Building a Frame-and-Panel Fireplace
Pocket-screw joinery and specialty moldings transform a site-built mantel into high-end millwork. Read more
Efficiency Dos and Don'ts From an Energy Nerd
With high fuel prices here to stay, now is the time to get it right. Read more
Fast-Tracking a Pop-Top Addition
Using wall panels and trusses, framing and roofing took only four days. Read more
Reroofing With Spray Foam
Spray polyurethane foam is durable, has excellent R-value, and can eliminate ponding. Read more
In the News
Insurer wins Katrina case; Rhode Island toughens registration rules; Wisconsin limits impact fees; building costs rise; more Read more
Q. Paint Over Stain? Is it okay to use an exterior latex house paint over stained wood siding? Read more
Q&A
Do Fiber-Cement Butt Joints Have to Be Caulked?
Q: The clients on an upcoming project are interested in installing fiber-cement siding, but they're concerned about how the butt joints will look. While they don't expect the tight-fitting seams characteristic of wooden clapboards, they also don't like the look of wide caulked joints. Is there a better way to detail these joints? Read more
On the Job
Framing an Elliptical Staircase
Recently, my friend Nick Ridge and I took on a job in Northern California that had an interesting challenge — an elliptical staircase with a self-supporting inside stringer. Read more
Business
Pricing Handyman Work
It may surprise you to find out that you're not in business to exercise your skill as a craftsman, to get a sense of pride from a job well-done, or to enjoy a sense of freedom by being your own boss. As good as those benefits are, they're by-products, not the purpose itself. Read more
Legal
Protect Your Assets
Whenever I speak somewhere, I preach about the importance of separating your personal assets from your company's assets. The best way to do this is by incorporating your business as a corporation or an LLC. Read more
Backfill
Men of Oak
Most small businesses don't stick around for 50 years, so when Williams Hardwood Flooring made it to that important milestone, company president Jim Leslie decided to do something special: He commissioned chain-saw carver Michael Blaine of Winchester, N.H., to make a life-size sculpture of two installers hard at work. Read more
