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Issue 250 – April/May 2015

On the Cover

An Easy Way To Build a Well-Insulated House

Builder Stephen Bonfiglioli describes how he builds an R-30 wall using strips of rigid foam insulation on the interior of the studs as a thermal break.

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Features

  • Replacing a Basement Window

    Learn 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.

Finishing Touches

  • 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…

What is the Difference

  • Specialty Levels

    Today's choices for spirit levels go well beyond the standard long and straight models.

Building Skills

  • Brush-Painting a Steel Door

    A good paint job can go a long way to making a steel door look as welcoming as a wood one.

Master Carpenter

  • installing pvc roof fascia trim
    PVC Roof Trim

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

Drawing Board

  • 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

  • How it Works: Circular Sawblades

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

Project Gallery

  • 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…

Energy Smart Details

  • 5 Ways to Insulate a Flat Roof

    Learn several reliable ways to build an energy-efficient low-slope or shallow-pitched unvented roof, which is much easier and less risky than building a vented one.

Tailgate

  • Molly Jones McCabe
    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.

More? View Past Issues

Ask the Experts

  • How do I make a shelf strong without making it too thick?
  • How much water can OSB take?
  • What’s the best way to fix a crack in a foundation wall?

Readers Tips

  • A Tuned-Up Sander
  • Going Where Foam Has Never Gone
  • Replacing a Hammer’s Magnet
  • Stacks of 5-Gallon Buckets
  • Removing Ceiling Tiles

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • 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
  • 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

Fine Homebuilding

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