Mixing Your Own Concrete
John Carroll explains how to save time and money with a small mixer and a little bit of elbow grease. Read more
Cordless Rear-Handle Saws
Tim Uhler tests five battery-powered framing saws to see if they have the power and endurance to match their corded counterparts. Read more
Scribing Basics
Learn how to fit baseboard and other kinds of interior trim to floors that aren't flat and walls that aren't even. Read more
Mono-Slope Roof Flashing
Mike Guertin explains the best way to seal the top edge of a simple shed roof against the weather. Read more
Caulk or Grout in Shower Corners?
Tom Meehan says you can use either one, as long as you follow a few simple guidelines. Read more
Rafter Framing for a Conical Roof
Learn how a New Jersey builder tackled the tricky framing needed to build the roof of a turret-style porch. Read more
Restoring a Fire-Damaged Home
Learn how one Vermont contractor juggled the wishes of his client with the demands of their insurance company while rebuilding their fire-damaged house. Read more
Repairing Plaster Walls in a Historic Home
Learn how father-and-son plaster experts Ron and William Bisson restore damaged plaster walls using traditional materials and techniques. Read more
Building a Worker-Centered Crew - Part 2
Why patience is important when training a new apprentice; remember, nobody was born knowing how to read a tape measure. Read more
The Solar-Ready Rooftop
Ted Cushman explains the key factors that determine a home’s suitability for on-site generation of power. Read more
Reversible Siding Profile
The new profile comes in two configurations: with smooth nickel gap on one side and wood-grain shiplap on the other, or with woodgrain nickel gap on one side and smooth shiplap on the other. Read more
Upgraded Pocket Door Frame
The switch to galvanized steel from steel-wrapped wood makes the frame’s walls stronger, more rigid, and more resistant to doors flexing or bowing in and out, according to the manufacturer. Read more
LED Cabinet Lighting
The 40 new lighting options from Jasco range from plug-in or direct-wire LED strips to recessed puck lights. Read more
Wood-Framed Windows
Pella’s new Lifestyle Series of wood windows and patio doors incorporates the company’s patented glass, which Pella says is designed to reduce outside noise and improve energy efficiency. Read more
UV-Resistant Flashing
The redesigned membrane, traditionally used for balcony and breezeway details, includes a white polymer surface film that triples the 60-day UV resistance of the original product to 180 days. Read more
Mind and Hand
Why an old idea - that work with the hands is a necessary foundation for a sound education - still resonates today. Read more
