Skills and Techniques - Page 509 of 644

Q: The engineers at our office have an ongoing debate about what causes the horizontal crack commonly found around the tops of brick masonry chimneys. Some argue that it’s related to…

When my wife and I purchased a new door for an outdoor structure we were building, it arrived unpainted. My wife drew the task of finishing the door, and once…

Mike Guertin details 2 reliable methods for extending the eaves on a house to shed rainwater better.

Quick to make and easy to use, this plywood guide keeps courses straight and on layout.

A few years ago, I attended a seminar sponsored by a cedar-shingle manufacturer. The local rep showed a film of a real professional installing shingles. This guy was nailing so…

I think the most frustrating splinters are those microscopic ones that you can't see. They're too small to spot with a magnifying glass and too short to pull out with…

Understanding the purpose of each framing member—particularly studs, plates, and headers—will help you learn how to properly frame load-bearing walls.

Q: My husband and I live in an 1850s 1-1/2-story, balloon-frame house. Floor joists for the second-floor bedroom are 2x6s that span 12 ft. The joists have a definite sag…

Q: I read Rex Cauldwell’s article Ten Common Wiring Problems, hoping that he would address voltage drop in electrical lines. In today’s larger houses, it’s not uncommon to have wiring runs…

This trick will help you find the right wire every time.