Robert Robillard
Fine carpentry & renovation professional based in Concord, Massachusetts |
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What's new at Concord Carpenter?
Hi guys,
What are you doing this 4th? Like most of the July 4 holidays I'll be poolside with my "strays." I jokingly refer to my friends, and family that do not go away to a summer cottage as strays. I'm a stray too so I'll be enjoying a "stay-cation" by the pool!
We will grill, relax, enjoy good conversation and cold beer, and maybe go to the fireworks. Unfortunately, many a folk do not think much past the hot dog and cold beer.
For me the significance of
our countries "Independence Day" brings me back in history to July 4, 1776. That was the day our
country's founders declared independence
from Great Britain. This meant we would no longer follow the orders
of Britain's king and his unfair laws. To do this took huge guts and was asking for an ass kicking! At the time,
Britain had one of the world's strongest armies, and to go against the
king was a crime punishable by death.
Our declaration of independence started the revolutionary war and seven years later, in 1783, the "new" United States won that war.
Today our flag has 50 stars and 13 stripes. Everyone pretty much knows that stars stand for the 50 states but did you know what the stripes stood for?
The 13 stripes on our flag stand
for the 13 British colonies, which declared their independence on July
4, 1776.
The flag is a symbol to show the
world what we stand for. It also shows that we are connected to one
another -- we're on the same team. "United we stand, divided we fall."
To me this flag and the July 4th holiday remind me that our country is special and we all have guaranteed rights, or freedoms. We all choose to use our rights differently every day when practice religion the way we want, say or
write what we want, go where we want, read a newspaper, or meet and talk with
friends.
So as you sit back in that lounge chair this July 4th think about our history, our service men and women protecting and serving our country with pride and join me by raising a glass to say Happy 237th Birthday America!!
Have a safe, happy and healthy July 4th holiday!!! ROB
ACC Bathroom Project:
We wrapped up the ACC Bathroom feeder project this week with out last video and the installation of the BASCO shower enclosure. This enclosure really makes the bath remodel!
The ACC Bathroom project yielded 16 informative videos and a dozen articles that walk you through a bathroom remodel from frame to finish. I hope you enjoyed it - we enjoy what we do and had fun doing this project!!!
Thank you to the folks at American standard, Basco, WarmlyYours, Concord Lumber Corp., Leviton and F.W. Webb for sponsoring this project.
BASCO Glass Shower Enclosure
The process of planning, choosing and
installing this BASCO custom glass enclosure was educational and it's my
hope that this post will help anyone interested in building a custom
shower and glass enclosure.
BASCO shower enclosures are consistently
rated number one in quality and brand preference and have a broad
selection of framed and semi-frameless glass enclosures, glass styles,
glass doors and sliding glass doors that fit both shower and tub
applications.
BASCO is a family owned, made in the USA, company.
For the past fifty
years, BASCO has been owned and operated by the Rohde family in Mason,
Ohio. In fact, Mr. Rohde, now in his nineties, still goes in to work to
make an appearance.
Many folks are not aware of the 50
years of history and outstanding reputation BASCO has. In 1963 they were
the first to manufacture all-shower enclosures with safety-tempered
glass, a shatter-safe glass five to ten times stronger than regular
glass.
Later in 1970 they offered the first line
of frameless shower enclosures and eighteen years later they developed
the first curved glass bath enclosure, called Contours. It remains an
excellent concept!
Concord Carpenters Weekly Photo
The Photo above is a portion of 13 vertical 2x6 studs that we uncovered when performing rot repair on a pair of garage doors. Over kill? I guess the builder wanted to create a strong garage portal wall here, although I'm not really sure.
What do you think?
I think he could have saved a tone of material and built a true portal shearwall by using Simpson Strong-Tie LTP4 and LSTA24
straps and clips. Installing a shearwall system provides extra
strength and rigidity at the connection
between the shearwall and the header,
resulting in higher loads and reduced
concrete anchorage requirements
Are you in the market for a new garage door? How about a garage makeover?
It's that prevailing attitude that leads
builders to install the same white, stamped-metal, un-insulated garage
door on home after home in neighborhood after neighborhood that drives me crazy!!.
A garage door makes up a significant portion
of a home's facade on many contemporary houses. By changing out the
garage door, the home can look dramatically different. Read How To Choose A Garage door!
Last summer we performed a "garage makeover" of a cinder block garage. We added cedar clapboards, 1x8 corner board trim and new garage doors to the concrete block building. It was a fun and easy project to do and significantly transformed the look of the garage. READ Garage Makeover!
For a complete preventative home maintenance checklist that every homeowner can adapt and use, READ MORE
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