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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 (the "Bonfig" 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

    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

  • 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: 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 297 - Feb/Mar 2021

    • Foundations for Success
    • Staircase Renovation
    • Ditch the Hose
  • Issue 296 - Dec 2020/Jan 2021

    • Insulating Glass Keeps Getting Better
    • Simple Way to Make Old Walls Straight and Plumb
    • Making Sense of Minisplits
  • Issue 295 - Kitchens & Baths

    • Condo Kitchen Reimagined
    • Row-House Remodel
    • Rise of the IAQ Monitor
  • Issue 294 - Oct/Nov 2020

    • Schoolhouse Reimagined
    • Tool Test: Folding Sawhorses
    • A Better Way to Build Tall Walls
  • Issue 293 - Aug/Sept 2020

    • A Practical Guide to Fall Protection
    • Installing Frameless Cabinets
    • Make Any Tablesaw Safer

Fine Homebuilding

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