Issue 241 – Feb/Mar 2014

Blower-Door Testing Basics

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

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You Don't Know Foam

Whether you use a gun or a straw, there’s more to filling a gap than pulling a trigger.
Undercabinet Lighting is Better Than Ever

LEDs set a high bar for kitchen-workspace illumination.
The Passive House Build, Part Two: Air-Sealed Mudsill Assembly

You only have one chance to get this critical detail perfect.
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.

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),…

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'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…

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…

Installing Semicustom Cabinets

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

Three Ways for Breezeways

Architect, Katie Hutchison has observed the breezeway is making a comeback. She offers three carefully considered designs. A contained breezeway, where a house and garage share a common gable-roof line,…

How it Works: 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. Specific challenges—and how they were met—are outlined.

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…

Insulating Attic Stairs

Attic stairs present air-sealing and insulation problems, and a tight cap for pull-down stairs is hard to build. The weatherstripping details can be tough to execute, and the necessary weight…

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.