Liam McCabe

Boston

Senior Writer at Wirecutter

Big home stuff writer @Wirecutter / Rarely here

Articles

Changes To NEC4 Contracts - Dispute Management And Conflict Avoidance Clauses

1 week ago | mondaq.com | Cassandra Byrne |Jarleth Heneghan |Liam McCabe

WF William Fry More William Fry is a leading corporate law firm in Ireland, with over 350 legal and tax professionals and more than 500 staff. The firm's client-focused service combines technical excellence with commercial awareness and a practical, constructive approach to business issues. The firm advices leading domestic and international corporations, financial institutions and government organisations.
You Can Probably Install a Smart Light Switch on Your Own. Just Don’t Cut the Red Wire.

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Liam McCabe

I made no fewer than five mistakes trying to install a smart dimmer at home for this article, which had been pitched as a back-patting, you-can-do-this guide for DIY-curious homeowners. Swapping a standard light switch with a smart dimmer “is generally one of the easier electrical projects,” says John Finney, a retired industrial electrician and electrical engineer who runs a YouTube channel with advice on DIY electrical work.
Changes to NEC4 Contracts - Dispute Management and Conflict Avoidance Clauses

2 weeks ago | williamfry.com | Cassandra Byrne |Ashley Hennessy |Jarleth Heneghan |Liam McCabe

NEC contracts are widely used internationally and have become more common in Ireland in recent years in the utilities and infrastructure sectors. They are used on some semi-state and large infrastructure projects in Ireland.
You Can Upgrade Your Showerhead. Yes, You. Even If You’ve Never Used a Wrench.

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Liam McCabe

When you start tackling DIY projects around your house or apartment, your world begins to change. Every new skill you pick up gets you a little further out from under the thumb of an expensive handyman or a cheap landlord. Swapping in a new showerhead is a perfect project to start with, and it’s an easy way to boost your confidence. Consider this an invitation to join the world of home improvement. A fantastic showerhead can cost as little as $50.
A $1 Fix for Your Wobbly Towel Bar (and Almost Anything Else Hanging on a Hollow Wall)

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Liam McCabe

This is an ode to the toggle bolt, an elegant and inexpensive fix for wobbly towel bars, not-so-floating shelves, and any other fixture that needs to hold some weight on a hollow wall. For less than $1 per bolt, I’ve purchased my freedom from wiggly wall mounts. The loose towel bar in my bathroom was one of those nuisances that my family tolerated, even as it regularly drained our patience and made our lives a little bit worse.
How to Seal Your Drafty Windows for Less Than $50

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Liam McCabe

Sitting next to a drafty window is a uniquely miserable experience. Human skin is highly sensitive to the loss of heat, and few things are more effective at dropping your body temperature than a cold breeze. Those drafts are caused by air gaps, which can lead to other problems in your home, too. They waste energy, and bugs and air pollution can sneak inside. And in some cases, air gaps can allow moisture to get into the frame, leading to rot and mold.
Judgments Provide Key Insights In Adjudication And Payments Disputes

3 weeks ago | mondaq.com | Cassandra Byrne |Eilís Quinlivan |Byrne Wallace |Liam McCabe

WF William Fry More William Fry is a leading corporate law firm in Ireland, with over 350 legal and tax professionals and more than 500 staff. The firm's client-focused service combines technical excellence with commercial awareness and a practical, constructive approach to business issues. The firm advices leading domestic and international corporations, financial institutions and government organisations.
Judgments Provide Key Insights in Adjudication and Payments Disputes

3 weeks ago | williamfry.com | Cassandra Byrne |Eilís Quinlivan |Ashley Hennessy |Liam McCabe

The High Court (Court) recently refused to enforce an adjudicator’s decision concerning a payment dispute under a statutory adjudication process under the Construction Contracts Act 2013 (Act). This followed another recent case, which also considered an adjudicator’s jurisdiction and enforcement of an adjudicator’s decision, together with the application of interest for late payments.
Landmark Defence Of Judical Review

1 month ago | mondaq.com | Byrne Wallace |Liam McCabe |Gerard James

William Fry successfully defended a Judicial Review ground onbehalf of its developer client, which ground An BordPleanála had already conceded. As noted by Humphreys J, noprevious developer in the State has succeeded in defending anobjection which An Bord Pleanála was prepared to concede. Avery interesting case in relation to "harmless error" indecisions by An Bord Pleanála and a great win for ourclient.
I Tried Everything to Clean a Glass Shower Door ... Even a Drill

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Liam McCabe

After a year and a half of neglect, in a town with hard water, my shower door was looking crusty and caked with a stubborn mix of mineral scale, soap residue, and dead skin cells. First I tried cleaning it with food-safe sprays, including vinegar and citric acid. I didn’t have much luck. Then I tried blasting it with a drill brush and a specialty cleaner, which worked better, but on close inspection, it didn’t actually remove all the scale.