Issue 288 – Dec 2019/Jan 2020
Features
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Deciding on Wood Fillers
Learn how to choose the right filler, putty, epoxy, or spackle products for repairing everything from common nail holes to major rot.
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Fitting New Windows in a Crooked Old House
"Dudley boxes" are robust window bucks that ease window installation, flashing, and integration with insulation in walls sheathed with exterior rigid foam.
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Site-Built Steel-Stringer Stairs
A carpenter's approach to simple, modern metal stairs.
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Build a Modular Modern Woodshed
Designed to be erected in a day, this shed for storing firewood uses readily available materials and basic tools.
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Extreme Green
The world’s first Living Building Challenge–certified home is a study in integrated, sustainable design.
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Fine Homebuilding Issue #288 Online Highlights
Find online articles and videos on making a crosscut sled, passive homes, and more.
Know the Code
Tips & Techniques
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Clever Siding DeconstructionA hole saw and some homemade plugs make saving and reusing old wood siding a simple job.
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Add Leverage to a Small HammerA PVC-pipe sleeve adds length to a handle to make nail pulling easier.
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Better Fit for BaseboardA drywall screw acts as an adjustable shim for making tight inside corners on trim.
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De-dusting Holes in ConcreteElectrical-wire sheathing makes a great extension for fitting into tight places with your compressor's air nozzle.
Tools & Gear
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Hose-free Finish NailersMetabo HPT's cordless trim nail guns are reliable and comfortable to use, plus they're available in versatile 23-ga., 18-ga., and 15-ga. sizes.
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Supercapacity Sliding Miter SawThe Skilsaw SPT88-01 12-in. worm-drive miter saw is powerful and has class-leading crosscut capacity.
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Better T-bevel Angle GaugeThe Shinwa No. 780 Sliding Bevel Gauge has several smart features that make it more durable and more convenient to use than typical angle-measuring tools.
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Backing-Paper Knife for Self-Adhesive TapeThe Olfa TS1 Top Sheet Cutter allows you to custom cut release paper to make flashing tape much easier to install.
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Upgraded SawStop Job-site TablesawImprovements to The Jobsite Saw Pro's fence, table, and dust-collection system make it a stronger competitor in the portable saw market.
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Key-free PadlockThe programmable Tapplock 1+ electronic padlock opens with the touch of a finger or a smartphone app.
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Painless Drywall Mud MixingThe Mud n' More MixBall simplifies the tedious task of mixing small batches of joint compound or plaster.
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Understated Modern Pendant LightThe Ginger pendant by Marset is a practical hanging lamp with a sleek profile that would look great above a kitchen island or dining table.
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Stylish But Stealthy Range HoodClean lines and retractable controls help the Elica Arezzo range hood strike a balance between standing out and blending in.
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Drywall with Some Eco-credUSG EcoSmart wall panels have similar properties to standard wallboard but are more environmentally friendly.
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Quick-dry VarnishJamestown Distributors' modified linseed-oil polyurethane varnish claims you can apply 5 coats in one day with no sanding between coats.
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Insulating GravelThe relatively high price of Glavel—an insulating foam-glass foundation base material—is offset by the lack of a need for rigid foam sub-slab insulation.
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How to Paint a Custom Steel Staircase On-SiteLearn how carpenter Josh Edmonds used a site-made spray booth to prep and paint the stair frame featured in the article "Site-Built Steel-Stringer Stairs."
HOUSES by Design
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Right Windows for the Perfect WallA cost-effective, alternative installation for a house with exterior insulation.
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Concrete Construction UncoveredA discovery during demolition changed the original plan to use conventional wood framing for this whole-house renovation.
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Eichler RevisedWith low-slung roofs and strong horizontal lines, this new build embodies the renowned midcentury-modern style.
