Concrete and Masonry

A modern remodel takes shape on the California coast -- with light, views, privacy, and budget in mindby Michelle Leise

A bright new kitchen blooms from an inspired mix of light, space, and materialsby Rick Proppe

Thanks to interlocking foam forms, you can form, pour, and insulate any small foundation in a single dayby Rick Arnold

Grafting the right foundation onto a house that's neither square nor levelby Rick Arnold

A thick mortar bed over a vinyl membrane makes a sturdy base for tile, but it pays to test for leaksby Tom Meehan

The bones beneath concrete's muscle, rebar has to be cut, bent and tied properly to do its jobby Howard Stein

by Fred Lugano

Assembled with regular building skills, ICFs form airtight, insulating concrete walls that finish with standard materialsby Andy Engel

Cementitious backerboard speeds up the job, but start with a subfloor that is firm and flatby Dennis Hourany

They hold up the house, hold back the earth and keep out the water. If they're not level and square, you may end up custom-cutting every rafter.by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin

Start with a sturdy wood underlayment, and plan the layout to get cut tiles in the backby Dennis Hourany

Fill up a trench with concrete -- what's to know? If a house is going to stand on those little sidewalks, they'd better be straight, level and correctly placed.by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin

Get evenly spaced courses and consistent mortar joints by using the proper layout, mortar consistency and troweling techniquesby John Carroll

Used overseas successfully for decades, this innovative foundation system uses carefully placed insulation and a slab with integral footings instead of conventional deep frost wallsby Christopher R. Kendall

Helical piers go in like giant drywall screws to support a sinking house and a new additionby Jerry McSweeney, Eric McGaw

Spend a little time measuring and striking lines, and the rest is fairly easyby John Carroll

It can be done successfully if your floor isn't too hot, and the wood is put down dry on a dry slab and subfloorby Don Bollinger

Tips on ordering, placing, screeding, floating and finishingby Carl Hagstrom

Basic tools produce a quartzite surface that's easy on the toesby Paul Holloway