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Insulating around obstacles If all we had to do were to fill the stud and joist bays, then insulating would be easy. Problems often arise because of all the pipes, wires, light fixtures, and outlet boxes that are in walls and ceilings. For wires and pipes, cut a slice halfway through the batt and encase […]

The first thing to realize about installing fiber­glass insulation is that you can’t just shove the batts into wall and ceiling cavities any old way and expect them to do their job. Insulation batts must fit snugly between studs or joists and cannot be jammed in tightly or packed loosely and sloppily with gaps all […]

LIGHT, FAIRLY INEXPENSIVE, and easy to cut and Rigid-foam insulation gives you more flexibility install, rigid-foam insulation has a lot going for it. in meeting code requirements. Used in conjunction This insulation board comes in different thicknesses with high-density R-15 fiberglass batts in a 2×4 and sheet sizes. Depending on the manufacturer, wall, rigid foam […]

IF YOU WALK DOWN the caulk and sealant aisle at any well-stocked hardware store or home center, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the variety of products available. For quite a few years now, the terms "caulk" and "sealant" have been used interchangeably. In technical terms, sealants are supposed to be more flexible than caulks, […]

When you think about sealing a house, remember how much frigid air can go through a small opening in a sweater or a jacket. Even a tiny hole in a woolen mitten can make your finger numb with cold. The same thing can happen in a house. We had single — glazed, double-hung windows in […]

THE OLD HOUSE I WAS BORN IN STILL STANDS out there on the prairie. When I was a child, the house was simply unbeatable in the wintertime. We definitely spent more dollars trying to heat the house than we did on the mortgage. Nowadays, the house has new doors and windows, insulation in the ceiling, […]

The most difficult part about building any railing is making sure the posts are well secured to the deck or stairs. Remember: People will be leaning against the railings, so make them strong. A post that extends up to the roof framing will be solid and secure. Short posts that support only the railing are […]

Most codes require railings only when a deck is more than 30 in. off the ground. But you may want to build a rail on a lower deck any­way, for appearance if not for safety. The basic structure of a typical deck or porch railing consists of posts, rails, and balusters, which are also called […]

With the floor and stair framing complete, you can start installing the decking boards and stair treads. I mostly use 2×6 PT decking, because the ready supply of redwood decking disappeared along with the big trees. Cedar decking is available in some areas, but at a premium price. More and more people are using plastic […]

If you’ve done the stair layout and cutting cor­rectly, the stringers should fit against the rim joist (or beam), with the level cut or cleat for the top tread located ТА in. down from the top of the deck framing. Snap or mark a line at I that level on the rim joist so you […]