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Issue 254 – October/November 2015

On the Cover

Member Only

Getting to Know the Beast in Your Basement

A forced-air heating system isn’t as scary as it seems.

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The Magazine

A Weatherproof Window Installation

Layers of redundant flashing and sealant ensure that the most expensive part of your house is also the best protected.
Mineral Wool Makes a Comeback

This natural spun-stone insulation is enjoying a resurgence in popularity—and for good reason.
Air-Sealing Basics

Look high and low to find and plug air leaks that cost you money and comfort.
Trouble-Free Toilets

The floor, flange, and sealant can mean the difference between success and failure.
All-Around Efficient

Pairing a proven net-zero strategy with conscious material choices.
Tool Test: Track Saws

These versatile tools make fast, precise cuts and weigh a lot less than your tablesaw.

Finishing Touches

Where Concrete is King

In the summer of 2012, Andrey Rudenko began toying with the idea of creating a 3D printer capable of constructing homes. An experienced contractor with a background in engineering and…

What is the Difference

What is the Difference: Hammer-Action Drills vs. Rotary Hammers

There are times when a conventional drill just won’t get the job done. For example, when you’re installing a deck ledger against a concrete foundation and need to drill lots…
What is the Difference: Screw Bits - Phillips vs. Pozidriv

Despite their similar appearance, these two systems are not interchangeable

Building Skills

Installing a Big Beam

Remodelers frequently have to replace a bearing wall with a large beam. The challenge is weight, but senior editor Andy Engel shows here how to install the beam one ply…

Drawing Board

Laundry Closets

Carpenter and residential designer Mike Maines has installed many laundry areas in narrow spaces. Here, he illustrates three variations on a well-designed laundry closet: a narrow closet, a wide closet…

Project Gallery

Mudroom's the Name, Organizing's the Aim

We all have things that we drag in and out of our homes just about every day: coats, purses, mail, shoes, sports equipment, books, backpacks. Without a mudroom—that dedicated space…

Energy Smart Details

Lstiburek’s Ideal Double-Stud Wall

Joe Lstiburek is principal of Building Science Corporation and a contributing editor to Fine Homebuilding. In this "Energy-Smart Details" article, energy consultant Allison A. Bailes III writes about Lstiburek's design…

Tailgate

Tailgate: Katherine Boorman, Designer

This operations director for the firm OneButton specializes in making technology an unobtrusive part of home design.

How it Works

Drain-Waste-Vent Systems

Although hidden behind walls and in floors and ceilings, the pipes that make up a house’s drain-waste vent system are the balance of the plumbing equation.

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