Issue 168
Features
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Retrofitting Recessed Lights
Replacing an old surface-mount fixture with recessed lights is an easy upgrade that you can customize with different trim kits.
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How to Cope With a Beautiful Site
Don't force the footprint. Let the surroundings choose the palette, and plan plenty of outdoor rooms.
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Replacing a Broken Tile
With a little care and the right tools, it's easy to remove a cracked floor tile and install a new one.
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Not Your Old Saw
New circular saws are more lightweight, comfortable, convenient, and precise than ever before. Here's a close look at 10 top models.
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20 Cool Tools for $20 or Less
Some are time-tested. Others are innovative. All are good and cheap. Check out the low-cost, high-value tools that we can't do without.
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Building Custom Carriage-House Doors
Sandwich-style construction offers strength and design flexibility without fussy joinery work, and is good for all sorts of doors—not just garage doors.
Article
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Sleek Style for a Master SuiteCommercial components and a convenient floor plan integrate a bath and a walk-through closet.
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Inlaying a Floor MedallionExotic scraps find a new life as the focal point of a floor.
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Warm Floors Now Easier Than EverRadiant-panel systems a carpenter can install are perfect under a wood floor.
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From Rough Frame to Finished StairsA foolproof method for installing skirtboards, treads, and risers.
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Rolling Roof TrussesFactory-made trusses save time and give you a roof engineered for strength and stability.
Letters
What is the Difference
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What's the Difference: Drywall Corner BeadsDifferent types of durability and installation methods set each option for corner beads apart from one another
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Toilet Bowl GasketsThe use of plastic and rubber rings for the crucial seal between the toilet and the waste line ameliorates problems presented by traditional wax rings.
Building Skills
Great Moments
Video
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For Electrical Safety, Lock and Tag the Breaker PanelJust because you threw the switch, it doesn’t mean it’s off!
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Long Electrical Runs in Closed WallsLong drill bits can eliminate plaster tearout when rewiring old construction.
