Or is it FineRenovation.
Andy, I was wondering when the first issue was going to come out?
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We’re going on.
Or is it FineRenovation.
Andy, I was wondering when the first issue was going to come out?
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We’re going on.
The crew discusses finding rot when remodeling, challenges installing custom shower panels, and how to prevent subs and suppliers from sabotaging builds.
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Replies
Is there really going to be a mag. called this? or are you wanting one like this?
Tamara
Methinks he's just smoking in bed, tryin' to light a fire..
Excellence is its own reward!
Ya but there may be fire in the hole.
Tell me you don't think a mag on remodeling, produced by tauton to their normal degrees of excellence, wouldn't succeed in today's renovation popularity.
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Edited 10/26/2002 4:34:06 PM ET by rez
'Twould be good!.
Excellence is its own reward!
I'd buy a subscription. Hey Andy / Brian! Listening?
Put me down for a copy as well.
There's certainly a market for it. Hanley Wood has Remodeling. Then there's renovation Style and the Qualified Remodeler. This Old Home touches these issues
What can Taunton bring to the market that makes them a stand out.
What would you all like to see covered in such a rag? Not just pretty pictures like the newest Masonite Doors ads, I presume..
Excellence is its own reward!
I would think one thing would be the nuts and bolts approach written by the experienced hand getting down to details. Oft times I see ideas in the various mags of what is possible, a light summary of process, and that's it.
How about specialized tools?
So the old curved stair pulled out of its moorings and is bouncing around in there? Technique please.
Or those wonderful before and after pics. Step by step.
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Edited 10/26/2002 8:27:43 PM ET by rez
What makes Fine Homebuilding, Fine Homebuilding ? Answer that, and you have the answer to your own question.
Plenty of mediocre old houses sitting around witing to be Fine Remodeled, into Fine Homes.
Personaly, I am holding out for Fine Trailers.
: )Political discussion on this forum = The blind insulting the blind
Quittin' Time
Remember that thread that (crs) the guy from Baytown posted about fixing the bathtub leak in his brothers rental house? That would be a good start.
James DuHamel ! That's the guy !
Edited 10/26/2002 9:02:37 PM ET by ELCID72
the cover shot from a recent issue was of Rick Arnold and/or Mike Guertin pouring a foundation for an addition to a house that was out of square. the article inside explained how they handled the pour.
if this is really something that the taunton people are considering, i'll buy a subscription.
It would be a great place to discuss issues relating to restoration vs. gutting, too. Historical commisisons, using/not using new materials on old buildings, drafty old windows: restore or replace?, architectural styles, communities that are trying to balance preservation against development, sources for replacement parts to old furnaces and fuse boxes and the like - there's a lot that could be covered.
I would hope it wouldn't be slanted towards one camp or the other, but instead would present views on both sides. Could be very interesting.
"A completed home is a listed home."
What couldn't you cover? Go visit Tim Mooney and see what he's talking about mixing paint and drywall mud. How to make patches in plaster walls, or run electrical without breaking ten feet of plaster for one box. Techniques, how to's, before & after shots. Get architects to fill a couple of pages. Span the gamut from the "handyman" type stuff to bathroom remodels, basement finishes, additions that are bigger than the original house. Tool reviews are commonplace, but why not? Homebuilders don't have the need for some of the stuff we use. How many framing crews worry about perfect 45s on their miter saw? How about making things square that ain't? All kinds of opportunities, and Taunton can probably do a better job of it than most. Brian, you listening?
There appears to be a general agreement that Taunton puts out an outstanding product in FHB and should therefore be capable of more of the same in a remodeling/renovation type of mag. Why ANOTHER mag when the current product is already covering subjects that were mentioned as desirable? If "more" is better, then an expansion of the current offering, from 6 issues and two extras, to 12 issues and maybe 3 extras, should be enough to expand the details and the general scope of coverage.
Now all that Andy has to do is hire a few more grunts, find people who would be willing and able to contribute to the expanded content and double or more the subscription rates. Think of it too as doubling the opportunity to see your name in print from Breaktime contributions. Too bad there's no per word rate on that feature. Piffin could retire in a year.<G>
I'm on Ralhps side here........plus wanna throw out that a hands on remodeling mag wouldn't cut it.......it truth in advertising was the goal.
Just too many variables in remodeling to write specifically about it.......every situation.....even if the job is the same...is different.
I do lotsa remodeling....grew up in a remodeling background......I've put in tons of doors and windows......and pretty much each one required a different technique at one point or another.
The basics could be covered...but all the specifics could never be touched on.
The existing structure dictates what the next step is....not what the diy book says to do. Even the current remodeling mags gloss over the dirty work and hidden conditions.
Jeff..............Al-ways look on......the bright......side of life...........
.......whistle.....whistle.......whistle........
The basics could be covered...but all the specifics could never be touched on.
Probably not but a greater share of the variables would be commonplace enough to accurately covered, I would think.IMHO
Existing structure dictates...now there's the voice of experience talking. That's specifically the type of thing that needs to be written about.
Jeff-get your pen ready. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Even the current remodeling mags gloss over the dirty work and hidden conditions. FineRemo would need to talk about the anticipated dirty work and possible hidden conditions.
but all the specifics could never be touched on. Why not? Every month (or issue) you could talk about another detail of replacing doors or windows. One issue it's double hung casement details...next issue it's vinyl clads...next issue it's sash weights...
An entirely new magazine would be a substantial investment. For the interim, what about expanding the current issue by 10-12 pages? You know how the "Whats the difference" and "Tools & Tips" and "Letters" sections have colored stripes at the top of the page? Well, use a colored border on the remodeling pages so they stand out, and after a year or so spin it off into a separate publication.
I think you may be onto something. This way they test the waters and see if they really would have a big following. IMHO I think we all know that remodeling is here to stay. It is what gets you through the hard times etc. I honestly would love to see tauton seriously consider this. Wonder if they might be already thinking about it and a step ahead of us. By the way how long has FHB been around?Tamara
sure, keep the "fine" coming, there's fine homebuilding,woodworking, cooking and sewing, fine remodiling could be one, why, just about any activity has a "fine".
Some of the hunters woild like fine hunting, me? I'd subscibe to fine fishing, how about fine computering? apple or ibm?
fine muscle cars would be another good magazine, how about fine"radio listening", that would cover the latest in ear phones and stuff like that.
fine concert going would be another one I'd like to read,
hey , a ANDY builds, I bet you'd like fine "ACID DROPPINg" different technigues on what to do and how long for each trip.
this could be the beginnings of a whole tauton empire of "fine" this and that magazine publishing. The finest of everything.listening for the secret.......searching for the sound...
Issue #1 Feb/Mar 1981
amidst Sitebuilt solar collectors, Solo-Timber-Framing and On-site shop was "Staircase Renovation" and the lead photo article "Restoring A Greek Revival House".
Roar!
BTW- The back cover had B&W photos of an eskimo gentleman and directions on how to build a snow igloo. Somebody get ahold of Cloudhidden.
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Edited 10/27/2002 4:17:21 PM ET by rez
Edited 10/27/2002 4:36:59 PM ET by rez
Andy and Brian have been strangely silent.
I just located issues 2 thru 6 which will complete my FH collection. Been going thru some of those early issues. Seems FH was birthed with the concept of renovation as being part of the aim of the mag.
#7 Kitchen Renovation. #9 Restoring a Grand Victorian Porch #10 Renovating a carriage barn #11 Rock-bottom remodel. Transforming an Iowa Farmhouse. The renovator's Toolbox. #13 Reconstruction of the Fairbanks House. Church Revival.
Sounds like more Renovation topics by Tauton are desired by the grouping of readership represented here at Breaktime. If I were a betting man I'd bet the bulk of readership that puts out it's cash for FineHomebuilding magazine would like to see it also. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
You forgot one....Fine Ladies!!?? I'd check it out.
Andy and Brian have been strangely silent 'cause much of this conversation took place over the weekend. Then yesterday, Monday, the both of us were in NYC for seminars at a magazine trade show. Got a free copy of the new Rolling Stone, to boot.
Taunton isn't considering a remodeling mag. There are a couple of reasons, not the least of which is that the market is already pretty saturated. Then too, I try to put at least one remodeling story into every issue, so we already cover the area to some degree. And, from a business view, if we added a remodeling mag, how many people would drop FHB and pick up the new mag? We'd be robbing Peter to pay Paul. Same thing with advertisers -- They have a finite amount of money to spend, so I don't think we'd gain much on that front.
And, having just spent the last six months beating the bushes to hire a couple of editors for FHB, the idea of staffing an entire magazine is pretty daunting.
We do have a couple of irons in the fire though, one of which is a business newsletter. The other ones I can't talk about just yet, but pay attention and you'll hear more in a few months. Andy Engel, The Former Accidental Moderator
Along the same lines, since someone else on this thread brought it up, is there any possibility of increasing the frequency of FHB to once a month? I have to admit that's the only complaint I have...
Thanks,
Ron
Ron, what, are you nuts? Er, um, I mean no, probably not, it's hard enough pushing the thing out the door eight times a year. Another four would kill us.
The above attempt at humor is really not far from the truth. Going to 12 issues (and you probably mean 12 regular issues, not including Houses and K&B) would occasion a sea change in our production schedule, we'd have to expand the staff considerably and we'd have to beat the bushes even more for new articles ideas. And while it is my pleasure to make this magazine, we are a business, run for the same reason as all businesses. Unlike most magazines, our revenue comes mainly from you and not from advertisers. So, we'd have to raise the cost of subscriptions. You're already paying $38/year for FHB. How much more would you be willing to pay for us to go to 12 issues a year? I just don't see the economics in it.Andy Engel, The Former Accidental Moderator
It's funny, when I posed the question I just looked at it from the
point of view that I finish each issue of FHB long before the next issue arrives.... Didn't even think of all the logistics involved with such a change. Point taken...
Ron
P.S. I like the idea of a column each issue specifically for remodeling.
Ron, when I was a builder and a subscriber, I thought the same as you. Having the new FHB land in my mailbox was an event, and having it happen twice as often would have been way cool.
One of the oddities of my job now is that I miss the excitement of seeing the new issue. By the time we've sent it to the printer, I've read every word in the magazine three or four times. Ah well, a good trade-off nonetheless.Andy Engel, The Former Accidental Moderator
Ron- sounds like it's time to go out and complete your FH collection.
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
What about every other issue be fine homebuilding ladies? What about a section where readers could send in pictures of their jobs.
There seem to be a lot of threads that show up here about fixing the stupid mistakes and lousy construction of others.
Perhaps there is a market for a magazine that covers half-assed construction teqniques. Spmething like 'Good Enough Homebuilding' or 'Fine Subdivision'
'What about every other issue be fine homebuilding ladies?'
Rich- You looking for photos of renovated victorian 'painted lady' houses or pin-ups of female carpenters or photo shots of the lady officeworkers at tauton? Or are you calling Andy a lady? If so put up your dukes, nobody but me can make fun of my editor.
Roar! Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
You crack me up!Tamara
Wow you really took that to a new level. I meant on the job ladies and/or pin ups. Like the hottest on the job ladies and guys for the lady readers. But seriously photos of jobs from readers and how they overcame weird situations would be cool to.
I could write a book on the weird situations I've overcome at Breaktime....Andy Engel, The Former Accidental Moderator
Why do people seem so combative here?
How about testing the waters with a remodeling issue?
-- J.S.
Andy- We will not give up until they pry our dead frozen fingers off the hammers. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
There's an interesting idea, but one that might annoy a bunch of readers. What would you think of a department dedicated to remodelling?Andy Engel, The Former Accidental Moderator
I would surely go for a Fine Homebuilding Remodeling mag. Taunton has the best mags and I suspect would do a great job with one dedicated to remodeling. Right now, I wish Fine Homebuilding would issue more often. I frequently suppliment by reading back issues. Keep up the good work!
Also, it's been a while since we've seen a review on cordless drill/drivers. As the technology has changed markedly, that might be helpful again.
Regards
Well, now, we've got just that article (18v cordless drills) coming up in the February issue. Andy Engel, The Former Accidental Moderator
Great! I find the tool reviews in Fine Homebuilding invaluable. It's a great way to review an honest, compreshensive look at a future tool purchase. Thanks for the post.
regards
Andy- what would 'department' consist of?
1.)A dedicated 'column'?
2.)A dedicated 'article'?
3.)A dedicated 'group of guys at taunton that continually desire to write good home renovation articles to the extent that would propel 'FineRenovation' magazine to the top of the heap and be the lead dog pacesetter that all other remodeling mags would aspire to?
I vote #3 but realize I would have to be content with #1 or #2.
I guess the readership of family circle and house beautiful carries some weight in the pocketbook. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Sorry Rez, department is magazine jargon for a regularly appearing feature such as Tips and Techniques or Tools and Materials.
What did you mean by "I guess the readership of family circle and house beautiful carries some weight in the pocketbook"?Andy Engel, The Former Accidental Moderator
Couple of thoughts: a remodeling departmnent in every issue would be a great start. Going to a monthly issue would probably be too much for you poor overworked desk jockeys (when would you have time to go to trade shows and such?), but what about going to 12 issues per year, including the annual kitchen etc issues?
As a lurker and long time subscriber, I would go for a regular department on remodeling/renovation. Maybe consider an annual Remodeling/Renovation issue. Latest products and techniques like the other annuals you produce.Frank
If they do this how many of us would be willing to give them more money a year? I know that we would be willing if they would do like you have suggested.Tamara
Ya, renovation is my cup of tea. Quality articles better my quality of work and makes for better bucks. I'd be a buyer of both. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Just dissin' ya. No hostility intended. Peace Love and Joy rule. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
> There's an interesting idea, but one that might annoy a bunch of readers.
No more so than the present annuals. I just put them on the shelf in case I need the info some day.
> What would you think of a department dedicated to remodelling?
Sounds like a good idea. One thing you could put in there is a little sidebar each time called "Unexpected Conditions" or something like that. Each one would be a brief description of what someone thought they were going to do, followed by what they found out that forced them to change their plans. For instance....
I'm taking out a door and enlarging the opening into a wide archway. This is in a bearing wall, and on one end it's perpendicular to a non-bearing wall. When I demo out that side of the opening, I find that there's a king stud of the bearing wall flush with two studs of the non-bearing wall -- much like you'd do a partition post in modern construction. I think, great, I'll just cut this king down to a jack and slap a new king on the far side of it, and the plane of the finished wall will run straight through. Then I demo the plaster on the other side, the top of the "T", in a closet. It turns out that the top and sole plates of the bearing wall end near the centerline of the non-bearing wall, flush with the far side of that king stud. So, I'm going to have to live with a bump-out of some sort.
Another thing to cover would be "The way they did it back then". For instance, the diagonal plank sub floor was run wild into the top of the stairwell, and then trimmed flush. Today you'd do that with an electric saw, and make a nice edge. Before the Skil saw, this job was done with an axe. Plus or minus half an inch might seem really sloppy to us now, but think of the skill it took to do even that well swinging an axe.
-- J.S.
Edited 10/30/2002 2:53:13 PM ET by JOHN_SPRUNG
A while back, there was a thread entitled What has Breaktime meant to Taunton? Well, this thread exemplifies one of the most important things Breaktime does for us; that is to help us stay in touch with you folks. Thanks for all the suggestions and feedback.
Andy Engel, The Former Accidental Moderator
Because we are Fine People, our household has subscribed to Fine Homebuilding since the late 80's, and Fine Cooking and Fine Gardening since their inception. The one thing that Taunton did that really p*ssed me off was when they spun The Kitchen Gardener out of Fine Gardening. I never understood why I should have to pay extra for a magazine that seemed like it belonged as a special section in one I was already paying for. When that magazine folded (probably due to people like me who felt the same way) the content never re-appeared in Fine Gardening.
While I would welcome a remodeling section in Fine Homebuilding, or even a special issue now and then, I would resent losing a portion of the content I am already paying for. I get design ideas and information on techniques from articles about both new and remodeling. It ain't broke, so don't fix it!
=====Zippy=====
Andy,
Tally up one more Yay fore some form of fine remodeling.
There's an interesting idea, but one that might annoy a bunch of readers
Doesn't sound to me like there would be that much grumbling.
Maybe if you cut down on the articles on the stuff that <1% of the people can afford.
Once in a while it is nice to see what Bill Gates and George Lucas are paying to have built. but there is a MUCH bigger market for the fine stuff that the real world can afford.
Don't want to start a rant but most subscribers and thier customers don't live in Palm beach or Holly wood.
Think meat and potatoes, not quiche and tofu!
Mr TDo not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
The day after reading this post, the Washington Post had this article in the Home section. I just thought you all might like it.
Frank
Link removed. Sorry, it was giving others problems. If you would like to see the article, go to the Washington Post website.
Edited 10/31/2002 7:31:31 AM ET by Frank Tate
Frank,
That page takes me to a page where they ask me to give some information, before they will allow me to see the article.
Closed that window, came back here immediately, and now, when I hit the button to view new messages here, it reloads this page, but does not get rid of threads I have already viewed, or show new messages.
Dunno what is on that page, but I really don't appeciate what they have done.
Don't bogart the Ghost
Quittin' Time
Sorry Luka. It is just the Washington Post website and an article about a 200 year old house that was remodeled/reclaimed. Frank
No problem, Frank.
The problem went away with a reboot.
Wasn't something that you needed to apologize for anyway.
: )Don't bogart the Ghost
Quittin' Time
No sweat. Just thought it was a good article to share, but if it caused problems...it's history. Gotta love the edit feature. Now, back to your regularly scheduled remodeling.
Frank
"Once in a while it is nice to see what Bill Gates and George Lucas are paying to have built. but there is a MUCH bigger market for the fine stuff that the real world can afford."
Ditto what he said. I'll never live in a house with 4,000 square feet and 25' ceilings.
Actually, this is one of my gripes with Norm Abrams too. He uses thousands of dollars worth of tools that most of his audience can't afford. After all, the purpose of the exercises is to make sure we all have the same definitions... mine.
Mr. T, you raise an issue we wrestle with. Now, I'd argue that almost all of the hands-on, how-to articles fall into the favored catagory, and that we're really talking about the houses that you see in the mag. If you polled the editors about their ideal house for the mag, the consensus would be a 2,000 sq. ft. house, flooded with sunlight, rife with wood, stone and metalwork, energy and resource efficient and probably on the modern side of arts and crafts design. And oh, yeah, it would have cost no more than $100 sq. ft. There's three of them in the country, and we've published them all.
All of that's hyperbole intended to illustrate the point that, yes, we'd like to show less expensive houses. On the other hand, to get the eye candy that I think most of us like to drool over, we have to publish some pricey places. You should see some of the houses we decline to publish! For example, log cabins the size of shopping malls.
It's frequently a compromise. And if any of you have houses like I first described, e-mail me today.
Andy Engel, The Former Accidental Moderator
Andy,
While I see your point, Mine was that fine remodeling seems to be a way that you could find more of those small projects that the general populace and more of your subscribers would be likely to either do or have done.
Maybe it wouldn't have to be another mag or even an issue.
Maybe just a small "paradigm shift". if you catch my drift.
A gradual but hardly noticeable increase in the frequency of articles on remodeling.
Before you know it the leap to a dedicated issue would be but a step!
Mr TDo not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
I agree on the usefullness of the special issues to me. They aren't as well read as the regulars.
Actually I don't think a little column like 'Tips' would make the grade in increasing the art of remodeling viewpoint in fine homebuilding. A full length article with photos as a norm would be presentable.IMHO
In the meantime the masses are still crying out for input of renovation. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
on the question of 6 (really 8) issues / year versus 12,
does anyone else out there remember how much better Saturday Night Live was back when it was on only every OTHER week? I think they had more time to get it down before air time and the show was WAY more consistent, I think.
Every time I finish reading a current issue and think about the wait until the next one I remember SNL...
Yea id subscribe to a Taunton Mag on Fine Remodeling. Too many mags out there just show what they did. Not enough hands on detail of aspects.
I agree with a Fine Remodeling mag, here remodeling is out pacing homebuilding,much more of it going on
At Darkworks cut to size made to burn......Putty isnt a option
Keep showing the eye candy...that's where the money is!
I don't need to see what's inside a tract house...or how they built it.....I do need to see how they supported that 18" granite overhang.......things that someone's gonna ask for sooner or later...and I'd like to get the jump on them!
Or......fancy new cabinet upgrades and add on's that I can suggest to 10 people..and if just one wants it.....I just made a little more money.
High end is where the fun and the money is.....keep it comming.
I'm all for the remodeling section........lose on of the yearly picture books and add a remodeling issue on top...and I'd be even happier.
I do keep the K and B issues on hand for ideas to steal...so they're totally lost on me.
Jeff
..............Al-ways look on......the bright......side of life...........
.......whistle.....whistle.......whistle........
Andy-The hounds of home renovation are nipping at your heels. We will never die. Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Too many mags out there just show what they did. Not enough hands on detail of aspects. Good point. That seems to be one of the recurring complaints when we talk about Hometime, and This Old House, etc. They make it look unrealistically easy. Taunton could do everyone a favor, and have a winning publication, by showing the dirty side of remodeling.
I'd buy that!!