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Issue 269 – Aug/Sept 2017

On the Cover

Digital Exclusives for Issue 269

Videos, links, and extras for the September 2017 issue of Fine Homebuilding magazine.

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The Magazine

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Features

  • New Trim Fit for an Old House

    A traditional porch project offers lessons in style, proportions, and seamless transitions.

  • Mastering Balusters

    A stair pro shares his process for installing the three common types of stock balusters.

  • Bomb-Proof Baluster Attachment

    Double-ended lags fasten balusters to treads.

  • Setting Railings

    An inside look at cutting and screwing railings before baluster installation.

  • The Beloved Farmhouse

    Understand the hallmarks of this informal style, whether you’re designing a new home or remodeling a classic.

  • The Farmhouses of Fine Homebuilding

    Eight farmhouses from the last decade of Fine Homebuilding magazine show how this endearing style can be designed and built to seamlessly adapt to its location and its homeowners.

Article

  • A Workaround Approach to Kneewall Built-Ins

    Without modifying the framing, a carpenter tucks storage and style beneath the roof in a second-floor hallway.

  • A Chiseled Look

    Carrying the V-groove from a built-in’s side panel through to its face frame creates a crisp detail that is simple to execute.

  • Make Your Foam Gun Last

    Here are the secrets to keeping this precision tool up and running.

  • Are More-Expensive Foam Guns Better?

    Foam guns can cost anywhere from $15 to $150, so what's the difference?

  • Load a Foam Gun the Right Way

    Learn how to load a foam gun with minimal mess and less chance of future clogs.

  • Guide to Low-Slope Roofing
    Guide to Low-Slope Roofing

    Learn the alphabet soup of materials, but first get the slope and underlying details right.

  • person laying out a net zero home
    Affordable Net Zero

    This new home strikes a balance between improved performance and ­low construction costs.

Tools & Materials

  • framing hammers
    Best-Ever Framing Hammers

    The prices might scare off some, but for a professional who swings a hammer every day, here are two smart choices.

  • Magnesium Oxide Does It All

    Impressive strength, as well as its fire, mold, and insect resistance, make MgO board suitable for a wide range of applications.

  • Outdoor Anchor

    This 316 stainless-steel screw is designed for use outdoors and in corrosive environments.

  • UV-Resistant Housewrap

    For open-cladding systems, this product looks good and can stand up to sunshine over the long term.

  • Hose-Free Connector Nailer

    The magazine of this trouble-free time saver holds two racks of nails, for less time spent reloading.

  • Schluter-Made Mortar

    This line of thinset mortars is specifically made for use with Schluter waterproofing and uncoupling membranes.

  • Good-Looking Porch Ceiling

    The PVC composition of these tongue-and-groove boards should help this product last a long time.

Project Gallery

  • Project Gallery: Subterranean Sizzle

    Media rooms, wet bars, personal gyms, saunas, and bathrooms work well below ground level.

Musings of an Energy Nerd

  • Mind the gap between studs
    Closed-Cell Foam between Studs Is a Waste

    What really matters is the R-value of the whole wall, not just that of the insulation.

Design/Build

  • Stair Newels

    Design/Build: If budgets allow, consider designing and building custom newels to personalize and even modernize details in a home.

Building Skills

  • Weaving Sidewall Shingle Corners
    Weaving Sidewall Shingle Corners

    Woven corners are more complicated to install, but they give an elegant look to shingle siding.

  • Weave a Shingle Corner

    Watch how to interlace shingles around a corner to create an simple, attractive edge with no corner boards.

Keep Craft Alive

  • Keep Craft Alive: Jeff Longo, Plumber

    “Too many people see plumbers as overweight, uneducated slobs.”

More? View Past Issues

Ask the Experts

  • Roof Venting Doesn’t Affect Cooling Loads
  • Fixing Squeaky Stairs
  • Finishing Rough-Sawn Flooring
  • Pressure-Treated Lumber Worries

Readers Tips

  • No-Mar Circular Saw
  • Downsizing Pressure Stubs
  • A Chute for Scraping Paint
  • Trash-Bag Wire Ties
  • Drywall-Over-Plaster Ceiling Repair
  • Caulk-Tube Grout

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 313 - Feb/March 2023
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
    • Fine Homebuilding Issue #313 Online Highlights
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
  • Issue 312 - Dec 2022/Jan 2023
    • Tool Test: Cordless Tablesaws
    • Gray-Water System for a Sustainable Home
    • Insulate a Cape Roof to Avoid Ice Dams
  • Issue 311 - November 2022
    • 7 Steps to a Perfect Exterior Paint Job
    • Options for Smarter Home-Energy Tracking
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: James Metoyer
  • Issue 310 - October 2022
    • Choosing a Tile-Leveling System
    • Choosing Between HRVs and ERVs
    • Custom Built-in Cabinets Made Easy
  • Issue 309 - Aug/Sept 2022
    • 10 Steps to Install Crown Molding on Cabinets
    • How to Get Sturdy Walls Without OSB
    • Choosing the Right Construction Tape for the Job

Fine Homebuilding

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