For Pros by Pros

With Building Stairs, you'll discover that if you can measure the distance between two floors, you can design and construct a stunning set of stairs. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a motivated DIY enthusiast, Building Stairs is an essential resource that demystifies the art of stair construction, equipping you with the skills to create beautiful, sturdy stairs that elevate your space. In this extensively illustrated guide, author Andy Engel simplifies the complexities of stair construction. He meticulously lays out the geometry, planning, and construction processes involved, taking you from a basic framework of lumber to a staircase that would impress even royalty. Key Features: • Comprehensive Guidance: Engel provides clear and complete instructions, covering every aspect of stair building, including layout, rise and run calculations, and framing techniques. • Railing Installation: Learn how to build and install railings that enhance both safety and aesthetics, ensuring your staircase is as functional as it is beautiful. • Off-the-Shelf Parts: Gain insights into using off-the-shelf stair parts, streamlining your project while achieving a professional finish. • Illustrative Examples: With a wealth of illustrations, this book makes complex concepts accessible, ensuring you can tackle stair projects with confidence. Andy Engel grew up near Belvidere, NJ, in a house that his father nearly always had under construction. Woodworking and carpentry were just what you did. When other teenagers were dancing to The Bee Gees and Donna Summer, Andy was in the shop building a dulcimer inspired by a chapter in The Foxfire Book. For a few years after high school, he alternated between college, dead-end jobs, and travel. In 1982, he found his feet and hired on as a woodworker in a pre-hung door shop. From 1985 through 1996, he was self-employed as a carpenter and home builder. In 1996, Taunton's Fine Homebuilding magazine offered him an assistant editor's position. Andy left Taunton in 2005 to chase a living as writer, carpenter, and building consultant. He now lives in Connecticut, with his wife and two sons, in a house that's nearly always under construction.

Written by seasoned builders from across the country, this revised edition of Foundations & Concrete Work features 17 new articles from Fine Homebuilding magazine, all focused on helping builders form and pour the absolute highest-quality foundations. • more than 375 on-the-job photos and drawings • 272 pages chock-full of advice, tips, and tricks from the world's most foremost home building experts • from Fine Homebuilding magazine, the most respected residential construction magazine in the country. Foundations & Concrete Work, is the only book on the subject that builders will ever need! All contributing authors are seasoned professionals whose articles have appeared in Fine Homebuilding magazine. Since 1981 Fine Homebuilding has been providing information and inspiration to everyone who cares about quality home improvement and construction. the magazine is the best source of home improvement information and helps readers build projects better, faster, and more efficiently. The farmhouses have been selected from the pages of Fine Homebuilding magazine.

All pros on deck in the completely new edition of All New Building Decks. It's the ideal time to start thinking about your deck – either the one you already have that you want to fix up, or the one that you've been dreaming of building. Either way, All New Building Decks – the hot-off-the-press new edition of the bestselling favorite – will walk you through the steps, materials, and do's and don'ts for taking on your deck-building project. Get more tips, more advice, and more deck projects you can easily take on. All New Building Decks, a fresh collection of best advice from the experts at Fine Homebuilding, is deep with up-to-date content for designing and building a deck for your home. Our pros take you through every step of the process including: • Tools and Materials: From hardware to fasteners, flashing to finish, this section covers everything you need to tackle your deck project. • Deck Design: Create a small but elegant deck, take advantage of the natural views, build a porch with a roof deck, add in decorative inlays, and cull the brightest ideas for lighting. • Deck Framing: Loads, footings, frames with steel – there's lots of ground to cover in your deck's frame. This section will also show you how to make an old deck safe as well as clue you into the "Top 10 Deck-Building Mistakes" so you won't fall into them! • 400 Photographs and Illustrations: if a picture paints a thousand words, imagine what 400 will do! Follow along, get inspired, and let the step-by-step approach get you to your finished product easier than you thought. • PLUS! Gain quick access to everything you need to know about railings and stairs; benches, planters, and decorative borders; custom sizing and details; and more. Get started now and, in no time, your beautiful deck will be the key location for memorable parties and barbeques, lazy days with a good book, and an outdoor paradise where you can simply enjoy the season at hand. With the site-tested tips and techniques that Fine Homebuilding is known for, All New Building Decks will help you build the safe, secure, and beautiful deck you deserve. All contributing authors are seasoned professionals whose articles have appeared in Fine Homebuilding magazine. Since 1981 Fine Homebuilding has been providing information and inspiration to everyone who cares about quality home improvement and construction. the magazine is the best source of home improvement information and helps readers build projects better, faster, and more efficiently. The farmhouses have been selected from the pages of FineHomebuilding magazine.

Build smarter, remodel better, and create a kitchen that truly works for the way you live. Whether you're a seasoned contractor or a dedicated DIYer, Kitchen Remodeling from the Editors of Fine Homebuilding delivers the expert guidance you need to tackle one of the most complex and rewarding home improvement projects. This comprehensive resource compiles the best articles from Fine Homebuilding magazine, offering trusted advice, real-world solutions, and professional insights. Inside, you'll find: • Step-by-step strategies for planning, budgeting, and executing a successful kitchen remodel. • Tips from the pros on layout optimization, lighting, ventilation, and workflow. • Detailed guidance on cabinetry, countertops, flooring, and finishes. • Solutions to common challenges, including structural updates and code compliance. With clear illustrations, practical tips, and a focus on craftsmanship, this book is your blueprint for transforming any kitchen into a functional and beautiful space.

Are you a builder looking to transition your hands-on skills into a successful construction company? Running a Successful Construction Company by David Gerstel is your essential guide to navigating the complexities of running a construction business. Drawing on decades of experience in both remodeling and new construction, Gerstel demystifies the everyday challenges contractors face, making it easier for you to thrive in the industry. Whether you're just starting or looking to enhance your existing operations, Running a Successful Construction Company is acknowledged as the leading resource in its field. Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills necessary to take your construction business to the next level. Key Features: • Comprehensive Insights: Gain a deep understanding of the essential elements of running a construction business, from finance and legal considerations to managing projects and client relationships. • Real-World Solutions: Written by a builder for builders, this book addresses the unique challenges you'll encounter, providing practical strategies and tips that you can implement immediately. • Visual Guidance: Featuring 50 color photos and drawings, the book offers visual aids to reinforce key concepts and inspire your business practices. • Proven Techniques: Learn from the experiences of a highly respected and successful construction operator who has built a thriving business. Gerstel shares his best practices for effective project management, cost control, and customer satisfaction. Respected nationally for his books about house building and construction company management, David Gerstel has been a licensed builder for 35 years. His interests date back to his childhood and undergraduate days. An avid builder of tree houses during his elementary school years in North Carolina, he served as editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper at Brandeis University near Boston. After college he set out to learn a trade, becoming a master carpenter and founding a construction company that rapidly earned respect for its upfront business practices and the integrity of its work. David's books are widely admired for their depth of research, expertise, readability, and humour. Along with his work, he enjoys tennis and reading about history, financial and environmental issues, and building design and construction as well as (especially) spending time with his wife Sandra.

Carpentry covers every important facet of residential carpentry, from framing the mudsills, walls, floors, ceilings and roof to building stairs, cabinets and other built-ins, as well as basic finish carpentry skills such as interior trim carpentry and exterior siding. For builders and remodelers, Carpentry has the best field-tested advice, tips, techniques and instruction on the most common carpentry jobs, from basic to advanced. This invaluable insight is written by the country's best carpenters in the business. This volume gives builders, remodelers and homeowners hard-to-find and spot-on accurate information on all key aspects of carpentry. It is a masterclass in craftsmanship, safety, and smart building practices.

Build smarter, straighter, and stronger with framing techniques trusted by the pros. Developed as a practical guide for professional crews and refined through years of jobsite experience, Precision Framing is a comprehensive handbook that blends craftsmanship, engineering, and efficiency. Whether you're framing a new home, remodeling an existing structure, or simply looking to sharpen your skills, this book delivers the tools and techniques you need to get the job done right. Inside, you'll find: • Step-by-step guidance on framing walls, floors, roofs, and stairs with accuracy and speed. • Solutions for common challenges, including dealing with out-of-square foundations and tricky rooflines. • Tips for tool selection, layout, and material handling that boost productivity and reduce waste. • Insights from seasoned framers that help you avoid costly mistakes and improve jobsite workflow. With clear illustrations and a focus on real-world application, this book is an essential reference for builders, contractors, and serious DIYers who want to frame with confidence and precision.

This essential reference for pros and passionate amateurs is back with a fresh design and updated content. Written by respected builders from all over America, this extensive revision collects all the latest roof framing articles from the pages of Fine Homebuilding magazine -- from cutting rafters and framing roof valleys to building dormers and working with roof trusses. The contributors offer hardearned, job-tested advice on an impressive variety of tools, techniques, and trade secrets. Framing Roofs shows how to work with speed and precision, and, since working on a roof is often a complicated and dangerous task, safety is always at the forefront. Fine Homebuilding has been providing rock-solid information and inspiration to everyone who cares about quality home improvement and construction since 1981. With a circulation of 300,000, the magazine helps its dedicated readers build projects better, faster, and more efficiently. All the contributing authors of FramingRoofs are seasoned professionals who have written articles in the magazine. All contributing authors are seasoned professionals whose articles have appeared in Fine Homebuildingmagazine. Since 1981 Fine Homebuilding has been providing information and inspiration to everyone who cares about quality home improvement and construction. the magazine is the best source of home improvement information and helps readers build projects better, faster, and more efficiently. The farmhouses have been selected from the pages of Fine Homebuilding magazine.