FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

16′ x 20′ “gazebo”

SteveInCleveland | Posted in General Discussion on June 9, 2009 10:16am

Okay, so I’ve got a client who is asking for a 16’ x 20’ rectangular gazebo.  No wood floor, they will use pavers as the floor (to match the rest of their patio area).  If possible, they only want 4 posts (one in each corner), and there would be no railing.  So basically, just 4 posts with a hip roof structure. 

<!—-><!—-> <!—->

Anybody ever do one like this?  With those dimensions, it seems 4 more posts would make a lot more sense.  They’re just trying to keep this space as open as possible. 

 

If only 4 corner posts, wouldn’t steel make more sense?

 

Please let me know your thoughts.

 

 

 

“Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.”  – St. Francis of Assisi

No, I didn’t vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. seeyou | Jun 09, 2009 10:25pm | #1

    Why is this in the tavern?

    http://www.quittintime.com/      View Image        

    1. User avater
      SteveInCleveland | Jun 09, 2009 10:33pm | #2

      good point. 

       

       

      "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

      No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

    2. oldbeachbum | Jun 09, 2009 11:03pm | #3

      new doctrine? 

      I'm not flippin' you off.........just counting cubits

    3. User avater
      Luka | Jun 09, 2009 11:06pm | #4

      Because that's where he posted it...Something is only impossible... Until it isn't...You are always welcome at Quittintime

    4. MikeHennessy | Jun 09, 2009 11:56pm | #7

      'Cause we're gonna use the gazebo for beer? ;-0Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.

    5. User avater
      SteveInCleveland | Jun 10, 2009 06:46pm | #16

      ... because you never know who just might belly up to the bar.

      I got an email from Joe Wood with a link to some of his work.  In fact, he makes a structure in the exact dimensions my client was asking for.  Even sells plans for them.

      I thought you guys might appreciate his craftsmanship.....

      http://woodsshop.com/Azumaya/16x20/16x20.htm

        

       

       

      "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

      No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

      1. seeyou | Jun 10, 2009 11:04pm | #21

        Very nice - Thanks.http://www.quittintime.com/      View Image        

      2. User avater
        FatRoman | Jun 10, 2009 11:17pm | #22

        I've long admired Joe's work. Wish he'd post some more of that here.Now, what size copper pipes are you going to use for this project?'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

        View Image

        1. User avater
          SteveInCleveland | Jul 10, 2009 03:31am | #25

          No copper pipes for this project, but if there were, I'd probably go with... :)

          I did wrap the fascias with copper though, the homeowners love it.

          I'll try to post some photos tonight. 

           

           

          "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

          No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

  2. mike_maines | Jun 09, 2009 11:16pm | #5

    I've done a carport with similar dimensions.  Oversize everything, use LVL's, tie it all down with lots of steel.  I think we had 6x6 PSL or LVL posts, wrapped with Azek, sitting on concrete-filled stone-wrapped piers and giant cast-in post bases.

  3. oldbeachbum | Jun 09, 2009 11:24pm | #6

    just curious.....how large would the posts have to be to resist racking, wind and maybe snowload........

     

    the reason I'm asking is I'd like to plan a gazebo here but we are subject to some really bad winds in the winter months......I'm  considering hexagonal or octagonal, four would make me leery of the stability

     

    I'm not flippin' you off.........just counting cubits



    Edited 6/9/2009 4:27 pm by oldbeachbum

    1. john7g | Jun 10, 2009 01:04am | #8

      4x4s would be adequate but would look spindly.  6x6 look a lot batter and open up different options for knee braces.  They 4x4s would handle the snow load OK but the foundation they sit on must consider the loads.  How those post are connected to the beams for the roof to sit determines how it will handle any racking.  Knee braces mounted about a 1/3 of the way down the posts (if possible) ought to handle the wind loading. 

      It's pretty much a hay shed with no sides. 

  4. Jay20 | Jun 10, 2009 01:20am | #9

    Steve I put up a Gazebo like your are mentioning near a lake for a guy bunches of years ago. I used  6 X 6 posts because they looked better. Additionally I had a steel guy make me 8, 5-1/2" X 36" by 1/4" plates with holes that bolts could go through. I sunk them 18" into concrete piers leaving 18" sticking up as post anchors. I used threaded rods and nuts to space the two pieces in each pier 5-1/2" apart. I let the threaded rods extend 3" outside the plates on both sides in the pier for anchoring the plates to the pier. This gave me some lateral bracing at the base. Additional I put diagonal bracing at the top of each Columbia. Wind load will be your biggest issue. Keeping it from blowing over.

  5. mike4244 | Jun 10, 2009 01:50am | #10

    I worked on 6 similar structures with hip roofs. I recall 8x8 posts ,do not recall the spacing but I do know there were more than one in each corner. 4x8 were morticed into the post and header on a 45° on each post rach way .The angle braces were draw pinned.

    Do you have an architects drawing and a permit? Both will help you determine what is neccesary for a safe structure.

    mike

  6. MFournier | Jun 10, 2009 01:52am | #11

    I may just be in a cranky mood today (Rained all day when I needed to get foundation work done) but the ONLY reply I can come up with is simply to advise you to let a architect or at least a experienced designer, design this please.

    If you do not know how it should be framed already you sure are not qualified to design it correctly or the most esthetically pleasing way. It may seem like over kill to hire an architect to design a simple gazebo but you know there is something to be said for leaving somethings to those who know what they are doing and are good at what they do. Then building it will be as easy as following the plans. And you will get a nice set of drawings to submit to you town building department with a engineers stamp on it. Not only will you be sure it will be safe and up to code it will look good too.

    Nothing I hate worse then builder "that should hold it" designs that although may work esthetically leave much to be desired. (no offense intended to builders that are also good designers I know there are many out there)

    Charge the customer a design fee and pay an expert.

    1. User avater
      SteveInCleveland | Jun 10, 2009 04:31am | #14

      That is what will be done.  I just posted this here in the tavern to get some input from everybody.  There's a wealth of knowledge here.  Plans will be done in CAD and permit pulled.

      We'll probably do the roof structure in steel down on the ground and lift it into place with our crane. 

       

       

       

      "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

      No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

      Edited 6/10/2009 11:46 am ET by SteveInCleveland

    2. User avater
      SteveInCleveland | Jul 09, 2009 04:52am | #23

      Wrapped up this project last Thursday.  It turned out very nicely.  I'll be sure to post some photos.  I was able to utilize four 6" x 10" posts (one in each corner).  

       

       

      "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

      No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

      1. mike_maines | Jul 10, 2009 12:31am | #24

        Congrats.  I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures and details of how you ended up deciding to build it.

        1. User avater
          SteveInCleveland | Jul 10, 2009 03:32am | #26

          Thanks.  I'll try to upload some photos tonight. 

           

           

          "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

          No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

        2. User avater
          SteveInCleveland | Jul 11, 2009 04:10pm | #29

          Last night I uploaded some photos of that recent project. 

           

           

          "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

          No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

          1. joewood | Jul 11, 2009 07:39pm | #30

            That's a nice looking roof Steve! The copper's a very nice touch :-)What type of lumber is that, it's so white.Tell us about those beams (6x10?) and did you have that span calc'd?
            How are the beams attached to the posts, can't quite tell. Are they let-in to the posts at all?http://woodsshop.com/

          2. User avater
            SteveInCleveland | Jul 12, 2009 05:05am | #32

            Had the framing lumber delivered from the local Lowe's.  I was all impressed with the quality.  Did not have to exchange any bad pieces.

            All beam to column connections are bolted with grade 8.  I've attached a few close-up photos of this.  We left the tops of the beams two inches above the tops of the columns so that we could install brackets at the top of the columns after all initial beam to column connections were made. 

             

             

            "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

            No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

          3. stevent1 | Jul 11, 2009 08:46pm | #31

            Steve,Very nice work.Thanks for sharing.Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood

          4. User avater
            SteveInCleveland | Jul 12, 2009 05:06am | #33

            Thanks.  We almost went with shake shingles.  I was pleased with how nice the asphalt architectural shingles looked when I was done with the project. 

             

             

            "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

            No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

          5. User avater
            SteveInCleveland | Sep 18, 2009 07:25pm | #34

            Here are a couple of final project photos with all of the landscaping completed as well...... 

             

             

            "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

            No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

          6. andybuildz | Sep 19, 2009 12:42am | #35

            really NICE!View Image

            The Woodshed Tavern Backroom

            The Topics Too Hot For Taunton's Breaktime Forum Tavern

          7. User avater
            SteveInCleveland | Sep 19, 2009 03:36am | #36

            Thanks.  The homeowners love it, so that's a plus. 

             

             

            "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

            No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

          8. Hackinatit | Sep 19, 2009 06:30am | #37

            How many mammograms would the money for that retreat have paid?

            Terrible waste of precious resources, as well.

            Forget that it is a beautiful example of what humans can do with comfort, art and profit motive can create.

            Nice place!A La Carte Government funding... the real democracy.

          9. User avater
            SteveInCleveland | Sep 19, 2009 04:38pm | #38

            Thanks!

            The homeowner dropped his kid's health insurance to pay for it. ;) 

             

             

            "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

            No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

  7. User avater
    McDesign | Jun 10, 2009 02:25am | #12

    Visually, four columns would have to be farly large in cross-section - like 10-20 inches.  Structurally, the vertical load is no problem - it's the racking that's the issue - each post is basically a vertical cantilever, with the ground providing the resisting moment.

    I tend to use hollow composite columns over a concrete and steel "plug" that goes into the ground and then up 3-4' into the column.

    Here's a thread -  http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=105500.1

    of this -

    View Image

    Forrest

    1. User avater
      SteveInCleveland | Jun 10, 2009 01:40pm | #15

      Terrific. I'll certainly take a look at that thread!  Thank you. 

       

       

      "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

      No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

  8. craigf | Jun 10, 2009 02:28am | #13

    Do you have some way of generating a sketch of this? In my mind it would look odd to have only four posts. As far as "open" goes, what does another set of posts really matter?

    Then again, I'd wear stripes and plaids if my wife would let me.

  9. User avater
    Mongo | Jun 10, 2009 06:49pm | #17

    One way to beef up the corners while leaving the spans open would be to use multiple posts in each corner.

    Make 'em square or make em round. Depends on the look desired and/or the house details if overall coordination is a goal.

    Lemme see if I can hunt down a photo...

    Well, scale-wise this isn't exactly what I was thinking of, but it's the first thing that came up on google. To me this is a little skimpy:

    View Image

    This one's a little fancier...I think this is one of Lawrence's as a matter of fact.

    View Image

    The next one is Lawrence's too. I was looking for one with this post configuration but with three round posts.

    View Image

    Do check out Lawrence's site. He has some purdy stuff.

    1. User avater
      SteveInCleveland | Jun 10, 2009 06:57pm | #18

      Some great ideas.  Thanks for your efforts! 

       

       

      "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

      No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

    2. MannyG | Jun 10, 2009 07:01pm | #19

      Damn, you beat me to it! Was was sitting here reading through the posts about fat posts thinking, "why not use multiple posts at the corners?" Put three in each corner in an L layout 24" apart oc and not only is the scale/look better, but you also close the spans considerably (that 20' problem becomes 16', which is easy) and it becomes easy to incorperate brackets to further resist racking.Seems like a no-brainer to me unless the owner is dead set against it, in which case I would prefer to see something fabricated with steel.

      1. User avater
        Mongo | Jun 10, 2009 09:37pm | #20

        It's about time I beat someone to something!<g>Too many times I compose a post, and by the time I get to post it three other have beaten me to the punch.I either need to type faster or type less. Or maybe both.Or just do what I normally do. Sit back and lurk.

  10. junkhound | Jul 10, 2009 03:45am | #27

    There is a 20 x 20 4 post shelter in the park near me.

    All welded steel structure, 6" sq tube posts, 3x5 roof panel supports, 4 4x6 tube hip beams, roof load held by tension in the peripheral 6x6 edge roof panel supports.

    1. User avater
      SteveInCleveland | Jul 11, 2009 04:35am | #28

      Okay, so the project I had asked advice about was completed last week.  I flew  into <!----><!----><!---->Harrisburg<!---->, <!---->PA<!----><!----> for this one.  The project was about an hour from <!----><!---->Harrisburg<!----><!---->.

      <!----><!----> <!---->

      We ended up using 6” x 10” x 3/8” thick aluminum for the columns and the beams.  We sprayed them with a self-etching primer in the shop before taking them to the site.  The landscapers will be wrapping the bottom few feet of the columns with stone and some sort of cap treatment.

      <!----> <!---->

      I did not want the concrete to degrade the columns at all, so we wrapped the bottom of the columns (outside & inside with weatherwatch).  I was pleased with how that turned out (it stuck really well).  When climbing around on the roof, the structure did not have any discernable movement.  It is quite strong.

      <!----> <!---->

      We set the two front posts first using a fast setting concrete.  Then we worked off of those posts to double-check everything for square.

      <!----> <!---->

      The front and back beams were 19’ 10” long, the two side beams are 15’ long.  So the final dimensions are 16’ x 19’ 10”, with a 24” overhang on all sides.  The beams and columns were marked and drilled for connecting with bolts.

      <!----> <!---->

      We glued and screwed 2 x 6’s to the top of the beams and then nailed our roof rafters into those 2 x 6 top plates.  We settled on a 5/12 roof pitch.

      <!----> <!---->

      To save time, and for the initial figuring for lumber, and prior to doing any AutoCAD drawings, I sometimes utilize a website called   http://www.blocklayer.com/roof .  It’s free and an easy way to layout your hip roofs in your initial planning stages.  I’ve attached a photo file of the roof layout for you to see.

      <!----> <!---->

      I precut and stacked the ridge, the common rafters, the hips, and all of the creepers prior to installing any of them.  Then we started with the layout of the ridge and the common rafters.  From there, we installed the hips, then all of the creepers.  Everything was very square, so nailing in the all of the roof framing went very smoothly.

      <!----> <!---->

      The homeowner had a 30’ length of 24” wide copper flashing in his garage.  Another contractor had recently done two small copper roofs over the home’s rear bay windows.  I ripped that 24” wide copper into three 8” wide strips.  I cut those pieces into manageable 10’ lengths so I could fit them into the brake, and bent them to fit around the fascia boards.  The homeowner asked that I face nail the copper as he wanted to see the copper nailheads.  In the end, the homeowner loved the look.  It kind of ties the pavilion into the house a little more.  In a couple of photos, you can see the copper on the home’s bay windows.  I needed a total of 88 linear feet, and I had 90 linear feet.  :)

      <!----> <!---->

      Great property; neat old house.  The original section is an old log cabin.  The “new” addition (the stone part with 18” thick walls) has a cornerstone dated 1817.

      <!----> <!---->

      The painters will be spraying the visible rafters and roof sheathing.  I’ll get some photos when that is all complete.  There will also be a small waterfall and pond in the area adjacent to the pavilion, on the hillside where you see a large tarp and vinyl fencing.

      <!----> <!---->

      Thanks again to everybody.  As always, lots of great suggestions from the Breaktime crew.

      <!----> <!---->

      The inspector asked when we could build one in his backyard!

       

       

       

        

       

       

      "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

      No, I didn't vote for him; but he IS my president.  I pray for the his safety, and the safety of his family every day.  And I pray that he makes wise decisions.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Grout-Free Shower Panels

Engineered-stone shower panels are waterproof, but proper installation relies on tight seams and silicone sealing.

Featured Video

A Modern California Home Wrapped in Rockwool Insulation for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance

The designer and builder of the 2018 Fine Homebuilding House detail why they chose mineral-wool batts and high-density boards for all of their insulation needs.

Related Stories

  • How Trump's “Big Beautiful Bill” Will Affect the Inflation Reduction Act
  • A Drip-Free, Through-Window Heat Pump
  • Podcast Episode 690: Sharpening, Wires Behind Baseboard, and Fixing Shingle Panels
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Hand Tool Sharpening Tips

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • 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
  • Old House Journal – August 2025
    • Designing the Perfect Garden Gate
    • Old House Air-Sealing Basics
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data