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Issue 272 – Dec 2017/Jan 2018

On the Cover

Digital Exclusives for Issue 272

Videos, slide shows, PDF downloads, and more goodies to supplement your magazine experience.

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Features

  • dense-pack cellulose insulation
    Dense-Pack Cellulose Insulation Done Right

    How to tell the difference between a good cellulose insulation job and a bad one.

  • Dense-Pack Cellulose Coverage Chart

    Find the expected yield for any framing cavity you’re likely to encounter.

  • prefab wainscot
    Prefab Paneled Wainscot

    On-site measurements and off-site production yield a traditional wainscot look at a more affordable price.

  • Snap-Lock Standing-Seam Metal Roof Installation
    Snap-Lock Standing-Seam Metal Roof Installation

    Factory-made panels and flashing go together without specialty tools or subcontractors.

  • Frame a Gable Wall

    This fundamental approach hinges on an accurate layout that keeps the math to a minimum.

  • construction worker using steel in residential construction
    What About Steel in Home Construction?

    Despite some advantages over wood, light-gauge steel framing hasn’t made the leap to residential building, and the reasons why may surprise you.

Article

  • A Remarkable Home Remodel

    Turning a quirky rustic lodge into a comfortable modern home is a problem-solving proposition.

  • Updating the Lodge

    A first-rate team of builder, architect, and landscape designer remodel an oddly built stone cabin.

  • Better Board-and-Batten Siding

    Modern materials breathe new life into a siding that can be both rustic and refined.

  • Takeaways After Trying Out a New Siding and Trim Material

    A remodeler’s thoughts on working with TruExterior fly-ash siding and trim.

  • Connecting PEX Plumbing

    Take a close look at the ever-expanding options for joining PEX plumbing.

  • Connect PEX with ASTM F1960 Expansion Fittings and ProPEX Rings

    For a connection that gets stronger over time, ProPEX expansion fittings are hard to beat.

  • Connect PEX with ASTM F2080 Expansion Fittings and Compression Sleeves

    With brass fittings and compression sleeves, F2080 is the Rolls-Royce of PEX fitting systems.

  • Connect PEX with Crimp Fittings and Crimp Rings

    There’s more than one way to connect PEX with crimp fittings, but this is the original.

  • Connect PEX with Crimp Fittings and Stainless-Steel Clamps

    Stainless-steel clamps are an approved method for joining crimp fittings to PEX tubing.

  • Connect PEX with Push Fittings

    For a quick repair or retrofit, push fittings for PEX connections are a go-to solution.

  • Connect PEX with Viega PEX Press Fittings

    Viega has developed one of the fastest and easiest methods for joining PEX.

  • Affordable Net-Zero Housing: Designed for the Budget
    Affordable Net-Zero Housing: Designed for the Budget

    A modern-day interpretation of a Cape meets its energy-efficiency goals by targeting public areas with higher-quality finishes and using builder-grade materials in other places.

  • Designed for First-Floor Living

    The owners can take care of all their needs without using the stairs.

  • Home Buyers Love Splurges in the Kitchen

    It makes sense to treat the kitchen—especially the cabinets and countertops—with higher-quality finishes than other areas in the house.

Tools & Materials

  • Untethered Tablesaw

    Tool Review: The DeWalt DCS7485 features a rock-solid rack-and-pinion fence and tubular frame.

  • Faster Truss Tie-Downs

    FastenMaster’s FrameFast system features a ½-in. Milwaukee drill motor with an attached extension tube and a driver head that holds the fastener.

  • Good-Looking Composite Siding

    Material Review: Icon composite siding from CertainTeed has the look of 7-in. cedar clapboards with excellent moisture resistance and installation.

Project Gallery

  • Project Gallery: Captivating Cupolas

    From whimsy to lighting to ventilation, cupolas can serve a range of purposes.

Musings of an Energy Nerd

  • Reconsidering R-value Recommendations

    Does the dropping cost of solar PV systems mean that it's more economical to just install more PV panels and skimp on insulation?

Design/Build

  • To Create a Clean Roofline, Design from the Roof Down

    Design/Build: As the McMansion dwindles in popularity, simpler rooflines are back in fashion.

Building Skills

  • Replacing an Asphalt Shingle
    Replacing an Asphalt Shingle

    The job isn’t hard, but it’s not exactly straightforward, either.

  • Video: Replace an Asphalt Roof Shingle

    There may be more nails than you expect.

Keep Craft Alive

  • Keep Craft Alive: Paul Johnson, Remodeler

    “When a client says, 'this is beautiful,' that isn't just luck."

More? View Past Issues

Ask the Experts

  • Should I Upgrade Ungrounded Outlets?
  • White-Painted Chimneys
  • Protecting Foundation Insulation

Readers Tips

  • Site-Built Trim Rack
  • How to Blend Patches in Wood-Grain Siding
  • Easy and Inexpensive Pickup-Bed Saver
  • Prevent Roller Dry-Out with a Damp Rag

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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