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Issue 313 – Feb/March 2023

On the Cover

Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit

A single steel column on a reinforced footing keeps homes standing during an earthquake.

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Features

  • Tips for Choosing and Installing a Wood Stove
    Tips for Choosing and Installing a Woodstove

    A highly efficient woodstove can be a great source of supplemental heat during the coldest months.

  • Illustration of a small house surrounded by lots of green space
    6 Ways to Make a Small Lot Live Big

    Strategic elements such as fences, framed views, and walled gardens can make constrained lot sizes feel both spacious and private.

  • reclaimed ceiling beams
    Dress Up a Ceiling With Reclaimed Beams

    Old timbers get new life as a decorative element in a cottage renovation.

  • Allison A. Bailes III
    The Fine Homebuilding Interview: Allison A. Bailes III

    This Georgian author and educator brings building science down to Earth.

  • Flashing a Deck Ledger
    5 Steps for Flashing a Deck Ledger

    A multilayered approach keeps water out of the house at this critical connection.

  • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
    Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit

    A single steel column on a reinforced footing keeps homes standing during an earthquake.

Other

  • 313 online extras
    Fine Homebuilding Issue #313 Online Highlights

    Find online articles and videos on the podcast, preinsulation air-sealing, and more.

Tips & Techniques

  • Mobile Kitchen Island
    Mobile Kitchen Island on Furniture Glides

    Furniture glides create a movable island for easier manuevering.

  • Smart Deck Spacers
    Smart Deck Spacers

    A small block of wood glued to the spacer prevents it from falling through the cracks.

  • Precut Shims for Faster Door Hanging
    Precut Shims for Faster Door Hanging

    With a tablesaw and miter saw, it only takes a few mnutes to make enough shims for several doors.

  • Measure Long Spans
    An Easier Way to Measure Long Spans

    Split the distance when working alone or measuring spans longer than your tape.

  • Seal Toilets Partway
    Seal Toilets Partway to Detect Leaks

    To caulk or not to caulk, that is the question.

  • Makeshift Mud Mixer
    Makeshift Mud Mixer for Drywall

    Electrical wire in a drill forms a useful hand mixer for small batches of compound.

Know the Code

  • fireplace clearance illustration
    Code Requirements for Fireplace Clearances

    Avoid DIY disasters by following code-required clearances to combustibles, rules for hearth extensions, and trim-projection limits for elements above and beside the firebox opening.

Tools & Gear

  • cordless compressor
    Compact Cordless Compressor

    Metabo HPT's 2-gal. cordless compressor is a useful back- and time-saver.

  • Tajima Sigma Stop tape measure
    Ergonomic Tape Measure

    This double-sided, high-contrast measuring tape is easy to read in all lighting conditions.

  • tool hauler
    Trip-Saving Tool Hauler

    This combination wheelbarrow and dolly from Worx shines as a tool cart.

HOUSES by Design

  • affordable housing design
    Innovative Design in Affordable Housing

    A barbell layout comfortably organizes this small, single-family home into its extremely narrow footprint.

  • front of house
    Modern and Geometric Home in New England

    Comprised of three simple, triangular forms, this minimalist Vermont house is infused with character and culture.

  • front of house
    Combining Design Aesthetics for an Island Home

    This home on Whidbey Island, Wash., marries an old farmhouse feel with more modern elements.

Spec

  • metal braces between roof trusses
    Steel Brace for Roof Trusses

    The TrussBrace system from FastenMaster removes the need for wood braces, making for a faster roof truss installation.

  • Blue freestanding tub and matching blue vessel sink
    Adding Color to Freestanding Bathtubs and Sinks

    This color-rich collection from House of Rohl draws on historical global architecture trends to upgrade bathroom features.

  • An image of the cabinet pullout next to an image of the maxx drawer system
    Clever Kitchen Storage Solutions

    These two drawer and cabinet systems from Rev-a-Shelf bring organization to busy spaces.

  • Wood folding glass doors opening to a pool
    Get Stunning Views With Folding Glass Doors

    Generation 4 from NanaWall comes with greater opportunities for flexibility and energy efficiency to improve indoor-outdoor living.

  • Quick Dam flood bags stopping the flow of water in front of a door
    Reusable Flood Bags for Fast Bulk-Water Control

    These bags from Quick Dam arrive compact and swell to form a protective barrier on contact with water.

Building Matters

  • Dejah Leger measuring wood
    Academics Don't Define Real-World Abilities

    Carpenter Dejah Leger talks about how grades in school aren't good indicators of building skills and how the job site made math make sense.

Keep Craft Alive

  • Alison Croney Moses
    Alison Croney Moses, Artist and Educator

    This art-program director focuses on providing spaces for young people to have opportunities to work with their hands.

More? View Past Issues

Ask the Experts

  • Will Insulating a Crawlspace Save Me Money?
  • Eliminating Efflorescence on Brick Below a Window

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

Fine Home Building

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