Methods, tools and hard-won lessons from people who do the work.
Fine Homebuilding looks at moisture wicking up through walls in historic buildings and the fixes to consider before making changes to the structure.
Why it matters: Sealing old masonry the wrong way traps water and speeds up decay, a common callback on renovation jobs.
In JLC, a design-build owner in New Jersey describes starting a deck and outdoor-living company in 2015 with one carpenter and no business experience. The firm now has six employees and finishes 8 to 10 projects a year at $150,000 to $200,000 each.
Why it matters: A grounded look at what a tight niche and bigger tickets do for a small residential contractor.