My vote would go to PVC and DWV drain plumbing. Did some lead/oakum when a kid, what a pain, joint runners, big gasoline torches, chisels and hammers. DWV solved all that.
Other opinions?
When deck posts exceed what the prescriptive code tables allow, it's time to consult a structural engineer for post sizing and possible bracing.
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Replies
Trusses, of course.
(-:
They're in roughly 60% of all homes that are now built in the USA.
Your point about plumbing is a good one.
Vinyl siding is probably right up there, too.
Nail guns :)
TJI's/ I-joists.I DIDN'T DO IT...THE BUCK DOES NOT STOP HERE.
"Nail guns :)" ............. I wholeheartedly agree. For this arthritic body, it makes much more possible.
Drywall screws. They hold everything else together.
Note: actually I am now prefering those hex head, self-drilling shet metal screws.They are gavinized and seem to be made of stronger metal than ordinary drywall screws.
~Peter
The warden of Alderson concentration camp wants Martha released ASAP. The toilet paper bills are killing his budget.
http://www.piffinscrews.com
what da ya mean the site is parked,lets get it out of the garage and go. just a quick side note i have a taunton book on how to build kitchen cabs. guess what they tell you to screw them to the wall with...piffin screws! well that was before they became known as piffin screws but.... larry
I can only pick one????
The internet. It's the best way to find out about all the other advancements/ products/ techniques.... Before the internet it was hard to communicate information about the stuff.
MG
Before the net, at least you could actually see who you were talking to .
On the net, it could be a 7 year old kid.
Who knows, the kid may knows more than the rest of us about homebuilding....
Perfection roof shingles....the purdiest of all and lasts a longggg time.
The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
if there is a worst 'Advance', it would have to be that polybutelene tubing for supply lines
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
concrete pumps/ready mixed concrete
Not in any order,
Drywall
Trex (& other types) decking
Clad windows
Fiberglass entry doors
Cultured Stone
Gfic outlets
Smoke detectors
UBC / I codes
Drywall - Good point. Drywall is the wort possible thing you could put on your walls. Except for every other option.(-:
I used to work in a fire hydrant factory. You couldn't park anywhere near the place.
On the tool side:
#1 spot goes to the 12" compound mitre saw
#2 would be pneumatic tools in general and lightweight portable compressors specifically.
# 3 spot--and this ranking is highly debatable!--would be the advent of 'oversize' (i.e.: heavier than 16oz) framing hammers, especially the 'california framer' pattern
On the materials side:
#1 would be pre-mixed gyprock compound
#2 NMD wire replacing knob-n-tube or BX in most applications
#3 would have to be modern concrete fasteners, including both TapCons and Ramsets.
Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?
No particular order:carbide-tipped sawblades
battery drills (and the follow-ons like saws, planers, etc.)
nail guns
high performance caulks and glues, like silicones, acrylics, urethanes, epoxies, etc
internetEdited to say: Sorry, meant to reply to Junkhound. Also a second on plastic DWV pipe & fittings.
Edited 11/22/2004 12:17 am ET by Bill
what? no porta-johns?How ya doin bud? edit: actually, the truck and poor guy who sucks them out!!!Spheramid Enterprises Architectural WoodworksRepairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Edited 11/22/2004 8:20 am ET by SPHERE
Doin' OK. Just spent 11 hours in a pair of ski boots for the first time this year. Oiy-vay my feet, as Andy C would say. Takes a few days to get used to each season....
Got up at 4am to have the privilege (!!) of driving the company pickup up a ski trail in the dark at 6am, damn near to the top of the mountain 'cause it got too warm to make enough artificial snow to reach to the base...so we can't park the snowmobiles any lower down than about 100 feet from the summit.
Fun. Fun. Fun.
BTW--Portapotties are fer setters, not pointers. Home-boy alternative is a 5-gal. paint bucket half full of sawdust and a stir stick. Bio-degrades just fine, too. Better than the commercial version....
Oh, yeh...and the Sears catalogue....
Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?
I know...but understanding your daylight time...arrgh. don't wanna go there.We are at almost, almost,,eq. But you knew that..give Ryan a hug for me..(ok, yer self too)watch out if IMERC makes it..hide the vitcuals, he is hungry.they got anti froze in them portas?
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
This time of year, it doesn't get light until about 7 or a bit later; gets dark just past 4:30pm, too. So I spend the winter getting up in the dark, going to work in the dark, driving home in the dark, and then getting up in the dark all over again....
When I was sailing Chief Mate for Crowley Towing out of Puerto Rico about 15 years ago, I had big trouble adjusting to the fact day and night were so close to equal length pretty much all the time. Kept feeling like I was stuck in a time loop, like a record skipping and always staying in the same place. Up here, in summer, gets light about 4:30 am and you cal still read a book on the porch until about 10 pm....
Hugs,View Image yeah man. Will do.
'n'f the Wandering Carpenter does manage to diddy-bop across the border somehow, I'll find some northern soul food fer 'im...like maybe Seal blubber and pan fried worn-out sled dog.... (no, no, couldn't do that!!)
Dinosaur
'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?
to all,
I would say seamless rubber roofing--------------which in addition to its obvious flat roofing applications also solves many other tricky roofing problems which in the past would have required soldered copper,terne,lock seamed galvanized etc.------very cost effective in all sorts of nasty flashing situations
I would also give a nod to nail guns---although I could live without them
and for removing sheer drudgery----I would point to my latest acquisition---a dedicated screw gun.
good luck all---Stephen
50 years?
Portable electric tools, particularly woodcutting tools.
I was surprised to learn from my carpenter uncle that he was still cutting wood with a handsaw when bulding houses in the 50s.
Next would be the personal computer. Imagine going back to plans drawn by hand...
"Portable electric tools, particularly woodcutting tools."
Maybe cordless tools oughta be included in there somewhere. I know I wouldn't wanna be without my cordless drill...
He who every morning plans out the transactions of the day and follows out that plan carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life. [Victor Hugo]
Yes, the cordless drill.
Amen to that Brothah~!I remember laughing at the idea of using one of thiose puny underpowered things and keeping that prejudice up until maybe ten years ago. Now I have five of them, plus the one i wore out, and haven't hardley used the corded one in years.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Cell phones, laptop computers and construction calculators have all changed the way we work.
Structural Insulated Panels have potential comparable to roof trusses and I-joists.
Wonderboard deserves a mention, too.
-Jazzdogg-
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.