Construction and Remodeling Education

03/30/2024

A great group that works so hard to encourage knowledge of the opportunity in trade related careers

Welcome to the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition, Inc. (NCTWC). Inspiring tomorrow's builders, today.

02/28/2024

Naming the parts of your casing is as important as knowing how to make the cuts. Construction vocabulary is an important tool to become great in your field.

02/19/2024

Ahhh, beautiful entablatures for a Monday morning

01/23/2024

Fire wood information for my fireplace and woodstove friends.

The tree species the firewood is produced from is less important than its moisture content. The main
difference in firewood from various tree species is the density of the wood. Hardwoods are denser
than softwoods. People who live in the coldest regions of North America usually have only spruce,
birch and poplar, other low-density species to burn and yet they can heat their homes successfully.
Homeowners with access to both hardwood and softwood fuel sometimes use both types for different
purposes. For example, softer woods make good fuel for relatively mild weather in spring and fall
because they light quickly and produce less heat Softwoods are not as dense as hardwoods so a
given volume of wood contains less energy. Using softwoods avoids overheating the house, which
can be a common problem with wood heating in moderate weather. Harder woods are best for colder
winter weather when more heat and longer burn cycles are desirable.
Note that hardwood trees like oak, maple, ash and beech are slower growing and longer lived than
softer woods like poplar and birch. That makes hardwood trees more valuable.
The advice that only hardwoods are good to burn is outdated. Old, leaky cast iron inserts wouldn’t
hold a fire overnight unless they were fed large pieces of hardwood. That is no longer true. You can
successfully heat your home by using the less desirable tree species and give the forest a break at
the same time.

01/18/2024

Can you name this 3d shape? It's a tough one.

01/16/2024

Types of simple gable trusses.

01/06/2024

Getting some great help with a new STEM lesson we're preparing for the QB 8th graders. Should be a fun one. Tbc...

12/23/2023

Great work everyone! These kids were so excited to build something with their own 2 hands.

12/19/2023

Here's my opinion.
" A High performance building product" should be anything that beats the specified code requirements in your building zone and can continue to preform at a "better than" standard for a lengthy period of time. They should assist the home with energy efficiency in some regard and or provide a service that helps any other product, in its grouping, to last longer.

[ I.e - good flashing tapes assist a window, door or pe*******on to last longer by deflecting water and air from damaging the unit or home.]

Windows are trying to achieve better air tightness, glazing, gas fills, sputtering, installation friendliness, casing options, robustness of frame and overall longevity as major contributors that would make them a better performance unit than a "Joe generic" window.

What are your opinions on what makes a high performance product in the building industry?

12/18/2023

Reuse your roof water for gardens and plantings.

12/15/2023