How to make and use a trammel to lay out and cut the plates for a curved stair supported by pony walls. Read more
Look for a gun that toenails well and can consistently set fasteners in dense material. Read more
Double-layer asphalt felt underlayment, sealeddown flashing systems, and firm tile attachment are the keys to an effective tile roof in hurricane country. Read more
Flatten uneven subfloors quickly with these pour-inplace compounds. Read more
Big builders push for energy-efficiency initiative; remodeling shows signs of rebound; San Francisco battles sewer sludge; more Read more
Using a rule-of-thumb ratio based on the square footage of living area might make sense for lighting design, but not for energy analysis. Read more
Be sure your installation isn't subject to wind or seismic loading. Read more
Making the most of a small upstairs Read more
A recent experience got me thinking about the competitive bid process. Read more
At first glance you can't tell that the Elevance Rising Wall Bath is a walk-in tub. Read more
Weyerhaeuser has introduced a line of framing material designed to reduce thermal bridging. Read more
Pressure-washing is fast and effective, but it can also be destructive. Read more
Eighty-eight percent of Overhead Door's EcoBuilt Garage Door Panel is derived from recycled Douglas fir, says the company, and the rest is a combination of exterior-grade resins and wax. Read more
The Skyline Series Enclosure features 3/8-inch-thick glass, recessed finger pulls, and - best of all - no metal surroundings. Read more
Many steel-framed garage doors look like wood only from a distance. Read more
Want to avoid the hassle of fabricating curved framing on site? Consider sending the plans to Custom-Arch and letting someone else do the work. Read more
Fireclay Tile's Debris Series Recycled Tile is made from 70 percent recycled matter, most of it porcelain bathroom fixtures that otherwise would have ended up in a landfill, the company says. Read more
Moen’s ioDigital vertical spa features a 7-inch-diameter rainshower, four body sprays, and an electronic control pad that allows up to four users to preset their preferred water temperature, flow rate, and spray pattern. Read more
Though intended for the DIY market, Bondera TileMatSet could be a real time-saver for kitchen and bath remodelers too. Read more
The Plumb Perfect Level features end gauges that can be dialed in or out to compensate for imperfect framing (or to establish a slope). Read more
The Spyder Bore-Blade looks more like a miniature chain saw than a typical reciprocating saw blade. Read more
As a Syracuse University basketball fan, I insist that all of my lead cords be orange. Read more
ecause the Smart-Bit predrilling and countersinking tool is designed to perfectly match the shape, head diameter, and head angle of popular screws used for deck building and woodworking, it won't produce mushrooming when used with composites, says the maker. Read more
As the owners of a San Clemente, Calif., specialty painting company called Rags 2 Rich's, husband-and-wife team Rich Howe and Cindy Miller do a wide range of faux-finish work, including convincing renderings of masonry, plaster, and marble. Read more