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Issue 206

On the Cover

New Insulation for Old Walls

You can upgrade insulation without gutting your walls, but not until you know what’s in there now.

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Features

  • A Wood Floor That Can Survive Anywhere

    In a basement or on a slab, create a stable platform to support quality engineered-wood flooring.

  • Fire Sprinklers

    With a smoking record for saving lives and protecting houses, it’s no surprise sprinklers were adopted into the International Residential Code.

  • From Luxury to LEED

    Used to building big houses with big budgets, the Picton brothers earned a platinum rating with their first modest green home—but mastering the learning curve wasn’t always a smooth ride.

  • Site-Made Moldings in a Pinch

    When all you need is a few feet of millwork to match existing trim, look to the tablesaw, a block plane, and some sanding blocks.

  • Tool Review: Hole Saws for All Sorts of Materials

    Bimetal saws are inexpensive and versatile, but don’t overlook the specialty tools designed to make clean cuts in less common materials.

  • person repairing wiring
    4 Worry-Free Wiring Repairs

    Focus on accurate wiring when replacing faulty outlets, switches, and fixtures.

Article

  • Timber-Frame Bang Without the Buck

    Using timber-frame elements selectively is a more affordable way to add strength and beauty to a conventionally framed home.

  • How to Hang Drywall on a Gable End

    This gypsum job is tougher than most, and not just because of the high ceiling.

What is the Difference

  • Concrete Reinforcement

    What's the Difference: Rebar vs. welded-wire mesh

  • Chimney Flashing

    Here's a quick look at the pros and cons of lead vs. copper.

  • What's the Difference: Nail Shanks

    Choosing smooth, screw, or ring-shank nails depends on what you are building, and where

Building Skills

  • Replace a Sink Trap

    Learn this simple and professional technique for replacing a sink trap along with tips for proper venting.

Master Carpenter

  • Use Dyes to Transform Poplar into Cherry

    Acheive an even-colored finish on dissimilar woods and species using dye stains

Great Moments

  • The Builder’s Hand

    Great moments in building history: A hundred-year-old handprint immortalized in a plaster wall

Drawing Board

  • Drawing Board: Houses that Flow

    Learn about two fundamental design consideration to add flow to a floor plan

How it Works

  • How it Works: Heat Transfer Through Insulation

    Insulation is an incredibly effective way of making sure that conditioned indoor air stays indoors.

Video

  • Tool Hound Review: Festool 14.4v Cordless Drill-Driver

    Our review of Festool's 14.4-volt drill-driver model T15+3 reveals the torque and battery life of an 18-volt tool

More? View Past Issues

Ask the Experts

  • Tiling over a Tiled Shower Pan
  • Best Insulation for Windows?

Readers Tips

  • Dustless Grinding
  • Spray-painting screwheads
  • The bridge brace
  • Venting a Musty Closet
  • A Better Way to Drill Horizontally
  • Removing Paint and Putty From Old Windows

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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