Plates define walls, and the marks on the plates illustrate the details

Roof valleys are like gutters with a steep pitch, but the stakes are higher for valleys than they are for gutters

A dry and healthy crawlspace is sealed tightly against water and air leaks

Use real trim stock and give some thought to the layout—it will improve the look of your job 100 percent

Peel and stick Z-flashing and some padding pushes a ledger flush with the face of the thick panels. A cover sheet of peel and stick completely waterproof the ledger before the deck is framed

A four-dimensional detail drawing of an insulated and damp-resistant basement slab

Flashing a wood-framed chimney is like flashing a dormer, except there’s no roof behind it. Without protection, water can leak into the joint and rot your walls to direct uphill water away

Wait, what?

Drainage and airspace allows liquid water to drain out and air to circulate

A rip of plywood, some blocks and a table saw will help you repurpose cruddy lumber from the bone pile into backing

Roofs peel off from the edges, so it is critical to hold them tight

Outside insulation is an effective way to keep heat in. The devil is in the details, such as this one

Overlapping tapes with gravity in mind keeps water out of the house

A retrofit solution that works great for a low-skill workforce—like volunteers

Make a route for drainage, protect the structure, and use water-tolerant materials to rebuild

An item on the Energy Star Thermal Bypass Checklist. Item 5.1.2, to be exact ...

The general idea of installing windows is to plug the big hole that you just cut in the wall.

Just because you draw it doesn't mean they'll build it that way. Know what makes sense, what the framer can execute, and forget about designing in two-foot modules