August/September 2006

Articles		Page
DECK RAILINGS GROW UP by Scott Gibson Stainless steel, vinyl, aluminum, and composites are now viable alternatives to wood		52
ADD CHARACTER WITH A BOX-BEAM CEILING by Chris Whalen Hollow beams transform a room's trim detail while making it easy to integrate lighting and run wiring		58
WIRING A MASTER SUITE ADDITION by Clifford A. Popejoy Adding circuits for a new bedroom and bath offers lessons in rough electrical work and integrating new and old wiring		64
FRAMING BIG GABLE WALLS SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY by Lynn Hayward Build them on the floor, lift them with specialized jacks, and eliminate extra footsteps wherever possible		70
A BETTER BREED OF JIGSAWS by Andy Engel Making precise cuts and keeping sightlines clear are must-have qualities. We tested 12 top models and picked the leader of the pack.		76
LA JOLLA JEWEL by Laura Du Charme Conboy Ocean views on top, multicar parking below, lots of light in between		82
SAVE ENERGY WITH RIGID-FOAM INSULATION by Rick Arnold Get the details right, and a small increase in wall thickness can make a big difference in energy performance		88
THERE'S NO ESCAPING THE SCRAPING by Hugh Schreiber Washing, scraping, sanding, patching, and priming are dirty, difficult jobs that can make exterior paint last twice as long		92
Departments		Page
CONTRIBUTORS		6
LETTERS		8
CROSS SECTION Green-building exhibit		16
TIPS & TECHNIQUES Using a level to straighten a board, Z-flashing retrofit		26
TOOLS & MATERIALS Pneumatic hoses, Insulation knife, Nail gripper		34
BREAKTIME		44
FINISHING TOUCHES Outdoor fun just for kids		98
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Egress windows, Metric system		102
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? Pilot-bit sets, Builders' felt		110
BUILDING SKILLS Replace a trap, and add a cleanout		116
DRAWING BOARD Doghouse dormer design		124
MASTER CARPENTER Custom-made cabinet pulls		132
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS		140
GREAT MOMENTS A Jack of all Trades		142

Deck Railings Grow Up, Add Character with a Box-Beam Ceiling, Wiring a Master-Suite Addition, Framing Big Gable Walls Safely and Efficiently, A Better Breed of Jigsaws, La Jolla Jewel, Save Energy with Rigid-Foam Insulation, There's No Escaping the Scraping