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Gas shut-off valves for seismic areas

Justin Fink, Senior Editor | September 1st, 2010

Gas + Earthquakes = Trouble. These dirt-simple valves automatically cut off the gas supply to your house in the event of an earthquake.

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How to Install Vertical Siding over Rigid Foam Insulation?

Official Fine Homebuilding Post, editor | September 1st, 2010

Board and batten siding is a popular choice, but how do you install it over foam sheathing? Do you use extra long screws, furring strips, or both?

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Water Crisis: What is Virtual Water Content?

Rob Yagid , associate editor | September 1st, 20102 comments

Virtual water content describes the amount of water used to make or grow a product. By being aware of a product or material’s virtual water content you can refine your purchasing decisions to be sure you’re buying products and materials that are created using less water.

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Women and Homebuying, Revisited

Richard Defendorf, contributor | August 31st, 2010

As women exert increasing influence on homebuying decisions, builders can take specific steps to leverage their marketing efforts

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AZEK now in Home Depot

Justin Fink, Senior Editor | August 30th, 20103 comments

I went to Natick, MA the weekend before last to help my brother do some work on his kitchen. We took the obligatory drive to the local Home Depot to pick up a little of this and a little of that, and...

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How To Modify Your Sawhorses to Hold Trim Better for Scribing and Planing

Chuck Miller, special-issues editor | August 26th, 2010

All you need to do is bore a few holes and cut a couple notches in your sawhorses to make them real multitaskers.

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Housing Market Strategies, Short- and Long-term

Richard Defendorf, contributor | August 26th, 20101 comment

A major bond fund urges Fannie and Freddie to allow smaller down payments; NAHB cites concerns with a proposal to shift housing subsidies from homeownership to rentals

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Pre-assembled Woven Shingle Corners by Maibec

Mike Guertin, editorial advisor | August 25th, 2010

Pre-cut white cedar shingles from Maibec for inside and outside woven corners will speed installation without sacrificing quality.

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Craftsman Renovation - Month One

Lori Brown, Blogger | August 25th, 2010

Should you - and how do you - add on to a 3 story high saltbox craftsman style house?

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Existing-Home Sales Data for July Offer Few Surprises

Richard Defendorf, contributor | August 24th, 2010

With the numbers showing that July sales swooned, inventory grew, and prices flattened, the housing market’s sour mood stays in its holding pattern

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PIECE WORKERS in the Construction Trades

Larry Haun, Legendary author | August 24th, 20107 comments

A Short History of carpentry in the latter 20th century

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GREAT MOMENTS: Reset-Trip-Reset-Hold....Trip!

David McWethy, member | August 21st, 2010

We had not lived in the house I’d built for us more than a few weeks when I was awakened at 2:30 by a sharp elbow-jab from my wife, immediately followed by a...

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Make Up Air For Commercial Exhaust Fans in Homes

Matt Risinger, Blogger | August 20th, 2010

My clients specified a huge gas commercial range with a high CFM exhaust fan. I was worried that this fan wouldn't exhaust properly with a fully spray foamed tight shell. In this video I'll show you how we provided make-up air so that the exhaust fan would have enough air coming in to exhaust.

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Housing Starts, Builder Confidence Still Awaiting a Cure

Richard Defendorf, contributor | August 19th, 2010

Foreclosures continue to squelch demand, prolonging the malaise in single-family starts and the Housing Market Index

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BUILDING SKILLS: How to Scribe Trim to Fit Against a Wall

Official Fine Homebuilding Post, editor | August 18th, 20104 comments

A pencil and a scrap of wood are all the tools you need to mark molding before cutting it to fit flush with an uneven surface.

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EPA to Revise Sediment Limits for Storm Water Runoff

Richard Defendorf, contributor | August 17th, 2010

Prompted by a lawsuit filed by NAHB and the Small Business Administration, the EPA agrees to rework limitations on construction site effluent

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Vapor Barriers Are a Good Thing, Right?

Official Fine Homebuilding Post, editor | August 17th, 201014 comments

Builders once routinely stapled up sheets of polyethylene plastic on interior walls before the drywall went up to stop the flow of moisture-laden air into exterior walls. With moisture stopped in its...

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