The Journal of Light Construction

The Journal of Light Construction is a monthly publication from Hanley Wood LLC that has been serving readers since 1982. We offer valuable insights for residential and light commercial contractors, sharing practical tips on effective jobsite practices and what to avoid. Additionally, we provide straightforward business guidance, innovative design concepts, tool evaluations, and suggestions for new products.

Local, Trade/B2B, Consumer

English

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#115351

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Articles

House Plan of the Week: Elegant Craftsman From Visbeen Architects

2 months ago | jlconline.com | Aurora Zeledon

Only JLC subscribers have access to content from the November/December issue of JLC at this time. Articles will be posted online soon. In the meantime, feel free to browse the digital edition.
Retrofitting Air-to-Water Heat Pumps

2 months ago | jlconline.com | John Siegenthaler

In some European countries, hydronic heat pump sales have exceeded boiler sales for several years running. The North American market is not there yet, but many signs point to a promising future, especially for air-to-water heat pumps. This trend is reshaping the hydronic heating and cooling markets in significant ways. It’s creating unrivaled opportunities compared with previous advancements in hydronics technology. One example is adding cooling to a hydronic heating offering.
Heat pumps

2 months ago | jlconline.com | John Siegenthaler

2024 Digital Edition Only have access to content from the November/December issue of JLC at this time. Articles will be posted online soon. In the meantime, feel free to browse the digital edition.
Net-Zero Energy

2 months ago | jlconline.com | Nicole Tysvaer |Vincent Salandro |Ted Cushman |Nick Lehto

2024 Digital Edition Only JLC subscribers have access to content from the November/December issue of JLC at this time. Articles will be posted online soon. In the meantime, feel free to browse the digital edition. Subscribe
8 Kitchen Design Trends for 2025

Jan 16, 2025 | jlconline.com | Symone Strong

The kitchen just got bigger—literally. According to the 2025 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, more than a third of homeowners (35%) are expanding their kitchen footprints, making way for a space that’s equal parts culinary playground and social hub. “Nearly half of the homes in the U.S. are 42 years old or older and were built to serve homeowners of a different era,” says Marine Sargsyan, Houzz staff economist.
Invisible Baseboard Detail

Dec 17, 2024 | jlconline.com | Doug Cameron

As an artist builder, one of my signature details for the interior of our houses is a minimalist style. On some of the modernist homes we build, we are now doing the interiors with no trim at all. In this article, I describe how we go about creating an “invisible baseboard” to provide a seamless wall surface throughout the house. Evolution.
Nathan Clark

Dec 5, 2024 | jlconline.com | Nathan Clark

2024 Digital Edition have access to the Sep-Oct 2024 print edition at this time. Articles will be published online soon. In the meantime, you may browse the digital edition.
Simplified On-Site Stair Building

Dec 5, 2024 | jlconline.com | Nathan J. Clark

You don’t have to be a stair builder with a shop full of expensive equipment to successfully build great-looking stairs. Any carpenter with a working understanding of the fundamentals of finish carpentry and some patience can build a strong and attractive staircase on site. I’m a carpenter in a small town where there’s not much specialization in the residential remodeling world. This means that I have my hands on just about all of the carpentry needed in the remodeling projects that I build.
The Bee’s Knees

Aug 2, 2024 | jlconline.com | Brian K Hand

The honeybee inlay shown here was a key part of a recent entry porch makeover for a family of avid beekeepers. To create the double inlay of a bee within a hive, I found an image of a bee online and projected it full-scale onto a piece of paper marked with deck-board spacing. I traced the outline and the body parts and wings, labeled the parts, then cut out the design to transfer it onto a piece of 1/4‑inch plywood.
Heat Pump Water Heaters in Cold Climates

Jul 3, 2024 | jlconline.com | Connor Dillon

Q: On our last two bathroom remodels, clients wanted to upgrade to heat pump water heaters because the tax rebates on them are so good right now. But we have concerns about these units cooling the basement in winter. Are heat pump water heaters viable for cold climates and, if so, how is the installation typically handled to avoid adding to a home’s heating load?