April 2018 $4.95 THE JOURNAL OF LIGHT CONSTRUCTION Solving Framing Challenges Practical Air Sealing Watertight Window Flashing jlconline.com Introducing Six New Surrounds. Styled to Impress. Engineered to Last. With numerous profi les to choose from, AZEK designers have made it easy to craft beautiful window and door surrounds. Our new guide has a series of six surrounds, outlining exactly which AZEK Trim and Moulding profi les you need to order. For details on the surround guide visit AZEK.com/surrounds or call 1-877-ASK-AZEK. Stateside Crowned Bandit Historic Clean and Rams Head Simple Double Cross Historic Head Back-Band #1 IN PREMIUM TRIM Engineered to last, AZEK® Building Products’ classic trim and moulding systems will enhance any home’s curb appeal. AZEK.com/surrounds JLCONLINE.COM APRIL 2018 / VOL. 36 / NO. 7 Contents 39 FEATURES 39. F raming Problems and Solutions Skilled carpenters tackle the challenge of a complex structure 49. Air-Sealing That Works An extremely tight shell proves affordable with “universal,” repeatable details DEPARTMENTS 9. Training the Trades 57. Products Air-sealing windows Quartz-look countertop; touchless pull-down kitchen 13. Q&A faucet; acetylated MDF; 49 When does code require structural wood fasteners; pigtails in residential wiring? exterior sealant; balcony waterproofing system; low 17. On the Job NOx gas furnace; more Installing lift-and-slide doors; setting precast 60.x Toolbo footings; practical Cordless nailer; combination window flashing stepladder and extension ladder; leanable stepladder 31.s Busines Pricing risk into your 63. Advertising Index estimates 64. Backfill 33.g Enery Il Divino general contractor A one-way vapor barrier? On the cover: Carpenters Alex Strugatskiy and Ryan Bielenda, of Maine Passive House, site-assemble a heavy LVL carrying beam for a custom home in Greenwood, Maine. See the story on page 39. Photo by Ted Cushman. THE JOURNAL OF LIGHT CONSTRUCTION (ISSN 1056-828X), Volume 36, Number 7, is published monthly by Hanley Wood, One Thomas Circle, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005. Annual subscription rate for qualified readers in the construction trades: $39.95; nonqualified annual subscription rate: $59.95. Publisher reserves the right to determine recipient qualification. Copyright 2018 by Hanley Wood. All rights reserved. Canada Post Registration #40612608/G.S.T. number: R-120931738. Canadian return address: IMEX, PO Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, DC, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to JLC, Box 3530 Northbrook IL 60065-3530. JLCONLINE.COM JLC / APRIL 2018 1 The Front The Back FIGHTS AIR AND MOISTURE. FIGHTS HEAT AND COLD. Together, they knock out the elements. ZIP System® R-sheathing is the simple all-in-one structural panel with built-in exterior insulation. Featuring integrated moisture, air and thermal protection, ZIP System R-sheathing completely reimagines traditional wall assemblies by streamlining the weatherization process. Learn how to protect your next project at InsulateYourBuild.com. © 2018 Huber Engineered Woods LLC. ZIP System and the accompanying ZIP System logo and design are trademarks of Huber Engineered Woods LLC. Huber Engineered Woods products are covered by various patents. See ZIPSystem.com/Patents MVYKL[HPSZ;OPZWYVK\J[»Z,U]PYVUTLU[HS7YVK\J[+LJSHYH[PVU,7+OHZILLUJLY[PÄLKI`<3,U]PYVUTLU[/<) JLCONLINE.COM V.P., Editorial Director John McManus, [email protected] Editor in Chief, JLC Group Clayton DeKorne, [email protected] Editor, Professional Deck Builder Andrew Wormer, [email protected] Editor, Tools of the Trade Chris Ermides, [email protected] Chief Design Director Aubrey Altmann, [email protected] Managing Editor Laurie Elden, [email protected] Art Director Tina Tabibi, [email protected] Senior Editors Ted Cushman, [email protected]; Tim Healey, [email protected]; Roe Osborn, [email protected] Interactive Designer Alexander Cortez, [email protected] Products Editor Lauren Shanesy, [email protected] Intern Kathleen Brown Contributing Editors David Frane, Dave Holbrook, Tom Meehan, Mark Parlee, Emanuel Silva, Gary Striegler, Tim Uhler, Charles Wardell Senior Web Developer Braddock Bull, [email protected] Production Director Margaret M. Coulter Digital Ad Manager Annie Clark Ad Production Coordinator Bernadette Couture BUILDING WITH Group Director, Audience Marketing & Circulation Christina Lustan Circulation Promotions Designer Chara Anderson FLUID-APPLIED President, Contractor Group Rick Strachan FLASHING HANLEY WOOD MEDIA President Dave Colford Executive V.P., eCommerce & Digital Jennifer Pearce -S\PKHWWSPLK ÅHZOPUN TH[LYPHSZ Z\JO Executive V.P., Operations Sarah Welcome HZA07 :`Z[LT™ SPX\PK ÅHZO OH]L V.P., Digital Strategy and Operations Bridget Forbes V.P., Client Operations Mari Skelnik NHPULKWVW\SHYP[`HZWHY[VM[ OL[ YLUK Senior Director/Print Production Cathy Underwood [V^HYK [PNO[LY I\PSKPUN LUJSVZ\YLZ PUBLISHED BY HANLEY WOOD A07:`Z[LTSPX\PKÅHZOÅV^ZLHZPS` Chief Executive Officer Peter Goldstone Vice Chairman Emeritus Frank Anton MVY ZLHSPUN PYYLN\SHY J\Y]LK VY Chief Financial Officer Matthew Flynn Chief Revenue Officer/President, Media Dave Colford OHYK[VÅHZO HYLHZ >OLU ÅHZOPUN President, Marketing Jeanne Milbrath HWWSPJH[PVUZJHSS MVY THUL\]LYPUN Chief Data Officer/President, Metrostudy Andrew Reid Senior V.P., Marketing Sheila Harris HYV\UK JVYULYZ HUK J\Y]LZ [LHTZ V.P., Corporate Accounts Ryan Flom V.P., Finance Ron Kraft HYL [\YUPUN [V A07 :`Z[LT SPX\PK V.P., Corporate Controller Keith Rosenbloom Å HZOMVYJVU[PU\V\ZJV]LYHNL Editorial & Advertising Offices: The Journal of Light Construction, Hanley Wood LLC Read “Top Reasons Builders One Thomas Circle NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 Choose Fluid-Applied Flashing” 202.452.0800 at JLCOnline.com JLC will occasionally write about companies in which its parent organization, Hanley Wood, has an investment interest. When it does, the magazine will fully disclose that relationship. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written authorization. Opinions expressed are those of the authors or persons quoted and not necessarily those of JLC. © 2018 Huber Engineered Woods LLC. ZIP System, the accompanying logos and design are trademarks of Huber Engineered Woods LLC. Huber Engineered Woods’ JLCONLINE.COM ZIP System® products are covered by various patents. See ZIPSystem.com/Patents for details. HUB 19207-1 03/18 INFORMATION DIRECTORY CONTACT INFORMATION jlconline.com; 202.452.0800 JLC Hanley Wood LLC One Thomas Circle NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 EDITORIAL We welcome letters and article submissions from our readers. Contact us by mail at the address above, Attn: Editorial Dept., or via email at [email protected]. Keep copies of all original materials. 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Each issue contains industry news and the latest tips on building materials, techniques, tools, and technology. Subscribe online at jlcupdate.jlconline.com For list rentals: The Information Refinery, Brian Clotworthy, 800.529.9020, [email protected] Privacy of mailing list: We rent our subscriber list to reputable companies. If you do not wish to receive promotional materials from other companies, please call us, toll-free, at 888.269.8410. JLCONLINE.COM The New SawTooth™ Point Low torque. Faster starts. SDW TRUSS-PLY Screw SDWH TIMBER-HEX Screw SDW EWP-PLY Screw SDWS TIMBER Screw SDWS LOG Screw SDWS FRAMING Screw Make your jobs go smoother with industry-leading structural screws featuring our patented SawTooth™ point. Innovations such as serrated threads and vertical knurls reduce torque and eliminate predrilling, making your drives quicker and easier. To learn more about our code-listed Strong-Drive® fastener line, visit go.strongtie.com/strongdrive or call (800) 999-5099. © 2018 Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc. SAWTOOTH18C SALES OFFICES HEADQUARTERS Rick Strachan President, Contractor Group 202.736.3332 [email protected] Dan Colunio Vice President, Sales, Remodeling & Distribution Groups 617.304.7297 [email protected] NORTHEAST/MID-ATLANTIC Paul Pettersen Strategic Account Director (Including CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV) 516.252.8020 [email protected] MIDWEST/ SOUTHEAST Ed Kraft Strategic Account Manager (Including AL, FL, GA, IL, KY, MI, NC, SC, TN) 443.445.3488 [email protected] MIDWEST/SOUTH CENTRAL Kay Ross-Baker Strategic Account Manager (Including AR, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MN, MO, MS, ND, NE, OK, SD, TX, WI) 773.824.2576 [email protected] WEST COAST Carol Weinman Senior Strategic Account Director