Portable tablesaws are handy, but 10-inch contractor models are the workhorses of most job sites. Our tool editor assembled and tested six new saws; here’s how they stack up. Read more
Are these two products really equivalent, as manufacturers and grading agencies claim? A wood technologist puts to rest questions about OSB’s suitability as an economical substitute for plywood. Read more
Working contractors who cut corners on staging risk large fines and serious injury. A scaffolding sub explains how to safely set up pipe staging, pump jacks, and wall and roof brackets. Read more
It’s hard to do good work in the dark. Here’s an overview of products to light up the job site, from hand-held and string lights to powerful stanchion lights. Read more
Unvented roofs in northern climates are prone to ice buildup, but how do you ventilate a valley or hip rafter in a cathedral ceiling? And what do you do at a skylight, where the headers block the vent chutes? A snow-country builder describes the venting methods that have worked for him at these and other tricky spots. Read more
Building on fill can be fatal, BOCA adopts new stair rules, verdict in Masonite suit Read more
Q: What type of preparation work is needed before placing a 4 1/2-inch-thick topping over an existing slab? Read more
Q&A: Service Panel Surge Protection
Q: Does a surge protector installed in the service panel eliminate the need for individual surge protectors throughout the house? Read more
Q&A: Ceiling Cracks With Trusses
Q: On a recent house we built, cracking has occurred where nonbearing interior partitions join the ceiling. We used a wood truss roof system, and I’ve read that truss movement often causes this type of cracking. How do I correct this problem? Read more
Working with a narrow floor plan Read more
Beating the top profit eaters Read more
Seismic construction basics Read more
Sizing roof vents Read more
Avoiding installation trouble spots Read more
Shallow seismic anchor, structural metal roof panels, wrinkleproof roofing felt Read more