Archives: construction

Kitchen Backsplash – Selecting Materials

By Todd Fratzel on Kitchens

Selecting Materials For Kitchen Backsplash We’re going to write a series of article in the coming weeks on how to tile a kitchen backsplash. We’re going to cover everything from choosing materials to installation of an actual tile backsplash. Installing a backsplash in your kitchen is a fairly straight forward DIY project that can add…

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HardiPlank Lap Siding Butt Joint Flashing

By Todd Fratzel on Siding & Trim

HardiPlank Lap Siding Field Butt Joint Treatment HardiPlank Lap Siding is a fantastic siding material that we’ve been using for years on both residential and light commercial building projects. HardiPlank Lap Siding is a fiber cement siding product that looks like wood clapboards but outperforms it when it comes to weather resistance and finish performance.…

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Armstrong Introduces Custom Creations™

By Todd Fratzel on Basements, Interior Decorating

StyleStix Moldings Suspended Ceilings Just Took A Leap Forward Over the last couple of years we’ve written quite a few articles on finishing basements to increase the livable space in your home. The articles have ranged on every topic from basement insulation to basement ceilings. So when I recently learned of a new line of…

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One TIME® Wood Protector – Before & After

By Todd Fratzel on Decks & Porches, Painting and Finishing, Product Reviews

One TIME® Wood Protector Last year we tested the One TIME Wood Protector on the rear portion of the deck with great results. We’ve been so impressed with the One TIME Wood Protector results that we’ve decided to use it to finish the remaining stairs and farmer’s porch as well. As you can see in…

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Certainteed BIBS Insulation System

By Todd Fratzel on Insulation

Blow-In-Blanket® System with OPTIMA® Fiber Glass Insulation Recently I had the pleasure of trying a new insulation system on one of our projects. We’re using the Blow-In-Blanket System with OPTIMA Fiber Glass Wall Insulation by Certainteed for a major addition to a private school. Blown In Wall Insulation We’ve been using more and more blown…

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Mildew and Mold Smell – Front Load Washing Machines

By Todd Fratzel on Appliances

Removing Mildew & Mold Smell from Front Loader Washers Recently we started noticing a mildew / mold smell in our laundry room. It didn’t take long for me to realize that our new (6 months ago) Kenmore Elite Front Load Washing Machine was the cause of the problem. After doing some quick research we quickly…

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Grace Roof and Window Flashing Products

By Todd Fratzel on Roofing, Windows

Grace Flashing Solutions One of the most important and difficult components of construction is proper flashing to keep rain, snow and ice out of buildings to prevent water damage and premature rotting of wood framing. On one of our current projects at work the guys have been building an addition for a school that has…

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Vinyl Beadboard Soffit for Porch Ceilings

By Todd Fratzel on Siding & Trim

This article has been updated with additional photos and details at the request of readers. Vinyl Beadboard Porch Ceiling Our new home has almost all vinyl products on the outside of it. We have vinyl windows, siding, trim, shutters, porch posts, railing, vented soffit, solid soffit and beadboard soffit. Vinyl siding products can actually look…

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