Tips & Techniques

I am a fanatic about proper air-sealing on my remodeling projects, and nothing plugs those energy-sucking nooks and crannies as well as canned spray foam. Instead of buying single-use straw-dispensed…

Recently, I had to replace some termite-infested redwood 2x6s. They had been secured to their pressure-treated retaining-wall 2x8s with 16d hot-dipped galvanized nails 25 years ago. The 2x6s came off…

One thing that comes with me to every job site is a simple block made for hand-sanding. I take a 2x4 and rip it to just less than 3 in.…

A lot of contractors in my area prefer to use a portable fold-up metal sawhorse. You can’t beat them for portability and ease of use, but they have a drawback.…

I had to install two bath-vent fans and a whole-house fan, and I was dreading the mess from the plaster dust I would create as I cut the holes in…

If I don’t have a compass handy and need to draw a small arc or circle, I reach for a reciprocating-saw blade. As shown in the drawing above, I tack…

A lot of my remodeling projects use off-the-shelf post-formed countertops. Cutting countertops to length on site with a circular saw is a challenge that requires two perfectly aligned cuts. These…

I got this technique from a man who learned to fold backdrop tarps in theaters. As shown in the drawings, lay the tarp on dry ground fully extended (1). Bring…

I was replacing some old-style doorknobs with newer ones, and I ran into a problem. The old knobs went through a hole about 1/2 in. dia., but the new knobs…

This adjustable-height work support with a rotating design is convenient and portable.