Issue 297 – Feb/Mar 2021
Features
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Staircase Renovation
Loose, tilted flights signal trouble underfoot, but even major problems can be fixed with screws, blocks and braces.
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Ditch the Hose
Battery-powered cordless framing nailers are almost good enough to replace pneumatics—for some, they already have.
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Successful Floors With Trusses
Quality at the plant is hit or miss, so a flat floor means tweaking trusses on the job.
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Sidewall Shingles With a Flare
A slight curve adds charm, and also a bit of complexity, to the process of siding with cedar shingles.
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The Fine Homebuilding Interview: Mike Litchfield
A founding editor of our magazine and a pioneering how-to journalist takes us back to where it all began.
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High-Performance Raft Slab
This versatile frost-protected shallow foundation is adaptable for different wall systems and climates.
Article
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Celebrating 40 Years of Fine HomebuildingFHB editorial director Brian Pontolilo introduces our 40th-anniversary issue of the magazine and reflects on how our industry and our magazine have changed and how they've stayed the same.
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The Slow Evolution of PaintAs manufacturers tinker with chemistry to improve durability, ease of application, and hide, the distinction between water- and oil-based paints is blurred—for the better.
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Readers' Letters: 9 Ways To Build SawhorsesFrom simple, site-built work surfaces to carefully fabricated shop furniture, homemade sawhorses are popular with our audience of builders, remodelers, and homeowners.
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Fine Homebuilding Issue #297 Online HighlightsFind online articles and videos on framing, sidewall shingles, and more.
Tips & Techniques
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FHB's 40th Anniversary Tips Video ContestRecord yourself demonstrating a favorite tip from the Fine Homebuilding archive for a chance to win a cordless compact router kit.
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Timeless Tip: Tunneling Under SlabsUse standard plumbing parts to quickly dig a narrow hole under a slab.
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Temporary Door ControlUse this simple trick to hold doors closed during construction before installing locksets.
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Simple Scribing ToolsUse a washer and a pencil to scribe moldings quickly and easily without marring a finished surface.
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Shim StorageA finish screw keeps shims in an organized, easily separated stack.
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Deck-Board Cleaner and Homemade ScrapersA cheap, used handsaw can be repurposed twice with these smart tips.
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Make a Shingle HolderA ledger strip with a rabbet along one edge keeps sidewall shingles from falling before they're fastened.
Know the Code
Tools & Gear
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Straight-Hole JigIdeal for cabinetwork, these drill guides have a V-groove that centers the guide on 90-degree corners and curved edges.
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Clever Dry LineLightweight, compact, and a cinch to position, this stringline may be an essential if precision is your goal.
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Tough, Basic Work PantsThese Dickies pants have a useful sacrificial double knee and no unecessary bells and whistles.
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Better Hammer TackerWhen that old slap stapler just isn't making the cut, this tacker is worth the additional cost in exchange for durability.
HOUSES by Design
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Celebrating Efficient Post-and-Beam ConstructionAn old barn is transformed into a high-performance home that highlights the structure's original framing.
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High Design at Home in NatureA net-zero home sited to connect to its rural setting earns LEED for Homes certification.
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Retrofit of a Timber-Frame FarmhouseA design/build team performs a small miracle on a dilapidated 1850s home.
Spec
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Old-World CraftsmanshipA custom New York mill and a German flooring company partners to offer sustainably harvested wood from Germany's Bavaria region, hand-finished using only ingredients found in nature.
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Longer-Lasting Wood PostsThese plastic resin sleeves encase a buried portion of a post or pole to protect the wood from decay.
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Modern Stainless Steel Doors and WindowsThese sleek metal frames are corrosion resistant and support expansive panes of energy-efficient insulated glass.
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Luxurious Lime PaintThis line of mineral-based paint refracts light to create a luminous glow with a rich matte texture.
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Fast, Flexible Car ChargerWith 9x faster speeds than its competitors, the ChargePoint Home Flex makes charging an electrical vehicle at home faster and more convenient.
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Peel-and-Stick Drainable HousewrapBenjamin Obdyke’s self-adhered HydroGap SA is easy to apply solo and sits tight over every surface and around every corner.
Building Matters
Keep Craft Alive
Online Extras
More? View Past Issues
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