The Fine Homebuilding editors contemplate listener questions about cladding choices, sheathing layout, and wall-framing techniques. After chatting about some of their own roofing and cabinetry projects, Patrick, Matt, and Rob compare their lists of tools they can't live without, discuss the best options for replacing old wood siding, and advise a future home builder on framing and sheathing best practices. Patrick also recounts his visit to a jobsite where the homebuilders were using an impressi...
Dec 07, 2018•59 min•Ep. 148
The Fine Homebuilding editors debate the pros and cons of stem walls, monolithic slabs, and pole barns to help a listener design a new outbuilding. As usual, there are plenty of home-building and remodeling topics to cover in this week's podcast. After chatting about their own cabinetry and roofing projects, Patrick, Matt, and Rob do their best to help a few listeners find solutions for framing a garage, insulating and air sealing a cold bay window, and painting moldy exterior trim. Plus, Patric...
Nov 30, 2018•52 min•Ep. 147
Patrick, Rob, and Matt cover a wide range of topics in this week's podcast, including building wood sheds, wrangling missing contractors, choosing an air conditioner, sealing cracks in garage floors, and providing makeup air for boilers and water heaters.
Nov 23, 2018•52 min•Ep. 146
When a listener asks what measures he should take to keep cellulose from falling through his exhaust fan when insulating and air-sealing his attic, the Fine Homebuilding Editors wonder if he should get rid of the fan altogether.
Nov 16, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 145
Justin Fink is back after a few weeks’ hiatus, and he teams up with Patrick and Matt to talk about cool new tools Patrick spied at the STAFDA tool-dealers show in Phoenix, to revisit the topic of building storm-resistant homes, and to investigate why a listener's red-oak flooring is cupping. The crew also digs into more listeners' emails about replacing rotting sheathing under a porch and stopping condensation near a concrete door sill.
Nov 09, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 144
The Fine Homebuilding editors discuss what to do if your house has an ancient electrical system, whether or not shoring up a steep hillside is a DIY project, and and how much of a gap you really need to leave when nailing up cedar shingles. Plus, they sneak in yet another wet-basement question. As usual, they also share stories about their own home-remodeling projects.
Nov 02, 2018•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 143
After following up with a professional inspector's response to last week's discussion on home inspections, Patrick, Matt, and Rob share their findings on what makes some houses more stormproof than others, and where homeowners can go for help when rebuilding after a hurricane. They also take a stab at suggesting the best practices for insulating and air-sealing a floor that separates living space above from an unheated garage below.
Oct 26, 2018•1 hr 2 min
Patrick McCombe, Rob Wotzak, and Colin Russel kick off the podcast with a discussion about water-resistive barriers (the materials under your siding that protect the walls from moisture intrusion) before answering listener questions about prolonging the life of a water heater, dealing with humidity and rot in an old stone basement, providing makeup air for a fireplace, and finishing clear-cedar wainscoting.
Oct 19, 2018•58 min•Ep. 141
Editors Patrick McCombe and Matt Millham welcome Fine Homebuilding’s new Digital Brand Manager, Rob Wotzak, to the podcast this week. The team discusses topics ranging from how far to dig into an old wall to get the weatherproofing details right when re-siding, what steps are essential when tying in a new roof to an old one, and what types of replacement windows make the most sense.
Oct 12, 2018•57 min•Ep. 140
Justin and Patrick roll up their sleeves and wade into the flood waters to help Matt figure out what to do about his wet basement. This, plus code interpretations when it comes to deck footings, and some help for a listener with rotten walls.
Oct 05, 2018•51 min•Ep. 139
Join Justin for the second episode of a two-part series in which he interviews friend, Fine Homebuilding ambassador, and building-industry business consultant Shawn Van Dyke.
Oct 02, 2018•32 min•Ep. 138
Justin and Matt welcome video director Colin Russell to the podcast round table, where the day’s discussions range from Justin regretting his advice on I-joist roof rafters, the perks and scary downsides of DIY spray foam, sheathing replacement, and what to do with cupped floor boards.
Sep 28, 2018•52 min•Ep. 137
Join Justin for the first episode of a two-part series in which he interviews friend, Fine Homebuilding ambassador, and building-industry business consultant Shawn Van Dyke.
Sep 25, 2018•34 min•Ep. 136
Justin, Matt, and Patrick field a follow up question on a particularly frightening rotunda framing job, and discuss options for building a round structure from straight joists. Other topics include preferred shower waterproofing systems and strategies for widening a concrete stoop to support the columns of a new portico roof.
Sep 21, 2018•46 min•Ep. 135
The guys take a deep dive into the options for updating outdated kitchen cabinets before turning to questions on scratched tile and foundation options for a shed on a sloped lot.
Sep 14, 2018•55 min•Ep. 134
GreenBuildingAdvisor.com editor Martin Holladay returns to the show to tackle tough building science questions like heat-pump efficiency at different altitudes, radiant barriers and heat transfer through a roof, and ways to retrofit insulation.
Sep 07, 2018•55 min•Ep. 133
Justin, Patrick, and Matt discuss how power tool preferences differ from one coast to the other, consider less expensive alternatives to cedar, and do a deep dive on troubleshooting a problematic attached garage.
Aug 31, 2018•57 min•Ep. 132
Justin, Patrick, and Matt discuss solutions to concrete piers that fall below grade, how to diagnose and deal with pooling water on a deck, and troubleshooting a tongue-and-groove cathedral ceiling installation.
Aug 24, 2018•45 min•Ep. 131
The guys work through the best way to tie new construction into old, out-of-whack structures. Other topics include roof rafters, job-site tool transport and storage, and whether to paint trim before installation or after.
Aug 17, 2018•42 min•Ep. 130
Justin, Matt, and Patrick dive right into some listener questions about a worst-case repair situation (termite damage to an inaccessible rim joist), radon pumps and their affect on sump pumps, high-efficiency vs. standard boilers (are the fancy ones worth the cost?), and insulating an unconditioned space.
Aug 10, 2018•52 min•Ep. 129
Justin, Rob, and Brian discuss the "drastic" changes to the cover of Fine Homebuilding magazine, and tease some new future magazine content. Rob follows up on the fit of the face frame for his bathroom vanity (spoiler: he only scraped up the wall a little). The guys debate: Should bathroom vanities have a full back? They answer listener questions, and tell some "Stories From the Road" about the worst photo shoots they’ve ever been on.
Aug 03, 2018•50 min•Ep. 128
Siding, patios, load-bearing walls, and beams are on the menu for this episode of the FHB Podcast, with our regulars Justin Fink, Rob Yagid, and Brian Pontolilo. The guys talk about the state of residential construction in California, and specifically San Francisco. Also in this episode ... gable roofs, painting, scribing, Victorian homes, and Shaker style.
Jul 27, 2018•53 min•Ep. 127
FHB editor Justin Fink interviews two LBM experts from Louisiana-Pacific. They are Brian St.Germain, director of quality and tech for engineered wood, and Scott Lockyear, national sales manager for specified markets. The conversation ranges over OSB, siding, sheds, studs, and other structural building products.
Jul 20, 2018•41 min•Ep. 126
Justin, Rob, and Brian tackle archways, restored glass, hardware, plate racks, cabinets, moisture control, and a broken tablesaw.
Jul 13, 2018•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 125
Shawn has a lot to say about closing the skills gap. He suggests that one part of the solution is to "solve your own skills gap" — that is, run your business right, use the right hiring process, and train the right people. Shawn also takes an interesting look at the financials of going into the trades vs going to college.
Jul 06, 2018•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 124
Justin, Rob, and Brian talk about being neighborly, and they tackle listener questions about rotting door frames, fireplace mantels, and porch hardware.
Jun 29, 2018•42 min•Ep. 123
Live from the Pacific Coast Builder Conference, Justin and Brian interview Jenn Tuetken, a senior industrial designer. The product development cycle includes feedback from customers, conceptualization and ideation, then working with engineers to make concepts real. Plus, other new products at PCBC.
Jun 29, 2018•52 min•Ep. 122
A frank conversation about building trades careers: apprenticeships, internships, training programs, the cost of college, and the drive that leads to success in any industry.
Jun 28, 2018•36 min•Ep. 121
Justin, Rob, and Brian discuss home improvement retailers, the labor gap, modular homes, custom vs tract builders, making a living wage, job-site productivity, and the future of building trades.
Jun 22, 2018•54 min•Ep. 120
The guys tackle truss roof skylights, upgrading electrical outlets, breaking up and removing concrete, jointers, and built-ins over cooling/heating vents.
Jun 15, 2018•53 min•Ep. 119
