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

straightening a wall

CaptainMayhem | Posted in Tools for Home Building on January 1, 2009 10:43am

I worked for this framing crew a few years back and as we stood walls instead of bracing them up with 2xs they’d use turnbuckles..I think that’s the name for them…They use em in form work all the time..Anyhow, it was real slick cause when you went to straighten said wall all it took was a turn of a wrench as opposed to a bow and arrow or some other janky method…anyone else out there ever use these…I found some in the next town over but they were a bit pricey…I’m thinking about making a bunch somehow out of different sampson hangers..

All I ever wanted in life was an unfair advantage…

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

Replies

  1. User avater
    jonblakemore | Jan 01, 2009 10:59pm | #1

    These may be what you remember seeing:View ImageMike Smith made his own- you can see them here:View Image

     

    Jon Blakemore

    RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

    1. mikeroop | Jan 01, 2009 11:14pm | #2

      John how did you make the word these a link?

      1. User avater
        jonblakemore | Jan 01, 2009 11:34pm | #6

        Here is what my HTML version looks like:<a href=http://www.proctorp.com/wallproducts/img/prod_4a.jpg>These</a> may be what you remember seeing:<p>
        <img src="http://www.proctorp.com/wallproducts/img/prod_4a.jpg&quot; ><p>Mike Smith made his own- you can see them here:<p>
        <img src=http://forums.taunton.com/n/docs/docDownload.aspx?guid=2D886FCF-FE53-414B-B73B-BA2E78E1B62F&webtag=tp-breaktime><P>So, to make "these" a link, all you would do is type <a href=web address you want to link to here>These</a>. It's not really much more work than copying and pasting a link.If you go to this link:http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=86247.38&search=yYou will find a tutorial at that link. To be fair, I must say that I'm pretty sure Luka was the one who wrote that, I just copied and pasted. 

        Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

      2. rasconc | Jan 03, 2009 02:44am | #41

        Load:

         TinyURL.com

        Then you can name it what you want.  Thnks to Pif who turned me on to it after seeing it here for a while.For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.

    2. User avater
      hubcap | Jan 01, 2009 11:29pm | #4

      I have four of them-  cost around 25 bucks each

      like the catalog pics

      they are great- one guy can straighten a wall no problem

      I am getting some made up like Mike's because they can be lengthened for taller walls.

      mine are only practical for up to about 12' wall height.No Tag

    3. Riversong | Jan 01, 2009 11:34pm | #7

      Problem with Mikes' homemade version is that in this picture he's pushing/pulling on the studs instead of the top plate.

        

      Riversong HouseWright

      Design *  * Build *  * Renovate *  * ConsultSolar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes

      1. User avater
        jonblakemore | Jan 01, 2009 11:51pm | #8

        Aren't the studs connected to the plate?I don't see the issue. You stand the wall, string & brace, install joists/rafters/trusses, pop braces loose. Where's the plate going to go? 

        Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

        1. Riversong | Jan 02, 2009 12:26am | #9

          The idea of wall bracing (besides just keeping it from falling over) is to straighten the top plate before nailing off floor or ceiling joists. That's what springboards are for.  Commercial wall screws, like in the first picture, are always attached to the top plate for fine-tuning.

           

          Riversong HouseWright

          Design *  * Build *  * Renovate *  * ConsultSolar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes

          Edited 1/1/2009 4:26 pm ET by Riversong

          1. User avater
            jonblakemore | Jan 02, 2009 12:39am | #10

            I understand that, but as the stud goes, so goes the plate.I don't understand why a brace attached to a stud which is solidly attached to the plates cannot move the plates. 

            Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

          2. Riversong | Jan 02, 2009 01:06am | #11

            I don't understand why a brace attached to a stud which is solidly attached to the plates cannot move the plates.

            Define "solidly attached". Most framers shoot two 0.131" gun nails into the endgrain of each stud. The double top plate is usually in place before stringing and straightening, as that will effect the alignment of the wall.

            You excert any force on a single stud (particularly without full sheathing in place, as in the picture) and it's far more likely to shift on the plate than to straighten out a double plate.

            You will not find a commercial wall-straightening jack that is not intended to be tied to the top plates. This is standard (and correct) industry practice.

             

            Riversong HouseWright

            Design *  * Build *  * Renovate *  * ConsultSolar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes

            Edited 1/1/2009 5:07 pm ET by Riversong

          3. frammer52 | Jan 02, 2009 02:16am | #12

            Bob, I don't know about Mike but we always toenailed the studs we attach the braces to.

          4. Riversong | Jan 02, 2009 06:28am | #19

            Bob, I don't know about Mike but we always toenailed the studs we attach the braces to.

            Who the hell is Bob?

            So you decide in advance which of the studs will get braced and toe-nail those?

            Or you toe-nail them upside down once the wall is standing? 

            Riversong HouseWright

            Design *  * Build *  * Renovate *  * ConsultSolar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes

          5. frammer52 | Jan 02, 2009 03:18pm | #24

            sorry Robert.

            Or you toe-nail them upside down once the wall is standing

            Upside down?

            Yes we nail after the wall is standing as we straighten with a gun in one hand and 2x4 in the other.

          6. User avater
            jonblakemore | Jan 02, 2009 03:04am | #13

            Look, I think the commercial wall braces are great. I've used them before and they're nice.Still, I've straightened many walls with a brace fastened to the stud and not the plate. If you use good plate material, you shouldn't have to exert a tremendous amount of force on it.<!---->
            *edited for spelling 

            Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA<!---->

            Edited 1/1/2009 7:10 pm ET by JonBlakemore

          7. Snort | Jan 02, 2009 03:15am | #14

            Since you seem to be such a sematic stickler... the problem you actually have with Mike's apparatus is in it's placement, not the the actual apparatus, course maybe your real problem is with Mike... but I guarantee you Mike's placement will straighten out the top plate with very little effort, and no damage.... I know, I know, if you really believe it, you can't be wrong.http://www.tvwsolar.com

            Now you see this one-eyed midget

            Shouting the word "NOW"

            And you say, "For what reason?"

            And he says, "How?"

            And you say, "What does this mean?"

            And he screams back, "You're a cow

            Give me some milk

            Or else go home"

          8. Framer | Jan 02, 2009 04:54am | #18

             Most framers shoot two 0.131" gun nails into the endgrain of each stud. The double top plate is usually in place before stringing and straightening, as that will effect the alignment of the wall.

            I toenail studs top and bottom. The braces get nailed to the top of the stud just under the top plate.Double top plate is always on before the walls are lifted the way we frame.

            You excert any force on a single stud (particularly without full sheathing in place, as in the picture) and it's far more likely to shift on the plate than to straighten out a double plate.

            That might be true nailing the way you said, but it's not true toenailing. Studs don't move when pulling/pushing a brace.

            You will not find a commercial wall-straightening jack that is not intended to be tied to the top plates. This is standard (and correct) industry practice.

            Maybe that's the standard and correct way with wall jacks, but it's doesn't have to be done nailing braces into the side of toenailed studs.

            Joe Carola

            Edited 1/1/2009 8:56 pm ET by Framer

      2. MikeSmith | Jan 02, 2009 04:03am | #15

        actually.... in that pic i wasn't straightening.... just temporary wind bracing

        before we set joists, we'll double the plate, and string and block .... a wall like that will probably get two adjuster braces...probably nailed to the stud , sometimes to a plate

        the braces will stay in place until the subfloor is glued and nailed

        we started out using spring braces , like everyone else......

        View Image

        but i saw these at a concrete equp. supply house back in 2001....  just  tack nail them to any piece of wood

        you can also drive a rebar stake thru them  if you are working over gravel instead of flooring

        View Image

        when you strip , all you have to transport and store is a 2' piece of hardware

        here, we're using one to  brace the  beam  in a plumb  position

        View Image

         

        Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

        Edited 1/1/2009 8:05 pm ET by MikeSmith

        Edited 1/1/2009 8:05 pm ET by MikeSmith

        Edited 1/1/2009 8:07 pm ET by MikeSmith

        1. Marson | Jan 02, 2009 04:35am | #16

          We call 'em "turnbuckles" which probably isn't the proper name. Funny, but we always nail them to a stud or top plate, and have the other end fastened to a stake or a block on the floor or whatever. I can't tell you why that is. I guess one guy can easily string a wall, though usually there are a few involved.

      3. User avater
        JeffBuck | Jan 03, 2009 11:28am | #48

        I'd just like to add that I also think Mike is 100% wrong all the time, even when I know he's right.

        so I think you are 100% right, even when you are totally wrong.

        damn that Mike Smith!

         

        I say it's his fault that you are wrong so often ...

        fancy turnbuckle guy ... why I oughta ....

        what with his wall straightening and such!

         

        one day Smith ... one day ... you'll see ...

        Jeff    Buck Construction

         Artistry In Carpentry

             Pittsburgh Pa

        1. MikeSmith | Jan 03, 2009 05:05pm | #49

          hah... i put the stamp on your letter upside down , didn't i ?it's always the little things that get under your skinMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

          1. User avater
            JeffBuck | Jan 04, 2009 08:31am | #51

            hey ...

            Cath just told me yesterday that yer gonna have another baby in the family!

            (her, being the "reader" in the family ... I just look at the pictures)

             

            I said ... Wow ... didn't even know Mike had any egg's left!

            Congrats!

             

            and oh yeah ... thanks for the added bonus.

            Cath will enjoy a nice nite out where I have to sit quietly.

            Jeff    Buck Construction

             Artistry In Carpentry

                 Pittsburgh Pa

          2. MikeSmith | Jan 04, 2009 06:54pm | #52

            r we talkin about  Finn ?  ( ne  6/26/08 )

            here he is with the blood money........

            View Image

            if you go to       ##say hello to Phalen ##  , you can see some more ...

             

            Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

            Edited 1/4/2009 10:56 am ET by MikeSmith

    4. User avater
      CaptainMayhem | Jan 02, 2009 08:42am | #21

      no...that's not what they were..similar principal thoughAll I ever wanted in life was an unfair advantage...

  2. Notchman | Jan 01, 2009 11:28pm | #3

    I've used them for years: They're called foundation wall jacks, but can be used in a lot of applications.

    I bought 20 new ones three years ago from Masonry Supply in Portland, Oregon for $10 each, brand new in the box, made in USA. I challenge you to fabricate them for that!

    Masonry Supply is actually a nationwide firm that sells and rents masonry tools and equip. Do a search.

    Sometimes, rental yards will sell them used for even less.

    1. brownbagg | Jan 01, 2009 11:30pm | #5

      i got about 50 of them laying in my back yard

    2. User avater
      CaptainMayhem | Jan 02, 2009 08:40am | #20

      Wow....that's cheap...I was quoted 75 each for 4 footers...but I'm up in alaska now...I got my roots in P-town though...hows work out there nowadays? it was quite scarce and low paying when I left`in 2004All I ever wanted in life was an unfair advantage...

    3. MikeSmith | Jan 02, 2009 04:33pm | #26

      those are probably the same ones i bought...
      Capn Mayham made me blink ...
      do they really call portland .....P'town ?there is only one P'town as far as i kow....... and it ain't on the left coastMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

      1. marv | Jan 02, 2009 04:54pm | #27

        I use the Ellis wall brace.  At $14 each, they're a bargain.  The screw is much coarser than a regular thread so you don't have to make as many turns as you would with a home made brace.  http://www.Ellisok.comYou get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.

        Marv

        1. MikeSmith | Jan 02, 2009 07:56pm | #28

          that's the one i  use

          View ImageMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

      2. Notchman | Jan 02, 2009 08:38pm | #29

        The threaded part of mine has a rounded root rather than a v-cut bolt thread, which makes them a bit more debris friendly....though you do want to keep them clean...especially on concrete jobs.Portland is over 200 miles from me and, being accustomed to and fond of living in a less-populated backwater, I avoid it like the plague.I think I've heard it called P-Town, but I was in the Navy with a guy from Beaver Falls, PA who used that nickname for Pittsburg.

        1. Riversong | Jan 02, 2009 10:36pm | #30

          I think I've heard it called P-Town, but I was in the Navy with a guy from Beaver Falls, PA who used that nickname for Pittsburg.

          Careful, guys. P-Town out east is Provincetown MA at the very tip of Cape Cod, and it's the flaming g-a-y culture center of the East Coast.

          Wikipeida: In the mid-1970s members of the g-a-y community began moving to Provincetown. In 1978 the Provincetown Business Guild (PBG) was formed to promote g-a-y tourism. Today more than 200 businesses belong to the PBG and Provincetown is perhaps the best-known g-a-y summer resort on the East Coast.<!----><!----><!---->

          <!----><!----> 

          <!---->Of course, Portland OR is now the largest US city with an openly g-a-y mayor, so you Left Coasters are in the ballgame, too. 

           

          [What is with this forum that it censors such a non-controversial word as g-a-y!]<!---->

           

           

          Riversong HouseWright

          Design *  * Build *  * Renovate *  * ConsultSolar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes

          Edited 1/2/2009 2:38 pm ET by Riversong

          1. MikeSmith | Jan 02, 2009 10:58pm | #31

            wiki is wrong again..... P'town was  half g-a-y when i got  there in '69

            it was  a very easy going town.... there was the art colony....the theater colony.... the writer's colony.... the potuguese  fishing colony.... anf by  the time i got there   there were tons of hippies...

            i would  think  P'town  was  a g-y colony  from at least the '50's

             

            quite the culture shock for someone just  comming off 4 years in the army..... but i managed to acclimate....

            the fishermen loved us....  they  had been waiting 50 years for that  breakwaterMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

          2. User avater
            EricPaulson | Jan 03, 2009 02:05am | #36

            P'town was  half g-a-y when i got  there in '69

            .......and when you left? 

          3. MikeSmith | Jan 03, 2009 02:14am | #37

            that's where i met helen....Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

          4. User avater
            EricPaulson | Jan 03, 2009 02:20am | #38

            Helen the Hippie!

            That says volumes. I've been trying to figure you two out for a while now.................

            I can see her now; halter top, head band and bangle earings.

            Got any pics? 

          5. MikeSmith | Jan 03, 2009 02:34am | #39

            i'll tell you all about it at jlc..... this is your year to buy, right ?Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

          6. User avater
            EricPaulson | Jan 03, 2009 02:43am | #40

            Hmmmmm.

            The way things have turned this past week, I'm holding on to hope I can even get there. I was looking to sign up yesterday just to commit the funds while I have them.

            Hey, with the dough you made last year "buying" that might get me gas to get home!

            Can't wait to hear the story, make sure you bring the pics of that sexy bride to be! 

          7. User avater
            FatRoman | Jan 03, 2009 03:39am | #42

            If I'm going to JLC, I'd be happy to give you a lift.Hopefully we don't have to beat out the mayor for a table again this year. And maybe, given the drift of this thread, Mike will regale us with some tales of yore from P-town.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

            View Image

          8. MikeSmith | Jan 03, 2009 04:16am | #43

            you gonna bring your new Mac ?Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

          9. User avater
            FatRoman | Jan 03, 2009 04:34am | #45

            I hope so!'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

            View Image

          10. User avater
            EricPaulson | Jan 03, 2009 04:24am | #44

            Thanks for the offer, I'll keep that in mind as the date draws near. I'm jonesing to get signed up.

            Guess that's just a sign of a need to learn something new.

            Mike and a bunch of just out of the  Army guys descending on P town. There has got to be at least a couple of good stories there. 

          11. User avater
            FatRoman | Jan 03, 2009 04:36am | #46

            As long as there are no stories of 'the best meatballs I ever had' we should be safe.Had a great time there last year, so I'm planning on going.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb

            View Image

          12. User avater
            EricPaulson | Jan 03, 2009 04:50am | #47

            My best have raisins in them!

            sorry 

          13. Bing187 | Jan 03, 2009 07:50pm | #50

            That's not why the fishermen loved you...;)

          14. davidmeiland | Jan 02, 2009 11:04pm | #32

            I use the Ellis adjustable wall braces (same as Mike's) and I nail them to the sides of studs right at the top, right under the plate if that's what's easy. We get excellent 2x6 KD #1 Fir most of the time and it doesn't matter at all that we're pushing the studs and not the plate. We generally walk the plate when rolling joists and I don't want anything sticking up in my clumsy-arse way.

             

            edit--you can no longer say 'a-z-z'

            Edited 1/2/2009 3:05 pm by davidmeiland

          15. Notchman | Jan 03, 2009 12:24am | #33

            That "left coast" tag amuses me: In a geography of wide open, rugged spaces, populations of Ranchers, loggers, Fishermen, farmers and millworkers....lots of veterans, etc., me thinks whoever came up with that has never been out here and if so, just hunkered down at a fern bar one afternoon in one of the larger cities.

          16. davidmeiland | Jan 03, 2009 12:46am | #34

            Word.

          17. MikeSmith | Jan 03, 2009 01:40am | #35

            hey...  i wuz born on the left coast....  raised on the right coast

            i love fern bars too, and biker bars,  it's all goodMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

  3. Chucky | Jan 02, 2009 04:41am | #17

    Lee Valley sell these for $31.50.  Free shipping until January 4th.

    http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=44908&cat=1,43838,47843

     

    View Image

    1. DanH | Jan 02, 2009 03:27pm | #25

      Yeah, I've got a couple of those from Aircraft Spruce. They can pull as well as push, work with cable or chain. Probably not as handy for straightening a wall, but more versatile.
      The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. --Wilhelm Stekel

  4. User avater
    CaptainMayhem | Jan 02, 2009 08:43am | #22

    So are they worth the trouble? I Bthaught that they seemed to have saved alot of time..plus if you used a bunch, couldn't you ensure that your wall is "perfect"?

    All I ever wanted in life was an unfair advantage...

    1. ANDYSZ2 | Jan 02, 2009 11:40am | #23

      I like using 20' tie down staps with cranks.

      You can rack a 40' 2x6 wall without a sweat and trying to do it with a bowed 2x10 wouldn't even move the wall.

      You can buy a set for less than 20$ and they store nicely.

      ANDYSZ2

       WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?

      REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST

       

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

Podcast Episode 694: Bath Fans, Too Many Minisplits, and Second-Story Additions

Listeners write in about fire-rated doors, using seven minisplits for cooling, and how to build a second-story addition.

Featured Video

Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by Brick

Watch mason Mike Mehaffey construct a traditional-style fireplace that burns well and meets current building codes.

Related Stories

  • Bryce Hollingsworth, Dry-Stone Waller
  • Cultivating Company Culture
  • Choosing a Paintbrush
  • Rainscreen for Cedar Shingles

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 333 - August/September 2025
    • A Practical Perfect Wall
    • Landscape Lighting Essentials
    • Repairing a Modern Window Sash
  • 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
  • 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