June 2009 Table of Contents

A pioneering Maine builder was using this approach more than a decade ago; many of his details have become almost standard practice today. Read more

These heaters are up to 96 percent efficient and typically easier to retrofit than tankless models . Read more

You can mill five sets of casing from a single sheet. Read more

Fire-sprinkler costs reconsidered; epoxy for wood rot; credit-card commiseration; a vote for country of origin Read more

Pennsylvania house is first recipient of new green standard’s top rating; Pulte buys Centex; sprinkler battle continues at state level; more Read more

Frank Woeste explains why you'll need an engineered design to fasten a deck ledger to a cantilevered I-Joist floor system. Read more

The manufacturer of the glass tile my client chose for her shower recommends that it be installed with modified thinset mortar. But Schluter, maker of the Kerdi waterproofing membrane I typically use, specifies unmodified thinset mortar for both installing its membrane and setting tile. Does this mean that glass tile can't be used with Kerdi waterproofing membrane? Read more

Grinding down highs is an option, but Tim Uhler says that filling in the low spots is faster and easier. Here's how he does it. Read more

Making porch floorboards last; door-finishing jig; a simple tent Read more

Effective July 1, 2009, the state of Pennsylvania will require a written contract for nearly every construction task in or around a residence — even minor repair work like repainting or reroofing. Read more

Wall-mounted heaters; quick disconnect; screws for exotic hardwoods; foil sheathing; flexible ducts; rot-resistant pine; more Read more

It used to be that if you wanted a multi-tool — an oscillating sander/cutter — you had to buy one of Fein's MultiMasters. Read more

None of my power tools gets used more than my wormdrive saw. Read more

Stiletto's six new titanium pry bars weigh 45 percent less than equivalent-sized steel bars, says the company. Read more

The Bucket Seat Pro from Bucket Boss protects your bucket's contents, provides a convenient place to sit, and — with its two removable dividers — serves as a four- or six-compartment parts organizer. Read more

Leaving valuable tools and equipment in the back of your pickup — even for a quick run into the store — can be risky, but many truck beds don't have a place you can attach a lock to. Read more

Most cordless impact wrenches have 1/2-inch anvils for large sockets and deliver bolt-snapping torque that can overwhelm smaller tasks. Read more

Jackson's Total Control Elite Demolition Hammer is a sledgehammer with a difference: One of the striking faces tapers down to about 3/8 inch thick for rough prying — or for concentrating the striking force along a line to break concrete more easily. Read more

Small items can be difficult to keep isolated in a portable parts box. Read more

Stanley has redesigned some of its most popular hand planes. Read more

According to Colin McGhee, thatched roofs are “a bit of a novelty in the United States.” That perception won’t be diminished by the job he took on this past winter when he and his crew thatched a Maine island retreat. Read more