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Issue 181

On the Cover

Deck Railings Grow Up

Stainless steel, vinyl, aluminum, and composites are now viable alternatives to wood.

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Features

  • Add Character with a Box-Beam Ceiling

    Hollow beams transform a room’s trim detail while making it easy to integrate lighting and run wiring.

  • electrician running wires in house

    Wiring a Master Suite Addition

    Adding circuits for a new bedroom and bath offers lessons in rough electrical work and integrating new and old wiring.

  • framing a gable wall

    Framing Big Gable Walls Safely and Efficiently

    Build them on the floor, lift them with specialized jacks, and eliminate extra footsteps wherever possible.

  • A Better Breed of Jigsaws

    Making precise cuts and keeping sightlines clear are must-have qualities. We tested 12 top models and picked the leader of the pack.

  • La Jolla Jewel

    Ocean views on top, multicar parking below, lots of light in between.

  • Save Energy With Rigid-Foam Insulation

    Get the details right, and a small increase in wall thickness can make a big difference in energy performance.

    Article

  • There's No Escaping the Scraping

    Washing, scraping, sanding, patching, and priming are dirty, difficult jobs that can make exterior paint last twice as long.

    Letters

  • Reader Feedback: Issue 181, August/September 2006

    Safety is an attitude Home building and working with power tools are inherently dangerous, especially if you have not been trained adequately. However, accepting the fact that accidents will occur…

    Building Skills

  • Replace a trap, and add a cleanout

    A plumber teaches you the right way to remove the drain plug, attach the new Y-fitting, and glue the trap and cleanout in place

    Great Moments

  • A Jack of All Trades

    Great moments in history: Go up and paint the roof jack

    Video

  • Exterior Masking

    Mask surfaces quickly and easily with the Hand-Masker tool before tackling your next paint job.

  • Back-Brushing for a Perfect Finish

    Spraying first and then back-brushing is a quick way to ensure an even finish when painting exterior walls and trim.

More? View Past Issues

    Ask the Experts

  • Do compact fluorescents and dimmers mix?

  • Why do Canadian carpenters still measure in feet and inches?

  • Egress windows: understanding “net-clear” opening requirements

  • Laminate-countertop repair options

  • Leakproof shower on a slab?

    Readers Tips

  • Using a level to straighten a board

  • Another way to fish wires

  • Z-flashing Retrofit

  • An improvised pincher/gripper

  • Identify your tools, pro-style

  • Extension-Cord Management

  • Aligning a Kitchen-Island Drainpipe

  • Paintbrush-cleaning advice

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 297 - Feb/Mar 2021

    • Foundations for Success
    • Staircase Renovation
    • Ditch the Hose
  • Issue 296 - Dec 2020/Jan 2021

    • Insulating Glass Keeps Getting Better
    • Simple Way to Make Old Walls Straight and Plumb
    • Making Sense of Minisplits
  • Issue 295 - Kitchens & Baths

    • Condo Kitchen Reimagined
    • Row-House Remodel
    • Rise of the IAQ Monitor
  • Issue 294 - Oct/Nov 2020

    • Schoolhouse Reimagined
    • Tool Test: Folding Sawhorses
    • A Better Way to Build Tall Walls
  • Issue 293 - Aug/Sept 2020

    • A Practical Guide to Fall Protection
    • Installing Frameless Cabinets
    • Make Any Tablesaw Safer

Fine Homebuilding

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