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The crawlspace is often an out-of-sight, out-of-mind part of a home. But there are things to know, including how to utilize that space.

1. Clamp a guide to the square.

To make it easy to align the framing square on the stringer consistently, clamp a straight wood strip to the square. On the outer edges of the square, align the strip with the run dimension on one leg and the rise dimension on the other.

2. Find the crown.

Sight down the edge of the stringer stock to determine if it crowns. If it does, lay out the stringer so that the crown on the completed stair will face upward.

3. Lay out the first tread and the second riser.

Hold the square so that the leg with the tread dimension is closest to the end of the stringer stock but far enough from the end to allow for a riser below. Try to lay out the notches so that cutting them gets rid of knots and defects.

https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2013/10/15/lay-out-accurate-stair-stringers-with-this-custom-tool

By Andy Engel Issue 248 - Dec/Jan 2015

For well-insulated houses, minisplits are beginning to dominate the market. They are especially suited for lower heating and cooling loads and providing quiet comfort with surprisingly low amounts of energy—energy that can be produced on-site or pulled from renewable sources on the grid.

Minisplits have a few disadvantages and downsides, and they are interrelated, combining to make or break the minisplit decision. The big three are the price of electricity, the severity of the winter, and the quality of the building envelope.

From Fine Homebuilding #296

Need extra storage space? You might already have it right under your feet! Builders rarely utilize the space under a staircase; it’s much easier to just wall it in than to make custom pullouts. But you can reclaim that wasted space in a couple of weekends. I built three pullouts to store everything from shoes to coats and backpacks. You can customize this design to get just the type of storage space you need.

Lots of other useful information for finding sizes of screws and washers

By Matthew Millham Issue 293 - August/September

Learn how the pros make asphalt driveways that last

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/39/a9/fd/39a9fd01ad3674456faf81aea53b91c9.jpg

https://tinyhousetalk.com/tiny-house-furniture-22-staircases-beds-desks/

• electrical box clamps
• plug in connections

Putting in a brand new kitchen is always a big deal!!! If you have or are planning to take on a kitchen remodel in your home, you know the pressure! Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun and exciting and makes such a huge impact on your home and your home’s value, but everyone wants to get it “right”— and that can feel overwhelming! The fun of a new kitchen space can quickly be sucked up by the fear of doing it wrong or regretting your choices. Long before we were done installing, I had so many requests for details on our Semihandmade with IKEA Cabinets. I thought I would share our entire process from beginning to end and hopefully help you feel confident moving forward with your own project!

Ever wondered how to lay out an outside skirt board when building stairs? This was one of those processes that was a trade secret when I started. I’ve had a few variations on this over the years, but this is my favorite way to go! This method is the Britches Method.

My favorite way to establish a guideline is to use a 2-ft.-long piece that’s coped accurately and a 2-ft.-long square-cut piece. Fitted in the corner, the coped piece locates the square piece at the correct projections, and you can mark the top and/or bottom. The longer pieces take into account more of the wall and ceiling conditions than small gauge blocks.

Note: the project in this video is a down-and-dirty job-site project for when you need a crosscut sled in a pinch; if you have the time, tools, and materials to build something more refined, read the article “Build a Tablesaw Crosscut Sled” from Fine Homebuilding issue #180.

18-gauge brad nailer

If you plan to buy only one trim nailer, this is the size to get. I use mine more than all my others combined. It’s perfect for standard trim, furniture making and odd jobs around the shop. Models that shoot brads up to 1-1/4- in. are common, but I strongly recommend spending a few bucks more for a gun that can handle brads up to 2 in. long. Name-brand 2-in. guns start under $100.

Use nails before screws

I always found it difficult to keep parts aligned when screwing cabinets together. Then I discovered that a couple of shots with my finish nailer or brad nailer will keep the parts aligned while I drill pilot holes and drive screws for strong joints.

Invisible nail holes with a pinner

Pins are tiny and headless, so they’re hard to see even before you fill them. Afterward, nobody but you will know they’re there.

Nail before you clamp

With a coat of slippery glue, parts will slide out of alignment while you’re desperately trying to clamp them. My solution is to tack the parts together with a couple of nails. That keeps the parts aligned while I apply serious pressure with clamps.

No stud? No problem

Studs aren’t always located where we need them. When I need to nail trim where there’s no stud, I dab some construction adhesive on the back of the trim and then drive nails into the drywall at 45-degree angles. That holds the trim tight against the wall while the adhesive cures. This “trap nailing” technique works fine with brad nailers and even better with finish nailers.

Also:

https://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2016/02/diy-farmhouse-bathroom-vanity.html
https://angelamariemade.com/2018/05/diy-bathroom-vanity/
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Design-House-19-in-Cultured-Marble-Vanity-Top-in-Solid-White-with-Basin-551994/302015476?irgwc=1&cm_mmc=afl-ir-116548-456723-&clickid=wPMw2kwnIxyJRns0MvSyQWlBUkl04734QUUs0g0
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5136987051981104/

Yet it is a little appreciated fact that many of us at home, school, and work breathe air containing CO2 concentrations of 1,000 ppm every day.

A 2012 study concluded that at “1,000 ppm CO2, compared with 600 ppm, performance was significantly diminished on six of nine metrics of decision-making performance.” At 2,500 ppm, performance levels became more or less “dysfunctional.”

Jean started cracking his bedroom door open at night, and saw the average CO2 level drop by 500 ppm.

The most popular of these materials is a type of wood board paneling known as either beadboard or plank paneling. It's commonly used as wainscoting on walls and for the backs of Colonial-style cupboards and bookcases. These tongue-and-groove pine boards are about 5/16 in. thick x 3 1/2 in. wide and have a rounded bead milled along one edge and a second bead routed down the center. When the boards are installed, each appears to be two narrower ones. Most well-stocked lumberyards and home centers carry beadboard in 8-ft. lengths individually or in bundles. Expect to pay about $1 to $1.50 per square foot.

Store shoes up off the floor in clean, natural wood racks. This simple storage rack can handle everything from winter boots to summer sandals, with no mud buildup or scuff marks on the wall.