About the author

Todd Fratzel

I'm full time builder for a large construction company in New Hampshire. I run their design-build division that specializes in custom homes, commercial design-build projects and sub-divisions. I'm also a licensed civil and structural engineer with extensive experience in civil and structural design and home construction. My hope is that I can share my experience in the home construction, home improvement and home renovation profession with other builders and home owners. I'm also the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Tool Box Buzz. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or you'd like to inquire about advertising on this site.

DeWalt 18-Volt Cordless Drill Review

By Todd Fratzel on Power Tools, Product Reviews

DeWalt 18-Volt Cordless Drill I recently bought a new cordless drill to replace one that I’ve had for years. I’m a huge fan of DeWalt tools and I couldn’t help but buy the DEWALT DC759KA Heavy-Duty 18-Volt Ni-Cad 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit when I saw it on sale for $149 with FREE shipping from Amazon.…

Continue reading »

Insulating A Basement With Cellulose

By Todd Fratzel on Basements, Energy Conservation, Insulation

I’ve written several posts about how to insulate basements, How To Insulate Basement Walls and Basement Insulation. One of the best ways I know how to insulate a basement is using a combination of polystyrene foam board insulation and spray-in-place cellulose insulation. I get so many emails and questions about how to properly insulate a…

Continue reading »

Tool Belt Gift Idea

By Todd Fratzel on Framing, Power Tools

Are you looking for a great gift for the carpenter in your life? Does a friend or loved one frame houses for a living? Do they need a new tool belt? If so then I highly recommend the Bucket Boss 55039 Tool Belt. Some of the guys that work on my crew use this type…

Continue reading »

Testing Generator Voltage

By Todd Fratzel on Electrical, Power Tools, Safety

Testing a generator with a Voltage Meter is very important before you plug in valuable equipment so you can prevent possible damage. Depending on the rpm’s of the generator and other issues with the gas motor you may not be generating a sufficient amoun t of voltage with your generator. Many pumps, motors, computers and…

Continue reading »

Building A Built-In Kegerator

By Todd Fratzel on Kitchens

Built-In Kegerator A couple years ago I helped a friend design a really cool house and one of the things he wanted in the kitchen / entertaining area was a built-in kegerator so he could have fresh draft beer for parties and sports night gatherings. Building a kegerator into a kitchen design is really easy…

Continue reading »

Kreg Master Pocket Hole Jig System

By Todd Fratzel on Power Tools

Kreg Master Pocket Hole Jig System I seriously want the Kreg K3MS K3 Master Pocket Hole Jig System for Christmas this year. This kit comes with everything you need to make great pocket hole joints. I’ve seen this pocket hole system used on lots of great built-in furniture projects and it would make an excellent…

Continue reading »

Air Sealing Homes Saves Energy Costs

By Todd Fratzel on Energy Conservation, Insulation

Air sealing homes saves energy costs. This makes so much sense but it’s rarely done and it’s something we’ve only just begun doing to homes in order to meet certain Energy Star guidelines. Air sealing is very easy and it’s something that anyone with experience using a caulking gun can do. If you look closely…

Continue reading »

Spray-In-Place Cellulose Insulation

By Todd Fratzel on Energy Conservation, Insulation

Here are some more photos showing the spray-in-place cellulose wall insulation that’s being installed in the Energy Star home we’re building for a client. Installing cellulose spray-in-place insulation is a very effective way of insulating a home and almost completely stopping air infiltration. As you can see in these photos the wall cavities between studs…

Continue reading »

Copyright © 2009-2023 Front Steps Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Home Construction & Improvement™ is a Trademark of Front Steps Media, LLC.