Daily Book Review – A Bend in the River

Africa is still on my mind after posting yesterday’s recommendation, so today I recommend the author V. S. Naipaul. I’ve previously discussed his Nobel Prize and the wonderful work “A House for Mr. Biswas”. His novel, “A Bend in the River”, is a dark tale of the emerging African Rage. If we are to ever solve the problems of Africa, it will be because writers like Naipaul force us to understand the poverty, brutality and politics of this place.

Daily Tip for Home Builder – Framing

If your foundation is not completely level, cut the sill plate slightly or use shims at 1 foot increments to make it level all around. Start laying the sill at highest point if you don’t want to cut the plate. Remember to use pressure treated lumber and lay down a sill gasket or seal. Always square-up exterior walls to the inside edge to account for any slight differences in sawn dimension and have all “bows/crowns” faced to exterior. This will make interior walls as square as possible and exterior finish can more easily hide defects than can be hidden by drywall. Nail a few spacers to outside edge of walls and then tie a string so that spacers can just touch the horizontal string. Move the wall to adjust the spacing and then nail it down. (similar to lining courses of block). When framing walls, don’t install the top of double top plate until after partitions are up. Then install top plate being careful to not have butt joints over another joint, but do butt-join over the middle of a stud. This overlaps the plates and increases the strength. Plus, the top plate of a partition will join the exterior wall with an overlap. To install a 1”X6” let-in brace; lay board diagonally across studs while wall section is on the ground and tack it in place. Cut each stud on both sides of 6” width and then cut ends of board where they cross the leftmost and rightmost studs. Plunge-cut the studs for 1X6 notch. Nail each end of brace in place but leave all other nailing into studs until after the wall is up and plumbed/leveled/squared. Or, use L shaped metal brace by cutting kerf for the small end of L. Do not attach the top plates of interior partitions to the bottom chord of trusses; it could cause the wall to move with expansion/contraction and crack the drywall seams and moldings.

Daily Book Review – The Heart of the Matter

You are in for a great discovery if you have never read anything by the author Graham Greene. Greene’s novel, “The Heart of the Matter”, is my selection for today. Like Bruce Chatwin, Greene was often type-cast as a travel writer or spy master but he is so much more than that. The Heart of the Matter is essentially about a man trying to be true to himself and to his God. Greene’s views on morality are particularly relevant now. And, this book is on the 100 Best Books list.

Daily Tip for Home Builder – More Tool Suggestions

Read some tool reviews from sources like Consumer Reports. Power tool brands that rate high are: Ryobi, Milwaukee, Makita, Craftsman, Porter Cable. Carbide tip blades are best for sawing wood. If your circular saw does not have a blade break, buy a new one. A reciprocating saw (Sawzall) is a must-have and next most valuable after circular saw. You’ll need a 16 oz curved claw hammer (remember to use wood block as a shim when extracting nails with claw.) and a 20 oz framing hammer (Estwing is best) with checkered head (and keep head roughed up to prevent misses). Use a speed square, not a combination square which will only add clutter to your tool box. You will need a framing square and short and long levels. Buy stair gauges (2 small pieces). They attach to bottom plate of circular saw and act as a guide for ripping wood. Add  a prybar and wrecking bar to your tool list. Wonder Bar nail puller is the best. Also, you’ll need a sledge hammer. Invest in a Screw gun (electric screwdriver i.e. for drywall) with adjustable speed, reversible, adjustable nose for depth of countersinking screw head. Duraspin drywall screwgun with reel of screws is a good idea for DIY.
For concrete work, buy a tool for bending or cutting re-bar; you bolt it to a board, insert rebar rod and move lever. Cool! Stanley brand tape measure ‘‘Fat Man’’ 30FT by 1.5” stays rigid up to 12 ft extension, Long tape by Lufkin 100 FT fiberglass (not steel).Twist the rebar ties with Rat Tail or Yo Yo tools. Always need Hammer-Tackers for attaching Tyvek, tar paper, insulation batts, plastic sheets, etc.

Daily Book Review – A Short History of Nearly Everything

I promised to discuss this other book by Bill Bryson after you took “A Walk in the Woods” with this incredible writer. “A Short History of Nearly Everything” is a must have title for anyone with the least interest in how we (and everything else) got here. Bryson cracks me up with his often unexpected humor, which is just the thing to lighten heavy subjects. If the reader has a low tolerance for facts and figures, I can’t think of a better writer to explain and entertain. The title is a huge promise, but Bryson delivers.

Daily Tip for Home Builder – Tool Box Suggestions

Today we will discuss some ideas for your toll box. Don’t buy top of the line tools; step down a level or two. You can void sales tax on tools by buying on the Internet, but expect transportation costs unless you can find free shipping. How about a locked shipping container on site for materials and tools. Buy this book! “Do It Yourself Housebuilding” by George Nash is a must-have reference to keep onsite. Remember to add a hacksaw and blades; and, a special scoring tool for cutting cement board (Red Devil). Does your back ache? Buy an extension screw gun for driving screws into decking while standing up straight; it also grasps the screw. Use red chalk lines on concrete blue on wood (carry two chalk lines in tool kit). Never use masonry nails; use drive-pins or lag bolts with metal expansion sleeve. Consider three separate tool boxes: carpentry electrical and plumbing. Use your router to cut openings for sinks and rough openings in sheathing and drywall. There is a special pneumatic hammer for attaching joist hangers and other straps/hangars. The nail protrudes from the hammer to allow it be centered in a hole in the hangar before firing. Note that there is a special hole saw for electric drill; regular drill bit makes starter hole for center and then you insert point of tool and bit cuts the circumference of hole. Its adjustable for various diameters. Consider heavy duty 1/2” right angle drill for running electric and plumbing through studs/joists (auger bit and hole saw).

Daily Book Review – Great Expectations

Let’s round out our discussion of Charles Dickens by recommending his novel, “Great Expectations”. The rise and fall of our hero, Pip, and his love for Estella have enthralled generations. This is one of Dickens’ later works, so it is influenced by his own experience of the hard lessons in life. It is not as autobiographical as “David Copperfield”, but it is surely informed by “Great Expectations” in his early life. The restoration crowd will be particularly interested in the “before scenes” of Miss Havisham’s Mansion. In Great Expectations, a brewery is attached to the house instead of a vineyard, and the house is called “Satis House” (its real name is “Restoration House”).

Daily Tip for Home Builder – Safety and Security Continued

This continues the discussion of safety and security at your home site. If you plan to do much work by yourself, I suggest you read up on it first. “Working Alone: Tips and Techniques for Solo Building” by John Carroll is a good place to start. Here is one such tip for installing trusses: Nail a vertical 2X4 to peak of truss to use as a temporary lever/handle for flipping truss into place. Do not carry OSB or plywood up a ladder. Instead, create a plywood lift. Make a 2X4 ledge halfway up the exterior wall. Lay sheet on this ledge and then turn sheet up on end so sheet can be grabbed from above. Roofing brackets needed for safety when slope is more than 4-12. Use roof jacks to prevent falls and sliding materials. Patio doors must be tempered glass for safety. . Be sure to use bracing and safety lines when raising exterior walls above ground level, a very dangerous job. Consider sheathing these walls when laid flat to avoid ladder work later but extra weight is a big factor. Remember to use diagonal let-in bracing in all stud walls to prevent racking. Consider the swing when installing casement windows and don’t block paths or patio area when opened. Avoid a nasty bump in the head when working below an open casement window. Window sizes (CABO); code indicates that a fireman and his equipment must pass through opening. Need separate flue for each fireplace in a shared chimney. Run vent pipe inside a larger vent pipe so the air space keeps the outside pipe cool. Fireplace should draw air for combustion from an outside vent; room air is circulated around the fire box for heating. Install CO2 detectors as part of your alarm system. Lithium batteries in smoke alarms last 10+ years. Add a separate shut off near the electric meter and lock it; easier to work when entire service is shut off. Install all Electrical outlets with third prong (ground) at top of outlet in case something falls across a plug and shorts across hot and neutral. | ° |. Don’t use lead-based solder on pipes (can cause illness/death); use tin-antimony instead. Clean all cement handling tools immediately as well as any powder or cement from your body and clothes. Consider a home defibrillator on the job site and in your household later.

Daily Book Review – David Copperfield

As long as we are on the subject of Dickens, have you read “David Copperfield” recently? If not, let me suggest this novel as a wonderful alternative to modern fiction. This book has inspired and entertained generations of readers of all ages. American’s were so taken with English Author Charles Dickens that he attracted huge crowds when on the lecture circuit in US cities. Many of his works were first published as serial installments and you can imagine the suspense as eager readers waited for resolution to the circumstance of their fictional heroes like David Copperfield.

Daily Tip for Home Builder – Safety and Security

If feasible, erect a temporary construction fence (padlocked) to keep people and pets away from hazards as well as protection from theft and vandalism. Conduct a daily cleanup of jobsite and street. Make an on-site safety checklist and invest in a first aid kit. Pressure treated lumber is now treated with a copper compound and is much more expensive but safer. It is still toxic, so wear a mask when sawing and gloves when handling. Clean up sawdust and scraps. Inspect all framing for correct number of fasteners; It is easy to miss some when raising walls and that could be dangerous. Don’t use ladders if scaffolding with railing is available; a fall can kill! Ladder safety: Don’t carry anything up a ladder; use tool belts and raise material; wear a harness when working up high. Place the base of ladder out 25% of its height i.e. 20’ ladder out 5’. The top of the ladder rails must extend at least 3’ above the step-off point i.e. the roof. Rough up hammer head to avoid glancing blows. Even pros wear safety glasses. Invest in a pair that you don’t mind wearing constantly. A router is a very dangerous tool! Pipes and rebar sticking out of footers slab and floor systems are dangerous. Cover with foam padding in case of a fall. Use a rolling work seat when working at low points i.e. landscaping wood trim painting. Knee pads when working on floors decks. Avoid smashing fingers when hammering, especially on small nails. Set circular saw blade depth plus one eighth inch and cut through saw horse; that kerf is harmless and will avoid accidents. Handling wire mesh; unroll and flip it over and bend it backwards to work the spring out of the mesh. Bend the cut ends back to join the overlaps and to prevent punctures to the vapor barrier (and injury from touching sharp edges). Consider wet traction on steep driveways and walkways; score the concrete or stiff brush it before the slab sets. Don’t backfill around retaining block walls until after the mortar and poured slab have cured because the pressure can cause the walls to collapse.