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Issue 305 – Feb/March 2022

On the Cover

The Steady Surge in Residential Solar

Improving technology delivers rising performance and lower costs for home photovoltaic systems.

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Features

  • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: William B. Rose
    The Fine Homebuilding Interview: William B. Rose

    This architect encourages finding the right questions to ask before turning to building science for answers.

  • An external air barrier
    How Good Is Your Air Barrier?

    If your goal is extremely low air leakage, choose your materials carefully.

  • Urban Renewal
    Deep-Energy Retrofit for an Adaptive-Reuse Project

    A historic brick warehouse is turned into a live-work space using building-science principles.

  • Flat-Roof Rescue
    Replacing PVC With an EPDM Membrane on a Flat Roof

    A redesigned Yankee gutter and a well-executed rubber roof ready a midcentury home for its next century.

  • Inside the Concrete-Free Slab
    Assembling a Concrete-Free Slab

    An innovative plywood slab-on-grade means less time, money, and carbon

  • Foundation Insulation Options for a Concrete-Free Slab

    A plywood slab-on-grade requires a similar foundation construction to the ones used when building a traditional concrete slab-on-grade home.

Article

  • Compact Cordless Recip Saws
    Compact Cordless Recip Saws

    A head-to-head comparison of one-handed saws built for tight spaces

Tips & Techniques

  • Shingle stacker
    Shingle Stacker

    Make staining cedar shingles easier with this makeshift drying rack.

  • Make sturdy post connections
    Make Sturdy Post Connections

    Use galvanized threaded rods to stabilize the rail posts at the bottom of dec stairs.

  • Hot Tip for Caulk Tubes

    Sealing an open tube with hot-melt glue provides a quick fix to a pesky problem.

  • Less-dusty demo
    Less-Dusty Demo

    A shop-vac nozzle and reciprocating saw are what you need for this clever tip.

  • Clear the air
    Site-Built Air Scrubber

    This air scrubber only took a few hours to build and works very well. It’s made from scrap lumber and plywood and rides on four casters.

  • Rock-solid work light
    Rock-Solid Work Light

    Use a bucket of concrete to create a stable base when you need a reliable light.

  • A piece of straight and curbed copper tubing
    Scribe Perfect Curves with Copper Tubing

    Fit cabinets into a curved wall or ceiling with this clever tip.

Know the Code

  • Chasing wind-load requirements
    Chasing Wind-Load Requirements

    New research has resulted in a better understanding of how wind pressure acts on roofs.

Tools & Gear

  • Evolution Power Tools R255SMS+
    Multi-Material Miter Saw

    Evolution Power Tools’ R255SMS+ 10-in. single-bevel sliding compound miter saw took what I call a “pinball path” to my shop, where it’s here to stay.

  • Sawdust solution
    Sawdust Solution

    The Skil Jobsite Blower comes highly recommended for dust, job-site messes, and even leaves.

  • dry-cut tile saw
    iQ228 Cyclone Dry-Cut Tile Saw

    Consider opting for this smaller saw when cutting normal-sized tile for a shower or simple backsplash.

HOUSES by Design

  • The bottom floor of a home with an open back onto the backyard
    Connecting to the Outdoors and Neighbors

    Working within a small footprint, this remodel for an intergenerational family incorporated simple elements to open up the space both inside and outside.

  • row-house redesign
    Redesigning a Row House to Be More Open

    An improved entry sequence and skylights turn this row house into a bright and open space for a young family.

  • A Home That Blends Into Nature

    A weathering steel finish characterizes a New Hampshire home that fits right into its natural surroundings.

Spec

  • A sheet of alternative wood option ACRE by Modern Mill
    A Sustainable Alternative to Wood

    An innovative building material from Modern Mill utilizes rice hulls as a key ingredient.

  • A room with a day bed and the slat wood wall panels
    Better Sound Absorption With Slat Wood Wall Panels

    With felt backing made from recycled material, these wall panels from The Wood Veneer Hub combine aesethetics with practicality.

  • A layer of the exterior insulation on a foundation
    One-Piece Foundation Insulation and Finish System

    FoundationPro from Progressive Technologies has all the advantages of exterior insulation plus it protects from UV radiation and weed whacking.

  • A photo of several white storage boxes in a wood wall
    Minimalist, Wall-Mounted Bathroom Storage

    The C-Box shower niche from ESS includes a self-adhering waterproof membrane and adjustable depth to seamlessly integrate into any bathroom space.

Building Matters

  • Several small cottage homes with solar panels
    On Building Second Homes

    The CEO of this worker-owned building company explains how second homes help finance affordable homes on Martha's Vineyard.

Keep Craft Alive

  • Ben Blodgett
    Ben Blodgett, Design/Build Firm Owner

    First hired as a laborer, this builder now owns the entire company.

Online Extras

  • Fine Homebuilding Issue #305 Online Highlights
    Fine Homebuilding Issue #305 Online Highlights

    Find online articles and videos on kitchens, rainscreens, and more.

More? View Past Issues

Ask the Experts

  • Dropped First-Floor Framing
  • Bubbles in Membrane Under Metal Roof
  • Loading Engineered Joists
  • Roll Flashing Tape for a Durable Bond
  • Filling Nail Holes in Stained Trim

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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