Plumbing the outer wall using a string line, level, and turnbuckles

Lift the wall, set it on the line, and tie the corners together

Snap a line, put the panel on the line and nail it, tape the seams, and where to snap that line in the first place.

The first step in a superinsulated house with double stud walls is framing a basic 2x4 exterior wall. So we shot that.

When temperatures drop, propane heaters show up on jobsites. That's when fire danger creeps up ...

Like farm to table for building materials—a tour of Amazon trees and lumber

Long wedges cut from 2x4s are extremely effective for removing difficult flooring. Oh yeah, and don't forget the sledgehammer.

Glue and screw the second subfloor layer to make a rock-solid insulated floor in a slab on grade home

The first layer of subflooring sits atop thick foam insulation and a plastic vapor barrier

The floor system should not cause a bump in the wall

Repetitive tasks—with reasons behind them—consolidate into a squeak-free subfloor

The first sheet sets the layout

A jig and a few tricks to help you make shims of any length to straighten crooked framing

Roof framing, window options, and a mechanical advantage add up to lower bills and a higher quality home

A few minutes up front can save tons of time when you're in the air—and it can eliminate broken ribs, a broken back, or death

Tape layers should overlap shingle-style up the roof

 

The nuances of measuring are what separates the kids from the carpenters

Decking the field and delegating responsibility