Ensuring the Durability of Energy-Efficient Houses
Arm and Hand Pain on the Job Site
Installing Kitchen Cabinets
Carpenter's Lumber Rack, A
Simple Approach to Frame-and-Panel Trim, A
Finishing Basements
Building a Grand Veranda
Powder-Actuated Tools
Look Through Patio Doors, A
Straightening Framed Walls
Running Exterior Trim
Inexpensive Strategies for Green Building
Building a Lazy-Susan Cabinet
Installing a Geothermal Heating and Cooling System
Making Storm Shutters
Cutting Drywall
Gable-Dormer Retrofit, A
Spray Everything
Installing Steel Roofing
Building a Custom Box Newel
What's Hot in Bathroom Heaters?
Finding the Right Refrigerator
Forming and Pouring Foundations
Designing and Building an Entertainment Center
Overhead Garage Doors
Framing Kitchen Soffits
Danger Can Be a State of Mind
Tiling a Kitchen Counter
Working With Old Wiring
Has Latex Won the Paint Wars?
Counter Act
Updating the Kitchen Pantry
How to Install a Toilet
Making the Most of a Laundry Room
Installing Handrails Made From Stock Parts
Building a Circular Porch
Block Planes for Carpenters
Repairing Drywall
Preventing Job-Site Knee Injuries
Building a Bow Window From Scratch
Raising a Gable Wall
Getting a Deck off to a Good Start
Hollow-Wall Anchors
Preventing House Fires
Framing With Nail Guns
Tiling a Bathroom Floor
Designing Roofs for Snow Country
Building a Timber Retaining Wall
Outfitting a Clothes Closet
Dressing up Stock Windows
Poured-in-Place Concrete Countertops
Fixes for Damp, Moldy Houses
Pair of Built-in Hutches, A
All About Rain Gutters
Draining Gutter Runoff
Hanging a Wall Railing
Wiring Stoves and Dryers
Building Kitchen Cabinets on Site
Ten Common Plumbing Mistakes
Building Dry Stone Walls
Interlocking Weatherstripping for Doors
Laying Out and Detailing Wall Plates
Building a Mantel
Inside Look at Kitchen Cabinets, An
Look at Bathroom Lighting, A
Ten Important Elements of a Good Bathroom
Putting Tile to Work in the Kitchen
Burner Basics
Framing Corners
Installing a Rubber Roof
Rules for Finish Carpentry
Choosing a Lavatory Faucet
Rumford Fireplace, Southwestern Style, A
Writing an Owner's Manual for a House
Installing Floor Trusses
Making Bevel-Edge Laminate Countertops
Souping up a Chopsaw Stand
Guide to Exterior Lighting, A
Building Finish Stairs
Circular-Saw Basics
Repainting Kitchen Cabinets
How to Avoid Common Flashing Errors
Building Wood Baseboard-Radiator Covers
Large Cornice Made From Built-up Moldings, A
Shopping for Interior Doors
Different Approach to Rafter Layout, A
Making Lumber With a Bandsaw Mill
Choosing and Installing a Bathroom-Vent Fan
Framing and Sheathing Floors
Lowdown on Levels, The
Choosing Boilers and Controls for Warm Floors
Replacing a Chimney Cap
Installing Laminate Flooring
Bench-Built Window Trim
When Block Foundations Go Bad
All About Driveways
Framing Cathedral Ceilings
Capping a Curved Stair Wall
Fast and Accurate Framing Cuts Without Lines
Three Ways to Weatherstrip a Door
Fanciful Built-in Beds
Tiling With Limestone
Builder's Real-Life First-Aid Kit, A
Putting Fiberglass Insulation in Its Place
Sheathing a Roof
Small Addition, Big Improvement
Forming and Pouring Footings
Plastic Tub-Showers
Wall-Sheathing Choices
Different Approach to Tiling Floors, A
Avoiding Common Framing Errors
Making French Doors
Handling Big Sheets of Drywall
Furniture-Grade Deck, A
Designing and Building a Carpenter's Toolbox
Installing Housewrap
Primer on Heating Systems, A
Restoring Wood With Epoxy
Traditional Cabinetry From a Modern Material
Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations
Roof Flashing
Tool Storage for Pickups
Framing Floors With I-Joists
Designing and Installing Baseboards
Building an Efficient Fireplace
Installing Sliding Doors
Building a Picket Fence
Installing Bifold Doors
Why Exterior Finishes Fail
Nailing Basics
Framing Curved Stairs on Site
Choosing Ductwork
Walk Through Wood Floors, A
Laying up Concrete Block
Building a Curved Deck With Synthetic Decking
Silicone Caulking Basics
Getting More out of Your Rafter Square
Details for a Dry Foundation
Installing Wood Clapboards
Door Hanger's Jigs, A
Detailing Decks Over Living Space
Choosing, Using and Maintaining Paintbrushes
Replacing a Water Heater
Rethinking the Garage
Making Storm Windows
Raising Roof Trusses
Understanding Common Moisture Problems
Reglazing Windows and Doors
Working With Melamine
Safety Fixtures for Table Saws and Shapers
Easy Boring in Concrete, Masonry and Stone
Working Safely on the Roof
Insulation Comes of Age
Cutting out Basic Stairs
Flashing Walls
Granite Countertops
Rail-and-Stile Garden Gate, A
Building Hip and Valley Roofs With Trusses
Faster, Better Drilling for Finish Carpenters
Shedding Light on Skylights
Siding With Cedar Shingles
Making Heart-Pine Cabinets
Adding a Second Story
Retrofitting a Threshold
Details for a Lasting Deck
Placing a Concrete Driveway
Building a Cupola
Sawhorse Roundup
Choosing Resilient Flooring
Installing Electrical Boxes and Receptacles
Two Projects Customize a Kitchen
Avoiding Common Mistakes in Concrete and Masonry
New Way to Repair Old Plaster, A
Adding a Seasonal Porch
Bookshelf Basics
Innovative Deck Railings
Simple Tools for Faster Framing
Quick Way to Build a Squeak-Free Stair, A
Fixing a House With a Bad Foundation
Installing Elegant Wainscot Paneling
Hydronic Radiant-Floor Heating
Synthetic Stucco
Building an Arts and Crafts Stair
Fixing a Cold, Drafty House
Choosing Roofing
Plumbing, Lining and Bracing Framed Walls
Veteran Stairbuilder's Tools and Ticomplicated joinery
These indispensable tools come in many shapes and sizes; here's how to get the most from them.
PVC extrusions offer low cost, low maintenance and thermal performance that rivals wood
On steeply pitched roofs, working from the ridge down is faster, safer and easier on the shingles
A carefully constructed mold is the key to creating a beautiful kitchen counter from everyday materials
One builder's take on installing this fundamental trim element
An electrician describes what kinds to get, where to put them and how to wire them to save lives and homes
Top-grade lumber, clever joinery and some unexpected materials take the place of the traditional stuff on this Oregon deck
Understanding the stuff the house sits on may prevent cost overruns, callbacks and neighborhood gossip
Before you build that eye-catching bay onto the side of a house, you have to get the floor framing right
These safety devices aren't there for looks-they must be well anchored to help prevent bathroom injuries
Installing the flashing along with the bricks makes for a more secure and much better-looking job
A little math and a shop-made router template give classical curves to plywood box columns
A master electrician details some frequently found mistakes that could cost you your house or your life
Get the jambs flush with the drywall, and the miters come easily
Before you slice through studs, make sure you've got the weight of the house well supported elsewhere
The bones beneath concrete's muscle, rebar has to be cut, bent and tied properly to do its job
Spacing the siding away from the housewrap promotes ventilation and drainage for long-lasting siding and paint
A kitchen cupola and bedroom/bath clerestories bring natural light into a suburban ranch
If you don't want the roof to leak, careful flashing details and a watertight membrane should be your primary concerns
Not just a cover-up for lousy drywall work, this approach creates the appearance of hand-troweled plaster using ordinary joint compound
Frequent cleaning and periodic refinishing are the best ways to ensure a long and happy life for these vulnerable creatures
Choosing, mixing, applying and sealing the messy stuff that goes between tiles
Costing less than last month's truck payment, these jacks enable small crews to lift walls that weigh a ton or more
Laying new shingles over old might avoid the cost of a tearoff, but you still have to replace the vents and flashings
A level may be a mason's best friend, but to cover up an unsightly set of concrete steps, an experienced eye takes over
A simple two-part bed hides away to maximize space in a small room
Combining no-nonsense joinery with Baltic-birch plywood and concealed cup hinges in a contemporary kitchen
Waterproofing the foundation walls is only the first step; you also need a system of drains around the foundation that silt won't render useless
Southern yellow-pine treads hide welded-steel brackets that make these stairs appear to float in space
For lifting beams, walls or material, cranes can save your wallet and your back
Making square cuts on wide stock is quick, safe and easy with this simple jig that you can build in a day
Get help when you can, but if you have to install these unwieldy sheets by yourself, it pays to rent a lift
From cracked fingertips and contact allergies to cement burns and skin cancer, the prevention is better than the cure
Impervious to bugs and water, fiber-cement lap siding requires some special tools and techniques to be installed properly
Flexible caulk joints combined with a drainage path for moisture keep vulnerable trim elements rot-free
A thick mortar bed over a vinyl membrane makes a sturdy base for tile, but it pays to test for leaks
Site-built trusses are a speedy way to frame this traditional barn-shaped roof
Stacked on a stable base, interlocking concrete blocks offer a mortarless solution to common landscaping problems
The right tools and a few easily made jigs will give you an edge on your chisels, your planes and your competition
Get the flashing right to ensure leak-free skylights
Whether you're buying, selling or building, here are a few clues to some of the things that can go wrong in a house over time
Rafters are the most basic element to a gable roof, so measure and lay them out carefully to make your roof look like it grew there
Good masonry work blocks most rainwater, and proper flashing details expel what does get through
They can be hard to find, but today's safety glasses are as attractive as designer street glasses and offer much better protection
When water is scarce, collecting rain in a cistern and pumping it into your house make good sense
A simple full-scale pattern takes the confusion out of figuring consistent and safe stair-tread heights
The right fan in the right location will keep you comfortable in winter as well as in summer
The perfect marriage of cost, aesthetics and performance is what suits your lifestyle and budget best
It's the little things that make a good bathroom great
Careful planning from the start is the key to a functional, hassle-free kitchen
Once limited to spas, steam showers at home are good for relaxing, easing a cold or impressing the neighbors
Quiet and almost invisible in the kitchen cabinetry, today's dishwashers are made to clean and not be heard
A cabinetmaker re-creates period detail with redwood salvaged from wine vats
Assembled with regular building skills, ICFs form airtight, insulating concrete walls that finish with standard materials
A professional's tips for rolling and edging paint as efficiently as possible without making a mess
A builder's truck or van is a mobile workshop. Here are five approaches to making the most out of that valuable space.
When the power goes out, a generator can handle your electrical essentials, but it must be wired correctly
From undersize nails to overloaded trusses, here's a look at what builders get wrong when they wing it without an engineer
You can't cope polyurethane molding, but a template, a simple jig and a little bit of luck make it possible to preassemble perfect miter joints
A nailing flange makes installation quick and easy; but pay attention to the details, or you'll never get the windows open
With the stairs as a form, laminating commercially available bending rail is easier than it appears
Wire size, jacket materials and voltage drop are important, often-ignored features of these ubiquitous job-site umbilicals
It's only a small hip roof, but its 45
corners befuddle many carpenters. Drawing bay roofs out full scale is key to fast and accurate framing.
With flexible 1/4-in. drywall and a variety of bendable corner beads to choose from, creating the perfect curve is easier than ever
Digging and pouring a foundation with the house suspended in the air require patience, great subs and a little slight of hand
Weather-resistant construction means this driveway gate will stand up to Rocky Mountain storms for years to come
Flanking a shed dormer with a pair of gable dormers adds light and space inside while jazzing up the roofline
Blown in behind the drywall, high-density cellulose air-seals as it insulates
Careful layout and accurate miters make installing a two-part trim an easier process
Formal or not, comfortable, thought-out dining spaces add to the pleasure of a good meal
OSHA and NAHB team up to identify the key safety issues for residential builders
Made from cast concrete, so-called phony stone is good looking, affordable and easy to work with, but best of all, gravity is not required
Thanks to cement backerboard, you can make a new countertop without ripping out the old one
From tropical hardwoods to man-made plastic composites, the choices are more varied than ever
Why are so many of today's homes plagued by rot, mildew and stale air, and what can we do about it?
A doctor's take on wrist, elbow and shoulder troubles common to builders
Careful planning and knowing exactly where the framing is help factory-made cabinets go in quickly and easily for a custom look with no nasty surprises
A two-level welded-steel rack boosts even a small truck's carrying capacity and pops out easily when you don't need it
Assemble the frames with pocket screws and trim plywood panels with molding for a traditional look
Despite the obstacles, converting that dark, scary place into comfortable living space is much cheaper than adding on
A New Jersey design/build team re-creates a large, comfortable porch with 19th-century details built to last into the 21st century and beyond
Available as single-shot, semiautomatic or full automatic, these low-velocity tools are the ones carpenters choose when driving fasteners into concrete or steel
The Door Frame Should Be Sturdy, Stable And Rotproof
Blame it on sloppy framing or lousy lumber, but many stud walls need some remedial work before the drywall goes on
Fascias, rakes, soffits and corner boards aren't scrutinized like interior woodwork, but they still have to look good and stand up to weather
Yes, recycled lumber and plantation-grown lumber cost more, but designing smaller houses, orienting them for solar gain and minimizing job-site waste don't
Revolving shelves on heavy-duty carousel hardware make the most of a kitchen corner
Ground-source heat pumps rely on buried water loops to heat and cool efficiently and economically
Simple to build and more attractive than plywood, these shutters are also easy to secure when the big one is closing in
Marking and cutting in a single knife stroke and using a router to incise for electrical boxes make a tedious job faster and easier
Framing around an existing roof requires different skeletons for two similar structures
Careful preparation and a boatload of masking tape are the keys to high-quality, high-production interior painting
A little more expensive but a lot longer lasting, steel roofing is an easy-to-install, attractive alternative to shingle or tile roofs
A hollow post made of mitered panels is easily detailed with stock moldings
There are lots of options for taking the chill off. Which one fits your house?
Cold, hard facts about the biggest, most-used appliance in your kitchen
They hold up the house, hold back the earth and keep out the water. If they're not level and square, you may end up custom-cutting every rafter.
Housing electronic equipment, routing wires, storing CDs and dealing with that big TV are all part of the challenge
They're the largest and most visible moving parts of your house, but with all the options out there, don't leave the choice up to someone else
Full-scale patterns on the floor and prefabricated sections help you to build these small dropped ceilings accurately and efficiently
When it comes to job-site safety, your emotional well-being is as important as earplugs and safety goggles
Start with a sturdy wood underlayment, and plan the layout to get cut tiles in the back
Careful testing is your hedge against frayed insulation, faulty splices and missing ground wires
More durable and versatile than ever, water-based exterior house paints are pushing oil to the brink of extinction
A belt sander will be your best friend when fitting factory-made laminate countertops to wavy walls
By using both manufactured and shop-built parts, these versatile cabinets can be made quickly and efficiently
Reinforce the floor and use the right components for years of trouble-free service
A laundry chute, a custom-built towel drawer and a fold-down ironing board ease the tedium of wash day
A full-scale drawing and some shop-built jigs can ease the assembly of expensive stair parts
A curving plywood beam and laminated trim solve some of the problems associated with working in the round
A veteran carpenter surveys the current offerings and tells how he gets the best performance from his planes
Techniques for fixing everything from popped screws to big holes
An orthopedic surgeon explains what goes wrong with knees and suggests ways to protect them
Lay out the curved plates with a trammel, then use them as a bending form for laminated trim
Framing the entire gable while it's flat on the deck is fast and easy. Raising it is a challenge and a danger.
Framing the perimeter first helps to ensure that the posts will land squarely on their piers
When you're installing a towel bar and solid blocking is just a rumor, this inexpensive hardware will do the trick
Knowing where fires commonly start can help builders to avoid tragedy during construction and even after the job is finished
They're as common on job sites as circular saws, but if you're not using your pneumatic nailer properly, maybe you should stick with your hammer
Cementitious backerboard speeds up the job, but start with a subfloor that is firm and flat
The right roof slope, materials and venting will lengthen the life of the roof and the structure under it
Good drainage and a stout connection to the hillside are keys to a long-lasting wall
If your clothes have that shelf and pole at their limit, a more complex system can help you put more clothes into less space
A two-piece sill, 5/4 casing and a backband flesh out stock windows' narrow exterior profile
Getting a durable kitchen work surface starts with careful form work and the right concrete
Drying the foundation and sealing air leaks make houses durable and healthy
Faced with spaces that weren't close to square, this carpenter judiciously applied trim and careful scribing to hide the worst of it
Whether aluminum, copper, steel or plastic, gutters need good design and proper installation to put roof runoff where it belongs
Once the water's gone down the downspout, inexpensive plastic pipes carry it away from the house
Get it at the right height and make sure it's fastened to the framing; someone's life may depend on it
Code now requires a four-slot receptacle to provide both 120 volts and 240 volts
Make face frames after the doors are hung for a perfect fit and quick, no-hassle installation
A building inspector reviews the most frequent violations of the plumbing code
A systematic approach saves time and turns beginners into artists
Arguably the best protection against wind and rain penetration, two-piece bronze can be finicky to install
How a seasoned framer quickly and accurately transforms blueprint dimensions into templates for walls
rame-and-panel base topped with a broad shelf dresses up a plain fireplace
Manufactured kitchens run the gamut on price, materials and craftsmanship
Choosing lamps and fixtures that will give you the most natural-looking and energy-efficient lighting
A little planning along with a thoughtful selection of fittings and fixtures can make all the difference
The right tile in the right place can make or break the look as well as the function of your kitchen
If you think the choice is as simple as gas vs. electric, you could end up with a great-looking stove that takes forever to boil water and even longer to clean
A survey of methods and materials used to build warm, inexpensive and strong corners
Forget the mess of roll roofing-for flat or low-slope roofs, EPDM membranes are the way to go
A veteran builder and teacher shares the rules that shape his work
Before you're sold on style alone, consider how the faucet is made, the type of valve it uses and the finish
A California mason combines the adobe look of a kiva with the heating efficiency of a Rumford
Shouldn't the largest investment most people ever make come with a big, thick instruction book?
Parallel-chord floor trusses are more stable and span greater distances than stick framing, and speedier setup offsets their higher cost
With store-bought moldings and a router, you can give laminate counters the monolithic look of solid-surface material
To get all the features he needed in a chopsaw stand, one finish carpenter made his own extension tables and stops
Safety, security and aesthetics all play an important part in illuminating the outside of your house
With a housed stringer on one side and an open, mitered stringer on the other, these stairs look harder to build than they are
A sidewinder is the most important tool on the job site, but did anybody ever teach you how to use one safely and effectively?
A rentable sprayer and good surface preparation are keys to a new-looking kitchen
Building paper and adhesive-backed bituminous tape are vital ingredients in protecting a building from water damage
A little easy-to-assemble trim dresses up these homely metal heaters
A molding head on a radial-arm saw shapes the coves, and plywood forms support the moldings
There are lots of choices between expensive wooden style-and-rail and cheap hollow-core doors
Measuring along the bottom of the rafters and using a site-built jig simplify the process
One alternative to the high cost and poor quality of lumber these days is finding the trees and cutting them into boards yourself
Pick a fan that's quiet and powerful, and keep the duct short
It may be the age of lasers and electronics, but a sturdy spirit level is still the job-site standard
Homeowners rarely see their chimney caps, and few people have ever called me to repair them. But when I'm asked to inspect a roof or an attic, I generally find myself looking down at the top of the chimney.
How one trim carpenter turns jamb extensions into an advantage by using them to reinforce preassembled window casings
Steel bracing and improved drainage give new life to cracked and wet walls
Handsome, safe and durable driveways provide room for parking, turning and play, and are built on a stable, well-drained base
The challenge boils down to keeping the walls from spreading during and after construction
Wide horizontal laminations show off the grain of the maple caps
They didn't believe it, so I cut this one by eye and took out my square to see how close I came.
Whether vinyl, silicone or bronze, an airtight seal is your best defense against the weather
A look at the design and construction of Scandinavian-inspired bed alcoves
An earthy alternative to the cold, austere look of marble, limestone is easy to work with and maintain
Bandages, bee-sting medicine and everything else a carpenter shouldn't leave home without
Careful installation of fiberglass batts is likely to have a bigger impact on your life than tight-fitting miters
You're 30 ft. in the air, walking on narrow framing members and manhandling sheets of plywood that'll catch the wind like canvas sails. You'd better know what you're doing.
A new entryway dramatically helps the function and appearance of a small Cape
Fill up a trench with concrete--what's to know? If a house is going to stand on those little sidewalks, they'd better be straight, level and correctly placed.
One-piece fixtures are quick to install, but should you buy a gelcoat or an acrylic model?
Today's sheathing materials offer strength, energy-efficiency, economy, and fire-and water-resistance-but not all in the same package
Unlike a plywood or backerboard substrate, a modified mud job might be more reliable over the long haul
By paying attention to some basic details, you can avoid the framing mistakes that building inspectors encounter most frequently
Meticulous layout and milling yield new doors to match the original windows of a 19th-century Greek revival
Longer sheets mean fewer seams and simpler taping and finishing
Hidden fasteners and integral lighting streamline a contemporary, Craftsman-style deck
The best ones are sturdy, lightweight and compact
When properly detailed, high-tech wrappings can reduce the flow of air into outside walls while allowing moisture to escape
You'll save money and stay more comfortable by matching the heating system to your climate, your house and your needs
Instead of tearing out and replacing rotten wood, you can fix damage and make wood look as good and last as long as new
Raised-panel assemblies made from MDF are dimensionally stable, cheaper than solid wood and easy to mill
Used overseas successfully for decades, this innovative foundation system uses carefully placed insulation and a slab with integral footings instead of conventional deep frost walls
Installation details can make the difference between a trouble-free roof and an expensive callback
This simple system could help to restore order under any camper shell
Whether you're building a new house or remodeling an old one, engineered lumber can give you squeak-free floors with fewer callbacks
With stock moldings and simple milling, you can create a variety of designs, but they all require careful fitting
A variation of the Rumford design reflects heat into the room rather than letting it disappear up the chimney
Put the threshold in straight and level, plumb the frame, and the door should glide like a dream
A carpenter uses shop-built sections and sturdy foundations for a traditional structure
Preassembling the jambs and the casings makes for a faster, more accurate job
Government scientists explain why paint cracks, blisters and peels on your house, and how you can prevent it
Despite the advent of nail guns, sometimes you still have to hit the nail on the head
A stud wall, not a laminated stringer, shapes these stairs
The kind of ducts you use and the number and types of turns they make dramatically affect HVAC-system performance
Strip oak is not the only option, but without some guidelines, choosing among strip, plank, prefinished, solid and engineered floors can be tough
Get evenly spaced courses and consistent mortar joints by using the proper layout, mortar consistency and troweling techniques
A multilevel deck with built-in benches and a barbecue pit turns a backyard into a living room
For caulking around bathroom and kitchen fixtures, nothing lasts longer or keeps out moisture better than silicone
If you understand the twelfth scale, your square becomes a durable calculator that never needs batteries
Think of the ground around the house as the roof that keeps the foundation dry
How a seasoned crew uses a story pole and an efficient work sequence to install this traditional siding
A door specialist reveals a few shop-made accessories that make the job faster and easier
When the roof pitch is shallow enough to walk on, clear drainage paths and careful waterproofing are essential
The right brush for the job and the right technique can make painting go more quickly and give you a better-looking paint job
By making a few simple upgrades, you can triple a basic water heater's life expectancy
Three projects illustrate how a room over the garage can be the best room in the house
Wood storm windows look better and seal tighter than mass-produced aluminum and vinyl units
Careful preparation and wise use of a crane can allow a good-size roof to be framed and sheathed in a day
Three case studies illustrate the importance of controlling humidity and air leakage
Replacing glass in wooden frames is painless with the right tools and techniques
Laminate-covered substrate produces a bright, clean and washable cabinet at a lower cost than hardwood panels
Push sticks, push blocks and featherboards keep work on the table and against the fence, with your fingers at a safe distance
Choose the appropriate drill and bit for the job, then respect their limitations
Complying with new OSHA fall-protection regulations takes more than the correct safety gear, it takes a commitment to using the gear correctly
Thermal insulation is changing for the better, becoming more user-friendly and safer for the environment
A straight run of basement steps provides a useful lesson in calculating rise and run, and in cutting stringers
Keeping water moving out and down is the key to effective sidewall flashing
An experienced fabricator explains the process from the templating to the final setting of the slabs
Simple joinery techniques yield a memorable feature for any garden
Keep the numbered trusses in order, and entire hip sections can be assembled on the ground and lifted as single units
Specialty drill bits and accessories speed work and improve accuracy
New options in glazing, sizes and flashing systems can have you scratching your head when trying to choose the right skylight
Woven corners are a good-looking and low-maintenance alternative to corner boards
Recycled wood brings a warm glow to a Virginia kitchen
You can save time and avoid weather worries by building the new roof before tearing off the old one
A three-piece threshold provides extra weather protection, especially in exposed locations
Government scientists study outdoor structures and report on which details, fasteners and finishes hold up best
Careful preparation of the soils and proper positioning of joints and reinforcement are keys to a driveway that lasts a lifetime
The proper proportions and long-lasting materials make a structure that looks good and helps ventilate house, barn or shop
A selection of new and traditional designs for sawhorses that are easy to build, strong and lightweight
Because of environmental concerns, cork and linoleum now compete with vinyl as attractive, durable flooring alternatives
Keep boxes straight and splices tight for safe, trouble-free circuits
A spiceshelf and a decorative steam-bent dish rack improve the looks and the utility of any kitchen
An engineer offers a few simple changes to make walls and foundations much sturdier
If cracks and crumbling plaster have you down, here's a remedy that uses basic methods and materials, and that requires no sanding
A timber-framed, screened-in porch with an awning roof keeps out insects but comes down easily to let in winter sun
A guide to support systems, shelving designs and materials
Using wood, glass and steel to build deck railings that stand out from the crowd
An expert framer describes how to get more done in less time with the help of patterns, templates and jigs
Using plywood instead of framing lumber can guarantee a stable and accurate staircase that won't break the bank
Helical piers go in like giant drywall screws to support a sinking house and a new addition
This three-part system is fast to install, flexible in design and practically unaffected by changes in humidity
Concrete slabs, thin slabs and metal plates offer different ways of routing radiant heat underneath every floor in the home
Exterior insulation and finish systems provide an attractive, energy-efficient, low-maintenance siding; but should you trust them on your house given their recent failures?
An updated and code-compliant interpretation of the classic Greene and Greene Gamble House staircase
Forget about weatherstripping doors and windows. Sealing and insulating the attic are the keys to lower heating bills and a more comfortable house.
Up in the air about using asphalt, wood, slate, tile or metal to keep out the rain? There are lots of choices, and they all have advantages
A framing contractor explains his efficient sequence for keeping walls straight and true
Modified tools and custom jigs expedite staircase assembly
A demonstration house in Canada shows new approaches to energy-efficient, environmentally sensitive construction
Choose the right one for easy drilling through wood, metal or synthetics
Substituting backer board for the traditional mortar bed makes the job easier without sacrificing durability
Proper siting and design strategies enhance energy efficiency
A deck that's built to withstand the weather is united with a small dining room
Hang a hip roof on a gable end for a dramatic roof form
Fluted pilasters and decorative trim make for a mantel that appears complicated but really isn't
Sometimes complex shapes and profiles are easier to make in plaster than in
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