Issue 197
Features
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Factory-Finished Siding
Factory finishes for wood and fiber cement offer countless color choices and a paint job guaranteed for up to 25 years.
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Trim Routers
These compact tools are handy for small routing tasks, but most have room for improvement.
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Elegant Wainscot From Drywall Scraps
Use strips of drywall to create custom paneling that will add detail and charm to most any room.
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Window Installation Done Right
Doing everything to ensure a leakproof job? If you don’t include the housewrap, use a sill pan, and flash the flanges, the work is far from watertight.
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A Tiny Addition for a Growing Family
Dining, living, office, laundry, bathing, sleeping, and storage space built in just 650 sq. ft.
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Frame a Strong, Stable Floor With I-Joists
Engineered floor joists are straighter, faster, and flatter, but they aren't installed the same way as dimensional lumber.
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Keep Siding Straight With a Story Pole
A simple layout tool aligns siding with window and door trim, and helps you to finish where you started.
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How to Build a Coffered Ceiling With Box Beams
Built of plywood and MDF, these beams go up quickly, resist movement, take paint well, and even level a wavy ceiling.
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Taping and Mudding Inside Corners
For drywall novices, there's nothing more challenging—or messy—than finishing inside corners
Article
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Mandatory lead-safety certification coming in 2010
In less than 2 years, any contractors looking to disturb lead-based paint in homes will need to obtain EPA certification
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Pipe-settlement deadline is near
If you're looking to have leaky pipes that were installed in your house replaced for free, time is running out
Cross Section
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Better saw, bigger price tag
Festool's new Kapex KS120 SCM delivers on features, precision
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Hole plugs for composite decking
Cortex concealed fastening system
Tools & Materials
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Reader Feedback: Issue 197, August/September 2008
The economics of home buying Kevin Ireton’s essay “Is green building too expensive?” (FHB #195), as thoughtful as it is, misses some important considerations in the cost of buying a…
Letters
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Open-door Policy
Our perceptions of a house start with the entrance design
Finishing Touches
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What's the Difference: Floor-finish applicators
The time you spent on your hardwood floors will be in vain if you don't choose the right finish applicator
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What's the Difference: Galvanized nails
Which type of zinc-coated nail is the best at preventing corrosion?
What is the Difference
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Finishing a Drywall Inside Corner
For a professional finish, you have to tape, then wait.
Building Skills
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Matching a Finish
Although never an easy task, these techniques help simplify a tough job
Master Carpenter
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The house of our dreams
When it comes to deciding whether your house should be conventional or a carnival, something's gotta give
Great Moments
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Designing a recycling center
In the United States, the recycling rate for aluminum cans has hovered around 50% for years. Cans that don’t make it into the recycling stream add up: Every three months,…
Drawing Board
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Findings from a Home-Energy Audit
After the test equipment is put away, a home energy auditor explains what to do next
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Energy Savings Begin with a Home-Energy Audit
Almost painless, a home-energy audit can reduce energy costs and improve comfort
