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Other stories by Mike Guertin

  • Laminating Stringers for Curved Deck Stairs

    A full-scale plywood template doubles as the base for the bending frame

  • Practical Green for Coastal Homes

    As green building grabs the attention of otherwise cautious home buyers, so does the potential for "greenwashing" — the efforts of overzealous marketers to label anything and everything "green." Selectively focusing on one feature while ignoring others, or intentionally misleading buyers about the...

  • More Shingle Art

    Quacks in the siding aren't always a problem.

  • Metal Connector Nailers

    As building codes address wind-zone construction with extra vigor, more metal hardware is being required to tie buildings together than ever before. Framing anchors, ties, hold-downs, braces, tie-downs, hangers, connectors, straps - every year more steel is needed to build and remodel houses. And...

  • Best-Practice Wall Shingles

    A rain screen offers the ultimate defense against water intrusion, provided you get the details right. That's easy enough to do with lap siding but considerably more complex with shingles. Custom home builder and remodeler Mike Guertin, who is accustomed to wind-swept rains in his area of the Ocean...

  • Shingle Art

    These vines won't rot the siding or harbor bird's nests.

  • Decorative Shingling

    Distinguish your sidewall work with this easy-to-build diamond design

  • Q&A: Do Shakes Need an Underlayment?

    Q. Is it necessary to use felt paper or Tyvek behind cedar shakes on gable walls that are not heated or cooled?

  • Roof Ventilation for Coastal Homes

    Rhode Island builder Mike Guertin shares his strategies for beating leaks caused by wind-driven rain entering roof vents — and how to navigate building codes and shingle warranties in the process.

  • Top-Down Roofing

    Installing shingles in 4- to 7-foot lifts from the ridge down reduces granule loss and makes the job go faster.