John Spier

John Spier is an engineer, carpenter, builder, writer, sailor, and world traveler. He owns a construction company building and renovating custom homes on Block Island, R.I., and has always focused on energy efficiency and sustainability. He is a frequent contributor to Fine Homebuilding, and is the author of several books including Building With Engineered Lumber (The Taunton Press, 2006).

Make Mudsills Square and Level
Careful measuring, precise layout adjustments, and repeated double-checks pay off with a faster, frustration-free build.
Reduce Sheathing Waste
When installing tongue-and-groove sheathing on a hip roof, change the orientation of the tongues and grooves as needed so that you can reuse cutoffs.
Hiding Porch Beams in the Roof Structure
Make sure your porch beams are doing their job, without disrupting the desired look and feel of your design.
Butt Joints in Decking
Avoid rot and split wood by positioning butt joints on a flat block with a dado for drainage.
How to Avoid Sloped Stringers on Deck Stairs
Lumber shrinks, so adjust your stair-stringer layout to allow for the wood to shrink along its width.
Getting Shed Dormer Elevation Right
Drawing a full-scale picture on a scrap of plywood can help get the ridge looking straight.
Installing Joist Hangers With Inconsistent Lumber
If better materials aren't an option, decide what is most critical—a flat floor, or a flat ceiling.
Keeping Cathedral-Ceiling Walls From Bowing
Compensate for sagging in the roof by bowing in the sidewalls before securing the rafters.
How to Install Exterior PVC Trim
Builder John Spier shares insights about working with this tricky material from his years of experience.
PVC Roof Trim
A coastal builder’s technique for durable and weathertight fascias and soffits is based on years of experience with plastic trim.

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