Copyright (c) 2009 FineHomebuilding.com en-us Fine Homebuilding - "The Daily Fix" blog entries http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/blog/the-daily-fix Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:19:19 -0500 Fine Homebuilding - "The Daily Fix" blog entries http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/assets/images/cs_logo_sm.jpg http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/blog/the-daily-fix Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:32:18 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/9546/gas-fireplaces-direct-vent-vs-vent-free http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/9546/gas-fireplaces-direct-vent-vs-vent-free Posted by JFink
If you don't have a chimney through which to route the flue for a gas fireplace, you have two options: direct vent, and vent-free. But the choice is more fiercely debated than it seems. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/9546/gas-fireplaces-direct-vent-vs-vent-free Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:40:07 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/8347/set-tile-without-mastic-or-thinset http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/8347/set-tile-without-mastic-or-thinset Posted by MikeGuertin
Skip the mess and stick ceramic tile right to the wall using a new peel and stick mat. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/8347/set-tile-without-mastic-or-thinset Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:58:26 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/5193/how-to-choose-an-insect-screen http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/5193/how-to-choose-an-insect-screen Posted by ScottG
There are screens out there for every budget and need. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/5193/how-to-choose-an-insect-screen Mon, 18 May 2009 12:22:20 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/3821/green-driveway-paving http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/3821/green-driveway-paving Posted by MikeGuertin
Many driveways are oversized to provide extra room for backing and turning and parking for occasional guests. Excess pavement often overwhelms a small lot and increases storm water runoff. On a recent project I used blacktop pavement for the high traffic area with Turfstone ™, a green pervious paving alternative around the perimeter for extra swing room when turning and extra off-street parking. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/3821/green-driveway-paving Mon, 18 May 2009 10:30:00 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4964/coping-inside-corners-with-a-jigsaw http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4964/coping-inside-corners-with-a-jigsaw Posted by jross
The Collins Coping Foot is a jigsaw base that allows you to cope trim and molding quickly and accurately ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4964/coping-inside-corners-with-a-jigsaw Tue, 12 May 2009 13:45:00 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/5787/paper-countertops-look-and-feel-like-stone http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/5787/paper-countertops-look-and-feel-like-stone Posted by RYagid
Paper might not seem like a suitable raw material for countertop fabrication, but when saturated with resin, heated, and compressed, the result is surprisingly stonelike. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/5787/paper-countertops-look-and-feel-like-stone Fri, 08 May 2009 17:00:00 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4832/dust-shmust-just-get-er-done http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4832/dust-shmust-just-get-er-done Posted by jross
It’s hard to be diligent about personal safety day in and day out. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4832/dust-shmust-just-get-er-done Wed, 06 May 2009 11:00:00 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4750/can-i-justify-the-luxury-of-instant-hot-water http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4750/can-i-justify-the-luxury-of-instant-hot-water Posted by jross
Turns out that enjoying instant hot water in a drafty old house can save energy. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4750/can-i-justify-the-luxury-of-instant-hot-water Tue, 05 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4753/four-solutions-to-kitchen-storage-problems http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4753/four-solutions-to-kitchen-storage-problems Posted by FHB_WEB
Innovative fixes for kitchen-storage dilemmas ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4753/four-solutions-to-kitchen-storage-problems Mon, 04 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4707/todays-wood-products-are-easy-for-mold-to-eat http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4707/todays-wood-products-are-easy-for-mold-to-eat Posted by FHBdotcom
As wood goes through the refining process, susceptibility to mold increases. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4707/todays-wood-products-are-easy-for-mold-to-eat Fri, 01 May 2009 16:20:00 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/5007/whats-the-difference-between-a-trellis-an-arbor-and-a-pergola http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/5007/whats-the-difference-between-a-trellis-an-arbor-and-a-pergola Posted by RDA
Although the terms often are used interchangeably, trellises, arbors, and pergolas are distinctly different structures. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/5007/whats-the-difference-between-a-trellis-an-arbor-and-a-pergola Fri, 01 May 2009 09:00:00 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4822/which-rigid-insulation-should-i-choose http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4822/which-rigid-insulation-should-i-choose Posted by FHB_WEB
Not all rigid foam performs the same. Learn the differences between EPS, XPS, and ISO. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4822/which-rigid-insulation-should-i-choose Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4877/use-barstools-at-a-kitchen-counter-to-save-floor-space http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4877/use-barstools-at-a-kitchen-counter-to-save-floor-space Posted by FHB_WEB
Seating Innovations barstools are a space-saving solution. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4877/use-barstools-at-a-kitchen-counter-to-save-floor-space Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4927/how-to-install-blocking-to-anchor-cabinets-solidly http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4927/how-to-install-blocking-to-anchor-cabinets-solidly Posted by MikeGuertin
Horizontal blocking installed between studs makes for a more secure cabinet installation. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4927/how-to-install-blocking-to-anchor-cabinets-solidly Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4916/how-to-retrofit-a-ceiling-fan-electrical-box http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4916/how-to-retrofit-a-ceiling-fan-electrical-box Posted by FHB_WEB
Before installing a ceiling fan, electrical code requires that you use a fan-rated outlet box that will support the extra weight and the motion associated with a fan. A fan-rated box will be labeled as such inside and typically can support up to 70 lb. . . . ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4916/how-to-retrofit-a-ceiling-fan-electrical-box Fri, 24 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4893/corrosion-resistant-paint http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4893/corrosion-resistant-paint Posted by FHB_WEB
Polyvinylidene fluorides, or PVDFs, are acknowledged in the industry as the best resins for coating metal. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4893/corrosion-resistant-paint Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4817/use-a-subpanel-to-update-an-electrical-system http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4817/use-a-subpanel-to-update-an-electrical-system Posted by FHB_WEB
Sometimes, adding a subpanel is the best way to integrate new wiring with an old electrical system. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4817/use-a-subpanel-to-update-an-electrical-system Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:16:46 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4784/use-the-metric-system-on-your-next-complex-project http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4784/use-the-metric-system-on-your-next-complex-project Posted by FHB_WEB
Lumber is sized and sold based on the English system, so it makes sense to build with an English tape measure—most of the time. However, when I’m doing a framing project... ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4784/use-the-metric-system-on-your-next-complex-project Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:54:49 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4875/a-homeowners-story-did-going-green-make-sense http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4875/a-homeowners-story-did-going-green-make-sense Posted by FHB_WEB
As electricity costs go up, the payback period shortens; at payback, future electricity is essentially free. And there is great satisfaction in watching your electric meter run backward. ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4875/a-homeowners-story-did-going-green-make-sense Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:47:50 -0400 http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4806/what-is-open-building http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4806/what-is-open-building Posted by FHB_WEB
In the early 1990s that I bumped into a marvelous little book by the Dutch architect John Habraken titled Supports. He argued passionately that the process of making housing must preserve the “natural relationship” that humans need to have with the place where they live. . . ]]> http://finehomebuilding.taunton.com/item/4806/what-is-open-building