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Issue 269 – September 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

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

The ProHOME team finds a balance between improved performance and 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

Project Gallery: Subterranean Sizzle

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

Musings of an Energy Nerd

Closed-Cell Foam Between Studs Is a Waste

Energy Nerd: 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

Woven corners are more complicated — and give a more elegant look, in my opinion.
Weaving Shingle Corners

Senior editor Andy Engel shows how to interlace shingles around a corner to create a classic New England look.

Keep Craft Alive

Keep Craft Alive: Jeff Longo, Plumber

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

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