June/July 2005
REPLACING A ROTTEN MUDSILL
by Mike Guertin
Let simple wooden wedges do the heavy lifting
January 2005
NOT YOUR OLD SAW
by Rick Arnold and Mike Guertin
New circular saws are more lightweight, comfortable, convenient,
and precise than ever before. Here's a look at 10 top models.
June/July 2004
12-in. COMPOUND MITER SAWS
by Rick Arnold and Mike Guertin
In a field of powerful and accurate tools, three saws
stand out with useful features and large cutting capacities
June/July 2004
DRAMATIC SKYLIGHT
by Mike Guertin
A skylight well with splayed sides lets in lots of light to transform
a plain ranch
April/May 2004
CURVED DECK STAIRS
by Mike Guertin
A temporary form and laminated plywood stringers make building these stairs
easier than you might think
January 2004
Simple
Homemade Scaffolding
by Mike Guertin
Safe to use and inexpensive to build, A-frames and a couple of planks beat
working from a ladder
January 2003
Four
Ways to Shingle a Valley
by Mike Guertin
A custom builder shows three conventional ways and one new method to weatherproof
this crucial roof detail
This article illustrates four different methods of shingling a
valley, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of woven, open
metal, closed cut, and Long Island valleys and describing the author's
techniques for preparing and installing each one.
January 2002
Weaving
Designs Into Sidewall Shingles
by Mike Guertin
Simple shapes let ordinary sidewall shingles take flight
The author demonstrates a technique for weaving patterns into
shingled exterior walls using contrasting red and white cedar shingles.
January 2002
Built-Up
Center Beams
by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin
These simple site-built beams are the backbone of the house, so make sure you
build them straight and set them level
The authors describe their method of building up foundation-level
support beams with layers of standard dimensional lumber. They
include tips on how to cut and install steel support columns.
Winter 2000
Faux
Fridge Front
by Mike Guertin
With a little custom metalwork and an extra cabinet door, you can make your
refrigerator look like a million bucks (or at least a $5,000 Sub-Zero)
This article describes how to attach framed wood panels to a conventional
refrigerator using aluminum channels, giving it a built-in look
at far less cost than an expensive built-in refrigerator that is
specifically designed to be fitted with cabinet-matching door panels.
January 1998
Installing
a Rubber Roof
by Mike Guertin, Rick Arnold
Forget the mess of roll roofing-for flat or low-slope roofs, EPDM membranes
are the way to go
This article explains how to install a low-slope roof made from
EPDM, a synthetic rubber-like material with many advantages over
more conventional asphalt materials. Basically, the roof is glued
to a substrate. But details count.
July 2000
Finishing
Basements
by Mike Guertin, Rick Arnold
Despite the obstacles, converting that dark, scary place into comfortable living
space is much cheaper than adding on
Basements don't have to be the damp repositories of unused furniture
and cartons of old books. The authors describe the process of turning
a basement into a comfortable living area, with details on how
to handle new air intakes for fuel-burning boilers and furnaces.
March 2000
Installing
Vinyl-Clad Windows
by Mike Guertin, Rick Arnold
A nailing flange makes installation quick and easy; but pay attention to the
details, or you'll never get the windows open
This article explains how to install vinyl-clad windows so they
open and close easily and don't leak. The authors pay special attention
to flashing details that can head off trouble in coastal areas
prone to wind-driven rain and spray.
September 1999
Survey
of Sliding Compound-Miter Saws
by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin
All 12 of these versatile saws crosscut, bevel and miter; which one should
you buy?
This tool survey compares the features, specifications, and performance
of 12 sliding compound-miter saws with blades ranging from 8-1/2
in. to 12 in. in diameter and priced between $360 and $660.
November 1997
Installing
Wood Clapboards
by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin
How a seasoned crew uses a story pole and an efficient work sequence to install
this traditional siding
This article covers the installation of wood clapboards, a traditional
and regionally popular exterior wall finish. The authors cover
all the basics, and also offer advice on what wood species is best.
May 1997
Framing
Floors With I-Joists
by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin
Whether you're building a new house or remodeling an old one, engineered lumber
can give you squeak-free floors with fewer callbacks
I-joists offer some advantages over floor joists made from dimensional
lumber, especially in long spans, but working with them requires
learning a few new tricks. This primer on framing floors is good
background reading for anyone who's getting ready to order this
engineered material but isn't exactly sure how to work with it.
March 1997
Installing
Housewrap
by Mike Guertin, Rick Arnold
When properly detailed, high-tech wrappings can reduce the flow of air into
outside walls while allowing moisture to escape
There's more to installing housewrap than getting out a utility
knife and stapler. This article explains how it should be installed
to get the maximum benefit from this commonplace building material.
A sidebar discusses the merits of taping sheathing instead of using
housewrap.
March 1996
Building
Hip and Valley Roofs With Trusses
by Mike Guertin, Rick Arnold
Keep the numbered trusses in order, and entire hip sections can be assembled
on the ground and lifted as single units
The author describes a complex hip roof that is formed with trusses
on the ground, then lifted into place with a crane. He argues that
building sections on the ground is both faster and safer than handling
each truss on the roof.
September 1995
Squaring
and Leveling Mudsills
by Mike Guertin, Rick Arnold
If you assume the foundation is accurate, you may end up custom cutting each
rafter and fussing with every miter in your trim
Making sure that mudsills are installed properly is the crucial
first steps in framing a house. Done correctly, the process will
minimize problems and maximize efficiency for the entire construction
job. This article explains what to do.
Veteran builder Mike Guertin argues that you can build these versatile
A-frames for less than the cost of renting a 5-ft. section of scaffolding
for one day. Here he explains how to build these A-frames from
framing lumber.
July 2003
Hide
Those Ugly Window Shades
by Mike Guertin
A valance of MDF and crown molding hides an unsightly shade
The construction of a simple valance is explained in drawings
and photographs. This architectural detail dresses up the room,
hides an energy-saving set of insulated window shades, and makes
a great space to tuck some fluorescent lighting.
September 2003
Adding
a Bathroom Fan
by Mike Guertin
A quiet fan, airtight ductwork, and a leak-free vent combine to clear moisture
from the bathroom and the house
A remodeling contractor offers a step-by-step guide to the installation
of a bathroom fan, stressing the importance of preventing any moist
air from leaking into the attic. A sidebar illustrates how to wire
a high-tech switch that will keep the fan running for 20 minutes
after you leave the room.
July 1998
Framing
and Sheathing Floors
by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin
Two carpenters explain their approach to framing and sheathing
floors, which includes careful planning and labeling parts and
pieces to avoid confusion. They also make a case against bridging,
the mid-span bracing installed between floor joists.
May 2003
Nail
Guns for Joist Hangers
by Mike Guertin
Fast and accurate, these pneumatic tools put framing connector nails right
where they're needed
Metal connectors are becoming the norm on homes today. In this
article, a framing contractor reviews five pneumatic nailers specifically
designed for metal connectors. He explains which models are the
safest, most accurate, and most durable.
September 2002
Vinyl
Siding Done Right
by Mike Guertin
This article explains how to install vinyl siding so that it looks
good and doesn't leak. Included is a discussion of trim options
for corners, eaves, and doors and windows, as well as the author's
proven techniques for layout and installation.
July 2002
Airtight
Attic Access
by Mike Guertin
Hot air rises. And where does it go? It could be going right out the attic
access in your house.
If not insulated and air-sealed properly, attic hatches can represent
the single largest source of heat loss in a home. Here are the
readily available materials and simple techniques that the author
uses to construct an attractive, airtight, and well-insulated attic
access.
March 2002
Choosing
a Framing Nailer + Your first choice: coil nailer or stick nailer?
by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin
Whether you prefer coil nailers or stick nailers, it's a buyer's market. Two
seasoned builders sort through 30 models and find new favorites.
A survey of 30 air-powered framing nail guns that takes into account
their physical dimensions, power, triggering mechanism, type of
fastener (stick or coil), and price. The survey also includes a
subjective assessment of the job-site performance of each tool,
and recommendations. Includes a sidebar discussing the merits of
stick vs. coil nailers.
March 2002
Choosing
a Framing Nailer + Your first choice: coil nailer or stick nailer?
by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin
Whether you prefer coil nailers or stick nailers, it's a buyer's market. Two
seasoned builders sort through 30 models and find new favorites.
This sidebar compares the advantages and disadvantages of coil
and stick nailers, focusing on nail capacity, weight, and balance.
March 2001
Framing
an Opening in a Bearing Wall
by Mike Guertin
Before you slice through studs, make sure you've got the weight of the house
well supported elsewhere
How to safely support a structure's weight temporarily when cutting
into load-bearing walls. Includes tips on how to tell whether a
wall is weight-bearing or merely a non-structural partition.
January 1996
Raising
Roof Trusses
by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin
Careful preparation and wise use of a crane can allow a good-size roof to be
framed and sheathed in a day
This article deals with getting roof trusses into position quickly
and efficiently. With planning and careful preparation, the authors
can raise trusses and sheathe a good-sized roof in a single day.
Sidebars explain how to make the most of the crane that's already
on site.
January 2001
Supporting
a Cantilevered Bay
by Mike Guertin
Before you build that eye-catching bay onto the side of a house, you have to
get the floor framing right
A bump-out or bay on the side of a house not held up by posts
or columns relies on cantilevered floor framing for support. This
article explains how framing for a bay 8 ft. wide should be connected
to the rest of the structure.
July 1999
Framing
With Nail Guns
by Mike Guertin, Rick Arnold
They're as common on job sites as circular saws, but if you're not using your
pneumatic nailer properly, maybe you should stick with your hammer
This article explains how to use pneumatic framing guns safely
and efficiently. The authors cover tool maintenance, how to set
up compressors, pros and cons of stick and coil nailers, and handling
these powerful tools safely.
January 1999
Forming
and Pouring Foundations
by Mike Guertin, Rick Arnold
They hold up the house, hold back the earth and keep out the water. If they're
not level and square, you may end up custom-cutting every rafter.
All sorts of aggravating problems crop up during construction
when foundation work is sloppy. In the second of two articles on
the topic, the authors explain how to get it right, covering wall
layout, form assembly, placing concrete, and stripping forms when
the job is done.
November 1998
Forming
and Pouring Footings
by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin
Fill up a trench with concrete--what's to know? If a house is going to stand
on those little sidewalks, they'd better be straight, level and correctly placed.
Good foundations start with good footings. In this first of two
articles on the topic, the authors show how to lay out and form
concrete footings for a full foundation, with some tips for adding
steel rebar and a keyway once the concrete has been placed.
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