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Issue 258 – April/May 2016

On the Cover

Member Only

Bright Ideas for a Well-Lit Deck

Make your deck safer and more enjoyable with good lighting.

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The Magazine

How to Install a Minisplit

What you need to know about choosing a minisplit heat pump and ensuring that it’s set up correctly
Golden State Garden Gatemakers

A father and son share their secrets to lasting garden gates: proper wood, proven joinery, and durable hardware.
Stronger, Smarter Deck Stairs

The ideal stair stringers balance strength, durability, and ease of assembly.
Brick Fixes

Afraid to tackle cracked bricks? Dye some mortar for a durable and invisible repair.

Article

Build a Budget-Friendly Shed

Get ample storage and traditional styling on a budget of just $2000.
Critical Deck Connections

A look at the forces at work on a deck and the hardware designed to keep things in check.
Tool Test: SawStop's Portable Tablesaw

We test the new finger-saving tablesaw from SawStop.

Finishing Touches

An Elegant Addition

The design for this two-story addition began as a casual conversation at a Super Bowl party between architect Edwin Heinle and the homeowner, who mentioned that she was thinking of…

What is the Difference

What's the Difference: Utility-Knife Blades

At a work site, utility knives are as common as hammers. And like hammers, despite their inherent simplicity, they have evolved over the years. Yet even as these knives have…

Building Skills

Placing a Small Concrete Slab

Although the amount of concrete used is small, the forming and finishing techniques for a slab such as a deck-stair landing—or in this case, a propane-tank pad—aren’t much different from…

Drawing Board

Traditional Sheds

The first structure I ever built, not counting tree houses, was a shed. It served its function but was too small, oddly tall, and narrow, and I never put it…

How it Works

How it Works: Simple Wood Beams

Beams, defined as elongated members that are loaded perpendicular to their long axis, are critical to the structure of a house.

Project Gallery

Little House on the Ferry

Located on an island in Penobscot Bay, Maine, this trio of seasonal cabins connected by a series of cedar decks and walkways provides a cozy yet private place for guests…

Energy Smart Details

Two Ways to Insulate an Old Cape

Older Cape Cod–style homes may be charming, but they are often poorly insulated. Most have second-floor bedrooms with 4-ft. kneewalls against the sloped ceilings. This creates triangular attic spaces behind…

Tailgate

Charles King Sadler, Landscape Designer

This owner of King Garden Designs in New York’s Westchester County is also a certified arborist.

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