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Issue 241 – Feb/Mar 2014

On the Cover

Blower-Door Testing Basics

Get ready: Airtightness requirements are part of the 2012 building and energy code.

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Features

  • You Don't Know Foam

    Whether you use a gun or a straw, there’s more to filling a gap than pulling a trigger.

  • lighting under a kitchen cabinet
    Undercabinet Lighting Is Better Than Ever

    LEDs set a high bar for kitchen-workspace illumination.

  • passive house build
    Air-Sealed Mudsill Assembly

    When building a home to Passive House standards, this is one of the first steps to create the necessary airtight building envelope.

  • A Small Addition Faces A Tougher Energy Code

    Energy regs on airtightness, insulation, and mechanical systems mean big changes — even for small buildings.

  • Skillful Brushwork for Doors and Windows

    As with all painting projects, proper preparation is key for a durable finish, but it takes good techniques and careful planning to make this job look its best.

  • Half-Baths Full of Function

    Design these small spaces to be as practical as they are beautiful.

Tools & Materials

  • Roundup: Heated Jackets

    Project House editor Justin Fink tests three heated jackets.

  • Mineral Wool (Re)gains Some Ground

    Although mineral wool—also referred to as rock wool, slag wool, and stone wool—was one of the first insulation materials to be widely produced commercially (starting back in 1871 in Germany),…

Finishing Touches

  • Lakefront Cabin: A Family Affair

    This 3500-sq.-ft., four-bedroom lakefront cabin in northern Wisconsin was designed by architect Thomas R. Jones for very special clients—his parents Janette and Ray Jones. With their permanent residence in Southern…

What is the Difference

  • What's the Difference: Bench Planes and Block Planes

    Any decent woodshop is going to have a variety of hand planes, but these tools are far less common on a job site. Still, a hand plane may be just…

Building Skills

  • Removing Vinyl Siding

    Associate editor, Patrick McCombe offers an easy to follow, step-by-step process to removing and re-establishing vinyl siding. For a small investment, you will experience the huge benefit of owning a…

Master Carpenter

  • Installing Semicustom Kitchen Cabinets

    Learn how to level, scribe, and fasten cabinets without marring the perfect factory finish.

Drawing Board

  • Three Ways for Breezeways

    Architect Katie Hutchison has observed that breezeways are making a comeback. She offers three carefully considered designs for homebuilders.

How it Works

  • lightbulb
    LED Bulbs

    To gain acceptance as the lightbulb of the future, LEDs have undergone design tweaks so they more closely mimic the light of the past.

Project Gallery

  • Project Gallery: Serene in the City

    Architect John Tittmann’s client was clear in his desire to create a distinctive space far removed from those typically found inside Boston brownstones. He needed a tranquil place for meditation…

Energy Smart Details

  • Insulating Attic Stairs

    The hatch or staircase leading up to an unfinished attic can be a big energy leak. Here are a few tips for sealing it up.

Tailgate

  • Lynn Underwood, New Member of the ICC Board of Directors

    This building official is now one of the people heading up code development at the national level.

More? View Past Issues

Ask the Experts

  • Should Housewrap Be Replaced When Re-Siding?
  • Butt Hinges With Room for Adjustment

Readers Tips

  • Laying Out a Quarter Ellipse
  • Guiding a Pilotless Hole Saw
  • A Painter’s Tool Bucket
  • Spray-Foam-Gun Cleanup
  • Extracting Hard-to-Pull Nails

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • 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
  • Issue 311 - November 2022
    • 7 Steps to a Perfect Exterior Paint Job
    • Options for Smarter Home-Energy Tracking
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: James Metoyer
  • Issue 310 - October 2022
    • Choosing a Tile-Leveling System
    • Choosing Between HRVs and ERVs
    • Custom Built-in Cabinets Made Easy
  • Issue 309 - Aug/Sept 2022
    • 10 Steps to Install Crown Molding on Cabinets
    • How to Get Sturdy Walls Without OSB
    • Choosing the Right Construction Tape for the Job

Fine Homebuilding

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