Issue 269 – Aug/Sept 2017
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
Learn the alphabet soup of materials, but first get the slope and underlying details right.
-
Affordable Net Zero
This new home strikes a balance between improved performance and low construction costs.
Tools & Materials
-
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
Musings of an Energy Nerd
Design/Build
Building Skills
-
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
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
