Scott McBride

Rebuilding the cornice of the Octagon house

An inside look at the restoration of a house that made history

There's no point in living in the past, so use these techniques to bring an old structure into the present

A look at the lath walls and ceilings that make up James Madison's home

Preserverving a historic home brick-by-brick

Another chance for Montpelier's wood beams to shine

This alternative to balusters is attractive and easy to assemble

Sandwich-style construction offers strength and design flexibility without fussy joinery work

An 1880s porch becomes a kitchen inspired by salvaged boards and Victorian-era cabinetry

A shop-built jig creates a combination butt-miter joint that looks good year round

A seasoned pro walks you through the steps to healthy doors

Framing around an existing roof requires different skeletons for two similar structures

It's only a small hip roof, but its 45-degree corners befuddle many carpenters. Drawing bay roofs out full scale is key to fast and accurate framing.

Good drainage and a stout connection to the hillside are keys to a long-lasting wall

A two-piece sill, 5/4 casing and a backband flesh out stock windows' narrow exterior profile

Installation details can make the difference between a trouble-free roof and an expensive callback

Meticulous layout and milling yield new doors to match the original windows of a 19th-century Greek revival

Keeping water moving out and down is the key to effective sidewall flashing

Letting ceiling joists cantilever beyond the walls makes this challenging roof detail stronger and easier to build

Making soffits and fascias line up when intersecting roof pitches aren't the same

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

Speed and efficiency are the results of a careful, well-thought-out layout

These cordless tools will help you cut your way out of tight spots and through thick timber

Standard ogee gutters can mimic this classical detail

One good valley rafter supports another

One carpenter tries five methods of framing a tricky roof

With careful detailing and proper flashing, exterior woodwork should last for decades

Using a layout rod and shaper joinery to build outward-swinging windows with divided-light sashes and insulated glass

Soldered copper flashing for a rooftop watershed

Two ways to frame a basic gable dormer

What goes up mustn't come down accidentally

Turning your attic into living space may be the remedy for your growing pains

A graphic way to lay out rafters without using tables