Archives: architecture

DIY Foam Insulation

By Todd Fratzel on Insulation

DIY Foam Insulation for Basements Basement Insulation is one of the toughest things to accomplish correctly for a reasonable price. The best approach for insulating basements is having a professional install spray foam. However, it can be quite expensive and it’s a project best left to professionals which flies in the face of many of…

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Risk of Asbestos in Home Remodels

By Todd Fratzel on Safety

Asbestos Risk Guest Article The following is a guest article by Ben Stillwater The scourge of asbestos exposure has always been about the microscopic fibers that asbestos materials can give off when they deteriorate or are disturbed in some fashion by cutting, tearing, sanding or scraping.   Microscopic asbestos fibers that make their way into the…

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Pulverizer Review – Multi-Purpose Demolition Tool

By Todd Fratzel on Hand Tools, Product Reviews

The Pulverizer™ – A New Multi-Purpose Concrete & Demolition Tool We were recently asked to test the all new Pulverizer™ demolition tool. Check out the press release first with product information then our review below. The Pulverizer is a hand held solution for heavy-duty demolition projects for professionals and DIYers. September 2009 – Jackson®, an…

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Powder Actuated Fastener Review – Duo-Fast DF-27

By Todd Fratzel on Power Tools, Product Reviews

Powder Fastening System – Duo-Fast Construction DF-27 Duo-Fast Construction is offering a powder actuated fastening system for attaching wood and steel to concrete and masonry. Almost every type of building construction (residential or commercial) requires fasteners capable of penetrating concrete. So when the folks at Duo-Fast Construction asked us to test their new DF-27, .27…

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Colonial Home Exterior Design Features

By Todd Fratzel on Design, House Plans

Colonial Home Design Recently a friend of ours shared a photo he took of our home last fall. I wanted to share it here and point out some of the design features of our colonial home. When it comes to two story homes the colonial style is by far the most cost effective type of…

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Tray Ceilings Add Elegance To Rooms

By Todd Fratzel on Design, Framing, Interior Decorating

Tray Ceilings Ceilings are typically quite boring unless you create some special details such as tray ceilings. We built a really elegant tray ceiling in the custom Energy Star ranch style home we’re building for a customer. As you can see in the photos the tray ceiling really adds a unique feature to the room…

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Basement Ceilings

By Todd Fratzel on Basements

Recommended Basement Ceiling Types Basement remodeling / finishing seems to be one of the hottest DIY projects right now. We get tons of emails about how to insulate  basement walls, how to insulate basement floors and what type of basement ceilings are best. Finishing or remodeling a basement requires lots of planning. The basement ceiling…

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Closet Factory Review

By Todd Fratzel on Closets & Storage, Product Reviews

Custom Storage Solutions from Closet Factory In some previous articles we mentioned that were hired Closet Factory to design and install some storage solutions for a kids play room makeover that we’ve been working on. We are so busy these days that I decided I’d like a break from all the products and decided that…

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