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Help Me Steer FHB into the Future

Brian Pontolilo, editor

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Fine Homebuilding: Then, Now, Tomorrow.

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Have you noticed anything different about Fine Homebuilding? If you read the magazine, you probably know that Kevin Ireton resigned as our editor and left the magazine in my hands. What Kevin didn’t tell you in his letter is that I have big plans for FHB. In fact, I started making my mark before Kevin left the magazine.

In FHB #202, I published our first “Project Gallery,” a new department that celebrates your work. It’s only a slight departure from “Finishing Touches,” the department that it replaced, but it adds new life to the magazine and reflects our ability to connect with readers on FineHomebuilding.com.

In issue #204 I made a more significant change, replacing “Cross Section” with “How It Works.” To my mind, the former was old news, and the latter is an opportunity for us to dive into the mechanics of home building in new ways. We’ve already covered vapor drive, heat-recovery ventilators, and heat transfer through insulation (see p. 16). IN the next issue, we’ll cover the hammer function on your drill-driver. Understanding these topics will make all of us better builders.

Your letters suggest that these changes have been well-received. That’s good, because more changes are on the way. In coming issues and in coming years, FHB will begin to look and read differently. What can I say? I’m Brian Pontolilo, not Kevin Ireton. But Kevin was a great mentor, and he trained me well; so now that I’ve got you excited, I’ll make two promises.

First, I will never change the mission of this magazine, which is to be the place where the best home builders exchange ideas and share what they know. Second, I will always listen to you. In fact, I’m wondering what you are thinking right now. What do you like about FHB? What can we do better? What new department would you like us to try?  If you have a few minutes, jot down your thoughts below and help me steer FHB into the future.

—Brian Pontolilo, editor

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Comments (16)

BrianP writes: Studio513,
Thanks for your thoughts. One way we can connect readers and manufacturers right now is in our Q&A department. Believe it or not, we don't get as many questions from readers as we'd like. And often they're too specific to the reader's project to be useful to others, so we don't use them in the column. If you have specific questions for a manufacturer that would help you understand why they do certain things, please send them to fh@taunton.com with Q&A in the subject line. By the way, doors seem to always interst our readers.

Brian
Posted: 9:27 am on October 8th

brianla writes: Ok, That was a bit harsh. I get carried away and frustrated sometimes with the "it's all good" sort of way people don't dare say anything honest anymore. I admire that you aspire to make your mark on the world in some positive way. That is a good focus. Maybe it's better to just show people that, rather than to spend too much time and energy telling them. And don't forget to thank and give credit to others who make it possible for you along the way.

I wish you luck with your new responsibilities. I really do love the magazine and hope it retains its integrity.

my apologies

Posted: 12:12 pm on October 5th

brianla writes: Brian, Wow! I have to say honestly that when I read your letter in the magazine, I couldn't believe what I was reading. It's the first time in the history of getting the magazine that I have been truly worried about the future of the publication. I don't know any people involved at FHB but have enjoyed it for years. To the point, here's what I felt was scarey about your intro letter - A.) How ungracious can a person be in saying goodbye to the old regime? If there were issues before, most people would have kept them private B.) How egotistical can a person be in giving himself sole credit (preemptively) for the self-proclaimed and untested changes in the magazine? (The word "I" is everyplace the word "we" should be)(you do have a whole staff that helps no?) C.) In my opinion you are not a good writer. What is your background?? D.) Your writing also indicates to me that you have little or no experience at anything - Little thoughtful insight, and not a whole lot of class! It made my heart sink to read your letter in one of my favorite magazines. Hope you can pull together the ego.

Posted: 10:28 am on October 5th

studio513 writes: OK, times change and organizations evolve, that will include FHB. And every new idea won't play out, we know that too. Still, there is an ever-present danger for the magazine to dumb-down to Joe Homeowner in order to pump up the circulation numbers - there are a lot more Joe out there than there are Pro. But the Pro is who the mag is for, and you'd best be focussing on that.

One feature that I'd like to see is a way for material reps to answer specific questions/complaints. One of my favorites is the apparent inability of door manufacturers and latch-n-lock guys to talk to one another. I am often getting doors that are routed for latchplates that do not fit national manufacturer hardware. Off to the store to find something that fits, maybe have to order to get it in stainless or bronze. Also, fergawdsakes why are still dealing with 2 3/8 or 2 3/4 offsets? Leftovers from the Jurassic Period.
Posted: 9:12 am on September 28th

BrianP writes: Pablo,
I have nothing to explain that I didn't say in my letter.

I've been working on FHB for about 8 years and was recently asked to replace Kevin Ireton as editor when he left the magazine. I have some ideas for new features and departments (have you seen How it Works?), and thought I'd use this platform to hear what readers are liking and what they are not so excited about.

Clearly you're not interested in the basics. Is there anything in the new issue that you do like?


Posted: 7:06 pm on September 24th

BrianP writes: Thanks for the comments, everyone. It's just as good for us to hear specific article ideas like gtmtx suggests as it is to hear ideas for new columns and overall thoughts about the magazine.

This is not the first time that we've been asked to publish the country of manufacture of the tools we review. I'll look into why we don't do it.

Thanks for the heads-up bk24, I have been reading the feedback on Breaktime as well.




Posted: 6:48 pm on September 24th

pablocollins writes: Is FHB being dumbed down, and do you really care what we think? In the November issues you ask for our feedback, but then hide the blog. Specificity in URLs counts, just as it does in measuring.

More importantly, there is too much stuff that looks like it belongs in popular mechanics or family handyman - 4 worry free wiring repairs ----- this is for DIY types, not readers of FHB, Also, anyone who works with electricity on a regular basis knows that there is no such thing as a worry free repair.

The building skills article on sink traps is no better ---- and the sidebar on air admittance valves is a joke. Monster in the pipes - what is it, children's literature? How about an explanation of what is really going on?

Pablo Collins

Posted: 12:04 pm on September 24th

Ed_Grogan writes: How about a small section where readers can post descriptions of tools and items they would like to see manufactured. I'll even provide two starter suggestions:

1. I'd like to see a manufacturer make electrically conductive PVC piping so that we could easily use it to make dust collection systems without the risks of static electricity and not have the grief of using metal piping. I know conductive plactic exists since the company at
http://www.jpccatalog.com/stock/bins/conductive-plastic-containers/
supplies storage bins for equipment that can be damaged by a static discharge.

2. I like to see a light weight item like a right angle cordless drill but geared so that scrub brushes can be inserted and used for power scrubbing. Also the item must be made water proof so that the brush and head can be dumped into a bucket of water to clean the brush off. The brushes would also have to be made.




Posted: 7:18 pm on September 23rd

epirnik writes: Thanks everyone for your comments. Please keep them coming, as I'll be printing out a hole whack of these to take to an upcoming editorial meeting! I realize it can seem as if these comments will never be seen but, we DO read blog post comments on a regular basis.

Cheers,

-Ed

Posted: 2:09 pm on September 22nd

bk24 writes: Brian-

Plenty of folks (including myself) have left suggestions over at Breaktime under the Feedback column. The most recent thread "FHB-Drop USA Today Format" has a lot of legitimate comments. Rob Yagid said we should post over here. Should I cut and paste, or have you seen the thread?
Posted: 3:47 am on September 22nd

gtmtx writes: The website search engine definitely needs help. I am also sick of china goods!
Posted: 8:41 pm on September 21st

greengiant writes: The magazine looks just fine, Brian. It's the website that needs work.

First of all, dump the dopey web games where I'm supposed to find what's wrong with this picture. That's the kind of crap I expect from This Old House or from Highlights magazine (both which I outgrew in grade school).

Second, get a decent search engine on the site. Why can't I search the site by the exact title of an article? Seems fairly basic to me.

Third, the advertisements are too in my face. After paying for access to your site, should I have to put up with so many ads? (Unlike the magazine ads, which are usually useful, the ones on your site are just junk from big manufacturers.) Isn't there a way you can have ads from all the cool little companies that advertise in the magazine?

Fourth, what the heck is Kevin doing? You should hire him to write a blog about his thoughts on carpentry/building.
Posted: 8:30 am on September 21st

jcheff63 writes: I also like the idea of an article on wells and septic tanks.

As for my own idea, I'd like to see you start naming the country of origin of the tools you test in your tool reviews. It's one of the first things I look for when I buy something and maybe there would be a little more pressure on manufactures to start making things here again so we all don't have to worry about when it will be our job that is being outsourced overseas. Thanks
Posted: 11:21 pm on September 20th

gtmtx writes: Another suggestion, which I happen to be full of:). For the main articles include a summary of the major products, systems, etc that were used in the project. For example, the article From Luxury to LEED in this month's issue mentions a boiler, but not the model/manufacturer. Seeing what others are doing is one of the things I find most useful particularly since FHB covers the better quality items.
Posted: 8:23 pm on September 20th

ManKnit writes: We'll fix that link on Monday GTMTX. In the meantime, here it is: http://www.finehomebuilding.com/pages/fh_feat_onlex.asp
Posted: 8:23 am on September 20th

gtmtx writes: My first comment is that the link, www.finehomebuilding.com/extras in the current issue does not work, at least at my end.

Anyway, a few subjects I have never seen in FHB going back 12 years is water well and septic systems. I have found some literature on the subjects mostly published by government agencies with a few really technical ones, but nothing of a general overview.

For wells it would cover methods of finding water, casing types, pumps, etc with similar things on the septic side. Reference to specific brands, manufacturers, is also helpful.

I will be looking for them in the future. Thanks.
Posted: 4:44 pm on September 19th

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