21 Common Decisions When Designing or Building a Home
Working on houses is as much about choosing the right tools, materials, and construction details as it is about using them.
Every day, builders, architects, homeowners, and any other people who work on houses have to make a plethora of decisions to get their jobs done. Some of those choices are merely personal preferences, while others can make or break a job. Fine Homebuilding has compared the popular options for many of these conundrums in our articles and videos over the years, and we’ve compiled some common ones here to help you make the right choices before starting your next project.
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1
The Horizontal vs. Vertical Sheathing Debate -
2
Circular Saws: Sidewinder vs. Worm-Drive -
How-To
3
Electrical Outlets: Upside-Down or Right-Side-Up? -
How-To
4
Plywood vs. OSB -
Tools & Materials
5
What’s the Difference: Paper and Fiberglass Mesh Drywall Tape -
Design
6
Patio vs. Deck Throwdown -
Tools & Materials
7
What’s the Difference: Phillips vs. Pozidriv Bits -
Tools & Materials
8
What’s the Difference: Titanium Hammers vs. Steel Hammers -
How-To
9
Horizontal vs. Vertical Drywall: Which is Best? -
Tools & Materials
10
Tough Choice: Double-Pane vs. Triple-Pane Windows -
Design
11
Epoxy vs. Cement Grout -
How-To
12
Rafters vs. Trusses -
Tools & Materials
13
What’s the Difference: Is PVA, polyurethane, or CA glue right for my project? -
Design
14
Design vs. Style -
How-To
15
Open-Cell vs. Closed-Cell Foam Insulation -
Tools & Materials
16
What’s the Difference: Linoleum vs. Vinyl -
Tools & Materials
17
Sanded vs. Unsanded Grout -
Design
18
What’s the Difference: Exterior Paint vs. Solid-Body Stains -
Tools & Materials
19
What’s the Difference Between Shakes and Shingles? -
Tools & Materials
20
What’s the Difference: Fine-Finish Sanders – Orbital vs. Random Orbit -
Tools & Materials
21
What’s the Difference: Whole-House Fans vs. Powered Ventilators
