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Blogs

Tiger Claw Installation Gun

MikeGuertin, editorial advisor | March 11th, 20111 comment

Well known for their hidden decking fasteners, Tiger Claw offers the Tiger Claw Installation Gun. It's a metal connector style nailer with a specially designed nosepiece that grooved board fasteners clip onto.

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How to Calculate Savings from Energy Improvements

ScottG, contributing writer | March 10th, 2011

Is there a reliable way of estimating lower energy costs, or are there too many variables?

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Automatic Speed

MikeGuertin, editorial advisor | March 10th, 20111 comment

I’ve just about given up installing hidden fasteners by hand. Now I use a semi-automatic or automatic pneumatic tools to mount grooved decking fasteners or specially designed fasteners. It’s a fast-changing part of the deck business and one to keep your eyes on.

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Recommended Fasteners for Decking

MikeGuertin, editorial advisor | March 9th, 20111 comment

So what hidden fastener works with your decking? Dig deep into decking manufacturer installation instructions and you may find the answer. Or you can check this list. We checked the recommendations of over 30 decking brands and here's what we found.

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Deck Mates - Decking specific fasteners

MikeGuertin, editorial advisor | March 9th, 2011

Many decking companies offer unique or branded hidden fasteners. Here's a list of what to look for.

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NAHB Offers Guidance for Dealing with Tainted Drywall

FHB_Building_News, contributor | March 8th, 2011

A soon-to-be-released document for builders and remodelers includes strategies for identifying and dealing with drywall that off-gasses reduced-sulfur compounds

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My Story -- The Quonset Hut

redwing44, Legendary author | March 8th, 20111 comment

Sometimes we get it right and build like nature does. The Quonset hut is a good example of this.

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Hip to be Square: Pythagoras in the Digital Age

TheTimberTailor, member | March 8th, 2011

Considering all the whiz-bang capabilities SketchUp has to offer, it's easy to overlook how helpful it can be for basic tasks. This episode shows how to calculate accurate (extremely precise, actually) square-up dimensions for any type of layout work with the "Cliculator".

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Marking an NAHBGreen Milestone

FHB_Building_News, contributor | March 5th, 2011

The homebuilder association says 2,000 projects nationwide have been certified under the National Green Building Standard

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A Money-Saving Tip for Protecting Your Truck Bed

cmiller, special-issues editor | March 4th, 20112 comments

Learn about a simple way to keep your truck bed clean without buying an expensive tarp.

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Steps in the Right Direction: Use SketchUp's Tools for Stairbuilding Plans

TheTimberTailor, member | March 2nd, 2011

The staircase model created in the Stairmathter blog post gets filled in with more details and components to calculate meaningful dimensions for code compliance and finish features

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A Call for Entries: NAHB's Pillars of the Industry Awards

FHB_Building_News, contributor | March 1st, 2011

Open to a wide range of professionals in the multifamily industry, the 2011 edition of the competition includes five new award categories

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Smart Phone Apps for Builders: (Microsoft | Bing) Maps

AARONLUBECK, Blogger | March 1st, 2011

On the iPhone, Microsoft's Bing Maps fails to stack up to Google Maps, with the exception of one feature.

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Priming the Private Mortgage-Guarantee Sector (Very Carefully)

FHB_Building_News, contributor | February 25th, 20112 comments

If a 20% down payment becomes a requirement for a loan guarantee, can the housing market still thrive? Privatization hawks think so. But other credit-related issues will need attention first

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Stairmathter: Use SketchUp to Master the Math for Stairbuilding

TheTimberTailor, member | February 25th, 201113 comments

Create a digital layout using jobsite dimensions and let SketchUp do the math to calculate cutting dimensions and angles for stair stringers accounting for finish floor thicknesses and other pertinent information.

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Blueprint-Reading Basics: How to Navigate a Set of House Plans

rwotzak, Web Producer | February 25th, 20113 comments

Construction documents are usually more organized than they look. Learn some common symbols and drawing types that will help you find what you're looking for when you pick up a set of plans.

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Will Passivhaus or passive solar be the best fit for this project?

ScottG, contributing writer | February 24th, 2011

A Pennsylvania homeowner is planning to downsize into a smaller house and looks for a prescription for energy efficiency on a small budget.

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Household Growth's Mounting Pressure on Demand

FHB_Building_News, contributor | February 23rd, 2011

NAHB makes another pitch for easier credit based on a study highlighting predicted increases in household formation, a principal driver of housing demand

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My Story Through Houses: The Manufactured House

redwing44, Legendary author | February 21st, 20114 comments

Manufactured houses can be delivered by a truck, arrive on it's own wheels, or set by a crane.

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Awakening Remodeling, Quieting Foreclosure Fever

FHB_Building_News, contributor | February 18th, 20111 comment

BuildFax data shows signs of life in the remodeling sector, while a recent Mortgage Bankers Association survey suggests the foreclosure tide will begin receding by the end of the year

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