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Issue 264 – Dec 2016/Jan 2017

On the Cover

Trimming Curved Stairs

Site-laminated handrails, flexible skirtboards, and off-angle miters are standard on winding walkways.

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Features

  • The Right Header for Every Wall
    The Right Header for Every Wall

    Several code-approved options beyond the standard double 2x12 save material and energy.

  • Problem-Free Pocket Doors

    Follow these installation guidelines and your pocket doors will work for a lifetime.

  • Tool Test: Compact Routers

    Choose the best tool for profiling, flush trimming, and mortising one-handed.

  • What You Didn’t Know About Alarms

    Smoke alarms and CO alarms are more nuanced than most people realize.

  • coffered ceilings
    A New Approach to Coffered Ceilings

    Foam-core beams and moldings make for an attractive, easy-to-install coffered ceiling.

  • Right-Size Mechanical Systems for Energy Efficiency and Comfort
    Right-Size Mechanical Systems for Energy Efficiency and Comfort

    HVAC expert Jordan Goldman offers advice on designing and installing the right systems for your home—which could be smaller and more affordable than you expect.

Article

  • A Faster, More Durable Floor Finish

    Portable UV equipment yields a fully cured finish in seconds, not days.

  • Small Addition, Big Impact

    A 2-ft. bump-out brings a midcentury home into the next century.

  • FHB House: A Hardworking Spare Interior

    6 types of specialized drywall in this home address demands for quieter spaces, durable surfaces, and better air quality.

  • FHB House: Traditional Look, Low Maintenance

    Exterior claddings and durable interior finishes create a resilient and attractive home.

  • FHB House: Appliances Are the Daily Touch Points of a House

    Featuring efficiency, convenience, and high-performance for a tight house.

Tools & Materials

  • Right-priced Spray Rig

    Although some aspects of the setup are awkward, and it lacks some of the features found on higher-end kits, this is a true bang-for-your-buck miracle.

  • Smart Tools for Smartphones

    These three gadgets are designed for connectivity.

  • Durable Do-It-All Jacket

    Is that a battery in your pocket, and why do you look so warm?

  • Frustration-free Safety Glasses

    The lenses don’t attract dust and resist scratches.

Project Gallery

  • Project Gallery: Everything Under the Sun for Fun

    This barn and silo was converted to a dining and dance hall.

Energy Smart Details

  • Do I Need a Vapor Retarder?
    Do I Need a Vapor Retarder?

    Most buildings don’t need polyethylene anywhere, except directly under a concrete slab or on a crawlspace floor.

Building Skills

  • Building Skills: Install a Subfloor
    Installing a Subfloor

    If subflooring panels can move against the joists or abutting sheets, they will squeak.

Drawing Board

  • Drawing Board: Second-Floor Additions for a Ranch House

    While designing a first-floor addition that looks like it has always been there is often straightforward, designing a second-floor addition can present a host of design hurdles.

Tailgate

  • Tailgate: Interview with Andrew Legge

    This founder at Havelock Wool uses wool from New Zealand to create natural, alternative insulation.

Finishing Touches

  • Finishing Touch: Two Cabins Become One

    This mix of minimalism and historical textures balances both the old and the new.

More? View Past Issues

Ask the Experts

  • Adding Head Flashing
  • Drywall Repairs and Vapor Barriers
  • Insulating an Old Cottage
  • How to Deal With a Humid Basement

Readers Tips

  • Ladder with a Soft Touch
  • Sharpening Utility-Knife Blades
  • Keep the Paint Flowing
  • Stuck-Together Mud Buckets
  • Magnetized Tape Holds Nail
  • Tapeless Drywall Patches

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop

Fine Home Building

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