Library builder

Until recently, most crawl-space foundations were built with vents to promote air circulation and help prevent damaging levels of moisture from building up beneath the house. In northern states, builders often install vents that can be closed in the winter to keep out cold air. The same is done on the Oregon coast to keep […]

Foundations and Floors Floors may seem to be the simplest of the challenges facing a new builder, but the importance of establishing a firm, sound, dependable connection between a house, the foundation, and the earth cannot be overstated. Everything rests, quite literally, on the quality of the foundation and fram­ing work done in the first […]

Estimating lumber and materials for a small, affordable house is fairly simple, but it does take some experience to get it right. If you are building a Habitat house, you can call or e-mail affiliates and ask them to share their lists with you (check the Habitat website for the affiliate in your area). You […]

In areas where the termites are especially hungry (Hawaii and some southern states), entire house frames can be built of pressure — treated wood. Pressure-treatment technology was developed to repel termites and inhibit rot, and it does so effectively. During the treatment process, a preservative compound is forced under pres­sure into raw lumber, penetrating deeply […]

Old drills were made with enclosed trigger guards like those on firearms. Carpenters had their trigger fingers caught and broken from time to time, such as when a drill bit got hung up on a knot in a board and spun suddenly. For safety reasons, workers often used a hacksaw to cut out the trigger […]

Another frequently used tool is the reciprocating saw, also called a sabersaw or a Sawzall®—the name given to Milwaukee’s® popular saw (see the bottom photo on the facing page). This tool allows you to cut in tight places and make curved cuts. Different blades are available for cutting through wood, metal, plaster, and plastic. For […]

When the blade of a circular saw gets pinched by the wood, the power of the motor can force the saw backward—a safety hazard called kickback. In extreme cases, the saw can jump away from the material with the blade still spinning, harming anything in its path. To prevent kickback when using a circular saw, […]

Although power tools can’t replace hand tools, they sure do make construction work easier and more efficient. It can be a real timesaver to not have to drag a cord behind you and yet have a tool with enough power to do a professional job. Nowadays there are numerous cordless tools powered by lithium-ion batteries […]

Working on a construction site is not a sunny stroll in the park. There are all kinds of unusual, uncomfort­able, and potentially hazardous conditions you may encounter—uneven ground, troublesome weather, boards with protruding nails, and sloped roof sur­faces that challenge your balance. Learning how to work safely and effectively in a construction environ­ment is just […]

These prying tools really come in handy dur­ing new construction and remodeling work. Your hammer’s claw will generally work fine for removing exposed nails. When a nail is buried, though, a cat’s paw is the tool to use. With a couple of hammer blows, you can sink the cat’s paw into a board, grab the […]