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Issue 250 – Apr/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 (the "Bonfig" wall) using strips of rigid foam insulation on the interior of the studs as a thermal break.

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The Magazine

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.

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

What's the Difference: Measuring Tools

Specialty levels

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

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

Insulating a Low-Slope Shed Roof

Learn 5 reliable ways to build an energy-efficient flat or shallow-pitched unvented roof, which is much easier and less risky than building a vented one.

Tailgate

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.