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Issue 162

On the Cover

Built Wrong From the Start

Top 10 blunders that rot your house, waste your money, and make you sick.

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The Magazine

Installing a Split-Jamb Door

These precased doors are quick to install and allow variations in wall thicknesses.
All About Headers

The type you choose affects not just strength, but also cost, energy efficiency, and drywall cracking.
Blending Styles in a Kitchen

Elements from different eras combine for a comfortable kitchen that looks like it evolved over the past 120 years.
Drilling Concrete? Get a Rotary Hammer

Here's a look at six tools that bore holes up to 1 in. but also chip concrete and even bore large holes in wood.
Fire-Wise Construction

Building strategies that may save your house from wildfire.
Curved Deck Stairs

A temporary form and laminated plywood stringers make building these stairs easier than you might think.

Article

Small Cottage Makes a Big Splash

Going up instead of out makes the most of a steep lot, keeps the footprint small, and captures an incredible view.
The Art of Pressure Washing

There's no better way to prepare a house for painting, but be careful you're not doing more harm than good.
Making Sense of Caulks and Sealants

Today's products adhere better, stretch farther, and last longer, but choosing the best one is harder than ever.
Soldering Copper Pipe

A seasoned plumber shows you how to keep it simple—and safe.
How to Hide Your Refrigerator

Turn your ordinary icebox into a stylish focal point.
Crown Molding Around a Cathedral Ceiling

Simple instructions to ensure that your molding will still match when it meets the corners of a vaulted ceiling.

Letters

Reader Feedback: Issue 162, April/May 2004

Home building is an art form I just received your February/March 2004 issue (FHB #161), and I was surprised by two letters: “Nobody needs a $10,000 sink” from Alan Amenta…

Building Skills

Soldering Copper Pipe

A pro plumber shows you how to keep it simple—and safe.

Great Moments

The Flood

Great moments in building history: Flights on rainy nights are a bit of a downer

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