The Journal of Light Construction articles from May 2006

The Journal of Light Construction archives from May 2006

Building paper under vinyl siding.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... After looking at picture D on page 24 of the February issue of JLC, I wondered why sheathing paper is not required under vinyl siding. Bill Moyse Delhi, N.Y. Editor Don Jackson responds: Though it's always been a good idea to use...

Contradictory advice?(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... Page 38 of January's JLC (Q&A, "Sealers for Porch Floors") states that "research has shown conclusively that solid wood products back-primed with a WRP [water-repellant preservative] retain paint better--and perform better overall--than those...

Quick newel layout tips.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... I read the article "Quick Layout for Stair Rails and Balusters" (2/06) with great interest. I marveled at its simplicity and usefulness, but one thing caught my eye. On the subject of shortening the newel, the example newel is a box type...

NAHB wood-flooring guidelines assailed: oak-flooring association advocates stricter installation standards.(In the News)
May 1, 2006... The leading industry association for hardwood flooring objected in March to what it says are "ludicrous" quality criteria for wood flooring contained in guidelines published by the NAHB. The tolerances for cupping of floorboards, gaps between...

Applications for contractor's licenses have more than doubled in Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina, reports the New Orleans-based Times-Picayune.(In the News)
May 1, 2006... Applications for contractor's licenses have more than doubled in Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina, reports the New Orleans-based Times-Picayune. In early 2005, the state licensing board saw an average of fewer than 200 applications a month;...

Weare, N.H., voters rebuffed an effort in March to use eminent domain to seize the farmhouse of U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter.(In the News)
May 1, 2006... Weare, N.H., voters rebuffed an effort in March to use eminent domain to seize the farmhouse of U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter. In protest of the court's Kelo decision--which upheld the taking of private property for projects that...

Measure 37 is once again the law of the land in Oregon.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Measure 37 is once again the law of the land in Oregon. First passed by 61 percent of the state's voters in 2004, the property rights initiative allows landowners to request compensation if a land-use restriction causes a decline in property...

By writing company checks to themselves, employees at two small construction companies stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from their employers.(In the News)
May 1, 2006... By writing company checks to themselves, employees at two small construction companies stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from their employers. Brent Garrod, a Florida contractor, was clued in to his secretary's activities when he had an...

Developers in Southern California are hitting cow dirt as they buy land from dairy farmers for $400,000 to $500,000 an acre, reports the Los Angeles Times.(In the News)
May 1, 2006... Developers in Southern California are hitting cow dirt as they buy land from dairy farmers for $400,000 to $500,000 an acre, reports the Los Angeles Times. Ontario, Calif., developers must have soil samples analyzed for methane before building...

Recycling ordinances target construction.(In the News)
May 1, 2006... With landfill space at a premium, construction and demolition debris--a significant source of waste--is starting to attract attention. How much trash are we talking about? The Construction Materials Recycling Association estimates that 325...

Residential activity is slowing for architects, but nonresidential work is growing, according to two surveys released by the American Institute of Architects.(In the News)
May 1, 2006... Residential activity is slowing for architects, but nonresidential work is growing, according to two surveys released by the American Institute of Architects. The fourth-quarter Home Design Survey shows that kitchen and bath renovations are...

The tools, chandeliers, and posts that Thor Jeffrey Steven Laufer stole from Milwaukee-area construction sites during his December 2004 crime spree were just a cover to make the burglaries look "typical.".(thefts from the construction sites)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The tools, chandeliers, and posts that Thor Jeffrey Steven Laufer stole from Milwaukee-area construction sites during his December 2004 crime spree were just a cover to make the burglaries look "typical." So what was he really after?...

Taking on termites.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The termite's downfall might be, of all things, wood. After seeing one unharmed fence post in a line of termite-ravished posts, Australian scientists from the University of Western Sydney began investigating the tree the resistant post was made...

Builders get right to repair.(housing rules)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Wisconsin became the 28th state to enact notice and opportunity to repair (NOR) legislation, when Governor Jim Doyle signed Senate Bill 488 in March. Under the state's new law, homeowners must notify the builder in writing of any alleged...

Bilingual safety video helps keep workers seguro.(RESOURCES)
May 1, 2006... Accidents can happen to anyone in the construction industry, but they happen at a disproportionately high rate to workers who don't speak English. While Hispanics make up only 12 percent of the U.S. labor force, they account for more than 15...

Q. Narrow shear-wall solution.
May 1, 2006... I'm the project manager for a construction company that's building a series of townhouses. In one of our designs, the garage walls are only 10 inches wide. There isn't any room to expand these walls, but they still need to be reinforced to...

Q. A use for recycled concrete.(about recycing in construction industry)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... One of the contractors I'm interviewing to install a driveway surfaced with interlocking concrete pavers has suggested using recycled concrete rather than processed stone as a base material. He claims he's used it already on several driveways...

Q. Do door jambs need shims?(Q&A)
May 1, 2006... When I install prehung and precased doors, I use shims to plumb both the hinge and strike jambs before nailing off the casing. But I've been on jobs where the carpenters plumb the hinge side of the door and then nail the prehung casing solid to...

Q. Bending copper pipe.(Q&A)
May 1, 2006... On a recent job, a plumber who was soldering up 1/2-inch Type L copper supplies encountered an I-joist. So that he wouldn't have to cut into it, he used a pipe bender to give the pipes a slight 3- to 5-degree bend. Is this okay, or would it be...

Making guardrails look good.(varieties in architectural designs)
May 1, 2006... An exterior guardrail presents an opportunity to explore a house s design themes in detail. All too often, designers and builders opt for an ill-considered stock railing that technically performs the guardrail function but neglects the spirit...

Spell out your standards of workmanship.
May 1, 2006... We've all been there at some point: The contract's signed and you've started the job, but the customer says your work isn't good enough. Even though you believe the work meets the industry standard, you go ahead and put in more hours to improve...

Staying informed can keep you out of trouble.
May 1, 2006... You can get yourself in lot of trouble in our industry by thinking you know what you really don't. From the business end, that's always been true; "knowing" that you should mark up 10 percent for overhead and 10 percent for profit, for...

Framing a hipped tray ceiling: with this method, all you need to calculate is the length of the hip and the run of a common.
May 1, 2006... One of my favorite parts of framing a house is doing the interior-detail pickup framing--elements like arches, barrel vaults, and coffered ceilings. In this article, I'll show a simple method for framing a hipped tray ceiling--a ceiling that...

Building a block foundation: instead of subcontracting the work, invest in a few masonry tools and put your own crew to work building your basements.
May 1, 2006... When our custom construction company builds additions, concrete block is our foundation of choice. All of the plans we bid on (most of which include full basements) specify block rather than poured foundations. And to keep our lives simple, we...

Installing an over-the-post handrail: loose-fitting dowels and five-minute epoxy allow fine adjustments in the assembly.(building materials for construction)
May 1, 2006... Last month, in Part One, the author explained how he installs the landing newel and assembles the rake rail and starting volute at its permanent, working height by using temporary rail stands. This month, in Part Two, he shows how he makes a...

Synthetic roofing underlayments: these new membranes are lighter, stronger, and faster to install than traditional felt paper, but are they worth the extra expense?
May 1, 2006... Not that long ago, plastic housewraps like Tyvek and Typar replaced organic felt paper as the standard siding underlayment. Now there's a new generation of synthetic roofing underlayments poised to displace felt paper up on the roof. To find...

Panelizing houses: how one builder uses technology to efficiently produce distinctive custom homes off site.
May 1, 2006... When my wife and I started our company, Connor Homes, 36 years ago, it didn't take us long to realize that buying assembled building components--or panels--made more sense than trying to stick build homes during Vermont's long and frigid...

Reverse-osmosis water filtration.(Kitchen & Bath)
May 1, 2006... Do your clients trust their drinking water? If they're like a lot of Americans--who spend an estimated $10 billion a year on bottled water--they don't. And their concerns may be justified: According to a recent study by the Environmental...

High-temp team.(Kitchen & Bath: Laundry Rooms)
May 1, 2006... Front-loading washers are quickly catching on for their convenience, superior cleaning capability, and conservation of water. Duet Sport washer-and-dryer pairs come in two versions, standard and "HT," a high-temperature sanitizing option. The...

No vent required.(Kitchen & Bath: Laundry Rooms)
May 1, 2006... What beats stacking when space is at a premium? Compacting. The WM3632HW Washer/Dryer Combo merges a washer and a dryer in a single box containing a large 3.72-cubic-foot stainless steel drum and a direct-drive motor. With its ventless...

Shut out the noise.(Kitchen & Bath: Laundry Rooms)
May 1, 2006... Though appliance makers are producing increasingly quiet machines, there is another option for homeowners reluctant to replace their loud but otherwise functional units. The ProCore Quiet Door is designed to muffle the sound of the washing...

Environmental upgrade.(Kitchen & Bath: Shower Enclosures)
May 1, 2006... For your next comfort-seeking client, consider creating a self-contained shower enclosure equipped with a SteamShower Generator. Options include a retractable, aromatherapy-capable steam head; a stainless steel steam generator that can be...

Easy in, easy out.(Kitchen & Bath: Shower Enclosures)
May 1, 2006... Enhanced access and usability is what it's all about in universal design. Attributes like a low-threshold entry, a fold-down seat, and built-in grab bars make this one-piece 836561A-R/L acrylic stall wheelchair-friendly. The unit comes with a...

Custom components.(Kitchen & Bath: Shower Enclosures)
May 1, 2006... Adjustable interlocking corner posts allow for complicated angles in Paragon custom-designed showers. Homeowners can choose from a variety of frame finishes--oil-rubbed bronze is shown--and glass patterns. Deluxe details include through-glass...

To the bat cave, Robin!(Products: Door Hardware)
May 1, 2006... I've heard that secret rooms behind hinged bookcases are popular among affluent Gen Xers, but finding unobtrusive hinges able to support a bookcase's weight struck me as a nearly impossible task. Not so. Rixson, a leader in commercial door...

Room to move.(Products: Door Hardware)
May 1, 2006... If you've ever had a callback for a sticking or drafty exterior door, you'll appreciate Hoppe's HTL Ultimate 2D Hinge. The conventional-looking 4-inch butt hinge is horizontally and vertically adjustable (+/- 1/8 inch) and features...

Taken by storm.(Products: Door Hardware)
May 1, 2006... Almost every reasonably priced aluminum storm door I've seen has one of those black pushbutton latches--functional, but not much to look at. For an easy upgrade that won't break the bank, consider the Villa from Wright Products. It uses the...

Staircase cover-up.(Products: Manufactured Stairs)
May 1, 2006... Changing the look of a staircase by replacing treads and risers can be a pretty involved process. If your client prefers a quick fix, you might suggest BHK's Scala Laminate Staircase System. This combination trim and nosing works with the...

Take a spin.(Products: Manufactured Stairs)
May 1, 2006... The traditional method of joining factory stair parts entails a tedious process of precision drilling and tightening rail bolts a fraction of a turn at a time. However, a cool new method--dubbed the EasAlign system--promises to make the job...

Treads without dread.(Products: Manufactured Stairs)
May 1, 2006... Is producing site-built staircases slowing down your crew? JL Schwieters' NexStep preassembled stairs could speed things up. Made with LSL stringers and OSB treads and risers, they're stronger than sawn-lumber versions and can reduce...

Within reach.(Products: Closets & Accessories)
May 1, 2006... When my sister, who's about 5 feet tall on a good day, complained that half of the available space in her closet was out of reach, I told her about Sugatsune's Tallman. This pull-down closet rod makes it easy for kids and other vertically...

Suite storage.(Products: Closets & Accessories)
May 1, 2006... If you commonly work on older buildings, you know that closet space is scarce in most houses built before the 1950s. As far as I'm concerned, the Suite Wardrobe from California Closets is one of the easiest ways to add closets to an old home,...

Snazzy accessories.(Products: Closet & Accessories)
May 1, 2006... It's not hard to build your own closet system from little more than edge-banded plywood or melamine. The only problem might be finding all the manufactured accessories your clients want. Rev-A-Shelf, which is best known for its kitchen-cabinet...

DeWalt LaserChalkLine.(Toolbox)
May 1, 2006... As a cabinetmaker, I'm used to building things square, but when I go on site to install cabinets and trim, I also have to get them level and plumb. Square is pretty easy, but extending accurate plumb and level lines around the room is...

Bosch 14.4-volt impactor cordless impact driver.(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2006... I like to think that I keep up with building trends and new tools, so I was surprised to find a whole new category of power tools that I was completely unaware of: cordless impact drivers. While they look a little like conventional cordless...

Mega bulb for mini light.(Toolbox: Work Lights)
May 1, 2006... Believe it or not, the Mini MagLite just got even better, thanks to TerraLux's after-market accessories. The nearest item is the MiniStar 2, a replacement LED bulb that purportedly lasts for 100,000 hours; compared with PlagLite's conventional...

Pack-powered fluorescent.(Toolbox: Work Lights)
May 1, 2006... Looking to upgrade the flashlight that came with your cordless combo kit? Check out the 18-volt DC527 (shown) and the 12- to 14.4-volt DC528 from DeWalt. These fluorescent work lights boast rotating and telescoping hooks that hang from 2-by...

High beam.(Toolbox: Work Lights)
May 1, 2006... Just because the sun goes down doesn't mean you have to stop working outside. The Bull Dog P1400W Power Tower produces 110,000 lumens--enough to brighten 109,000 square feet of outdoor space. A heat-dissipating cast-aluminum housing and a...

Power horse.(Toolbox: Routers & Accessories)
May 1, 2006... Don't let its small stature fool you: The 1-hp variable-speed Colt palm router from Bosch is much more than a laminate trimmer. This little tool can mortise hinges, profile edges, and perform many other common job-site tasks without breaking a...

Bulletproof bit storage.(Toolbox: Routers & Accessories)
May 1, 2006... Why keep hundreds of dollars' worth of router bits in a cardboard carton or makeshift container when you can buy the MTM Case-Gard R100 for less than $12? Originally designed to hold high-caliber ammunition for sport shooters, this poly...

Primo plunge base.(Toolbox: Routers & Accessories)
May 1, 2006... Quite simply, the Micro Fence Portable Three-Axis Mill is a beautiful tool. The precision plunger-outer base has a three-position depth stop, a four-position LED work light, dust-collection hoods, and micrometer-style adjustments. Optional...

Keeping up with the Munsters.(Backfill)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... A couple of years ago, I designed and built a home for a friend of mine in the San Francisco Bay area. The original plan had been to build a small office a few steps up from the second-floor hall, but during construction we raised the floor...