Issue 261 – Aug/Sept 2016

Save time and money by bending PVC trim with a site-made oven.

These tools combine corded performance with cordless convenience.

Simple joinery supports inexpensive windows to yield jaw-dropping interior doors.

Joint design and prep may matter even more than choosing the right product.

Simple calculations make for a much more accurate spacing method.

This practical and healthy home confronts the challenges of location, extreme weather, climate change, and the looming clean-water crisis with noteworthy simplicity.

More photos of this practical and healthy home

I build custom decks in Colorado. Because of a steady decrease in lumber quality and the devastating effects to wood caused by the state’s dry, sunny weather, I decided to…

Similar to Huber’s well-known Zip System sheathing, Georgia-Pacific’s new Force Field OSB sheathing has a waterproof overlay that works in combination with a pressure-sensitive tape. Used together, the tape and…

If a wheeled dust collector isn’t quite portable enough for you, check out the new Festool CT SYS. This ultracompact vacuum is the same size as a medium-size Systainer, with…

My standard fix for plaster cracks is to carve out the damage, fill the gap with setting-type joint compound, tape it, add topcoats of compound, and sand. This method is…

As the name implies, Sashco’s Big Stretch is more elastic than any other caulk I have ever used. This quality makes it great for bridging gaps that experience seasonal movement.…

The CenterFire sawblade from Bullet Tools is specifically made for cutting EPS, XPS, and polyiso foam insulation. Sure, you can cut foam with nearly any sawblade, but the toothless, knifelike…

As a remodeling contractor who specializes in finish carpentry, bathrooms, and kitchens, I use an impact driver every day for a wide variety of tasks. About the only downside to…

Senco’s new hybrid-polymer air hose is the best of both worlds. It has the flexibility of rubber without the weight, and the lightness and durability of PVC without the ankle-grabbing…

One of the first submissions to our 2016 HOUSES awards was this panoramic view of an Old West town submitted by Caroline and Dave Nelson, who also submitted a photo…

When building a new home, your insulation strategy should be part of the design process, not a last-minute decision.

Bending metal for simple flashings requires a few basic cutting tools and a siding (or aluminum) brake.

Drawing Board: Lessons in residential design

This owner of Red Rock Tileworks in Nashville, Tenn., designs and manufactures environmentally friendly lines of handmade and custom tile.

This owner of Red Rock Tileworks in Nashville, Tenn., designs and manufactures environmentally friendly lines of handmade and custom tile.

This whimsical playhouse was conceived and built by artist, woodworker, and carpenter Chris Axling. Axling built his first playhouse after taking on his most important job: stay-at-home father for three-year-old…