Paints & Finishes

• New Tools & Materials for '99 (Subscriber content)

  Every year, we keep our eyes peeled for products that solve common job-site problems in a unique or inventive way. This year's collection has something for every phase of construction.

   

• Stripping & Repainting Wood Siding (Subscriber content)

  Here’s a step-by-step guide to stripping, pressure-washing, and repainting wood siding, by a Texas restoration contractor.

   

• On-Site With Fiber-Cement Siding (Subscriber content)

  We take a close look at handling, cutting, installing, and painting fiber-cement to see how it compares with traditional lap siding.

   

• New-Technology Tools & Materials (Subscriber content)

  Our pick of new or innovative products to help you produce high-quality jobs on time and on budget.

   

• Q&A: Should I Set Siding Nails?

  Q: When beveled wood siding is going to be painted, should the nails be set below the surface of the siding and filled, or driven flush with the surface of the siding?

   

• Brushing Up on Water-Based Paints (Subscriber content)

  Federal regulation of VOCs has made the change to latex finishes inevitable. A painting contractor explains how to get the same quality and performance from water-based paints that you were accustomed to with oil-based products.

   

• Problem-Solving Tools and Materials (Subscriber content)

  Here’s a look at new and noteworthy products we think will help you build better, faster, and smarter.

   

• Exterior Trim That Lasts (Subscriber content)

  Exterior trim should last as long as the rest of the house. A finish carpenter describes the construction details and finishing tips he uses to make that happen.

   

• Wood Fungi Causes and Cures (Subscriber content)

  A complete guide to the identification and prevention of mold, mildew, discoloration, and decay of wood products.

   

• Designing a Porch That Fits : (Subscriber content)

  A remodeler talks about designing and building a porch that does more than keep out the rain.