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Tips & Techniques

Tips & Techniques is a collection of methods, tools, and jigs that our readers have devised to get things done on their own construction projects.  Email photos and descriptions of your tips to us at [email protected]; post them with the #FineHomebuildingTips hashtag on Instagram; or upload them to FineHomebuilding.com/reader-tips for a chance to have them featured in an issue of Fine Homebuilding Magazine. Plus, we pay for any tips we publish.

Want to see a new Fine Homebuilding tip in your inbox every day? Then sign up for the Tip of the Day newsletter!

  • Cutting Rigid Insulation

    Learn how to cut through rigid foam insulation like butter.

  • Sheathing Walls Solo

    Make sheathing walls a breeze — even by yourself.

  • Cutting Plastic Pipe

    Discover a new use for mason's line.

  • Cedar-Roof Shingling Guide

    Quick to make and easy to use, this plywood guide keeps courses straight and on layout.

  • Solo Housewrapping

    A small crossbar makes the perfect assist for installing housewrap alone.

  • The Twister

    This trusty tool is a great helper when it comes to straightening out warped lumber.

  • Beam Stair

    Make lifting heavy beams a breeze with a simple set of stairs.

  • Remove Stubborn Stakes

    To remove metal stakes from the ground, use a pipe wrench to spin them a few times.

  • Paint Prep With Less Waste

    When painting ceilings, reduce the amount of waste you produce by hanging reusable fabric from the walls instead of plastic sheets.

  • Handy Makeshift Level

    If you don't have a level on hand, a speed square with a plumb bob or chalkline can create a level line.

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Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 330 - April/May
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop
  • Issue 326 - October 2024
    • Paint Behind Strike Plates
    • Conceal Cut Ends
    • Ladder Slip Solution

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