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Issue 152

On the Cover

Laying out Octagons

Whether framing an octagonal window or laying out a bay, here are two fast ways to get the angles right

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Features

  • crown molding installation
    Crown-Molding Fundamentals

    Backing ripped from 2x4s and a well-planned crown-molding installation scheme take a lot of the guesswork out of this challenging job.

  • Four Ways to Shingle a Valley

    Builder Mike Guertin shows three conventional ways and one newer method for weatherproofing this crucial roof detail.

  • A Hard-Working Compact Kitchen

    Whether it's dinner for 12 or a seasonal canning project, this small kitchen is geared for more than one person working at a time.

  • A Stone House in Two Weeks

    Stone and concrete walls built flat on the ground and craned into place are fast and maintenance-free, if unconventional.

  • Removing a Bearing Wall

    Hide the new carrying beam in the ceiling, and they'll forget that wall ever existed.

  • Raise High the Bungalow

    An architect adds a new first floor under his house to gain space and better views of Puget Sound.

Article

  • laying out octagons
    Laying Out Octagons

    Whether framing an octagonal window or laying out a bay, here are two fast ways to get the angles right.

  • three circuit interrupters
    Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters

    What they are, why you should care, and how to install them.

  • Island Home with a Twist

    A challenging site of sloping rock becomes the inspiration for this house on San Juan Island.

Letters

  • Reader Feedback: Issue 152, December 2002/January 2003

    Vinyl siding? On the cover? What were you thinking? Have you sold out to the plastics industry? Vinyl siding on a “fine” home? Even worse, on your cover (FHB #149)?…

Great Moments

  • And a Lucky New Year

    Great moments in building history: I'm stuck!

Video

  • Roof for Shingling
    Preparing the Valley of a Roof for Shingling

    Proper preparation goes a long way toward preventing leaks.

More? View Past Issues

Ask the Experts

  • Reinforcing Cabinets for Concrete Countertops
  • Felt paper under vinyl siding
  • Tankless water heater for space heating
  • Stopping redwood bleed-through

Readers Tips

  • Tool Sling
  • Toilet-Seat Washers
  • Supporting a nail during extraction
  • Repairing Plaster Walls
  • Quick and accurate built-up crown moldings
  • Fitting Pulldown Attic Stairs
  • Adjustable stair jig

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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