Walls

Guidelines for working efficiently and knowing how good is good enough by Larry Haun

Tips from a custom framer make the engineered-lumber learning curve easier to negotiate by John Spier

Before you slice through studs, make sure you've got the weight of the house well supported elsewhere by Mike Guertin

Blown in behind the drywall, high-density cellulose air-seals as it insulates by Fred Lugano

Assembled with regular building skills, ICFs form airtight, insulating concrete walls that finish with standard materials by Andy Engel

Framing the entire gable while it's flat on the deck is fast and easy. Raising it is a challenge and a danger. by John Spier

They hold up the house, hold back the earth and keep out the water. If they're not level and square, you may end up custom-cutting every rafter. by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin

An earthy alternative to the cold, austere look of marble, limestone is easy to work with and maintain by Tom Meehan

Glue, staples and a little engineering turn sheets of plywood into trusses and columns by Roger Fleck

A survey of methods and materials used to build warm, inexpensive and strong corners by Charles Bickford

Today's sheathing materials offer strength, energy efficiency, economy, and fire-and water-resistance -- but not all in the same package by Bruce Greenlaw

Skyrocketing lumber costs make steel studs an enticing, easily installed alternative to wood by Tom O'Brien

A framing contractor explains his efficient sequence for keeping walls straight and true by Scot Simpson

by Jim Thompson