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Issue 261 – Aug/Sept 2016

On the Cover

Build a Hybrid Timber-Frame Floor

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

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Features

  • 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

    An Engineered Floor That Takes Wood out of the Walls

    This floor-framing system saves lumber and is faster to frame.

  • 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.

  • 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.

    Article

  • 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 & 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

    When building a new home, your insulation strategy should be part of the design process, not a last-minute decision.

    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…

More? View Past Issues

    Ask the Experts

  • Shingling A Valley

  • Stripping UF-B cable

  • Algae roof stains

  • Moldy cabinets

  • Identifying electrical circuits

    Readers Tips

  • Starting a staple in a tough place

  • Drywall without the Dust

  • Painting Doors With Windows

  • Neatly bundled shims

  • A simple drying rack

  • Magnetic broom

  • Five-Chisel Storage

  • Cleaning glass without lint

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 298 - April/May 2021

    • Butt Boards for Smooth Ceilings
    • Help Installing Gutters
    • Safety Bucket
  • 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

Fine Homebuilding

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