Archives: Home Improvement

TJI Framing

By Todd Fratzel on Building Materials, Framing

TJI Floor Joist Framing Engineered lumber continues to become more and more popular in today’s construction industry. TJI’s (engineered wood I joists) are my preferred framing members for floor systems. TJI’s offer many benefits compared to traditional dimensional lumber joists including: almost no twisting or warping, very little dimensional shrinkage, stiffness and strength. Framing a…

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Prevent Mold Growth Under Fiberglass Insulation

By Todd Fratzel on Basements, Insulation

Missing Vapor Barrier Leads To Mold Growth Quite often we get emails from folks asking why their walk-out basement walls have mold growing on the inside of the exterior wall sheathing. Some folks even find frost under the fiberglass insulation on extremely cold days. The following is such an example and why this has happened.…

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Basement Flooring Options | Finished Basements

By Todd Fratzel on Basements, Flooring

Finished Basement Flooring Finished basements are very popular today for a good reason. Properly finished basements can significantly increase the amount of living space in your home without the need for an addition. The key is the proper selection of techniques and materials to ensure a mold free, dry, healthy space for you and your…

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Storage Stairs: Turning Steps into Drawers

By Todd Fratzel on Closets & Storage, Finish Carpentry

Storage Under Stairs A guest post by Marcy Tate. Did you know that stairs can be made into storage drawers? It’s definitely possible to turn the unused, wasted space under the stairs and into storage space. Storage stairs create easily accessible storage space. Shoes, magazines, books, and more are the perfect size for these drawers.…

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How To Insulate A Concrete Floor

By Todd Fratzel on Basements, Foundations, Insulation

Insulating Concrete Floors If you live in a cold climate then you’re no stranger to cold concrete floors in the winter. If you’re planning on finishing a basement or portion of your home that has a concrete floor then it may be a good idea to insulate it before installing basement flooring. Concrete floors are…

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Undercabinet Lighting Adds Wow Factor

By Todd Fratzel on Cabinetry, Electrical

Under Cabinet Lighting One way to really create a wow factor with you next kitchen cabinet installation is to install under cabinet lighting. Quite a few of the products on the market are rather bulky and end up being somewhat visible on the bottom of the cabinets. When we built our new home the electrician…

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Preventing Frozen Pipes

By Todd Fratzel on Maintanence, Plumbing

Frozen Plumbing & Heating Pipes Winter has set in around here with temperatures dipping below zero nightly. The chatter at the local coffee shop the last few days has involved stories from the local plumbers about the huge number of homes with frozen bursted water and heat pipes. If you’ve never witnessed the damage that…

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Craftsman Scrolling Reciprocating Saw Review

By Todd Fratzel on Product Reviews, Tools & Products

Scrolling Reciprocating Saw – Model No. 320.27224 Craftsman has just introduced a reciprocating saw with a unique new “Scrolling” feature. The all new Craftsman Scrolling Reciprocating Saw is a 12-amp professional grade saw that has a great feature that allows users to easily cut scrolling cuts similar to a jig saw. The folks at Craftsman…

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