Issue 254 – Oct/Nov 2015
Features
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A Weatherproof Window Installation
Layers of redundant flashing and sealant ensure that the most expensive part of your house is also the best protected.
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Mineral Wool Makes a Comeback
This natural spun-stone insulation is enjoying a resurgence in popularity—and for good reason.
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Air-Sealing 101
Learn where to look for common air leaks and how to seal them up to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient.
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Trouble-Free Toilets
The floor, flange, and sealant can mean the difference between success and failure.
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All-Around Efficient
Pairing a proven net-zero strategy with conscious material choices.
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Tool Test: Track Saws
These versatile tools make fast, precise cuts and weigh a lot less than your tablesaw.
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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…
Finishing Touches
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Hammer-Action Drills vs. Rotary Hammers: What is the Difference?
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…
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What's the Difference: Phillips vs. Pozidriv Bits
Despite their similar appearance, these two systems are not interchangeable
What is the Difference
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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…
Building Skills
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Laundry Closet Design Ideas
Designer Mike Maines details 3 types of well-designed laundry closets that make the most of a compact space.
Drawing Board
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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…
Project Gallery
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Joe Lstiburek’s Ideal Double-Stud Wall
This wall design ensures good performance and solves the problems of inside and outside moisture.
Energy Smart Details
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Tailgate: Katherine Boorman, Designer
This operations director for the firm OneButton specializes in making technology an unobtrusive part of home design.
Tailgate
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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.
