Well I thought I would try this css layout and at the same time go for xhtml compliant. Here it is - http://www.teamcontractor.com/csslayout.html
It only uses css and it validates as xhtml 1.0 transitional - I also overrode the transitional and it tentatively validates at strict. Of course this is a very basic layout - but it works
Looks good and loads fast. Welcome to the 21st century I'm working on a "major named website" with a css layout via Xaraya right now that's going to turn some heads