Walls

Guidelines for working efficiently and knowing how good is good enoughby Larry Haun

Tips from a custom framer make the engineered-lumber learning curve easier to negotiateby John Spier

Before you slice through studs, make sure you've got the weight of the house well supported elsewhereby Mike Guertin

Blown in behind the drywall, high-density cellulose air-seals as it insulatesby Fred Lugano

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

Framing the entire gable while it's flat on the deck is fast and easy. Raising it is a challenge and a danger.by John Spier

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

An earthy alternative to the cold, austere look of marble, limestone is easy to work with and maintainby Tom Meehan

Glue, staples and a little engineering turn sheets of plywood into trusses and columnsby Roger Fleck

A survey of methods and materials used to build warm, inexpensive and strong cornersby Charles Bickford

Today's sheathing materials offer strength, energy efficiency, economy, and fire-and water-resistance -- but not all in the same packageby Bruce Greenlaw

Skyrocketing lumber costs make steel studs an enticing, easily installed alternative to woodby Tom O'Brien

A framing contractor explains his efficient sequence for keeping walls straight and trueby Scot Simpson

by Jim Thompson

A few tricks can save time when cutting studs, blocks and cripplesby Larry Haun

A full-scale drawing reduces the chance of errorby Carl Hagstrom

To conserve materials and save money, avoid overbuilding and design on 4-ft. modulesby E. Lee Fisher

Speed and efficiency are the results of a careful, well-thought-out layoutby Scott McBride

Two time-saving layout methodsby Larry Haun