Chris Casey

Austin

Dad, Coder of Things, Voice Actor. Co-host of the @onetogrowonpod #podcast

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Articles

Podcast 624: Good Builders, Roof Insulation, and Ice Dams

Mar 22, 2024 | finehomebuilding.com | Patrick McCombe |Patrick Mccombe |Mark Petersen |Mike Guertin |Chris Casey

Follow the Fine Homebuilding Podcast on your favorite app. Subscribe now and don’t miss an episode:Help us make better episodes and enter for a chance to win an FHB Podcast T-shirt:www.finehomebuilding.com/podcastsurveyJoe shares his thoughts on Heather Clark and water conservation. Joseph suggests a book that shows construction methods by era. Christopher sends pictures of his amazing work truck. Alan asks about builders in Tulsa. Chris wonders about hot roofs in Houston. Dave is fixing ice dams.
Burying Brick - Fine Homebuilding

Mar 6, 2024 | finehomebuilding.com | Steven Fechino |Chris Casey

I would like to add some retaining walls on the sides of my house, but my landscaping contractor says it is not a good idea to bury the existing brick cladding below the ground. If that’s true, what are my options? —Dianna Hughe, Omaha, Neb. Steven Fechino, engineering and construction manager at Mortar Net Solutions, replies: Your landscaping contractor is correct. It is a bad idea to cover brick cladding with regular soil.
Shop-Made Hands-Free Cabinet Pull

Mar 6, 2024 | finehomebuilding.com | Tom Smith |Chris Casey

Having my kitchen wastebasket located inside a base cabinet is very convenient, except for those times when I want to open the drawer when my hands are quite filthy. To prevent making a mess of the drawer face and knob, I made a device that allows me to pull the drawer open with my foot. These devices are available to buy, but mine was easy enough to make, and I had all the materials required. I modeled my foot pull somewhat after the shape of a strike plate for a door latch.
Take Charge of Electric Vehicle Charging

Mar 6, 2024 | finehomebuilding.com | Charles Bickford |Chris Casey

Synopsis: Former senior editor Charles Bickford describes the different levels of electric vehicle charging. For most homeowners who own an EV, Level 2 charging will be the most accessible amount of power, but there are a number of installation considerations and EV charging features to keep in mind when selecting a Level 2 EV charger. The Edison Electric Institute (eei.org) predicts that by the year 2030, about one-third of cars (and trucks) in the United States will be battery powered.
Protect Pipes and Wires

Mar 6, 2024 | finehomebuilding.com | Brian Campbell |Chris Casey

Removing studs that have water lines or electrical cables running through the middle of them is a difficult task that can lead to potentially time-consuming and expensive repairs. To minimize the risk, I use my oscillating multitool instead of a reciprocating saw, which gives me more control. For added insurance, I insert a carpenter’s pencil into the cut side of the hole. This does two things: It holds the pipe or cable to the far side of the hole, farther from harm.
Smart Truck Storage

Mar 6, 2024 | finehomebuilding.com | Jeff Johnson |Chris Casey

Istore and transport most of my tools in a trailer, but I always keep hitches, gloves, straps, bungees, and a variety of hand tools in my truck at all times, and all that gear can really clutter up the cab. I’ve never been a fan of standard bed-mounted toolboxes because I don’t like giving up that valuable hauling space, and they get in the way of my retractable bed cover. One of the best storage solutions for the way I work is the UnderCover Swing Case Truck Bed Toolbox made by RealTruck.
Furnace to Heat Pump Retrofit

Mar 6, 2024 | finehomebuilding.com | Jon Harrod |Chris Casey

Synopsis: Done correctly, heat pump retrofits can drastically shrink household emissions and, in some cases, reduce energy costs. HVAC project manager Jon Harrod outlines the steps of a heat pump retrofit, which can take the form of a one-to-one furnace replacement, include the addition of a ductless zone, or incorporate a heat pump in addition to a furnace for a dual-fuel system.
A "Perfect" Strap - Fine Homebuilding

Mar 6, 2024 | finehomebuilding.com | Josh Risberg |Chris Casey

If you own a truck, you probably own bungee cords. I’ve bought dozens of them throughout the years. Until recently, the average lifespan of my bungees was not more than a couple years. Either the sun’s UV rays would cause them to get brittle, they would snap in really cold weather, they would get sliced by a sharp surface, or they would just lose their stretch. A few years ago, I stumbled across an ad for The Perfect Bungee. “Perfect” is a pretty big claim, so I put them to the test.
Cut Conduit With Wires Inside

Mar 6, 2024 | finehomebuilding.com | Chris Casey |Addison Oliveira

I usually cut PVC electrical conduit with a saw, but on one particular job, the conduit I was working on had wires running through it, and cutting with a saw was too risky. I considered using the plumber’s trick of “sawing” through the PVC with a braided mason’s twine, but there wasn’t room to pull the twine from various angles. Instead, I tried a copper tubing cutter. After only a few rotations, it cut cleanly through without any damage to the wires.
Keep Closet Bolts Upright

Mar 6, 2024 | finehomebuilding.com | Chris Casey |Robert Condie

Installing a toilet by yourself can be frustrating. If you don’t have the perfect alignment when lowering the toilet, the closet bolts fall out of place with just the slightest nudge. Some replacement kits do come with spring washers to hold the bolts in place, but if they don’t, here is what I do: I grab a small piece of wax from an unused but damaged toilet wax ring and pack it in around the bolts.