Issue 269 – Aug/Sept 2017

Without modifying the framing, a carpenter tucks storage and style beneath the roof in a second-floor hallway.

Carrying the V-groove from a built-in’s side panel through to its face frame creates a crisp detail that is simple to execute.

Here are the secrets to keeping this precision tool up and running.

Foam guns can cost anywhere from $15 to $150, so what's the difference?

Learn how to load a foam gun with minimal mess and less chance of future clogs.

Learn the alphabet soup of materials, but first get the slope and underlying details right.

This new home strikes a balance between improved performance and ­low construction costs.

The prices might scare off some, but for a professional who swings a hammer every day, here are two smart choices.

Impressive strength, as well as its fire, mold, and insect resistance, make MgO board suitable for a wide range of applications.

This 316 stainless-steel screw is designed for use outdoors and in corrosive environments.

For open-cladding systems, this product looks good and can stand up to sunshine over the long term.

The magazine of this trouble-free time saver holds two racks of nails, for less time spent reloading.

This line of thinset mortars is specifically made for use with Schluter waterproofing and uncoupling membranes.

The PVC composition of these tongue-and-groove boards should help this product last a long time.

Media rooms, wet bars, personal gyms, saunas, and bathrooms work well below ground level.

What really matters is the R-value of the whole wall, not just that of the insulation.

Design/Build: If budgets allow, consider designing and building custom newels to personalize and even modernize details in a home.

Woven corners are more complicated to install, but they give an elegant look to shingle siding.

Watch how to interlace shingles around a corner to create an simple, attractive edge with no corner boards.

“Too many people see plumbers as overweight, uneducated slobs.”