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Issue 266 – May 2017

On the Cover

Member Only

Build a Gateway Pergola

This cedar structure combines the look of traditional joinery with contemporary lines — all built with simple techniques.

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The Magazine

A Simple Screened Porch

Inexpensive screen panels combined with cable railings create a clever assembly.
Stone Walls That Stay Built

A master waller shares how to dry-lay stone walls that hold their ground for centuries.
Better-Built Wood Railings

Elegant, site-built, rot-resistant railings don’t have to break the bank.
The Groundwork of Landscape Design

A professional landscape designer offers advice for every phase of the process, from grading to lighting.
Tool Test: Cordless Sliders

Meet the new class of miter saws ... from big to little, we tested them all.
Passive House Meets Pueblo

Three projects by a Santa Fe architect demonstrate how well this performance standard and the Southwest style work together.

Article

A Field Guide for Prefab Railing

Manufactured deck railings are fast to assemble and look great.

Commentary

Much More Than a Magazine

Website, podcast, demo house, and #KeepCraftAlive — and more to come.

Tools & Materials

IBS 2017: Simpson Strong-Tie Outdoor Accents Metal Connectors

Get the look of reinforced timber frame construction with Simpson.
IBS 2017: Lapolla Spray Foam

This new insulation product is eco-friendly.
IBS 2017: FastenMaster FrameFast Structural Framing System

Framing system looks to eliminate hurricane ties.
IBS 2017: 3M Cubitron II Grinding Disc

This new ceramic abrasive really is mind-blowing in its speed and durability.

Project Gallery

Project Gallery: Backyard Bliss

Be inspired by six examples of entertaining outdoor spaces, for parties of six or 60.

Musings of an Energy Nerd

Should I Replace My Old Windows?

Energy Nerd: The cost to make and transport new windows vs better efficiency.

Building Skills

Repairing Rot with Epoxy

Special materials, simple tools, step by step.

Drawing Board

Making a Room Under a Deck

A remodel can create an inviting, usable living space under the deck.

Keep Craft Alive

Keep Craft Alive: Brian Post, Waller

“The stones in a wall are trying their hardest to get to the center of the earth … it’s a waller’s job to defy that.”

Finishing Touches

Finishing Touch: Essence of the Earth

This wall, incorporating 250 tons of stone, features colorful stone mosaics, a 4-ton granite boulder, and large columns of basalt that were formed from rapidly cooling lava flows.

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