Issue 311 – November 2022
Features
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Solutions for monitoring electricity usage for a more efficient home with lower bills.
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This workforce trainer brings a holistic approach to healthy living to the homes and communities of Oregon.
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A century-old bungalow is renovated to maintain its original character while achieving Passive-House certification.
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Learn why these products were chosen to create balanced ventilation and improve comfort and indoor-air quality in this high-performance renovation.
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Ready-to-assemble cabinets are sturdy, offer a myriad of design and quality options, and cost less than assembled versions.
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Increase quiet and comfort with easy improvements to historical windows.
Tips & Techniques
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Accurate Spray-Foam Application
A caulk-tube tip taped to the end of a spray-foam applicator helps fill narrow gaps in hard-to-reach areas.
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Pour Even Concrete Slabs
Create a key with strips of rigid foam to keep intersecting slabs from moving independently.
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Dowels for Painting and Stacking
Attach dowels to interior-door slabs and suspend them on sawhorses to make the painting and drying process easier.
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Highlight Cutlines
Use a pencil to mark cutting lines to make them easier to see.
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Speed Square Hacks
Modification of this measuring tool can make it useful for marking cabinet reveals or creating a pattern for exposed deck screws.
Tools & Gear
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Compact Tablesaw for the Job Site
This 10-in. saw from SawStop offers features found on other pro-quality saws but with an enhanced level of safety.
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Face-Frame Clamp for Cabinets
Bessey's cabinet clamps offer versatility that make them more efficient than traditional clamps.
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Makita's Cordless Biscuit Joiner
If you're looking for a more convenient biscuit joiner, Makita's cordless version is a viable option with some differences from the corded model.
HOUSES by Design
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Architecture for an Open but Cozy Home
This home's two-story, open design makes it great for entertaining guests while also providing a sense of privacy and comfort.
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Energy Efficient on Multiple Levels
This contemporary home is built on the foundation of a razed house and is characterized by exposed steel framing.
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Adapting the New England-Style Home to Texas
Millwork and paneling add a traditional Northeast style while a brick façade and metal windows add contrast.
Spec
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Valve Fittings With Individual Shut-off Capabilities
These dual push-to-connect fittings from Apollo make it easy to do repairs and still maintain water supply to other appliances.
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Automated Indoor-Air-Quality Sensors
The Overture system from Broan-NuTone monitors air quality and brings in fresh air when needed.
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Durable Wide-Plank Floors Made From Hickory
The Earthen collection from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors combines a unique look with the advantages of an enduring material.
Know the Code
Building Matters
Keep Craft Alive
Other
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A Checklist for Exterior Painting
From prep to cleaning, use these tips from a pro painter to stay organized in your exterior painting project.
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Understanding Electricity Terms and Billing
Learn the difference between terms like voltage and power and how your energy bill is determined at the end of the month.
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Fine Homebuilding Issue #311 Online Highlights
Find online articles and videos on subslab insulation, installing a range hood, and more.