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Issue 213

On the Cover

The Stack Effect

Understanding the movement of air through a house can increase the comfort, energy efficiency, and healthfulness of your home.

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Features

  • Keep Siding Dry With a Vented Rain Screen

    The best way to deal with water is to let it drain away or dry out, and a gap of less than an inch behind the siding ensures both.

  • Save Time With a Prefinished Wood Floor

    Factory-finished products mean less work on site, but they demand a more careful installation.

  • Tool Test: Demolition Blades

    The price you pay for these reciprocating-saw blades doesn’t necessarily correspond to the performance you get.

  • The Remodeler’s Guide to Construction Debris

    A thoughtful plan is the key to minimizing waste and maximizing profit.

  • Do Europeans Really Make the Best Windows?

    These cold-weather windows are relatively new to our shores and perform well, but some lesser-known North American products may be just as good.

  • A Cool Texas Remodel

    A remodeled ranch stays in the same footprint, but gains a master suite and a passive-cooling strategy.

Article

  • Add Storage to Your Stair Rail

    A long cabinet with traditional joinery and improvised details replaces a traditional stairwell railing.

  • Bringing the Water Shortage Home

    It has meant drought in some parts of the country, and nothing more than low-flow fixtures in others. The fact is, the nation’s growing water crisis is changing the houses we build.

What is the Difference

  • Soft-Cap Kneepads: Rubber, Foam, Leather, or Gel?

    What's the difference?

  • What's the Difference: Paintbrushes

    Choose the right bristle shape, ferrule type, and handle style to match the demands of your paint job.

Building Skills

  • How to Install European Cup Hinges

    Overlay or inset, the tricky part is boring the 35 mm hole. Here are two ways to get it right.

Master Carpenter

  • How to Build an Arched Pocket Door

    An arched opening, door, and drywall make an elegant and space-saving transition.

Drawing Board

  • Secrets to an Uncluttered Kitchen

    Small kitchens can layer storage options while big kitchens should limit storage options.

Energy Smart Details

  • Rigid Foam on the Roof and Walls

    This energy smart detail will increase R-value and prevent condensation.

Tailgate

  • Tailgate: Marianne Cusato, Designer

    Marianne Cusato won acclaim for her design of one of the compact and affordable Katrina Cottages. She recently unveiled her New Economy Home, an adaptable, energy-efficient 1800-sq.-ft. house.

More? View Past Issues

Ask the Experts

  • Skylights in a Flat Roof

Readers Tips

  • Versatile Bandsaw Worktables
  • Tape-Measure Blade Rescue
  • Dryer-Vent Scrubbie

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
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers

Fine Home Building

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