PVC Flue Gas Venting Pipe

By Todd Fratzel on Heating

System 1738 – Engineered PVC Flue Gas Pipe Years ago we started installing gas boilers that allowed venting through PVC Drain Waste Venting (DWV) piping. The use of PVC DWV piping to vent the boilers made for easy routing of vent pipes and the ability to vent up through the roof much like plumbing vent…

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FloLogic Smart Leak Control Review

By Todd Fratzel on Home Automation, Home Automation

FloLogic – Water Leak Detection Every year the insurance industry pays out more than $10 billion in claims due to water damage. As a contractor I can tell you water damage repairs are not only expensive, but they are very disruptive and in most cases insurance doesn’t cover all the costs. With advancements in home…

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Building Custom Chess Board

By Todd Fratzel on Woodworking

How To Build A Custom Chess Board I first learned how to play chess with my dad as a young boy. Now I get the pleasure of playing with my son so I decided to build a custom chess board for he and I to use. After scouring the web for examples I decided to…

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Grid-Tied PV Solar Systems

By Todd Fratzel on Electrical, Energy Conservation

Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Solar Systems With the continued increase in electric costs and improved solar panel technology, residential solar systems are becoming very popular. Grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) systems consist of solar panels, an inverter (sometimes more than one), power conditioning equipment, and a connection to the utility system (grid). By tying the solar system to the…

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Nest Pro – The Smart Trade

By Todd Fratzel on Home Automation, Mechanical

Nest Pro The Smart Trade Every day new technology is changing the world of construction and benefiting end users. Smart home technology is forever evolving how we control and interact with our homes resulting in reduced energy consumption and improved living comforts. As a builder and general contractor I know first hand how important it…

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Durgin and Crowell Enhance™ Pre-Coated Pine

By Todd Fratzel on Finish Carpentry

Enhance™ by Durgin & Crowell We’re very fortunate to build homes in an area of New Hampshire filled with local wood mills producing flooring, paneling, and even timbers for timber frame homes. Just down the road about 10 miles from my office is Durgin and Crowell, a family owned fully integrated lumber company producing up…

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Building A Paver Patio – Part 2

By Jeff Williams on Curb Appeal, Landscaping

Building A Paver Patio – Part 2 This article is Part 2 in a series describing step by step of how to build a paver patio and fire pit. I had been thinking of building this project for quite some time so when Sakrete contacted us wondering if we had any outdoor projects coming up,…

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Building a Paver Patio – Part 1

By Jeff Williams on Curb Appeal, Feature Story, Landscaping

Building A Paver Patio – Part 1 Ever since we’ve move into this house (15 months ago), we’ve wanted a fire pit and paver patio. The backyard had a generous sized deck, a playset for the kids, and some old raised garden beds but no place for a fire pit. Our last house we had…

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