All How-To Topics
Products and Materials
Subscribe to RSS feed
Materials Review: EverFlashing Makes Deck-to-Wall Transitions More Durable and Attractive
2 commentsPremium deck ledger flashing is well designed and durable
view details
Say goodbye to iLevel
In it's latest identity crisis, iLevel, the company formerly known as Weyerhaeuser, is going back to being called Weyerhaeuser.
view details
Indoor Airflow - Perfect Balance vs. Door Undercut
3 commentsUnbalanced indoor air movement diminishes HVAC comfort and can lead to increased energy bills. Testing identifies problems and two door treatments can solve them.
view details
Code-Compliant Guardrail Post Connections
3 commentsFHB's 'Start Your Railings Right' spring 2010 article covered the basics of securely mounting deck guardrail posts to the frame. Now an article in Professional Deck Builder magazine goes the next step - and fills in the blanks along the way.
view details
Choosing a Chimney Flue-Top Damper
Pop-up dampers and hinged dampers install and operate similarly.
view details
Attach-A-Deck ledger mounting system
6 commentsAttach-A-Deck spaces the ledger off the wall even on existing houses without removing the siding.
view details
Does It Pay to Use the Most Energy-Efficient Windows?
3 commentsHigh-performance windows aren't cheap, but many experts say the energy savings and increased indoor comfort justify the cost. Is this really the case?
view details
HIDfast - Hidden Decking Fasteners > Fast!
2 commentsDecking is essentially flooring so why not install it using a pneumatic flooring nailer? You can now with the HIDfast decking tool and fasteners.
view details
Recommended Fasteners for Decking
1 commentSo 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.
view details
Deck Mates - Decking specific fasteners
Many decking companies offer unique or branded hidden fasteners. Here's a list of what to look for.
view details
Is Radiant Floor Heating the Best Way To Warm A Well-Insulated House?
4 commentsLukas Smith is looking for the best way to build the radiant-heating system in his new home in southern Ontario. But, feedback from folks in the forums is causing him to think twice about using radiant heat at all.
view details
Are There Hidden Dangers with PEX Plumbing?
9 commentsExperienced builders disagree about whether there's enough information about this popular tubing's health hazards.
view details
What's the Best Vapor Barrier for a Concrete Slab?
5 commentsA homeowner with chemical sensitivities who lives near a Superfund site seeks the most effective way of keeping potential toxins out of her basement
view details
ThruLok screw-in bolts replace 1/2 in. through-bolts
2 commentsFastenMaster’s new ThruLok is a screw-in bolt that replaces ½ in. through-bolts used to mount deck posts to beams and guardrail posts to the deck frame. ThruLoks will save time and $$ - I think deck builders will warm up to ThruLoks quickly.
view details
Pre-assembled Woven Shingle Corners by Maibec
Pre-cut white cedar shingles from Maibec for inside and outside woven corners will speed installation without sacrificing quality.
view details
Simple Screen Gutter Guards Better Than Pro-Installed Systems (and way cheaper)
11 commentsConsumer Reports evaluation of leaf guards confirm my suspicion, solid gutter caps don't perform as wells as humble gutter screens.
view details
Q&A Spotlight: How Do I Choose the Best Energy-Efficient Window?
1 commentThere was a time when opening, closing, and letting in light was all that any good window had to do. Nowadays, windows are anything but simple.
view details
Use the Right lumber and the Right fasteners and ignore misleading information (and people)
2 commentsNot every pressure treated board today can touch the earth. Most are only treated for above ground applications. And don't skimp on the fasteners or they may not last.
view details
TimberSil Decking
14 commentsHeard of TimberSil? Wondered how it's different than ordinary pressure treated lumber? Mike Guertin tried it out on a 900 sf deck last year and reports on what it is, how it handles and the upsides and downsides.
view details
Synthetic Decking: Best Buy or Absolute Nightmare?
93 commentsSynthetic decking seems to be all the rage these days. Is it really all that it's cracked up to be?
view details
|
|
|
|
-
How to Paint Fiber-Cement Siding
Painter Jim Lacey shares some tips for caulking and painting fiber-cement siding. read more
