Archives: Structure

WeatherShield Premium Wood Products

By Todd Fratzel on Building Materials, Decks & Porches

WeatherShield – The Smarter Treated Wood Today I noticed a new product at The Home Depot, WeatherShield Premium Pressure-Treated Decking. What caught my eye was the warranty for this new type of pressure treated wood. WeatherShield offers a limited lifetime warranty which is guranteed protection against rot, decay and termite damage. If these claims are…

Continue reading »

How To Install Simple Window Casing

By Todd Fratzel on Finish Carpentry

Butt and Pass Window Trim Trimming out a window can be quite simple if you stick to the basics. The simplest window casing consists of flat stock trim with butted corners (butt and pass). Butted window casing works great and eliminates the dreaded “opened” miter joints that are famous with more elaborate miter joints. The…

Continue reading »

How To Install Replacement Windows

By Todd Fratzel on Energy Conservation, Windows

Installing Replacement Windows Installing replacement windows is a great DIY project that can help you save thousands of dollars on energy bills over the life of the windows. Replacement window manufacturers have perfected the design of replacement windows so that anyone with moderate do-it-yourself skills can easily install them. I recently helped my dad replace…

Continue reading »

Stamped Concrete

By Todd Fratzel on Driveways, Foundations

Stamped Concrete Surfaces Recently I had a reader ask me what my thoughts and experieces were with Stamped Concrete. Stamped Concrete is textured and/or colored concrete that resembles stone, cobbles, pavers, and other decorative pavement surfaces. The process of stamping concrete must be done at the time the concrete is placed while it’s still “soft”…

Continue reading »

Insulating Basement Walls

By Todd Fratzel on Basements, Insulation

Best Methods For Insulating Basement Walls I’ve written several articles on insulating basement walls and evolved some of my methods over time. Basements provide for a very challenging insulation problem. Basements are a challenge because of high moisture levels and cooler temperatures. In this article I’d like to summarize some of my experience with insulating…

Continue reading »

Partners in Sustainable Building

By Todd Fratzel on Green Building

The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity today announced the national expansion of Partners in Sustainable Building, a $30 million building program dedicated to greening more than 5,000 Habitat homes across the country. In celebration of the program, The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity…

Continue reading »

French Doors with Built In Blinds

By Todd Fratzel on Doors

French Doors – Built In Blinds French Doors with built in blinds between the glass panels are great. Typically French Doors don’t provide much privacy because of all the glass. If you wanted privacy with a French Door in the past you would have to install some type of blind or a curtain attached to…

Continue reading »

Brick Facade On Metal Stud Framing

By Todd Fratzel on Framing, Masonry

Brick Facade Recently I wrote some articles (Installing Brick Facade Over Metal Stud Framing, Metal Stud Walls with Densglass Sheating and Foam Board Insulation, and Proper Flashing of Metal Stud Walls for Masonry) about a Commercial Building that we were building that used metal stud framing and a brick facade.  Well the building is finished…

Continue reading »

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