Issue 117

On the Cover

Framing and Sheathing Floors

If you do the layout carefully and precut all the joists, the floor will go together quickly like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

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Features

  • The Lowdown on Levels

    It may be the age of lasers and electronics, but a sturdy spirit level is still the job-site standard.

  • Choosing Boilers and Controls for Warm Floors

    You don't want the noise and dust associated with furnaces; you want the comfort of radiant heat. Here are some options for heating the water and getting it to your floors.

  • Replacing a Chimney Cap

    Homeowners rarely see their chimney caps, and few people have ever called me to repair them. But when I'm asked to inspect a roof or an attic, I generally find myself looking down at the top of the chimney.

  • Installing Laminate Flooring

    Phototransfer technology allows an almost infinite variety of designs on this durable, engineered flooring.

  • Bench-Built Window Trim

    How one trim carpenter turns jamb extensions into an advantage by using them to reinforce preassembled window casings.

  • When Block Foundations Go Bad

    Steel bracing and improved drainage give new life to cracked and wet walls.

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