Jeff Wilson Everyday DIY Blog

Unit skylights are standard factory assembled products ready for installation. They come complete with glazing, retainer caps, battens, trim, gutters, flashing, gaskets, sealants, and fasteners. Unit skylights may be either non-operable or operable to allow for ventilation. Unit skylights are typically used for areas where more natural light is desired than can be achieved with windows. They add drama to a space while reducing the need for artificial light.

Door hardware includes items essential to the operation, control, security, weather resistance and acoustical performance of doors.

Hinges and pivots support doors in their frames and are available in various sizes and types to accommodate the size and weight of the door, and the frequency and severity of its use. Traditional knuckle-types hinges include mortise or surface, plain or anti-friction bearing, swing-clear, and pivot-reinforced. Features include safety studs, hospital tips, and non-removable pins. Special types include electrified, concealed pocket-type, spring-assisted self-closing, and continuous hinges.

Most glass used in glazing today begins as float glass, so called because it is produced by floating molten glass onto molten tin. This primary glass may be clear or tinted and is produced in several standard thicknesses. The typical process for producing glass involves reheating and then slowly cooling the glass to reduce internal stresses. The result of that process is annealed glass. Annealed glass may be heated a second time followed by rapid cooling to produce heat treated (strengthened) or fully tempered glass.

This topic includes information related to fluid-applied waterproofing installed during construction. Fluid-applied waterproofing materials prevent the passage of water. Fluid-applied waterproofing materials are either hot fluid applied rubberized asphalt or cold fluid applied. Liquid is commonly applied in a viscous state to vertical walls beneath grade.

This topic includes information related to thermal insulation installed during construction. Thermal insulation materials are installed in ceiling, attics, crawl spaces, exterior walls, under concrete slabs and around foundation walls, to reduce the rate of heat transfer. Thermal insulation materials are manufactured products that take the form of board, blanket, foam, loose-fill, blown or sprayed materials.

This topic includes information related to blown insulation installed during construction. Blown insulation is commonly installed in between studs, joists and rafters. Blown insulation materials include; cellulose, fiberglass and mineral wool.

This topic includes information related to exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) installed during construction. EIFS, commonly referred to as synthetic stucco, is an exterior cladding. They are manufactured, proprietary systems that incorporate polymer based, polymer modified coatings and foam insulation. Additional accessories and material options are available, depending on the manufacturer.

This topic includes information related to asphalt shingles installed during construction. Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing material used on residential roofs to keep rain water from entering a structure. Asphalt shingles with either organic or fiberglass material are available as a 3-tab or laminated layer shingle. They are fastened to a roof deck or sheathing and range in durability, depending on a manufacturers warranty, 20 to 50 years.

This topic includes information related to hardboard siding installed during construction. Hardboard siding is an exterior cladding material, manufactured from wood fibers, wax and resins. Hardboard siding is available as either a board or sheet product in a variety of colors, with a smooth surface or wood grained texture. Care should be taken to properly prepare and install hardboard siding material in order to prevent potential moisture problems.

Weather barriers keep outside weather out and conditioned interior air in.  A weather barrier is part of the wall assembly; it prevents the passage of moisture, rain and wind through critical areas of the walls and roof, and protects vulnerable building components from deterioration.

Manufactured stone masonry, sometimes known as cultured stone or thin stone, refers to a wide variety of synthetic cast stones that are used as a finish veneer in both exterior and interior applications. Stone walls and assemblies have long projected a natural, warm, and earthy feeling. However, the expense of building with natural stone has limited its use to projects with a big budget and a desire for permanence. But manufactured stone, with its realistic-looking design elements, can provide the aesthetics of stone with less material and labor costs and less structural impact.

Cast stone masonry is a refined architectural concrete building unit, manufactured to mimic natural cut stone and used in unit masonry applications. Cast stone can be made from white and/or grey cements, manufactured or natural sands, carefully selected crushed stone, or well graded natural gravels. Mineral coloring pigments are added to achieve the desired color and appearance while maintaining durable physical properties which exceed most natural cut building stones. Cast stone can be made to appear nearly indistinguishable from natural cut limestone, brownstone, sandstone, bluestone, granite, slate, keystone, travertine and other natural building stones.