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The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends using a self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet underlayment in areas where ice-dam protection is required. An ice-dam protection membrane should extend from an eave’s edge to a point 24” inside the interior face of a building’s exterior wall; if a roof’s slope is less than 18 degrees, the ice-dam protection membrane should extend 36” beyond the exterior wall.When choosing a specific product, check the product labels or specification sheets to verify a material is labeled as complying with ASTM D970, the standard for self-adhering sheet materials.One word of caution: although most self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet...

Sanding your floor can be a moderately difficult task but also one that reinvigorates even some of the most weathered floors. Here are the 7 steps you need to take to sand your floors:1) Gather the equipmentFor this particular task you will need some very specific equipment for this task. Renting both a floor sander and an edge sander will come in handy. You will also need sandpaper for both of them in three different ranges – 36 grit, 50-60 grit and 80-100 grit. A scraper will help you get into the corners where neither an edge or floor sander...

Is your kitchen due for a makeover? Do you just want to refresh the space or adapt it to your family’s changing needs? There are some great kitchen trends that could be just the facelift your culinary space needs. Top Kitchen Trends to Consider There are many trendy options for kitchens of all sizes and shapes, not to mention personal preference styles and renovation budgets. If you’re planning a kitchen redo, consider these top trends to make the most of your space. Open Shelves – Instead of banks of cabinets, open shelving adds airiness to the kitchen and can showcase...

Caulking is a fundamental part of sealing a building against water and air leaks. For a lot of folks starting out in the trades, it might be one of the first jobs they are asked to do, because it’s not always a favorite task for seasoned carpenters; as a result, the right way to caulk often gets ignored. In fact, a fair share of seasoned carpenters aren’t very good at it. But caulking correctly is essential, so let’s embrace it and dive in. Select the Right Caulk Caulking the right way starts with using the right material. That might sound...

If you look at a building's thermal envelope as a six-sided cube, the walls represent the largest surface area and have the weakest R-value. When the goal is to improve the thermal efficiency of that envelope, the walls have the most room for improvement. We can increase their R-value by making them thicker or by using insulation with a higher R-value per inch, but unfortunately, framing a thicker, better-insulated wall is only one piece of the puzzle. We also have to deal with the thermal bridging associated with traditional framing methods and we have to improve the windows. In fact,...