The Journal of Light Construction articles from May 2004

The Journal of Light Construction archives from May 2004

Wormdrive clarification.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: I feel it is important to bring to your attention potentially misleading information in the tool test article on wormdrive and hypoid gear construction saws by Tim Uhler (2/04). As referenced in the author's lead paragraph,...

Pleasantly surprised.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: I just wanted to pass along a note of thanks for the continued publishing of your magazine. This month (2/04), in addition to reading an article by an old classmate ("Shearwalls for Coastal Homes"), I was pleasantly...

First lady?(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: I am a subscriber and regular reader of your excellent magazine. I may be wrong, but I suspect that your February 2004 cover is the first featuring a woman wearing the tools. In an industry known for the display of pictures...

Load-tested deck ledger connections.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: Thank you for the practical article "Load-Tested Deck Ledger Connections" (3/04). The article raises a question, though. It appears that in these tests the joist hangers are attached to the ledger only. Was any consideration...

Shredded framing.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: As a custom sales rep for the leading materials supplier in Key West, I deal with hurricane-rated products on a daily basis and would like to pass on some observations to code writers, code enforcers, and manufacturers of...

Proctor test explained.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: The answer to the question regarding the compaction of gravel (Q&A, 2/04) suggests that a "Proctor test" be performed. However, this is only part of the answer; a Proctor test alone will not determine the compaction of the...

Blames unskilled labor.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: Hats off to the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation and the Orlando Sentinel for exposing the quality, or rather the lack thereof, in many homes being built today (In the News, 2/04). Not only are the tradespeople...

Septic design clarification.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... To the Editor: After reading the article "On-Site Septic for Problem Soils" (3/04), I want to clear up some misleading statements. I am a Vermont-Registered Professional Engineer and also certified as a Licensed Designer for septic...

Deck researchers scrutinize railing attachment: as deaths and injuries continue, an engineering team zeroes in on flawed deck details.(In the News)
May 1, 2004... A Virginia Tech task force examining the critical structural details for residential decks and balconies released detailed data and conclusions about deck-to-house attachments this spring (see "Load-Tested Deck Ledger Connections," 3/04). Now...

Home inspectors, home builders consider construction defects.(In the News)
May 1, 2004... Relations between home builders and home inspectors can be uneasy. Some inspectors see builders as careless nail bangers whose primary interest lies in slapping up houses as quickly as possible, while builders tend to view home inspectors as...

Thieves who stole a compressor and other tools from a home under construction in Vancouver, Wash., evidently were not professionals.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Thieves who stole a compressor and other tools from a home under construction in Vancouver, Wash., evidently were not professionals, according to a story in the Vancouver Columbian: One of them left a clue behind. The thieves' noisy Chevy...

If you sell kitchens, you'll like the sound of this: almost all American women homeowners say they want to renovate the kitchen in their home.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... If you sell kitchens, you'll like the sound of this: Almost all American women homeowners say they want to renovate the kitchen in their home, according to survey results released by Wilsonart, manufacturers of countertop and flooring...

Removing "abandoned" data cables during commercial building renovations, as required by the latest National Electrical Code, may pose a health hazard.(Off Cuts)(Environmental Building News)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Removing "abandoned" data cables during commercial building renovations, as required by the latest National Electrical Code, may pose a health hazard, according to a March report in Environmental Building News. Most communications cable is...

Delisting of "threatened" flower fuels criticism of endangered species law.(In the News)
May 1, 2004... Over the last decade and more, California builders and developers have had to tiptoe around the Hoover's woolly-star, an annual herb with gray fuzzy stems and tiny white or blue flowers. The Interior Department added the plant to its list of...

Flexible gas piping involved in fires caused by lightning.(In the News)
May 1, 2004... Corrugated stainless-steel tubing, or CSST, is much easier to work with than traditional threaded black steel gas pipe (see "Flexible Gas Piping Catching On," Notebook, 4/00). Since 1988, when it was approved for residential use by the National...

Reinforced OSB could double shearwall capacity.(In the News)
May 1, 2004... Researchers at the University of Maine have developed a fiber reinforcement system for structural wood panels that can boost the racking strength of a typical house wall by 20% and double the shear values for an engineered stud-and-plywood or...

New health savings accounts combine insurance, retirement plan.(In the News)
May 1, 2004... While general liability coverage is the most expensive type of insurance that most builders have to purchase, employee health insurance takes another big bite out of the budget. But a provision in the Medicare bill passed by Congress last...

Nebraska legislators have introduced a bill to repeal the state's new sales tax on home repair and renovation labor.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Nebraska legislators have introduced a bill to repeal the state's new sales tax on home repair and renovation labor, reports the Omaha World-Herald. Facing a budget crisis, the state started taxing remodeling labor last October. Labor on new...

NBA basketball legend Michael Jordan and his wife, Juanita, are suing the Sto Corporation for consumer fraud.(Off Cuts)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... NBA basketball legend Michael Jordan and his wife, Juanita, are suing the Sto Corporation for consumer fraud in connection with what they say is extensive water damage, rot, and mold growth in the walls under the EIFS exterior of their Chicago...

Right tools for hanging doors.(Q&A)
May 1, 2004... Q. I typically use prehung doors, but I'm building a project where I'll need to hang a dozen or more 1 3/8-inch 6-8 interior door slabs in 3/4-inch-thick custom poplar jambs. I also have to bore and install the cylinder passage sets. Could you...

Moss on cedar shingles.(Q&A)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Q. How can I kill moss growing on cedar shake roofs? And after I've killed the moss, what can I put on the roof to keep it from growing again? A. Paul Fisette responds: Scrub the surface with a mixture of 1/3 cup household detergent, 1 to...

Gutters in cold climes.(Q&A)
May 1, 2004... Q. The jury still seems to be out as to whether to install gutters in a northern climate. Could you please shed some light on this, especially as to how omitting gutters would contribute to leaky basements? A. Henri de Marne responds:...

Creating a sense of shelter on a large lot.(Design)
May 1, 2004... Designers sometimes use the phrase prospect and refuge" to describe a pleasing environment that offers a good view of its surroundings while still providing a comforting sense of shelter. Our attraction to this type of setting runs deep: For...

Getting into light commercial work.(Business)
May 1, 2004... Have you ever been walking through a shopping mall where a new store was being built and wondered what it would be like to do that kind of work? Like residential work, commercial jobs have their challenges and rewards, but the work isn't for...

Drug testing employees.(Legal)
May 1, 2004... Say you suspect that one of your employees may have a substance-abuse problem. You don't think he's drinking, but he's clumsy and glassy-eyed. Can you ask him to take a drug test? The answer depends Oil which state you are in and how much...

High standards for ceramic tile.(Kitchen & Bath)(Book Review)
May 1, 2004... What's so tough about sticking ceramic tile to a floor, wall, or countertop? Well, hundreds of thousands of failed installations speak volumes. And, contrary to the old adage, what you don't know can hurt you. The Tile Council of America (TCA,...

Mosaics for dummies.(Software program for designing the tiles.)
May 1, 2004... Put a cartoon under a magnifying glass and it breaks into thousands of colored dots. Import an image into TileCreator (Tile Creator, Ramona, Calif.; 760/788-1288, www.tilecreator.com) and it breaks into a mosaic tile pattern. This clever...

Imitating the imitator.(Laminates)
May 1, 2004... Imitation is a high form of flattery, and engineered stone does make a nice impression. But while it addresses the porosity and color limitations of its natural source, engineered stone does nothing to bring prices down to earth. The Topaz...

Taken for granite.(Laminates)
May 1, 2004... There are places and purposes, not to mention a budget, for solid stone. But that popular countertop material is by no means the only, or even the best, choice for every situation. The low-sheen Honed Finish and high-gloss Etchings Finish...

Laminate illusions.(Laminates)
May 1, 2004... Holograms are showing up on driver's licenses, credit cards, and even paper money. But none of those make practical backsplash covers or cabinet veneers. Well, the search is over. Paparazzi! Holographic Surfacing's got it covered (pun...

Knobs of Nippon.(Decorative Hardware)
May 1, 2004... Stuck on knob selection? Look to the east. The Asian selection of 31 knobs and pulls pays homage to shop signs of 11th-century Japan. The various trades employed simple craft-related graphics to advertise services such as that of sake purveyor...

Hand-stitched handles.(Decorative Hardware)
May 1, 2004... Allegedly, this line was knocking 'em out at the Kitchen and Bath Show last year, so don't be bashful about suggesting English leather-clad fittings to your clients. The design line is extensive, attractive, and tactile and complements both...

Human hardware.(Decorative Hardware)
May 1, 2004... Add a human touch to your next kitchen or bath installation with a few characters from the Manhandles Collection. Figures range between 7 1/2 and 11 1/2 inches high, depending on the pose. They're produced in hand-cast stainless steel or bronze...

Megnaficence.(Decorative Hardware)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2004... Glass artist Martin Megna produces coordinated mouth-blown knobs for both cabinets and passage doors, a unique and beautiful bathroom design detail. Cabinet knobs cost $18 to $28 each; door knobs cost $120 to $150 and are compatible with most...

Framing a round tower: plywood plates and rafters took care of the curves.
May 1, 2004... I'm a framer on eastern Long Island. My brother, Fred Jr., and I build a half-dozen custom homes each year, typically 5,000 square feet or larger. While Fred rides herd on the business end of things, I direct the field crew in a hands-on...

Rooftop decks for coastal homes: parapet walls enclose and support the deck frame, while a watertight rubber roof protects the living space below.(Column)
May 1, 2004... In the coastal area where I design and build homes, it's often important to make the most of the views, light, and breezes that a shoreline site offers. Many times, I find that a high deck is the best way to reveal a beautiful ocean view, or...

Installing residential elevators: roped hydraulic elevators are more expensive than winding-drum units, but they're also quieter, smoother, and usually easier to fit into the floor plan.(Elevators: installation and their types.)
May 1, 2004... Home elevators used to be something that only the wealthy could afford. They're still not cheap, but they're becoming increasingly common. My company installs elevators in central California. Some of our clients install residential elevators...

Helical pier foundations for problem sites: screw piers are a cost-effective option for steep sites and expansive soils.
May 1, 2004... Our company, HighCraft Builders in Fort Collins, Colo., specializes in room additions and remodels. Residential construction in this area is complicated by expansive clay, hilly lots, and variable soils that can make excavating and pouring...

Success with Spanish-speaking employees: how to stay on the same page when you speak different languages.(Interview)(Interview)
May 1, 2004... More and more of the communication on residential job sites these days is taking place in Spanish. On balance, that's good news: It means that the industry's chronic labor shortage is finally giving way to a large and growing pool of new...

A builder's guide to computer hardware (and other high-tech gear): there's no need to pay big bucks for extras you'll never use.(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2004... Extra horsepower. Higher reach. More LF per day. As contractors, we re brainwashed to believe that more, faster, and bigger are always better, but that's not necessarily the case when selecting your IT (information technology) gear. As a...

Better colors.(Products)
May 1, 2004... I know a lot of quality-conscious builders and environmentalists don't think much of vinyl siding, but it's now the number one siding choice in the U.S.--not everyone can afford cedar or stone. Even fans of vinyl siding concede that its color...

French swinger.(Products)
May 1, 2004... Marvin's Integrity line has enjoyed a lot of success with builders and homeowners alike, but the one product missing front the catalog has been a French door with two operating panels. However, the company recently launched a complete line of...

Fire-stopping foam.(Products)
May 1, 2004... It turns out that Dow's Great Stuff Pro not only works for air sealing and filling cracks, it's also an effective fire-blocking material. Fire blocking is meant to reduce flame spread during a fire', and it's of increasing interest to local...

Cutting-edge corners.(Exterior Trim)
May 1, 2004... If forming outside corners with two pieces of wood or fiber cement is slowing you down, you might try the one-piece wood composite PermaChoice Corner Post. The PermaChoice corner has a 13/16-inch channel that hides the cut end and provides...

Polystyrene pediment.(Exterior Trim)
May 1, 2004... Creating pediments and other interesting trim details on stucco, FIFS, and brick can be as easy as gluing Canamould's Exterior Moldings and Trim to the surface. The components use a dimensionally stable expanded polystyrene core and a...

Curve cutter.(Exterior Trim)
May 1, 2004... Making curved trim for tower rooms, doors and windows, and wraparound porches can be a pain, and accurately estimating the time it takes to make this stuff can mean the difference between going on vacation with the family and going broke. If...

Oil and water.(Water Heaters)
May 1, 2004... Oil-fired water heaters are generally thought of as old-school technology, but the Oil Miser Water Heaters from Toyotomi are the exception. These on-demand heaters feature electronic ignition, sealed-combustion burners, and 88% efficiency...

Hi-tech electric.(Water Heaters)
May 1, 2004... In many cases, installing an on-demand water heater makes a lot of sense. The wall-mounted ones take up no floor space, and you don't have to pay to maintain 30 or 40 gallons of hot water when you're not using it. While on-demand heaters...

Cure for common flue.(Water Heaters)
May 1, 2004... If your customer's masonry chimney has seen better days, or you're trying to save space and installation costs in a new home, you might consider a direct-vent water heater like A.O. Smith's PowerHouse Sealed Shot. The PowerHouse uses 3-inch...

Flame-beater heater.(Water Heaters)
May 1, 2004... Last year, a new ANSI standard took effect that aims to prevent gas water heaters from igniting combustible vapors. Products like the Rheem Guardian are the industry's answer to the property damage and loss of life that occur as a result of...

Window wrapping.(Surface Protection)
May 1, 2004... Spraying building exteriors is a great way to get color on fast, but having to mask windows and doors slows you down. To pick up the pace, you might try Filmtech's Window Films and Trim Tape. The film is offered in 30-day and 12-month formulas,...

Keep out of a jamb.(Surface Protection)
May 1, 2004... Finished door jambs and drywall openings are always at risk. One careless worker with a stepladder can ruin a finished opening with a single swipe, but protecting this area is easy with Traffic Jambs. Similar to a tube form, they slip over the...

Clean room.(Surface Protection)
May 1, 2004... Legions of remodelers rely on the Zipwall dust containment system to protect their clients' home while they work. Recently, the company added two accessories to improve the system's dust-containment performance. The 5-foot Foam Rail conforms to...

A better drop cloth.(Surface Protection)
May 1, 2004... Canvas drop cloths are expensive and seem to grow legs shortly after arriving on the job site. Plastic sheeting is cheaper, but it's also slippery and doesn't absorb spills. If you're looking for a better way to protect surfaces, the SurfacePro...

Protective plastic panels.(Surface Protection)
May 1, 2004... Promising greater utility, lighter weight, and lower cost than plywood or Masonite, Cordek corrugated polypropylene is perfect for protecting surfaces, from flooring to windows. The translucent sheets won't absorb water or warp, and a 4x8-foot...

Residential construction show.(Special Advertising Section)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2004... Not your typical construction trade show. More than 10 years ago, The Journal of Light Construction magazine recognized that builders and remodelers weren't getting the practical information they needed from traditional conferences and...

Bosch 1278VSK compact belt sander.(Toolbox)
May 1, 2004... My favorite belt sander is an old Craftsman 4x21 that I purchased back when Mr. Roebuck still had his job at Sears. It is a loud, ugly, and aggressive machine that doesn't mind eating away fine millwork or rough framing. It is my "go to" sander...

Quick coping for flat moldings.(Technique)
May 1, 2004... There are almost as many ways to cope moldings as there are finish carpenters. My favorite method of dealing with flat stock like base or chair rail is to use a router with a bearing-over bit and a simple profile jig. Once the jig is ready, it...

Terrain tamer.(Hand-Carry Compressors)
May 1, 2004... If you've ever had to carry a 70-pound compressor on an icy sidewalk or through a muddy construction site, you'll appreciate the innovation behind PC's C3551 Job Boss. The cart-mounted compressor's fully pneumatic tires and retractable handle...

Slim twin.(Hand-Carry Compressors)
May 1, 2004... Weighing in at 64 pounds, the EC119 from Hitachi is several pounds lighter than many twin-tank, hand-carry compressors. The 2-horsepower, oil-lube machine has a well-protected gauge panel and on-board cord and hose storage. In a smart move that...

Maximum warranty.(Hand-Carry Compressors)
May 1, 2004... If you're looking for a hand-carry compressor with an above-average warranty, the EX8005 from Campbell Hausfeld deserves a look. Part of the pro-duty Maxus line, the EX8005 has twin 2-gallon tanks that can deliver 4.2 cfm at 90 psi. It has a 2...

Light and airy.(Hand-Carry Compressors)
May 1, 2004... When it comes to compressors, few things concern pros more than noise and weight. Thomas scores high in both areas with its T-635HD. This 26-pound compressor can run a single framing or roofing gun or two finish guns. To save space and weight,...

Maximum volume.(Hand-Carry Compressors)
May 1, 2004... Most twin-tank, hand-carry compressors deliver about 4 1/2 cubic feet per minute at 90 psi, but if you're looking for a hand-carry portable with enough air to run a second framing gun, you might look to a new compressor from Ridgid. The 0F45150...

Big-wheeled chopper.(Metal-Working Tools)
May 1, 2004... Occasionally cutting steel studs or rebar with an abrasive blade in your miter saw is no big deal. But if you're cutting metal with increasing frequency, you might try a purpose-built metal-cutting chopsaw like the CC14SE from Hitachi. With a...

Don't be abrasive.(Metal-Working Tools)
May 1, 2004... While using abrasive blades is an inexpensive way to get through ferrous metals, they don't last very long and the sandy grit they produce can be a real nuisance. A better way is to use the new generation of steel-cutting blades like the...

Bonus bit.(Metal-Working Tools)
May 1, 2004... Instead of individual twist bits, most metal fabricators use step bits for drilling in sheet metal and mild steel. Bits like the Unibit from Irwin allow users to drill 13 different hole sizes from 1/8 to 1/2 inch. It's great for drilling...

Cordless cutter.(Metal-Working Tools)
May 1, 2004... I never would have thought it when I bought my compact angle grinder at a clearance sale, but it has become a highly valued remodeling tool. Cutting rebar and fasteners, shaping and sanding wood, and cutting masonry and tile are just a few of...

Wheel right.(Metal-Working Tools)
May 1, 2004... If you've ever had a problem knowing what grinding wheel to use for a particular application, you're not alone--even metal-working pros frequently have trouble choosing from perhaps hundreds of wheels available. Bosch, the largest producer of...

Low-cost sheet-metal shear.(Metal-Working Tools)
May 1, 2004... I'm embarrassed to admit that I spent $100 on a pair of pneumatic sheet-metal shears to cut metal roofing, only to find out that the jaws won't go over the ribs. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed to learn not only that I bought the...

Ramping up.(Forever young treehouses helps for the children.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Everyone loves a treehouse. But for some, venturing into the trees can seem like an almost impossible dream. Forever Young Treehouses is a Burlington, Vt.-based nonprofit organization that helps those dreams come true by building...