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Issue 250 – Apr/May 2015

This R-30 wall is inexpensive and easy to build.

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Replacing a Basement Window

How to swap out those corroded cast-in-place windows with new, more efficient units.
A Kitchen Built on Tradition

Modernizing through the use of historical details.
Remove One Wall and Join Two Rooms

Hanging the ceiling joists from an engineered beam is the fast, simple way to replace a bearing wall.
The Facts About Ceiling Fans

Choose a good-looking, energy-efficient fan, and use it correctly.
The Carpenter's House

This smart Craftsman-style home was built with a keen eye for detail and energy efficiency.
Tool Test: 18v Cordless Circular Saws

Modern cordless saws cut fast and run for a long time.

A Loo Fit for Doctor Who: Steampunk Bathroom

Architect Andre Rothblatt’s clients wanted to incorporate some “steampunk” style into their wholehouse remodel. Not quite sure what they meant, Rothblatt nevertheless enthusiastically agreed. He discovered that steampunk refers to…

Brush-Painting a Steel Door

This "Building Skills" article details the procedures for prepping a steel six-panel door, then painting it to mimic a wood door. A sidebar discusses the tools needed for the job,…

PVC Roof Trim

A coastal builder’s technique for durable and weathertight fascias and soffits is based on years of experience with plastic trim.

Making Shed Dormers Work

A shed dormer can be the best way to add space to a one-and-a-half-story house, but you have to get the details right if you want it to be an asset and not an eyesore.

How it Works: Circular Sawblades

Despite having no moving parts, circular sawblades are surprisingly complex.

Project Gallery: A Fine Farewell

We recently received a letter from two long-time subscribers, Janet and Kim Yost. The Yosts discovered Fine Homebuilding magazine in 1982 with issue #7 and then began subscribing to Fine…

Insulating a Low-Slope Shed Roof

Because of limited space between the roof sheathing and the ceiling joists, low-slope shed roofs can be difficult to insulate properly. In this "Energy-Smart Homes" article, senior editor Martin Holladay…

Molly Jones McCabe: Tribal-Housing Advocate

Red Feather Development is in its 20th year of working with tribal communities to build safe and adequate housing.