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Issue 261 – August/Sept 2016

On the Cover

Member Only

Build a Hybrid Timber-Frame Floor

Incorporate the beauty of structural timbers into a stick-frame house.

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The Magazine

A Foundation Like a Cooler

Due to the slope of the lot and site work that took place before Guertin purchased it, he only had to dig down 18 in. for the conventionally formed footings.…
An Engineered Floor That Takes Wood out of the Walls

The FHB House framing package is a mix of engineered and dimensional lumber. The goal was to reduce the amount of framing lumber in order to improve thermal performance and…
An Interesting Roof Adds Complexity and Time to the Build

Visually, the ProHOME’s dormered roofline defines the house. The large gable dormer creates the space for the large master bathroom, while the shed dormer accommodates the other full bath and…
Maximizing Solar Production

An important part of the roof plan is the photovoltaic panels, a 12kw array needed for net zero.

Article

Building Lean, Strong Walls

In their attempt to reduce the amount of wood in the walls and increase the amount of insulation, Guertin and Maines adopted advanced-framing techniques. Spacing the studs and joists 24…
Build Your Own PEX Manifold

A homemade array of tubing and fittings can rival brand-name water-distribution panels.
Custom Curves

Save time and money by bending PVC trim with a site-made oven.
Tool test: 18v Recip Saws

These tools combine corded performance with cordless convenience.
Rolling Barn-Style Doors

Simple joinery supports inexpensive windows to yield jaw-dropping interior doors.
Caulk This Way

Joint design and prep may matter even more than choosing the right product.
Balanced Balusters

Simple calculations make for a much more accurate spacing method.
Better Than Average

This practical and healthy home confronts the challenges of location, extreme weather, climate change, and the looming clean-water crisis with noteworthy simplicity.
Better Than Average (photos)

More photos of this practical and healthy home

Tools and Materials

Steel Specialist

I build custom decks in Colorado. Because of a steady decrease in lumber quality and the devastating effects to wood caused by the state’s dry, sunny weather, I decided to…
WRB sheathing

Similar to Huber’s well-known Zip System sheathing, Georgia-Pacific’s new Force Field OSB sheathing has a waterproof overlay that works in combination with a pressure-sensitive tape. Used together, the tape and…
Totable dust collector

If a wheeled dust collector isn’t quite portable enough for you, check out the new Festool CT SYS. This ultracompact vacuum is the same size as a medium-size Systainer, with…
Less-mess Plaster Patch

My standard fix for plaster cracks is to carve out the damage, fill the gap with setting-type joint compound, tape it, add topcoats of compound, and sand. This method is…
Bridge the gap

As the name implies, Sashco’s Big Stretch is more elastic than any other caulk I have ever used. This quality makes it great for bridging gaps that experience seasonal movement.…
Dust-free foam cutting

The CenterFire sawblade from Bullet Tools is specifically made for cutting EPS, XPS, and polyiso foam insulation. Sure, you can cut foam with nearly any sawblade, but the toothless, knifelike…
Quiet driver

As a remodeling contractor who specializes in finish carpentry, bathrooms, and kitchens, I use an impact driver every day for a wide variety of tasks. About the only downside to…
Hybrid Hose

Senco’s new hybrid-polymer air hose is the best of both worlds. It has the flexibility of rubber without the weight, and the lightness and durability of PVC without the ankle-grabbing…

Project Gallery

Fine town-building

One of the first submissions to our 2016 HOUSES awards was this panoramic view of an Old West town submitted by Caroline and Dave Nelson, who also submitted a photo…

Energy Smart Details

Plan ahead to save energy

It’s not unusual for a designer, builder, or homeowner to post a question on Green Building Advisor like the following: “We just finished framing, installing windows, and roofing. What’s the…

Building Skills

Making Head Flashing

Step By Step: Bending metal for simple flashings.

Drawing Board

Exposed rafter tails

Drawing Board: Lessons in residential design

Tailgate

Tailgate: Lindsay Meacham, tilemaker

This owner of Red Rock Tileworks in Nashville, Tenn., designs and manufactures environmentally friendly lines of handmade and custom tile.
Extended Tailgate: Lindsay Meacham, Tilemaker

This owner of Red Rock Tileworks in Nashville, Tenn., designs and manufactures environmentally friendly lines of handmade and custom tile.

Finishing Touches

Dragon’s Den

This whimsical playhouse was conceived and built by artist, woodworker, and carpenter Chris Axling. Axling built his first playhouse after taking on his most important job: stay-at-home father for three-year-old…

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