Fine Homebuilding Magazine

01/24/2025

As the industry phases out R-410A due to environmental regulations, new refrigerant options—R-32 and R-454B—offer lower global warming potential, but the best choice depends on your technician's training and familiarity with these newer systems.

HVAC Expert Chris Hughes explains the difference between different types of refrigerant and how to choose the best one for your AC unit.

01/24/2025

Learn how to use a cordless track saw for all types of projects like cabinet making, furniture building, and more with these expert tips.

01/24/2025

What's the best attic insulation? It all depends on your budget and the unique needs of your attic.

The choice of insulation depends on your budget--and on your specific attic situation.

01/24/2025

The Diamondback 701 Vest offers an alternative to traditional tool belts, with adjustable features and the ability to accommodate both clip-on and traditional tool pouches for different tasks.

Carpenter Justin Cline gives a review of the diamondback tool vest. Hint: it won't strain your back muscles like traditional tool belts.

01/23/2025

A reader submits a tip on how to protect the top of newly framed walls from snow with strips of water-resistive barrier or a similar material.

Read the full tip: https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2023/10/11/weatherized-wall-framing

01/23/2025

This window installation system allows most of the work to be done from the inside, making the process faster and safer for one person working alone.

Pella Steady Set Windows allow for solo installation, mostly from the inside -- see what Mike Guertin thinks of the installation system here.

01/23/2025

Some of these smart devices are more than a leak alarm—they can help you understand your water usage and diagnose plumbing problems.

Brian Pontolilo shares his top choices for residential water leak detectors and also provides step-by-step instruction for installing one.

01/23/2025

From not venting your bathroom to not venting your siding, understanding how things go wrong is the first step to getting them right. Avoid these 9 common building science mistakes and learn how to design and build with better building science practices.

Avoid 9 common building science mistakes and learn how to design and build with better building science practices.

01/23/2025

In many parts of the country, the off-season lasts for five or six months. A great garden never slumbers, though. Verticality, wood fences and stone walls, plants with a winter habit, and pops of color maintain depth and perspective on the greyest days.

Check out this home featured in Old House Journal: https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2024/12/10/the-winter-garden

01/22/2025

Watch Tyler Grace use construction adhesive to add finishing touches to the porch trim and doors of the Loctite 2nd Chance House.

Tyler Grace uses the best exterior construction adhesive to add finishing touches to the porch trim and doors of the Loctite® 2nd Chance House.

01/22/2025

The FHB Podcast crew offers expert advice on choosing the right insulation for the roof of a small, balloon-framed home.

The FHB Podcast crew offers expert advice on how to insulate the roof of a balloon-framed house safely and effectively.

01/22/2025

With the right approach, you can restore old hardware—whether through soaking, scrubbing, or polishing—giving it a fresh look while preserving its original charm.

Justin Fink of Fink & Son Historic Restoration explains how to restore old metal hardware and offers helpful pro tips along the way.

01/22/2025

Moisture is migrating inside from an adjoining patio slab. Can the connection be waterproofed?

Moisture is migrating inside from an adjoining outdoor concrete patio slab. Can the connection be waterproofed? Learn about solutions.

01/22/2025

This three-story home in Austin combines downtown views, modern finishes, and personal touches in a compact urban design. Check out the project.

Discover compact home design inspiration in this three-story urban abode that's crowned with a rooftop deck located in Austin, Texas.

01/21/2025

As the costs of concrete and excavation have increased steadily, builders are more frequently turning to slab-on-grade foundations. These assemblies require less concrete and labor than full basements. Here are several new approaches to these foundations.

An innovative plywood concrete-free slab-on-grade means less time, money, carbon, and concrete with fantastic performance

01/21/2025

If you have two people, and two chalklines, tie them together and snap lines without walking back and forth.

Learn how to save time snapping chalk lines by working in pairs with this helpful tip from FHB community contributor Aron Jones.

01/21/2025

Modern wood wall paneling and flush doors bring a clean, seamless aesthetic, but achieving this look requires precision and planning. Custom trim carpenter Casey Knips used clips to install these panels. Read the feature.

Custom trim and cabinetry carpenter Casey Knips shares how to install modern wood wall paneling that's flush, clean, seamless, and aesthetic.

01/21/2025

When dealing with a textured ceiling that needs smoothing out, skim-coating is an effective solution.

According to painting contractor Noah Kanter, skim-coating can greatly improve a room's appearance and is relatively affordable compared to other home improvements.

Starting with sanding is key, and it’s a great reason to invest in a drywall sander. Sanding removes unpainted or lightly painted texture quickly with little mess, and you don’t have to wait for the ceiling to dry before moving on to other steps, as you do when wet-scraping. Even if all the texture is not removed, sanding reduces the necessary thickness of skim coats for easier application and faster drying.

Read the full step-by-step process: https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2024/12/10/repairing-damaged-walls-and-ceilings