Construction Practices
Construction Practices
Articles, surveys, ideas, trends, and tips on best practices for residential builders, remodelers, and architects serving the residential construction industry.
How to Insulate a Heated, Structural Slab with XPS
ProTradeCraft's Building Resilience season three starts with making a basement more comfortable
Construction
How to Retrofit Foundation Footings
To make a low-height basement a more comfortable living space, this remodeler digs deeper but needs to add support to do so
Construction
6 Must-Knows for Installing Pocket Doors
Save your sanity: Do it right the first time
Construction Practices
Crawl Spaces to Basements: Proceed with Caution
Converting a crawl space to other uses can upgrade a home and add significant value, but when done incorrectly, it can also be disastrous
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You're a chicken: The Evolution of Purdue Safety Spanish
When it comes to learning – you’re a chicken. A free-range chicken, to be more specific. I’m not implying you are frightened. Not a “chicken” in the 8-year-old insult sense of the word.
Silver Bullets
In business so often what one wants is a silver bullet, that one solution that will solve everything, improve the whole business in one swoop. This…
The curious case of Mel Tucker: NFL coach, language learner
Mel Tucker is the new Defensive Coordinator for the Chicago Bears. In theory, that’s a good gig. Less so when you consider the Bears have had one…
You and your signage.... Why so angry?
The beautiful curved pavers led me to the front door, past the unbelievable fire pit patio. The product was impressive. The installation even more…
Bridging the language gap... without language
When it comes to communication, it pays to think smart. Or rather, thinking smart can keep you from paying…. In reading the book, Inside The…
On Safety, Spanish and Forgiveness
As a member of the Association of Subcontractor and Affiliates (ASA) of Chicago, we try to share the collective expertise of the association. Like…
Labor Days: The Labor Crunch and the Hispanic Diaspora
Three stories jolted me in quick succession last week. A close friend who leads a residential home building firm in Chicago responded glumly when…
Special Section: Big-storm insurance restoration, how the pros do it
Property restoration after a weather event can be a catastrophe for your company?or a revenue windfall.
Special Section: Weathering the storm
The business impact big storms have on remodelers and home-improvement companies.
Malcolm Gladwell vs. Bradley Hartmann: Is expertise overrated?
In his 2008 book, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea of the 10,000-Hour Rule. That is, the essential component in developing expertise…