In this episode, Justin, Brian, and Rob return to offer some Happy Thanksgiving wishes. Not to get too far into the weeds on how the podcast sausage is made, if you’ll forgive the mixed metaphor, but we usually record these a couple weeks before they air, so if the timing is off, we end up not exactly sure when a given episode will be released. Well this time we nailed it! Thanksgiving podcast, released on Black Friday! Happy Turkey Day, everybody. Personally, I’m thankful we got this one scheduled just right.

Brian and Justin have been thinking about mantels for an upcoming magazine article. The two guys worked in Justin’s home shop, which he recently upgraded with better storage and organization. By the way, if you are wondering if the right word is “mantel” or “mantle,” the answer is mantel, with an -el at the end. The guys are not as worried about the rules of grammar as your show notes compiler is, but on the other hand, they do care a lot about the rules of building codes for mantels, which they talk a lot about on the show. Justin has a good deal of real-world experience making mantels, so there’s some excellent detail here.

Rob offers an update on his attic renovation project. He has just one more weekend’s worth of work to get the framing done. The guys also discuss dry lumber and splitting, making metal handrails, and built-ins.

The show starts to wind down as the guys get their “ducts in a row” and talk about hockey movies.

But there’s still time for a listener question on electric radiant panels. Common in Europe, less so in the States, turns out Brian had some in his house once. Then the guys return to the question of using (maybe drinking) water from the dehumidifier. Finally, tile and shower specialist Martin has better advice than the guys gave in a previous show.

We hope you will take advantage of two great offers for our podcast listeners: A special 20% off discounted rate to subscribe to the Fine Homebuilding print magazine. That link goes to finehomebuilding.com/podoffer.

Also, we have another special offer for podcast listeners Use coupon code GIFT20 at the Taunton Online Store. We have tons of home construction and remodeling gift ideas over there, electronic and print, for you or for your friends and loved ones. You may even find some ideas for the people in your life who love cooking, gardening, and sewing.

But what about the special offer? The prices in the store have been marked down up to 80%. Yeah, the “up to” part of that is a little weaselly, and you’ll find lots of things that are discounted by a lot less than 80%, honestly. There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. But here’s a true incentive: type in GIFT20 as a coupon code for 20% off.

You might think about gaming the system — I know I did — by taking the special subscription offer and then getting another 20% off that. Sorry, no dice. If you go to the Taunton Store, and you apply the 20% discount, you get the exact same prices as if you go to finehomebuilding.com/podoffer. It’s still a great deal, though, both ways.

We also have our continuing request for listeners … we need all our fans to take our podcast feedback survey by clicking here. There’s a chance to win a $100 American Express gift card. After the promotion ends, you might have a chance to win something else, or our great thanks at the least.

Today’s episode of the Fine Homebuilding podcast is brought to you by Tapco.

Boral and Tapco not only stand for quality, service, and innovation, but now they also stand together, bringing you brands that deliver smart solutions, including Grayne engineered composite shingles. Prefinished Grayne plain-sawn shingles are the ideal replacement for natural cedar. With an unparalleled level of artistry, Grayne engineered composite cedar offers the variation and grain patterns of real cedar shakes and shingles, from every angle. Even better, Grayne shingles are moisture proof and maintenance free. Ten years from now, they’ll look as spectacular as the day they were installed. For more information, visit grayne.com.

The show is driven by our listeners, so please subscribe and rate us on iTunes or Google Play, and if you have any questions you would like us to dig into for a future show, shoot an email our way: [email protected]. Also, be sure to follow Justin Fink, Rob Yagid, and Fine Homebuilding on Instagram — and “like” the magazine on Facebook. Note that you can watch the show above, or on YouTube at the Fine Homebuilding YouTube Channel.

The Fine Homebuilding Podcast embodies Fine Homebuilding magazine’s commitment to the preservation of craftsmanship and the advancement of home performance in residential construction. The show is an informal but vigorous conversation about the techniques and principles that allow listeners to master their design and building challenges.

Here are four great mantel links by Mario Rodriguez:

• Mario’s book mentioned in the podcast, on sale at Amazon.
• Federal Fireplace Mantel at Fine Woodworking.
• FWW Members Only: A Mantel with a Mission.
• FWW Members Only: Build a Fireplace Mantel.

And here are three excellent recent articles on metal-working from Matt Risinger:

• FHB Members Only: Metalwork for Builders.
• Video: Welding 101: Fabricating a Steel Handrail.
• Slide Show: Men of Steel.

Other links related to this podcast:

• Use coupon code GIFT20 at the Taunton Online Store.
• All FHB podcast show notes: FineHomebuilding.com/podcast.
• Like Justin says in this podcast, #KeepCraftAlive tee-shirts make great gifts, and the proceeds support scholarships for building trades students. So go order some shirts at KeepCraftAlive.org.