The Best of Fine Homebuilding: 25 Years of Great Tips

Sometimes the difference between a job that goes smoothly and one that doesn't is a little piece of special knowledge, a tip to simplify the process at hand. Through the years, our expert carpenters, builders, and tradesmen have discovered hundreds of these nuggets of jobsite wisdom. Now, we've collected the most useful in one volume, 25 Years of Great Tips.

Expert know-how and pro-tested trade secrets
Each tip can help you speed up a job, make it go a little easier, and help you avoid common mistakes. You'll find valuable advice for every type of work you do, including:

• Framing
• Trimming
• Stairbuilding
• Cabinetry
• Painting
• Drywall
• Porches and decks
• Doors and windows
• Roofs
• Tile and more

Discover the little secrets that make the difference -- order Great Tips today.

Benches & Sawhorses
Improved sawhorse
Multipurpose cart
Knockdown saw stand

Doors & Windows
Routing hinge mortises
Solo window installation

Energy Efficiency
Cutting rigid insulation
Insulated headers

Drywall
Repair
Installation

Painting
Strategy
Tidy Application
Prep & Cleanup

Framing
Rules
Roofs
Walls
Floors

Finish Carpentry
Rules
Cutting & Coping
Installing Trim

Cabinets
Construction
Installation
Efficiency Guidelines

Mechanical Systems
Electrical
Plumbing

Exterior

Editor's Note

Welcome to the tailgate party

An old-timer once told me that the key to working efficiently on any building project is to avoid stupid mistakes. I think he had the answer to half the equation. Knowing that you should measure a board twice before cutting it once and that you should remove masking tape before the sun bakes it onto the window is important. But it's the clever solutions to common construction problems that make up the other half of the equation.

Builders are a resourceful, gregarious lot. They delight in coming up with ingenious ways to do things faster, with greater accuracy, and typically with tools and materials already on hand. Luckily, builders like to share their ideas, whether standing in the checkout line at the hardware store or sitting on a tailgate with a favorite beverage in hand at the end of the day.