June 14, 2006—What has happened to the great American deck? Not too long ago, it was a rectangular platform of pressure-treated pine appended to the back of a house. These days, though, the deck can be any shape, have a number of levels, feature fireplaces and fountains and even contain a kitchen. In fact, it doesn’t have to be wood anymore.
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Drilling holes is hardly my favorite task. I do it all the time, whether it’s for a pipe, wire or deck hardware, but I feel…
But please note I haven’t used the word “vacuum” yet. We’re talking dust extraction here, not voluminous vacuuming. There’s a distinction, and an important one….
Make a splash. I love details. Now that doesn’t mean I can’t see the forest for the trees, so when I see new products that…
Is it just me or are you giving a lot of bids to prospective customers who are simply shopping price, or, as the car-cliche goes,…
In my life in home improvement it seems like there’s nothing customers don’t ask if I can do, and installing tile is one of them….
Sometimes my favorite products are simple staples that help get the job done faster-better-easier. But as tools and materials change, those old stand-bys need to…
So here’s one of my least favorite things to do: lug my hand-carry compressor to and from the jobsite. It’s sixty or seventy pounds of…
If you like tools with a philosophy that informs their design, then Japanese tools are it. Like many things in Japanese culture, there’s great thought…
I tested Hitachi’s C12LSH 12-inch dual-bevel slide compound miter saw on my jobsites, trimming and power-cutting framing and other stock. The saw has lots of…
When some people think of fire, they often think of cordwood outside the house under a blanket of snow, waiting to be brought in and…
On retainer. As much as I identify myself as a carpenter/remodeler whose focus is essentially nailing wood together to form the structure of a home…
I love chalk boxes. The tool speaks to an old-fashioned (ancient even) innovation and cleverness that it seems like you don’t have occasion to see…
Bland To Grand I have to admit that when I think about fiberglass doors, I typically don’t think of high-end detailing and destination craftsmanship. But…
Pat writes: I found you through HGTVPro.com. Our primary home is in Massachusetts, but we are renovating our home in Florida. We are ripping up…
The hallmark of what building scientists call a water-managed wall system is that it does two things: First, it recognizes that all wall systems leak….
