Expert Home Improvement Advice
Using Prefabricated Wall Panels I’ve written about using prefabricated wall panels before and how they can save time on a job. Today I wanted to show an example of a job that really benefited from the use of prefabricated wall panels. Today one of our crews set wall panels on the 2nd floor of a…
Framing Walls Before I begin please note that my dad (standing on top of that step ladder) is breaking a major ladder safety rule! This photo was taken when my father and I started framing our new home. Lately we’ve had quite a few emails and questions about framing walls and more specifically if we…
Tray Ceilings Ceilings are typically quite boring unless you create some special details such as tray ceilings. We built a really elegant tray ceiling in the custom Energy Star ranch style home we’re building for a customer. As you can see in the photos the tray ceiling really adds a unique feature to the room…
TJI Floor Joist Framing Engineered lumber continues to become more and more popular in today’s construction industry. TJI’s (engineered wood I joists) are my preferred framing members for floor systems. TJI’s offer many benefits compared to traditional dimensional lumber joists including: almost no twisting or warping, very little dimensional shrinkage, stiffness and strength. Framing a…
Stair Stringer Calculator – Spreadsheet Recently I wrote an article about how to build stairs. Since then I’ve had inquiries about some type of calculator or spreadsheet to quickly calculate the rise and run measurements for the stringers. So I sat down and put together a quick Excel spreadsheet that helps you calculate the total…
Microllam / LVL Beams Recently a reader asked: “What Exactly Is A Microllam”? It’s understandable that there could be confusion because the industry is full of all kinds of engineered lumber today. In this article I’d like to point out what a Microllam or LVL beam is. Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is an engineered wood…
Guest post by Huck DeVenzio, Arch Wood Protection. The framing market is huge. The National Association of Home Builders says that new single-family homes average 2,300 square feet, which translates into over 20,000 board feet of lumber and more than seven thousand square feet of structural wood panels per home. For the most part, studs…
Brick Facade Recently I wrote some articles (Installing Brick Facade Over Metal Stud Framing, Metal Stud Walls with Densglass Sheating and Foam Board Insulation, and Proper Flashing of Metal Stud Walls for Masonry) about a Commercial Building that we were building that used metal stud framing and a brick facade. Well the building is finished…
How To Insulate Basement Walls Insulating a basement properly is rather challenging in cold climates. In this article I'd like to discuss how to insulate basement walls in cold climates. Insulating basement walls in cold climates is a great way to keep your home warmer and drier. However, special care should be used when insulating…
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Tips for Deck and Fence Projects With Spring finally here many of us are considering deck and fencing projects. Maybe you're considering having a new deck or fence built. Maybe it's time to refinish your deck or add some new decorative touches to your tired deck. Spring is the perfect time to plan these projects…
New DEWALT Job Site Table Saws Models DWE7480, DWE7490X, and DWE7491RS DEWALT recently introduced a new line of portable table saws that include significant updates and features. The new line includes 3 new models; DWE7480 - 10" Compact Table Saw, DWE7491X - 10" Table Saw with Scissor Stand, and DWE7491RS - 10" Table Saw with…
I'm full time builder for a large construction company in New Hampshire. I run their design-build division that specializes in custom homes, commercial design-build projects and sub-divisions. I'm also a licensed civil and structural engineer with extensive experience in civil and structural design and home construction. My hope is that I can share my experience in the home construction, home improvement and home renovation profession with other builders and home owners. I'm also the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Tool Box Buzz. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or you'd like to inquire about advertising on this site.
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