I dealt with some pretty nasty crap over the years. Corroded toilet bowls, moldy drywall, collapsing trailers – gross to say the least. One of worst parts of these jobs wasn’t the part where I had to touch the stuff, but rather figuring out what to do with it all after it got ripped out. A lot of local landfills just won’t accept toxic building leftovers. To make matters worse, I’d end up having to drive halfway across the state to find a dump that would accept the stuff. If you’ve got a nasty mess left over from your latest remodeling project; what do you do with it all? Consider these guidelines to handling and disposing toxic building materials and don’t get sick of these nasty byproducts from construction renovations, remodeling and repairs. [Read more...]
Toxic Building Materials and How To Dispose of Them
Setting Trusses without Killing Yourself
I’ve done a lot of framing in my life, but nothing gets my juices flowing like a good truss set. To me, it’s kind of like drinking a case of Five Hour Energy drinks, a hot date with a super model, and shooting a machine gun from the back of a drag car all at the same time. I’m super excited, nervous and scared to death that my heart is going to explode out of my chest. But unless you’re an adrenaline junky like me, a truss set can be a dangerous Tim Burton-esque nightmare that could potentially kill you. Whether you’re a seasoned framing pro or you’re a truss building newbie, you’ll be sure to benefit from these tips for a safe and secure truss set. [Read more...]
Which Caulk Should I Grab? 10 Types of Caulk and Their Uses
Caulk may sound like a dirty word (I’ve got a million inappropriate jokes), but it’s one of the most essential and versatile building materials in the world. It’s used in nearly every facet of the building industry from showers to roofing to fireproofing, and that’s just a few of its many uses. With so many different types of caulking available on the market — which one should you use? The answer is probably bigger than the question. In fact, it’s at least 800 words worth of answer. So settle into your favorite easy chair, get comfy, pull out your caulk and find out which type works best for your next building project. We’ll cover ten of the more common (and a couple not as common) varieties here. [Read more...]
Tile Flooring Basics
I love flooring tile. It’s easy to install, most of its affordable and it looks good in just about any room. So why don’t I marry it already? Because my lawyers can’t quite figure out the prenuptial yet. Although I’m no tile contractor, I’ve installed my share of this fantastic flooring material and I love to show everyone how easy it is to install themselves. Whether you’re thinking about installing a bit of tile in your entryway, or you’re filling your whole house with the stuff, use this overview on tile installation to pick up a few basics to get you started, and see for yourself how easy it is to start becoming a tile master. [Read more...]
Nailing Patterns and Why You Need Them
If you’ve ever installed shingles, plywood, headers or drywall, you probably already know all about nailing patterns. And if you’ve ever had to deal with a home inspector checking your nailing schedule, then you probably know all about how big of a pain in the a$$ it can be to make them happy. While nailing patterns are used for just about everything nailed or screwed down, they aren’t there just so your building inspector can harass you for fun (well maybe a little). [Read more...]
Drywall 101
Drywall, wall board, sheetrock, gypsum board, plaster board, Gyproc or Gib. It’s a building material that comes in many forms and has many names, but they all share virtually the same design that’s been in effect since 1888. Without it, most houses in the US would be nothing more than framing. It’s Drywall and you either love it or you hate it. Read on for everything you’ve ever wanted to know about drywall, and more! [Read more...]
Rod Busting101 – Tying, Bending and Shaping Steel for Concrete Footers
So you think your job is tough? Try being a rod buster. These iron working heavyweights have to lift, tie and bend steel rebar all day long in the hot sun while being bent over or crouched for the majority of the time. Imagine going to the gym and lifting free-weights all day, 5-7 days a week. But instead of just lifting the weights, you’ve got to bend and tie them together. But don’t just think it’s all dumb muscle. These guys follow blueprints and schematics that make Chinese algebra look like third grade addition. [Read more...]
Vinyl is Final – Vinyl, PVC and uPVC for Building
Vinyl Siding after a Tornado
Surf Forever Dude – Making a Wooden Surfboard Phase 4
Well, Jimbo and I have the majority of the deck done, and it looks nothing like a surfboard.
The last time I posted, we had been methodically adding strips of wood, one at a time, on the right and left sides of the board, hoping to someday reach the rails. It’s impossible in these situations to have perfect joints. One strip of wood wants to move west while its buddy wants to move east. The other side of the family wants to go north while their buddy wants to go south. We’ve got high spots, low spots, glue all over the place, and no shape of a surfboard in sight. Jimbo’s daughters are by this point looking suspiciously at us like, “Are you sure that’s going to surf?” [Read more...]
How to Build A Pergola – Two Days and $500 to Pergolic Splendor!
Last year, my daughter and her husband moved into their first home, somewhere in the great state of Ohio. Fortunately, it needed a little work, so that helped occupy my spare time last summer (and on some periodic weekend visits since). After all the minor issues were addressed, her dream was some respite from the sun on their south-facing patio; to be able to sit out in the shade and read a book, hang out, grill a burger and enjoy a cold beer. It was the last potential uses that got MY interest up, and with their pergola kitty bolstered to $500 by a tax refund, we leapt into action. [Read more...]
