Framing

Keep an eye on the stringline, and have a handful of spacers and a board straightener within easy reachby Mike Guertin

If you've ever wished you had a third hand to hold a board in place while framing, this tip is for youby Charles Miller

Ledger brackets, flexible flashing, and a joist-hanger jig are a few field-tested tricks for overcoming construction challengesby Mike Guertin

Smart framing eliminates the ledger and adds a shady seatby Michael Ayers

Smart details for ledgers, posts, and joists create a solid, attractive frame that should last as long as the houseby John Spier

Make the right design choices, and you'll have an outdoor room you can enjoy without battling the bugsby Scott Gibson

With a rubber membrane and careful flashing, you can create an outdoor room above and shelter the living space belowby Gregory Burr

Often overlooked and often regretted, the critical joint between your house and deck must hold fast and shed waterby Scott Grice

A temporary form and laminated plywood stringers make building these stairs easier than you might thinkby Mike Guertin

by Mike Guertin

Before you build that eye-catching bay onto the side of a house, you have to get the floor framing rightby Mike Guertin

Framing the perimeter first helps to ensure that the posts will land squarely on their piersby Peter J. Bilodeau

by Roe A. Osborn

by Scott McBride

From a hip-framed floor that slopes in three directions to a coffered ceiling, a veteran carpenter builds his porch his wayby Scott McBride

by David Bright

Thoughtful details designed to beat the weatherby R. W. Missell

A guide to the basics of deck constructionby Scott Grove

How to combine a deck with a roof that won't leakby Dan Rockhill