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Tips & Techniques

Tips & Techniques is a collection of methods, tools, and jigs that our readers have devised to get things done on their own construction projects.  Email photos and descriptions of your tips to us at [email protected]; post them with the #FineHomebuildingTips hashtag on Instagram; or upload them to FineHomebuilding.com/reader-tips for a chance to have them featured in an issue of Fine Homebuilding Magazine. Plus, we pay for any tips we publish.

Want to see a new Fine Homebuilding tip in your inbox every day? Then sign up for the Tip of the Day newsletter!

  • Freestanding scaffolding

    I have seen many carpenters build scaffolding that is attached to the sides of the structure, which means it is useless when it comes time to trim out and paint…

  • Spud fingers

    If you are caulking a joint and running out of clean fingers to smooth the caulk with, try using a potato. Before a job, I carve spuds to the desired…

  • Nailset Angle

    In the course of my work I have to install baseboards from time to time, and I've found that holding the nailset in the manner shown in the drawing allows…

  • Ridge-Hung Ladder

    When we have to work on a steep pitch where nailed-on footholds are impractical, such as metal or fiberglass roofs, we like to stand on a ladder that hangs from…

  • Backing out bits

    Rotohammer bits can get stuck occasionally, especially in soft, fast-drilling material. While the proper practice is to stop and clear the hole from time to time, a bit will inevitably…

  • Chop-saw box

    The motorized miter saw is a great tool, but it does have some drawbacks -- its protrusions make it awkward to carry and its bed is often too short to…

  • Extension-cord garage

    The most convenient way that I've found to deal with unruly extension cords, especially if you move your work stations around, is to carry them in an old joint-compound bucket.…

  • Save your hands

    Many times I've seen beginners holding onto a stake for dear life wondering if the person wielding the sledge will miss, pounding fingers instead. This scene can be avoided if…

  • Timber Moving

    If your building project calls for moving large timbers over rough ground, lay your hands on some 55-gal. oil drums. They make great rollers on uneven surfaces. —Jim Sergent, Bainbridge…

  • Caulk-Tube Nozzles

    I've been a siding contractor for ten years, and I'm continually confronted with two conditions that are difficult to caulk properly. One is when I have to get a good…

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Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers

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