Homeowner Forum / Construction / October 2004

I have some 1/16" to 1/8" gaps in between newley installed molding and
millwork.(unpainted as yet). What's the best way to fill, before painting? I
hear 30 year caulk is good, but shrinks. Some of the molding has coped
joints so I'll have to tool the material.

What is the Ontario Building Code's STC rating requirement for a single
detached home?  What is the minimum rating allowed?
Thanks!

I read somewhere that the building regs now require new heating systems to
compensate for variations in external temperature. Anyone know if this is
correct?
I've never seen an installation that does this (although I know it's

I'm building a new home with SIPs (i.e. airtight) and am installing a
heat recovery ventilator with intake ducts going to the bathroom,
kitchen and laundry room.  Do I also need a bathroom fan or will the
HRV alone do the job?

What do you guys think about bidding on projects where the
client keeps their construction budget confidential?  I have
always done it this way, because I was taught to do it this way,
but I'm starting to wonder what the benefit is.  It seems like

I am just about to let the plumbers in.  They want to know if I want PVC,
CPVC or copper or even schedule K copper.  I've talked it over with several
other people and everyone has a different opinion.  Is there someone here
with a definitive factual opinion?

building a home where an exisiting one, once was.
the new home will be moved back further into the lot (and up the
slope).
This will raise the the new basement slab  upwards from where the

A friend/neighbor has a dozer (D4 I think?) and did some work for me.  I
wasn't there when he did it but the finished pad for a garage/shop slab (24'
x 24') looks real nice raised up about 18" above grade.
We're in the country so he just pushed the organic top layer to one side and

I am hoping to build an addition to my home next year.  The problem is
heating.  I am in Manitoba, Canada.
Very cold winters.  Is there any cost advantage to going with a poured
concrete floor with heating in it compared to a concrete foundation with

I live in central Texas.  Several times a year, my wife and I visit
some of her family in Piedras Negras, Mexico.  Piedras is a border
town in Coahuila.  We are planning to build a financially ambitious
home (should read: "We have no realistic way of affording this home in

In compliance with code, our electrical sub-contractor installed smoke
detectors throughout this new house.  He also installed in a central
hall as part of the system a "Firex Smoke/CO Alarm Smoke Carbon
Monoxide Alarm Model FADCQ."  This device is causing a lot of

If thr height of the roof is 15 feet at the peak and 9 feet at the wall and
a run of 15 feet what is the pitch? how did you figure this? thanks  Gary

Last Thursday, I had a Werner 6' type 1 step ladder fail on me.  What
a surprise.  Nothing like that sickening sound of parts of your body
tissue tearing.  Amazing what sounds you hear when you go thud.
I had the ladder for 7+ years, don't think I mistreated it and it was

Folks,
I know for standard 2x4 stud walls, you just sandwich in some 1/2" plywood
to build up your window header (lintel).
What is the industry standard in a 2x6 wall?

I just got an estimate to have 2 rooms painted. I have never paid anyone to
paint and I don't know what the going price is. I live in S.E. Louisiana and
the 2 rooms now have beige paint and one room will be pink and the other
blue. There are 3 doors in each room and they measure ...