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Recent Blog Posts

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Navigating the Depths: A Comprehensive Guide to Accurate Crawl Space Conversion

Crawl spaces, once overlooked and underutilized, are increasingly becoming valuable spaces in homes. Converting a crawl space can provide additional square footage, improve energy efficiency, and enhance the overall functionality of your home. However, a successful crawl space conversion requires...

Sleuthing Out Moisture

Over a 35-plus-year career of building, renovating, and inspecting houses, I have developed a process to identify moisture sources, assess damage, and develop solutions. It’s largely informed by my location in climate zone 2. While I started out in California, I came to New Orleans (NOLA) in 2008...

Business Management Tips for Contractors

For many contractors, the work doesn’t stop when the tools are put away. They are, after all not just building a deck or installing cabinets, they are also running a business. The truth is, there are some things that must be handled effectively in order to provide a successful future for the...

Understanding the Differences Between OSB and CDX

When it comes to construction and woodworking, selecting the right materials is essential for the success and durability of a project. Two commonly used materials for sheathing and structural purposes are OSB (Oriented Strand Board) and CDX plywood. While they might seem similar at first glance,...

How to Pour Footings for a Deck

Secure, stable footings are essential for a good quality deck. By pouring footings properly, you give your deck a strong base so you can enjoy that outdoor living space for years. The Importance of Footings Footings provide the reinforced support for a column that then supports the deck structure....

Beating Wood Rot

Wood rot is a far bigger problem nowadays than it was in years past. That’s primarily because today’s fast-growthlumber is much less forgiving of sloppy construction or deferred maintenance than the hardy, old-growth species our ancestors built their homes with. On the bright side, however,...

Guide to Planning a Home Addition

A home addition can be a great way to adapt and update your home, increase its property value, and create exciting new spaces you and your family can enjoy for years or even generations to come. The project, however, can also be intimidating and overwhelming, especially if you have never tackled...

5 Essential Summer Safety Tips for Contractors

Summer brings warmer weather and longer days, making it a busy and productive time for contractors. However, working in high temperatures and under intense sun exposure poses certain risks and challenges. In this blog post, we'll explore five essential summer safety tips for contractors to ensure a...

Tips for Contractors When Hiring Employees

If you’re a contractor, then like most business owners, whether large or small, you are often faced with having to hire employees. For small businesses, the need to hire employees is often a good sign, meaning that their business is growing. Regardless of the reason, there are some things to keep...

Ways to Generate More Leads for Contractors

An ongoing challenge for contractors—especially those just starting out— is finding new customers. Generally, by doing your job well and proving your company’s dedication to quality, professionalism and reliability, you are already well on your way to cultivating future work. Word-of-mouth builds...

Importance of Jobsite Meetings

In the construction business, it stands to reason that productivity is the key to success. So, what is the key to productivity, might you ask? A good place to start is communication. With all of the moving pieces on any given jobsite, good communication is essential to keeping everybody on the same...

Three Tips to Make Your Clients' Deck Dreams a Reality

The best way to turn leads into customers is to educate them. In fact, some research has shown that more than half your leads will buy a deck from you if they’re properly educated about their deck options upfront and given time to think them through. Then, once those leads decide to buy, ongoing...

Jobsite Protection for Remodels

When we’re planning for a remodeling job, one of the top checklist items is jobsite protection. The first rule is to do no harm. We don’t want to damage any existing finishes or contaminate the homeowner’s living space. So we plan in advance to control dust and protect surface finishes. There are...

Don't Want to Take Small Jobs? You Should. Here's How to Do Them While Keeping the Big Projects

Many remodeling companies and custom home builders have a niche. Some companies love the big jobs. Some prefer more modest work. The one thing that most companies don’t like to deal with are the service jobs, the tiny jobs, that good clients call with. If you don’t want to deal with service jobs,...

Adding a New Back Door Entrance

Almost all homes have at least two entrances: typically, the main entrance (front door) and a backdoor. Multiple entrances and exits are important for both convenience and safety. In some instances, it may be necessary to install a new backdoor entrance. This could be because of a remodel that has...

Getting your Deck Ready for Spring

As soon as the snow melts and the ground is somewhat thawed, it is the perfect time to start getting your deck ready for spring. This way, you can spend more time relaxing and enjoying your deck later on in the warm summer sun. Winter is often hard on decks; especially those made of all wood. It...

Managing Wood Movement

Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it exchanges moisture with the surrounding environment. When it absorbs moisture, wood swells, and when it releases moisture (dries), wood shrinks. The moisture exchange between wood and the air depends on the relative humidity and the temperature of the air, and the...

Wood Basics

Early builders learned by trial and error which wood species to use and which wood from trees grown in certain locations and under certain conditions was stronger, more easily worked—or finer grained—than wood from other locations. White oak, for example, is tough, strong, and durable, which made...

JLC Field Guide: Lumber

Selecting Dimensional Lumber Dimensional lumber is differentiated by several species groups. The main species groups in the U.S. are Spruce-Pine-Fir (Canadian), Douglas Fir-Larch, Hem-Fir, and Southern Pine (typically pressure-treated). Each species group is available in a number of grades, but...

Factors to Consider Before Building a Fence

It’s true that good fences make good neighbors, but how can you put up a good fence to be a good neighbor? Understanding the basics and making the best choices for your needs and your yard can help you build a fantastic, friendly fence. Why Do You Need a Fence? There are many reasons why a fence...

Managing Your Business Reputation

In today’s market, many contractors face a unique challenge that many had never had to face in the years prior. That challenge is reputation management. Business is no longer as simple as it once was due to the impact of technology and the internet. Consumers have access to more information about...

Employee Care is The Best Cure for a Labor Shortage

The number one reason key people leave one company for the next is because they believe management doesn’t appreciate them. It’s pretty obvious that finding and hiring top quality people looms as the most critical long term challenge our industry faces. In an industry where personnel-related...

How to Build a Rainscreen for Open-Joint Cladding

In November of 2019, Dan Morrison, chief editor at ProTradeCraft.com, set out to develop a new video series about construction for extreme climates called “Building Resilience.” The first season focused on a project that doubled the size of a Spanish Colonial residence in Minnesota, which nearly...

How to Install Deck Railing Posts

Sturdy posts are crucial for a safe, secure deck. Installing posts properly does not have to be difficult, but it does have to be done carefully to ensure a firm railing on a deck you can enjoy for years. The Importance of Posts Posts are the base of support for your deck railing. No matter what...

The Transformative Power of a Front Porch

A front porch can be a great addition to a home for many reasons, including enhancing its curb appeal and functionality. Updating or adding a new front porch can completely transform the look of a house and give it a fresh, updated appearance. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the ways a new...