Repairing a Rotting Roof
Water dripping from a skylight during an autumn rainstorm looked like a minor leak. But when the roofer making repairs discovered an unexpectedly large area of saturated OSB sheathing and […]
Getting Kickout Flashings Right
I founded my own framing and siding company back in 1990, and while my brother still runs the siding division, much of my work these […]
How to Destroy a Wall in Two Easy Steps
I was recently called to a home in Grinnell, Iowa, to investigate a water stain on the interior drywall. The stain was a harmless-looking discoloration […]
Synthetic Stucco Without Failures
I started out 38 years ago as a framing and siding contractor in Iowa and for the last 20 years, have worked as an exteriors […]
Mixing Cladding and Stick-On Stone
A common exterior detail on homes throughout North America mixes a manufactured stone veneer, or what the industry calls adhered concrete masonry veneer (ACMV), on […]
A Rot-Resistant Chimney Chase
I do quite a bit of siding rehab work, much of it on relatively new houses. I think our weather is partly to blame —where […]
Adhered Concrete Masonry Veneer
Most of my work is in exterior remediation, both as a builder specializing in exterior work and (more and more these days) as a building […]
Saving the Roof for Livingston
It all started when a bit of moisture came in at the skylights; opened up the roof and it seemed there was more to the […]
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