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1 month ago | 
finehomebuilding.com | Mike Guertin |Abby Cote
Siding leaks are most common where horizontal siding meets vertical trim. The water-resistive barrier (WRB) beneath the siding should block water that seeps into these joints, but damage to the WRB can let water reach the sheathing and framing. Inside corners are especially vulnerable, as sharp-edged siding and trim can tear sheets of mechanically installed WRB. To prevent this, I make a simple tool from a 2-ft.- to 3-ft.-long piece of bevel wood siding fastened to a short 1×3 handle.
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1 month ago | 
finehomebuilding.com | Mike Guertin |Abby Cote
In this article, Mike Guertin designs a small, freestanding deck with a focus on longevity and functionality. The project features wraparound stairs framed with boxes instead of stringers. Guertin opts for a freestanding structure without a ledger to avoid the complications of attaching to the house, such as insulation issues and the need for complex inspections.
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Jan 14, 2025 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Mike Guertin |Abby Cote
Pella claims its new Steady Set window installation system results in faster and safer installations because it allows a window to be installed by one person, mostly from the inside. To test this out, I recently completed five window installations using the system.
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Jan 10, 2025 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Mike Guertin |Abby Cote
In Fine Homebuilding #329, Mike Guertin put Pella’s Steady Set windows to the test by doing five different window installations using the system. His final thoughts? “It is definitely faster … and it’s clearly safer.” Check out this video for an in-depth tutorial on installing the Pella Steady Set windows, featuring tons of expert tips and tricks from Mike. Here’s the TranscriptYou may have heard of Pella’s new Steady Set window installation system.
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Nov 14, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Mike Guertin |Abby Cote
I’m building a deck with a 45° angle at one corner. I’ve looked through all the guard-post connection details in Fine Homebuilding articles and videos and I don’t see any that show how to mount a guard post on a 45° corner. Do you have a solution for attaching posts on the outside of the rim joists at angled corners?
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Oct 15, 2024 | 
greenbuildingadvisor.com | Mike Guertin |Kiley Jacques
Deck ledgers are usually the last of the challenges builders think of when tackling their first exterior insulation project. After all, ledger attachment is so easy—just drive a pouch full of screws, flash the top, and move along. That is unless there’s 2 in. of exterior insulation covering the walls. Then what? How do you fasten a deck ledger to a house with continuous exterior insulation? That’s what I will address here.
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Oct 14, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Mike Guertin |Abby Cote
Mike Guertin prefers building freestanding decks because they eliminate the need for flashing against the house, and in most code jurisdictions, footings for freestanding decks only need to be one foot below excavated soil, rather than reaching frost depth. In this video, Mike shares several crucial skills for building an attractive, long-lasting deck using Trex® products.
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Oct 14, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Mike Guertin |Abby Cote
Join Mike Guertin as he builds a backyard platform deck using Trex® Transcend Lineage decking and fascia boards. Mike designed this deck, which features a functional and attractive set of wraparound steps, to be a central focus of the backyard. In this episode, Mike walks through the no-handrail design, cites code requirements, and demonstrates how he was able to keep the deck freestanding by adding extra footings and an extra beam. So we’re in the backyard of the client’s home.
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Oct 14, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Mike Guertin |Abby Cote
In the final episode of Mike Guertin’s freestanding deck-building video series, he installs the deck-stair risers between the top of the rough framing and the underside of the finished decking. He makes sure to leave ¾ in. for proper drainage and to avoid hardware interference. Mike secures everything in place using seamless screws and color-matched plugs from Trex®, and ensures the bottom riser remains adjustable for future patio paving. So we work from the top of the deck down to the ground.
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Oct 14, 2024 | 
finehomebuilding.com | Mike Guertin |Abby Cote
In this episode, builder Mike Guertin explains how to frame a freestanding deck frame. Tips include using structural screws to prevent the separation of joists from the rim board, and hurricane ties to secure joists to the beam and prevent uplift. In addition, Mike installs blocking to prevent the joists from twisting and Trex® Protect Joist, Beam, and Rim Tape to help mitigate water penetration. Finally, Mike adds diagonal braces to help stabilize the freestanding deck.
