In this episode, our clock is broken, but we’re trying to stay on time anyway. Fine Homebuilding magazine editor Justin Fink is joined by editorial director Rob Yagid and design editor Brian Pontolilo.

Brian wants to talk about his divided light French door — that’s it, above, after frosting. He has one in his bedroom that opens on his living space. There was a shade on the back of the door for privacy, but he decided to frost the glass instead. The guys talk about alternatives, such as films and sprays that frost the glass — Brian used a spray product on his job.

Justin compares and contrasts with milk paint. And that reminds Rob of a bathroom vanity Justin made and painted with milk paint. Links on that are below, so scroll way down please.

Continuing to chat about coatings and finishes, Brian has more to say about finishing his stained pine kitchen cabinet project. And Rob is interested in cordless and corded sprayers.

We have a listener rant from Josh, about net zero requirements in California, responding to Episode 106. He says:

I’m all on board with the idea that people SHOULD go as far as they can toward reaching the goals of green building best-practices. We are looking to buy a home in the next few months here in California and will seek to make any modifications we can toward that goal. I am completely opposed to making it a code requirement though.

First, justifying it based on the argument that it’s about “safety” is an absurd expansion of what building codes should be about. Building codes set a minimum standard of safety – defined as “the building isn’t going to fall down on me, I can get out if there’s a fire, I shouldn’t have sewage in my potable water” – they shouldn’t be there to set the standard for best practices. If you can justify net-zero with a safety argument, why not make the WUI standards a requirement across the state? or fire sprinklers?

Also, for someone buying a home today, they can count on their mortgage consuming anywhere from 35% to 50% or more of their monthly income. Adding PV arrays, battery back-up, slightly more expensive wall assemblies, etc adds to the upfront cost, and arguing otherwise defies logic.

So, there are plenty of arguments to be made that people SHOULD demand and buy a net zero home. Heck, we would buy one IF WE COULD AFFORD IT. But why should all of this be a code requirement? Are typical code-built homes as good as they could be? Of course not. But I think you’d have a hard time convincing most people that they aren’t safe.

Justin thinks Josh has a good point, that codes have traditionally been about about basic safety, not energy efficiency … incentivized, yes; required, maybe not. Brian points out that some issues are local or regional (fire sprinklers), while other issues have wide effects, even globally (net zero). Energy efficiency is necessary everywhere. Safety is not just structural; it is linked to everything else in our world, says Brian. Rob draws a comparison to cars, with fuel efficiency and emissions standards. He thinks that modifying the way we build houses to make better use of our resources is a reasonable expansion of the code. Rob worries about the economic argument too, though; banks and financing have not yet caught up with these costs.

The guys also discuss how, in this age of water shortages and droughts, home water management may well be going the same way that energy management has evolved.

Trivia, also thanks to Josh: Pronouncing state names: NevAda or NevAHda.

Listener Tim writes:

I’m wrapping up two desks with drawer cabinets, and the style is based on Justin’s FHB bathroom vanity build, and FWW’s “Build a Computer Desk.” I liked Justin’s simple shaker style, but I went my own way on the cabinet construction technique. I glued/screwed notched, full-length legs to a biscuit-joined 3/4” plywood box, and then essentially “trimmed” out the plywood box to give it a rail/stile look without all the rail/stile fuss. To me this type of cabinet construction makes a lot of sense: super strong, efficient to build and keep square, and the drawer hardware attaches easily … at first I thought this was all my own idea but then yesterday I realized BRIAN built his kitchen cabinets this same way back in episode 44. And I apparently subconsciously copied him. My question is why aren’t more drawer cabinets / vanities / built-ins etc built like this?

• How Tim’s vanity was built.
• How the Fine Woodworking desk was built.
• AND check out the gallery of photos from Tim — Scroll down and click!

And listener Chris sends in a question:

Gentlemen, when it comes to hidden joinery, what are your thoughts on biscuits, dominos, and pocket screws? Do you have a favorite, or use all three?

The guys discuss the pros and cons.

This episode of the podcast is brought to you by Benjamin Moore.

Everyone can paint. This is true. But not everyone can get the project done right. And Benjamin Moore knows that’s why you’re on the job. You’re more than a paintbrush and a ladder. Your client can buy those things at a hardware store, but they hired you for your skills and expertise. You know every paint job is different and that it takes more than one coat for the best finish. Benjamin Moore believes in doing things the right way. Because everyone can paint, but to do it right, it takes an expert contractor, it takes more than one coat and it takes Benjamin Moore. Paint like no other.

We hope you will take advantage of a great offer 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.

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.

Links related to this episode:

• Justin’s Build Your Own Bathroom Vanity article (finished with milk paint, for members only).
• Bathroom Vanity Slideshow (goes with the above article, but open to anybody, even non-members).
• Don’t Be Afraid to Spray.
• Rob’s article on Bringing the Water Shortage Home.
• The Future of Water.
• Fine Woodworking’s Joinery Shootout (FWW members only).
• Readers Respond to the Joinery Shoot Out (for non-members).
• All FHB podcast show notes: FineHomebuilding.com/podcast.
• Sales of the NEWLY REDESIGNED #KeepCraftAlive tee-shirts support scholarships for building trades students. So go order some shirts at KeepCraftAlive.org.
• The direct link to the online store is here.

Please also click the Launch Gallery button below to see the photos of Tim’s desk project.