Issue 284 – July 2019

Get More From Your Router

A veteran trim carpenter shares his secrets for using routers to make perfect mortises, splines, edge profiles, and more.

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The Ins and Outs of Exterior Doors

Get a crash course in choosing an entry door, from basic features to premium upgrades.
Build a Fireplace, Brick by Brick

Use these tips to design and create a long-lasting, heat-throwing firebox based on the traditional Rumford fireplace.
A No-Math Approach to Valley Plates

Whether you're tying in new gable dormers or adding a chimney cricket during roof framing, giving the valley jacks a place to land is an easy task with these step-by-step instructions.
Building for Floods

A New Orleans prototype home may provide a path for builders looking to design and construct houses that can withstand rising sea levels and intense storms.
Build an Antique-Style Post-and-Beam Shed with Modern Construction Details

Sturdy metal hardware takes the place of traditional, time-consuming timber-frame joinery in this contemporary take on the classic storage shed.
House-Flipping How-Tos

If you know your market and you can stomach the risk, there's still money to be made buying and selling homes.

Fine Homebuilding Issue #284 Online Highlights

Here are the digital extras from Fine Homebuilding’s June 2019, Issue #284: Build a High-Performance Exterior Door Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by Brick On page 8 of issue #284, we featured a…
Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by Brick

Get an overview of the process of creating a traditional-style fireplace that burns well and meets current building codes from experienced mason Mike Mehaffey.

Big Drywall, Small Lifts

These simple site-built jigs make hanging 12-foot-long sheets of wallboard easy, even when working alone.
How To Drill Large Round Holes in Tile

Get off to a good start when using a hole saw by using plumber's putty, a little water, and a glass-and-tile bit.
Clamp Turnaround

Most woodworking bar clamps allow you to flip the ends to use the tool for spreading instead of clamping.
Easy Vacuum Upgrade

A DIY skirt made of duct tape helps a vacuum get more suction when cleaning up dust during a remodeling project.
Keep Your Hammer from Slipping Out of Sweaty Hands

An adhesive designed for repairing shoes also makes a great DIY handle grip.
An Alternative Workbench Surface

Soft carpet scraps protect delicate projects from scratches.

Site-Built Shower Pans

Code expert Glenn Mathewson explains the details required by code and modern plumbing standards when fabricating a shower pan, including the two-part drain assembly, the subbase material and slope, the…

Sturdy, Common-Sense Hinge Templates

Templaco Tools templates are simple, durable, affordable, and they come in sizes to fit nearly any door configuration.
How Water Affects Buildings

In his book Water in Buildings: An Architect’s Guide to Moisture and Mold, research architect William B. Rose makes building science both understandable and interesting.
Cut-Resistant Work Gloves

G-Tek polyurethane-coated knit gloves provide a good balance of comfort, cost, and, safety and are light enough to be useful for most construction projects.
A Better Way to Grout

Barwalt Ultra Grouting System has several features not seen in many cheaper grouting kits which can make this dirty job a little easier and more comfortable.
Trim-Saving Pry Bar

A wide, thin blade with an integral wedge make the Zenith Industries Trim Puller an effective tool for carefully removing old molding.

The Ultimate Built-In

The heart of the expansive bookcase in this modern remodel of a 1960s home is an original exterior wall stripped down to the studs.
Same Square Footage, but Bigger

When converting this house on Martha's Vineyard from a two-family to a single-family, LDa Architecture & Interiors reworked the floor plan to make the home feel more spacious.
Whole-House Custom Cabinetry

Rift-sawn white oak paneling is the dominant material in this modern home built by a cabinetmaker.

Outdoor Cooking For the Rustic Chef

The industrial-style Weltevree Outdooroven XL combines a barbecue, smoker, and oven all into one beautifully simple package.
Modular Modern Faucet Handles

The Watermark Designs Elements plumbing-fixture collection features sleek, cylindrical knobs available in multiple polished-stone, metal, and wood-grain finishes.
Tyvek Drainable Membrane

DuPont's Tyvek DrainVent Rainscreen provides a drainage plane and air gap behind siding when applied over a well-detailed water-resistive barrier.
Nearly Invisible Floor Finish

Bona Traffic Naturale is an easy-to-apply, fast-drying alternative to polyurethane that gives the look of unfinished wood.
Double-Sided Air-Barrier Tape

Siga Twinet double-sided mounting tape is a popular, though costly, alternative to stapling an air barrier to the inside of roof and wall framing.

In Favor of Wood-Fiber Insulation

Learn about the benefits, properties, and installation methods of this unique insulation developed in Germany.

Avoiding Numbers When Building or Remodeling a Home

"Mark your work in place whenever possible" is just one of several tips seasoned carpenter Scott McBride offers in this guide to measuring more efficiently and accurately on the job site.

Keep Craft Alive: Libby Schrum, Woodworker and Furniture Maker

After realizing that the work associated with her college degree left her uninspired, an intensive at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design eventually led Libby to a successful career as a master craftsperson.