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Issue 140

On the Cover

Pneumatic Finish Nailing

A production finish carpenter explains how to use and maintain these indispensable tools.

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Features

  • Keeping a Basement Dry

    Waterproofing the foundation walls is only the first step; you also need a system of drains around the foundation that silt won't render useless.

  • A Stair in the Air

    Southern yellow-pine treads hide welded-steel brackets that make these stairs appear to float in space.

  • Building a Crosscut Sled for a Tablesaw

    Making square cuts on wide stock is quick, safe and easy with this simple jig that you can build in a day

  • Solo Drywall Hanging

    Get help when you can, but if you have to install these unwieldy sheets by yourself, it pays to rent a lift.

  • A Builder's Guide to Avoiding Skin Problems

    From cracked fingertips and contact allergies to cement burns and skin cancer, the prevention is better than the cure.

  • Working With Fiber-Cement Siding

    Impervious to bugs and water, fiber-cement lap siding requires some special tools and techniques to be installed properly.

Article

  • Framing With a Crane

    For lifting beams, walls or material, cranes can save your wallet and your back

Letters

  • Reader Feedback: Issue 140, June/July 2001

    DuPont takes exception to criticism of housewraps In Joseph Lstiburek’s sidebar to the article “Rain-Screen Walls: a Better Way to Install Siding” (FHB #137, p. 89), Mr. Lstiburek claims that…

Great Moments

  • Hang Ten

    Great moments in building history: Never forget those basic physics principles

Video

  • Hand Signals for Cranes

    Getting the crane to do what you need is as simple as pointing your finger

  • Use A Router To Cut Drywall

    Cut the holes for doors, windows, and electrical boxes fast and accurately

  • Cutting Floor Joists to Length

    Snap a chalkline on the mudsills, and the measuring is done

  • Cut a Thin Strip of Drywall Without Breaking It

    Move away from the edge a few inches and score it twice

More? View Past Issues

Ask the Experts

  • Rafter ties vs. collar ties
  • Open attic storage
  • Dual oil tanks

Readers Tips

  • Double-Duty Miter-Saw Bench
  • What do roofing and drywall-hanging have in common?
  • Shingle Lifter
  • Rewiring a Vintage House
  • Bending PVC without kinks

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 316 - July
    • Timber-Framed Solar Canopies
    • Build a Transom Above a Stock Door
    • Understanding Toilet Design and Efficiency
  • Issue 315 - June 2023
    • How to Craft a Copper Roof
    • 5 Lessons from Building in a Cold Climate
    • The Advantages of Cellular PVC Siding
  • Issue 314 - April/May 2023
    • 7 Options for Countertops
    • Tool Test: Wood-Boring Bits
    • Critical Details for Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 313 - Feb/March 2023
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
    • Fine Homebuilding Issue #313 Online Highlights
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
  • Issue 312 - Dec 2022/Jan 2023
    • Tool Test: Cordless Tablesaws
    • Gray-Water System for a Sustainable Home
    • Insulate a Cape Roof to Avoid Ice Dams

Fine Homebuilding

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