FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Issue 248 – Dec/Jan 2015

On the Cover

Mounting Deck Stairs

Dedicated footings and the right hardware make a secure stringer attachment.

Subscribe View the Digital Issue

The Magazine

  • Subscribe
  • Renew Subscription
  • Gift Subscription
  • Online Membership
  • Magazine Index
  • View Past Issues
  • View the Digital Edition Archive
  • Contact Customer Service
  • Author Guidelines
  • Advertise

Features

  • laying pavers
    Laying Concrete Pavers

    For a driveway, walk, or patio, get the base right, and the rest of the job is straightforward.

  • Double-Hung Windows

    Knowing your priorities will help you find the best value in windows.

  • Build Dry, Risk-Free Finished Basements

    Capturing this additional living space correctly and confidently requires a careful approach to the site and foundation.

  • Ultra-Portable Tablesaws

    Small enough to carry with one hand, but big enough for job-site work.

  • history of hammers
    The History of Hammer Design

    From rocks to titanium, hammer design has a rich history.

  • Wonder Wheel By the Water

    During the winter of 2013, Ray Baytos convinced his wife, Joanne, that a water-wheel house would be the perfect addition to their koi pond. A hobbyist woodworker and sometime-builder for…

What is the Difference

  • sump pump types
    Sump-Pump Options

    The main differences between submersible and pedestal-style sump pumps come down to cost and cooling.

Building Skills

  • Laying Out Basic Stair Stringers

    Former editor and veteran stairbuilder Andy Engel demonstrates the necessary steps, from finding the crown to using the first stringer as a template for the second.

Master Carpenter

  • modern fireplace mantel
    Modern Mantel Made Well

    This cherry fireplace surround is assembled and installed with concealed fasteners.

Drawing Board

  • Alternatives to Drywall

    In this article, learn how to incorporate wood, tile, and natural stone instead of drywall for a more bespoke interior aesthetic.

How it Works

  • A collage of different ways that paint can fail
    How to Identify Why Exterior Paint Is Failing, and How to Avoid It

    Cracking, flaking paint not only looks bad—it also invites water and weather inside to do more damage.

Project Gallery

  • Good Homes Come in Small Packages

    The two houses featured here illustrate how well-designed homes can be comfortable and inviting no matter what the size. Both homes have an open floor plan, are finished and furnished…

Energy Smart Details

  • Ducting HRVs and ERVs

    Learn how to ensure that the ductwork for a mechanical ventilation system works efficiently to save energy and provide good indoor air quality.

Tailgate

  • Mark Clement, Carpenter

    This Philadelphia remodeling contractor has carved out a niche doing the dirty work on several reality TV shows

GBA Insider

  • The Basics of Bath Fans

    Bath fans are great at exhausting humid or smelly air, and senior editor Martin Holladay recommends that every bathroom have one. In this "GreenBuildingAdvisor.com Insider" article, he explains the importance…

More? View Past Issues

Ask the Experts

  • Red Oak vs. White Oak: Key Differences
  • Can a deck ledger span a basement window?
  • DA vs. FN finish nails

Readers Tips

  • Removing a Truck Cap Alone
  • Job-Site Pencil Sharpener
  • Painting Reverse Board-and-Batten Siding
  • Hammer Fix
  • Lightweight Block Template
  • Automatic Charger Shutoff
  • Realigning Doors that Settle

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 318 - October 2023
    • Make Mudsills Square and Level
    • Turn Up the Heat With Induction Cooktops
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: Lloyd Alter
  • Issue 317 - Aug/Sept 2023
    • Finishing Drywall With Seamless Results
    • A Flat Roof in a Cold Climate
    • Compact Cordless Shop Vacs
  • Issue 316 - July 2023
    • 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

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok
  • twitter

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok
  • twitter

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in