Issue 284 – July 2019

Find online articles and videos on exterior doors, fireplaces, and more.

Watch mason Mike Mehaffey construct a traditional-style fireplace that burns well and meets current building codes.

These simple site-built jigs make hanging 12-foot-long sheets of wallboard easy, even when working alone.

Get off to a good start when using a hole saw by using plumber's putty, a little water, and a glass-and-tile bit.

Most woodworking bar clamps allow you to flip the ends to use the tool for spreading instead of clamping.

A DIY skirt made of duct tape helps a vacuum get more suction when cleaning up dust during a remodeling project.

An adhesive designed for repairing shoes also makes a great DIY handle grip.

Soft carpet scraps protect delicate projects from scratches.

Code expert Glenn Mathewson explains the details required by code and modern plumbing standards when fabricating a shower pan.

Templaco Tools templates are simple, durable, and affordable, and they come in sizes to fit nearly any door configuration.

In his book Water in Buildings: An Architect’s Guide to Moisture and Mold, research architect William B. Rose makes building science both understandable and interesting.

G-Tek polyurethane-coated knit gloves provide a good balance of comfort, cost, and, safety and are light enough to be useful for most construction projects.

Barwalt Ultra Grouting System has several features not seen in many cheaper grouting kits that can make this dirty job a little easier and more comfortable.

A wide, thin blade with an integral wedge makes the Zenith Industries Trim Puller an effective tool for carefully removing old molding.

The heart of the expansive bookcase in this modern remodel of a 1960s home is an original exterior wall stripped down to the studs.

When converting this house on Martha's Vineyard from a two-family to a single-family, LDa Architecture & Interiors reworked the floor plan to make the home feel more spacious.

Rift-sawn white oak paneling is the dominant material in this modern home built by a cabinetmaker.

The industrial-style Weltevree Outdooroven XL combines a barbecue, smoker, and oven all into one beautifully simple package.

The Watermark Designs Elements plumbing-fixture collection features sleek, cylindrical knobs available in multiple polished-stone, metal, and wood-grain finishes.

DuPont's Tyvek DrainVent Rainscreen provides a drainage plane and air gap behind siding when applied over a well-detailed water-resistive barrier.

Bona Traffic Naturale is an easy-to-apply, fast-drying alternative to polyurethane that gives the look of unfinished wood.

Siga Twinet double-sided mounting tape is a popular, though costly, alternative to stapling an air barrier to the inside of roof and wall framing.

Learn about the benefits, properties, and installation methods of this unique insulation developed in Germany.

"Mark your work in place whenever possible" is just one of several tips seasoned carpenter Scott McBride offers in this guide to measuring more efficiently and accurately on the job site.

After realizing that the work associated with her college degree left her uninspired, an intensive at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design eventually led Libby to a successful career as a master craftsperson.