Every day, builders, architects, homeowners, and any other people who work on houses have to make a plethora of decisions to get their jobs done. Some of those choices are merely personal preferences, while others can make or break a job. Fine Homebuilding has compared the popular options for many of these conundrums in our articles and videos over the years, and we’ve compiled some common ones here to help you make the right choices before starting your next project.

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  The Horizontal vs. Vertical Sheathing Debate

  Does the direction you install plywood on a wood-framed wall affect how strong it is?

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  Circular Saws: Sidewinder vs. Worm-Drive

  Learn the key differences between these two styles of power saws to decide which type you should buy.

• 3
  
  How-To

  Electrical Outlets: Upside-Down or Right-Side-Up?

  Master electrician Rex Cauldwell offers some insight into the controversial topic of which way you should orient wall receptacles when wiring a circuit in a house.

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  How-To

  Plywood vs. OSB

  New-generation panels mean decade-old notions are no way to choose sheathing. Here's what you need to know.

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  Tools & Materials

  What’s the Difference: Paper and Fiberglass Mesh Drywall Tape

  You can use either tape, but each one has advantages in specific situations.

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  Design

  Patio vs. Deck Throwdown

  Two Fine Homebuilding editors face off on the pros and cons of these popular exterior spaces.

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  Tools & Materials

  What’s the Difference: Phillips vs. Pozidriv Bits

  Despite their similar appearance, these two systems are not interchangeable

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  Tools & Materials

  What’s the Difference: Titanium Hammers vs. Steel Hammers

  It turns out that the hype surrounding titanium has value.

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  How-To

  Horizontal vs. Vertical Drywall

  Hanging drywall horizontally does place seams at a more convenient height for finishing, resulting in better work, but that’s only part of the story.

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  Tools & Materials

  Tough Choice: Double-Pane vs Triple-Pane Windows

  For ProHOME, the double-pane choice met the net-zero target — and the cost savings paid for a PV solar array.

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  Design

  What’s the Difference: Epoxy vs. cement grout

  How to choose between stronger and more expensive epoxy and traditional cement-based grout

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  How-To

  Rafters vs. Trusses

  Compare the pros and cons of the two basic options for framing a roof.

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  Tools & Materials

  What’s the Difference: Is PVA, polyurethane, or CA glue right for my project?

  All 3 of these common types of adhesives have a place in home building, but each is better for specific uses.

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  Design

  Design vs. Style

  A Red Diamond Achiever Awards judge offers his thoughts on how to critique a home.

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  How-To

  Open-Cell vs. Closed-Cell Foam Insulation

  Learn in which applications it's best to go with closed-cell insulation.

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  Tools & Materials

  What’s the Difference: Linoleum vs. Vinyl

  Resilient Flooring

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  Tools & Materials

  What’s the Difference: Sanded vs. Unsanded Grout

  Although it’s available in more than 100 colors, only two types of cement-based grout are used to fill the gaps between tiles: sanded and unsanded. The choice is determined mostly…

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  Design

  What’s the Difference: Exterior Paint vs. Solid-Body Stains

  While they both protect wood from the elements, there are significant differences between the latex paints and stains made for siding, fences, and other outdoor surfaces.

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  Tools & Materials

  What’s the Difference Between Shakes and Shingles?

  Size and manufacturing processes are the main distinguishing characteristics of these two popular siding materials.

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  Tools & Materials

  What’s the Difference: Fine-Finish Sanders: Orbital vs. Random Orbit

  Regardless of the task, sanding is usually the part of the process that most of us don’t really enjoy. Having the wrong tool for the job only makes matters worse.…

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  Tools & Materials

  What’s the Difference: Whole-House Fans vs. Powered Ventilators

  Martha Garstang Hill We regularly receive emails at Green Building Advisor from homeowners with questions about attic fans: What’s the purpose of the fan in my attic? How often should…