May 2010 Table of Contents

A steep slope and a tight lot call for some imaginative foundation solutions. Read more

Get a cast-in-place look with versatile CMUs installed over a reinforced slab. Read more

A look at the techniques used to add skylights and thermal solar collectors to a foam-core roof. Read more

Advanced framing and exterior foam reduce conductive heat loss and provide good air-sealing opportunities. Read more

More mold headaches; ice dam insurance; stair template available; choosing the right word Read more

EPA waffles on HEPA vacs; low-E windows melt vinyl siding; drywall ruling favors homeowners; more Read more

Do tests on extra tile to see if you have the right solvent to remove the sealer. Read more

I understand that fiberglass batt insulation can allow air to move through it and that this air movement degrades the insulation's R-value. Two causes I've heard about are wind-washing at the eaves and convective loops that can start in a wall cavity on really cold days and wick warmth from inside to the outside wall surface. But recently I have taken pains to do a very good air-sealing job on everything I build, whether it's an addition or a new house. I'm getting blower-door readings of less than 1.5 air changes per hour at 50 pascals. I also use baffles at the eaves, and seal the sheathing to the framing before insulating. Under these conditions - with air movement cut to a minimum - will fiberglass insulation perform at its stated R-value? Read more

Two summers ago I received a call from some homeowners who wanted to remodel their kitchen and, as part of the project, remove a brick chimney that ran up through the center of the house. Read more

Not only do I lack any particular talent for playing the piano, but I didn’t even start taking lessons until early middle age — far too late to develop the neural pathways I’d need to play well. Read more

Garage doors; heat-reflecting shingles; hurricane-resistant glass walls; clay plaster; decking with drainage; roof wrap; pergolas; more Read more

This spring DeWalt introduced the DWS535 wormdrive saw. Read more

Full-size 3 1/4-inch hand planers are meant to be guided with both hands for maximum control, but Festool has a compact model designed to be held in one hand, so the other hand can steady the work. Read more

The ModBox storage container is made of seven interlocking panels that can be carried and assembled by a lone contractor without tools — so it can be set up in places other storage boxes can't easily go. Read more

Stackable toolboxes help you carry a lot in one load while keeping parts and tools neatly in their places. Read more

Porter-Cable's 390K 5-inch random orbit sander has a powerful variable-speed brushless motor and delivers consistently fine sanding results. Read more

Suppose you wanted some wooden columns about 20 feet tall and custom-turned in one piece from straight tree trunks? There aren’t too many places you could find such a thing. Read more