June House Projects: Contractor's Guide to Summer Renovations
As the temperatures rise and the days grow longer, June marks the onset of summer—a perfect time for homeowners to embark on a variety of renovation projects....
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Recent Blog Posts
In Depth: Trim & Moulding
The famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright had a thing for trim and moulding. In his house designs, he made liberal use of overwhelming horizontal...
Building Safety from the Ground Up: Crafting an OSHA-Compliant Program for Homebuilding Construction Sites
Safety is the cornerstone of any successful construction project, and in the realm of homebuilding, it takes on heightened significance. As the construction...
Kitchen Design
Most kitchen layouts start from the concept of a “work triangle” between the sink, refrigerator, and cooking surface (Figure A). For an efficient work triangle...
A Look at Traditional Trim Designs
While I spend much of my time traveling around the country teaching carpenters and contractors the ins and outs of trim carpentry, I don’t often have the...
Beautiful Hazard: How to Design Safe, Functional and Beautiful Stairs
While on a recent trip to Dallas, I had dinner with a friend at an outdoor restaurant. One of topics we discussed was this very article on designing better...
Heat Exhaustion in Construction
Summer is here and with it comes the heat. For those working in construction it means stress, exhaustion, and dehydration are all top concerns in the...
5 Essential Summer Safety Tips for Contractors
Summer brings warmer weather and longer days, making it a busy and productive time for contractors. However, working in high temperatures and under intense sun...
Fresh Air: Rules for Good Indoor Air Quality
Poor indoor air quality is ubiquitous in the U.S., so much so that the Environmental Protection Agency considers it a chief environmental threat. An EPA Office...
Importance of Jobsite Meetings
In the construction business, it stands to reason that productivity is the key to success. So, what is the key to productivity, might you ask? A good place to...
Attaching Posts to a Rooftop Deck
Q. How can I mount newel posts to a deck on a flat roof without cutting into the roof? A. Paul Nichter, a contractor in Islesboro, Maine, responds: I’ve been...
JLC Field Guide: Shingles
Shingle and Shake Coverage The same shingles and shakes used to cover roofs may be used as siding; however, different maximum exposures apply (see Figure:...
The Strength of Wood
The strength of wood is typically measured by a number of "strength properties," including: Modulus of rupture in bending - This reflects the maximum load...
Is Fence Installation the Next Big Opportunity for Home Improvement?
Outdoor spaces are one of the hottest remodeling trends for 2021, but designing full-scale outdoor living rooms may be out of scope for many companies. However...
8 Tips to Help Find Employees During Low Unemployment
A shortage of skilled labor continues to plague the remodeling industry. In time like these, it’s more important than ever to reach out to potential employees...
How to Make Drywall Airtight
An air barrier stops air from leaking into exterior walls. That not only keeps heat from escaping, but it also prevents moisture from entering into stud, joist...
Estimating Shortcuts for Circular Concrete Shapes
When it comes to estimating concrete quantities, most remodelers rely on a quote from a subcontractor. But occasionally it’s easier to estimate the costs...
4 Rules for Flexible Ducts that Remodelers Need to Know
On most projects, HVAC flexible ductwork is located in designated chases that maximize the efficiency of the airflow. But the path for the final branch of the...
How to Install Hardwood Flooring
The good news is that most will consider installing hardwood floors easier than installing carpet because the pieces are easier to assemble than cutting carpet...
Protect Your Jobsite Crews From the Summer Heat
On a jobsite in Kingsville, Texas, in August 2013, a worker was mixing gypsum concrete in preparation for gypcrete installation on an apartment building. It’s...
Who Pays for On-the-Job Training in Construction?
With the construction industry continuing to face a shortage of younger people in the trades, on-the-job training is as important now as ever before. While...
Construction Safety Meeting Topics for the Summer
Safety training is essential for any contractor, and regular safety meetings can share important information with entire crews, departments, and staff. Opting...
Independent Contractor Taxes: What You Need to Know
There are a lot of benefits that go along with being self-employed. One of which are the tax advantages. These benefits won’t happen without a little effort,...
Survey: Budget Is the Biggest Worry and Source of Frustration for Remodelers
Staying on budget during a project is the top worry for nearly half of the kitchen and bath professionals who responded to the first annual Kitchen & Bath...
Stocking Up On All The Right Power Tools For Your Business
Power tools have never been more accessible and affordable than they are today. The many options and brands to choose from can seem very intimidating. Because...