Fine Homebuilding Magazine

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Fine Homebuilding Magazine

Contributors • THE VOICES OF EXPERIENCE

Letters • READER FEEDBACK

Tips&Techniques

Safety regulations for irregular stairs • MASTER THE RULES OF HOME BUILDING

INNOVATIVE CIRCULAR SAW • NEW AND NOTEWORTHY PRODUCTS

Small, sturdy handsaw

Air-leak tracer

Why You Need Blower-Door Testing • Understanding where structures leak is the first step toward building tighter, more energy-efficient homes

5 REASONS TO RUN A BLOWER-DOOR TEST

MEASURE THE HOUSE

ASSEMBLE THE DOOR

RUN THE TEST

TRACK DOWN LEAKS

AIRTIGHT MEASUREMENTS • The data used to designate the airtightness level of a home is communicated in the following industry shorthand.

Performance for the People • A builder brings affordable, near-zero-energy homes to those most in need through a career at Habitat for Humanity

The basics A builder’s recipe for success • Myriad high-performance assemblies exist for builders seeking low-energy homes. The D.C. Habitat affiliate builds in a mild climate and so uses systems that are broadly applicable for those designing and building homes with moderate heating and cooling loads.

Two low-cost solutions for high performance • The Washington, D.C., Habitat affiliate, under construction supervision by Dan Hines and Andrew Modley, has included a variety of construction assemblies into the spectrum of its project portfolio. Here are two examples: a multifamily town-home project that meets Passive House certification—and demonstrates an ambitious assembly—and a more standard approach to building that’s more commonplace in the organization’s work.

The evolution of a novice

It’s all in the details • Energy-efficient houses are made from a combination of products that include technological tools and innovative materials. Here are some of the details used in the Passive House–certified Ivy City project.

ROTTEN to the Core • What started out as a leaky window replacement snowballed into replacing a big chunk of wall

GET RID OF THE ROT

INSTALL THE NEW WINDOWS

PREP THE NEW WALL FOR NEW STUCCO

Rainscreen Systems for Stucco • If you want to install stucco and not rot your walls, choose one of these products to create a drainage plane and ventilation space between the water-resistive barrier and the stucco

A CLOSER LOOK AT DRAINAGE PRODUCTS • Drainage systems for stucco and adhered stone use a waterproofing layer and a drainage matrix for managing bulk water and inward-driven water vapor.

Foolproof Inset Cabinet Doors • With the right tools and techniques, there’s no need to be afraid of these traditional doors

A Fresh Take on Tradition • A renovation with a focus on increased space and sustainable systems transforms a historical home

MAKING AN ADDITION LOOK RIGHT • The three phases of this home’s transformation are best understood using massing models, where the newest addition can be seen as the scaled reflection of an original east wing. The size of the addition not only accommodates the spatial demands of the homeowner, but it also helps provide visual balance to the entire structure and remedy problematic additions on the west-facing elevation. The addition in both size and detail is distinctly modern, as was the intention.

CENTERED ON THE STAIRS • The compartmentalized interior of...