Issue 197

A simple layout tool aligns siding with window and door trim, and helps you to finish where you started.

Built of plywood and MDF, these beams go up quickly, resist movement, take paint well, and even level a wavy ceiling.

For drywall novices, there's nothing more challenging—or messy—than finishing inside corners

In less than 2 years, any contractors looking to disturb lead-based paint in homes will need to obtain EPA certification

If you're looking to have leaky pipes that were installed in your house replaced for free, time is running out

Festool's new Kapex KS120 SCM delivers on features, precision

Cortex concealed fastening system

The economics of home buying Kevin Ireton’s essay “Is green building too expensive?” (FHB #195), as thoughtful as it is, misses some important considerations in the cost of buying a…

Our perceptions of a house start with the entrance design 

The time you spent on your hardwood floors will be in vain if you don't choose the right finish applicator

Which type of zinc-coated nail is the best at preventing corrosion?

For a professional finish, you have to tape, then wait.

Although never an easy task, these techniques help simplify a tough job

When it comes to deciding whether your house should be conventional or a carnival, something's gotta give

In the United States, the recycling rate for aluminum cans has hovered around 50% for years. Cans that don’t make it into the recycling stream add up: Every three months,…

After the test equipment is put away, a home energy auditor explains what to do next

Almost painless, a home-energy audit can reduce energy costs and improve comfort