had it for a couple of months and used it for general demolition and cutting rebar on new construction and remodeling jobs. In most ways, the DW304PK is like any other...

Cordpro.(from BurkTek Inc.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... It's frustrating and dangerous to work with air hoses and electrical cords tangled underfoot. On my jobs, I avoid this hazard by using Cordpros (BurkTek, 800/700-6784, www.cordpro.com). Each of these handy donut-shaped storage...

Ridgid R82233 right-angle impact driver.(Toolbox)
March 1, 2006... With its small, light housing and incredible mount of torque, a cordless impact driver is the ideal tool for driving lags and deck and drywall screws and for tightening bolts. But even though a cordless impact driver has a smaller housing...

Spiral-cut cordless.(Toolbox / Planes & Rasps)
March 1, 2006... A power planer makes fine-tuning an extension jamb or taking the hump out of a framing member fast and easy. Cordless models can speed things still further. The Ridgid R848 3 1/4-inch cordless power plane has a spiral-cut blade that the maker...

Lightweight block plane.(Toolbox / Planes & Rasps)
March 1, 2006... As far as I'm concerned, a high-quality low-angle block plane is indispensable for stain-grade finish work. Carrying the standard-size version around on your tool belt all day, however, can be a real drag. Fortunately, there's a lightweight...

Revolutionary rasp.(Toolbox / Planes & Rasps)
March 1, 2006... Although just about every carpenter I know has a four-way rasp, nobody seems to be very happy with the tool's performance. A better version, the Shinto Wood Rasp, hails from Japan. Not only does this tool have both coarse and fine cutting...

Premier painter's pole.(Toolbox / Planes & Rasps)
March 1, 2006... There's nothing worse when you're trying to paint a ceiling or a tall wall than a wiggly, wobbly extension pole. Purdy claims its Professional Grade Extension Poles are flex-free and have the tightest, most secure push-button locking system...

Frustration-free caulk gun.(Toolbox / Planes & Rasps)
March 1, 2006... You wouldn't think designing a functional caulking gun would be that tough, but the ones I've used fall into two categories: bad and worse. The notable exception is Tajima's Convoy Lite. This lightweight caulking gun has a fiberglass-reinforced...

Big gulp.(Toolbox / Planes & Rasps)
March 1, 2006... For fast coverage and a great finish, many pro painters suggest painting doors and other large trim areas with a roller and then back-brushing. While a conventional-size roller and pan will work for this task, the ideal tools are a 3-inch...

Building in the Alaskan Bush.(Backfill)(Brief article)
March 1, 2006... "Okay, do we have everything?" Every contractor asks this question, but last summer it took on new meaning when I was hired to build a log cabin in the Alaskan bush. The road nearest to the job site was three hours away by boat, 45 minutes by...