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Jobsite Dust Control

March 28, 2013 Written by Robert Robillard 4 Comments
ZipWall barrier systems

A good dust control strategy is essential to keeping your customer or significant other happy throughout a DIY or remodeling project. Here's a few tips to get you started:   1. In the work area, look for ways air to enters and leaves the room. This would include sealing off doors, windows, air vents and any other openings. Take steps to control or block them off.   2. Designate one doorway to be your main entryway to the room. Using thin … [Read more...]

Filed Under: asbestos, Attic Remodeling, Basement Renovation, Concrete, Dealing With Dust, Insulation, Interior Repairs, Lead Paint Dust, Remodeling, Tools PLUS!, ZipWall Barrier Systems

Basement Moisture and Insulation

October 6, 2012 Written by Robert Robillard 5 Comments
Basement Moisture and Insulation

BASEMENT MOISTURE STRIKES AGAIN! By Kaethe Schuster, Retrofit Market Manager, Dow Building Solutions A house with water problems does not necessarily mean it was poorly constructed as moisture can appear in well-built homes. One thing that all homes have in common is direct contact between the foundation and the earth, which can have costly consequences not only to the structural integrity of the home, but to the indoor comfort and health of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement Renovation, Basement Water, Foundation, Remodeling

How to Build A Soffit Around Ductwork

September 20, 2012 Written by Robert Robillard 8 Comments
How to Build A Soffit Around Ductwork

Building Soffits To Hide HVAC And Other Ceiling Obstructions: Learning how to build a soffit around ductwork is not a difficult process and there are many ways to do it. Some ways are better than others and some methods are more preferable depending your specific situation. A soffit is basically a box framed with wood and covered with wall board that surrounds existing ductwork, piping, or beams. As a remodeler I often need to build … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement Renovation, Design

EcoStud® Track & Stud System

December 20, 2011 Written by Robert Robillard 3 Comments
ecostud track

EcoStud Track & Stud Framing System A Green Framing Solution I first saw the EcoStud® Track & Stud System at a trade show.  I was intrigued it's innovative and practical approach to solving  interior, non-load bearing walls or partitions. EcoStud is made from 100% recycled resin (post-consumer and post-industrial content), and is ideal in moisture prone environments like basements and coastal areas.  Installing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement Renovation, Green Initiatives, Mold, recycled materials

Basement Remodeling: Choosing the Best Ceiling

November 6, 2011 Written by Robert Robillard 4 Comments
basement ceiling

  Basement Ceilings: A common struggle when remodeling a basement is choosing the type of ceiling that will best fit your new space. Often times, homeowners are surprised that there is more than one option to even choose from. So to make things a tad bit easier, here are the pros and cons of the two most popular ceiling choices: Suspended drop ceilings and Drywall. Let’s start with suspended ceilings. For those who love the world of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement Renovation, Interior Repairs

Basement Insulation

September 8, 2011 Written by Robert Robillard 10 Comments
XPS rigid foam insulation

  Basement Insulation And Vapor Barriers       Dear Concord Carpenter, I'm refinishing my basement and am at the step where I start insulating the walls. The walls are 1/2 below ground, with field stone being the section underground and cinder block above ground. I framed 2x4 studs a few inches from the wall and will be using faced, fiberglass insulation. My question is: Do I need an additional plastic  vapor barrier? … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement Renovation, Basement Water, Foundation, Insulation, masonary repair

How To Install A Sump Pump

August 28, 2011 Written by Robert Robillard 3 Comments
sump pump

Install A Sump Pump ~ Part 1 of 2 Today's job involved installing a sump pump into a basement floor.               Ideally you should be locating your sump pit at the lowest point of your basement floor (use a level to determine where that point is). The site for this pump was determined by water that entered this basement during the 10" rain storm we had last month. The sump … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sump pumps

Finishing A Basement Ceiling

August 12, 2011 Written by Robert Robillard Leave a Comment
finishing a basement ceiling

Basement Ceiling Recommendation: Dear Concord Carpenter, I've been working on finishing our basement for a while now and we are ready to make some decisions about the ceiling. What would you recommend? Height is very limited, there are exposed floor joists running across the finished area and exposed flooring nails coming through the sub floor between each joist. The easiest seems like drywall and be done with it so we are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement Renovation, Design, Interior Repairs