December 2003/ January 2004

Articles		Page
DOES FIBERGLASS STILL MAKE SENSE? by Scott Gibson Maybe, but other types of insulation offer installation advantages that make them more reliable		50
THE WELL-FRAMED FLOOR by Jim Anderson Whether it's the floor of a big house or a small addition, an accurate layout promotes smooth transitions.		56
THE TRICK TO HANGING FRENCH DOORS by Gary Striegler Knowing where to place the shims is half the battle		62
A PRIMER ON PVC PIPE by Ed Cunha It's easy to work with, but you've still got to choose the right fittings and follow some basic rules		66
ROUTERS: THE BEST TOOL YOU'RE NOT USING by John Michael Davis A well-equipped router is an indispensable tool for trim work, but which type and which accessories are right for you?		70
FARMHOUSE FUSION by Jill Fuerstneau Sousa Three building systems, each with its own advantages, combine to create a traditional-looking Washington home		76
THE NEW PRESSURE-TREATED WOOD by Daniel S. Morrison The EPA is banning CCA lumber. The replacements are safer, but they may change how you build a deck.		82
SIMPLE HOMEMADE SCAFFOLDING by Mike Guertin Safe to use and inexpensive to build, A-frames and a couple of planks beat working from a ladder		86
UPGRADING TO A TILE SHOWER by Tom Meehan Replace your old fiberglass tub with a tiled shower		88
INSTALLING A BAY WINDOW BY YOURSELF by Gregory Burr Remove the sashes to lighten the window, and use a temporary support as an extra pair of hands		94
Departments		Page
CONTRIBUTORS		6
LETTERS		8
CROSS SECTION New trend in home stores, Top exterior-finish products		18
TIPS & TECHNIQUES Cutting engineered joists, Customizing caulk colors		26
TOOLS & MATERIALS Insulation for attic stairs, Quick-change hole saws		34
BREAKTIME		42
FINISHING TOUCHES Your table is ready...		98
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Basement egress, New tub		104
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? Beveled wood siding, Plumbing torch		112
BUILDING SKILLS Building a wall in place		120
DRAWING BOARD Starting small, adding later		126
MASTER CARPENTER Laminating curved stain-grade casing		134
INDEX TO ISSUES #152 THROUGH #159		143
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS		152
GREAT MOMENTS Man or moose?		154

Does Fiberglass Still Make Sense?, The Well-Framed Floor, The Trick to Hanging French Doors, A Primer on PVC Pipes, Farmhouse Fusion, The New Pressure-Treated Wood, Simple Homemade Scaffolding, Upgrading to a Tile Shower, Installing a Bay Window by Yourself