Jobsite Know-How
The exterior of this Minneapolis remodel is clad using PVC panels and open-joint PVC deck boards applied in asymmetric patterns and trimmed with narrow extruded aluminum profiles.
And when we say “lasts,” we’re talking about a really, really, long, long time.
New materials make for a water management rainscreen system that drains well and doesn’t telegraph through open-joint siding.
By tarapatta | Adobe Stock
Effective soundproofing is the result of the materials used, and how they are connected or isolated from each other.
By andranik123 | Adobe Stock
When large tiles break, the substrate usually gets the blame. But often the real culprit is using the wrong technique to trowel the mortar.
By Cagkan | Adobe Stock
Create a drainage plane and rebuild with water-tolerant materials
By pololia | Adobe Stock
This site-built lever solves the problem of safely lifting and supporting a heavy load while working solo.
Using this old-school method, footings and stem walls are formed and poured together
To draw air from sub-slab soil, the slab must be airtight
During a hurricane, a lot of wind and water damage occurs when soffits blow off the building. Here’s a look at why it happens and how to prevent it.
A good building envelope begins with foundation details that keep water out, and air and heat in
For long-lasting results, reattach loose lath and plaster surrounding the patch
Goodbye bull-and-jam demo. Magnets and drills are cleaner—and ultimately faster—than sledgehammers.
Trowel-on flashing is a good solution for fat-wall openings into which windows are partly or fully recessed
The trick is to drill a tiny exploratory hole with a locator bit made from a piece of piano wire
A tile setter shares a 40-year-old secret to tooling perfect joints every time
How to lay out, align, and connect the inner and outer walls of a superinsulated double-wall house
Unit pricing is an invaluable tool for fast, accurate estimating. But counting units is not the same as estimating. Make sure your estimator knows the difference.
A pre-construction smoke-test will produce air leaks you (and your clients) can see
The result is a clean cutout that will be easily concealed by a standard coverplate
The trick is to use narrow strips of membrane and a triangular stick
Tools and techniques for making perfect electrical box cutouts every time