Here I showed a little plastic nail holder that grips small nails so that you can get your fingers out of the way when the hammer comes down. You can do this with less finesse by using a hair comb, or even a bit of stiff paper. Put the nail through the paper, nail it in a bit and rip off the pa...
We would like to think that roofing systems today are well thought out, easy to assemble and trouble free. And then there is the real world. We went to the manufacturers of roofing systems and roofing components to get a handle on what are some of the real world field problems that shouldn't be...
Mila from Ottawa, Ontario writes: "We are buying a new home and have a choice of 2" x 10" solid wood kiln-dried joists or "Trust Joists" (JLE) Pre-engineered floor system. If you were buying a house for yourself -- which would you choose?"I just love it when people try to nail me down like that,...
Most of you are aware that metal connectors are often used to hold things together in a house, much more than in the good old days. The most common one that most people can see in relatively new basements, even decks, is the joist hanger you see in the second photo. Rather than having to sit th...
Fastening to concrete or masonry? We've got three problems: choosing the right fastener, choosing the right tool and then doing it right. Here is some product information and trouble shooting tips.Power Actuated nailingExplosive shot nailling is the most common but the weakest of the serious ...
Need a third hand to hold the other end of something up in the air, or level with a beam, while you are struggling to get the opposite end hammered in at the correct position.You could just drop a couple of nails into the top of the floating piece and bend them over so that they hang from the oth...
Harry caught our cameras in a renovation centre and asked the simple question: "How many pneumatic tools can I run off of a single compressor at the same time?"Technically the answer is simple, in reality much more complex.Every compressor has a rating on it stating that it can give a constant ma...
Just a few math answers to common renovation questions.How far should steps go up (rise) and how wide should steps be (run)? The rise should not be less than 4 inches or you will stumble on it, nor more than 9 inches or it becomes a ladder. Then within those limits, the rise times the run should...
When you toenail a board, it tends to move over away from its designated mark, whether your toe is in place to stop it or not.Try putting your board on it's mark.Place a prybar on the other side of the board as shown in the photo and give it a good whack.The second photo shows how the ears will b...
Ever tried to push warped deck boards into place so you can nail them down. It takes about three extra hands and a knee.Well there are various "board benders" on the market. The one in the graphic is called the Bow Wrench. Essentially they grip the joist and allow you to force the board, with ...
