For the first time ...

After living through cold winters in Michigan and Kansas, I must say I had never crossed paths with a frost-free sillcock (pictured above) before. My good friend had one burst on him over the Memorial Day weekend, and we replaced it with a traditional hose bib and a shutoff valve. Rather simple job, however, I learned this about frost-free sillcocks. If you leave the hose attached through the winter, water can collect and split the interior pipe on even a frost-free sillcock.
When this happens, you can have the water valve closed, and there won't be any leaks. Once the valve is opened, the water then leaks indoors. Strange .... anyway, a successful repair.

He's baaaaack!

Sorry for being away ... been super busy with work (gotta pay the bills) and home maintenance.
Reviewing two excellent contractor tools, the Duo Fast 20°Round-Head pneumatic framing nailer (DF350S) and the Paslode cordless commercial framing nailer – the model CF325.
These are two great additions for the toolbox of the framing professional. The Duo Fast tool (left) is
is perfect for framing, decking, sheathing, subflooring and truss construction. For $299, it's a big-time performer. Find a dealer by state at the company's Web site.
The Paslode cordless (right) offers portable freedom at the job site without hoses or compressors. The result is a faster, cleaner job, saving contractors money and precious time over the long haul. The Paslode CF325 is powerful enough to drive 3 1/4-inch nails into the toughest lumber using new tip coated nails. This feature is available only with new fuel/nail combo packs. It's $399 at Home Depot.