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Nov 13, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Josh Risberg |Abby Cote
With trucks getting taller, and me getting older, retrieving things from the bed of my pickup can be a challenge. To avoid looking like a tool while trying to get at my tools, I recently installed two RealTruck AMP Research Bedsteps on my truck. The Bedstep is designed to be installed near the back bumper to help you climb up into the bed.
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Oct 16, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Josh Risberg |Abby Cote
It seems like composite decking hasn’t changed much over the years, aside from the introduction of new colors, accessories, and fasteners. But before I started my most recent build, I decided to see if there were any new products worth trying. I discovered Deckorators Voyage decking, which touted enough new benefits to make me want to give it a try.
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Oct 16, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Josh Risberg |Abby Cote
For a general carpenter like me, a grinder is not a tool I use every day. Recently, though, I wondered why I was still using a corded model, which is not only inconvenient but can be dangerous as well. So, I bought the DeWalt 4.5 in.–5 in. grinder. I purchased it mainly because of the variable speed control (six speed settings), which means that unlike with my old grinder, I don’t have to run it at 9000 rpm for every job.
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Sep 10, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Josh Risberg |Abby Cote
Whether you’re hauling concrete, moving tools back and forth from the trailer to the worksite, or tackling weekend chores around the house, a sturdy wheelbarrow is an indispensable tool. After inflicting irreparable damage to the pneumatic tire on my old wheelbarrow, it was time for me to buy a new one. In the last 2000 years, wheelbarrow technology has changed very little, which must be a sign that the basic design is pretty solid. But what do you know—I found one that actually has a new feature.
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Jul 16, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Josh Risberg |Abby Cote
Using self-leveler under tile in older homes works great because it creates a stable, smooth, and (you guessed it) level floor surface. However, many older homes used 1x boards as the subfloor and the gaps between some of the boards can be as much as ½ in. wide. To prevent 100% of the concrete self-leveler from ending up in the basement, I cover the floor with a non-granular, self-adhering roofing membrane before pouring out the self-leveler.
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Jul 10, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Josh Risberg |Abby Cote
My old, corded job-site router finally bit the dust a little while back. Typically, when one of my old corded tools dies, it gets replaced with a battery-operated model. However, in this case I actually did consider buying another corded model because I don’t use a router every day like I do saws, drills, and drivers, and when I do use one, it’s often for repetitive production work.
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May 28, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Josh Risberg |Abby Cote
If the job I’m working on requires caulking or adhesive and it’s cold outside, I store my tubes in a cooler. If the tubes have been stored in a heated place overnight, the cooler should keep them in a workable condition throughout the day. On very cold days, before I leave the house, I microwave a corn sock (one of those fabric bags used to heat sore muscles) and throw that in there with them. —Josh Risberg; Prior Lake, Minn. From Fine Homebuilding #324Got a Tip?
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Apr 11, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Josh Risberg |Abby Cote
When snapping lines straight across a board, you can attach the hook onto the edge of the board and pull the line tight—but that technique doesn’t work when snapping a line at an angle. I have a simple solution. When I need to snap an angled line, I use a circular saw to make a small cut into which I slide the end of the line to hold it in place. — Josh Risberg; Rosemount, MinnesotaIllustration by Charles Miller. From Fine Homebuilding #323Got a Tip?
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Mar 6, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Josh Risberg |Chris Casey
If you own a truck, you probably own bungee cords. I’ve bought dozens of them throughout the years. Until recently, the average lifespan of my bungees was not more than a couple years. Either the sun’s UV rays would cause them to get brittle, they would snap in really cold weather, they would get sliced by a sharp surface, or they would just lose their stretch. A few years ago, I stumbled across an ad for The Perfect Bungee. “Perfect” is a pretty big claim, so I put them to the test.
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Nov 22, 2023 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Josh Risberg |Kaitlyn Hayes
There are different techniques for aligning subfascia before nailing it in place. Here’s mine: I use the framing nailer as a straightedge to align the top outside corner of the subfascia with the top of the rafter tail. By using this method, I don’t have to fumble around with a Speed Square or other tool while at the same time trying to hold both the subfascia and the nailer. —Josh Risberg, Rosemount, Minn. Edited and illustrated by Charles Miller.
