Q: It’s time for me to install ceramic tile and hardwood flooring. I read on your website that it’s important for the subfloor to be flat and level if possible. Because I don’t want the tile to crack ...

Q: What are rim joists, and how do you insulate them? Our home was recently inspected, and the buyer asked that we pay for the repairs. Is this something I can do myself? A: Rim joists are the boards ...

Learn an efficient approach to installing floor joists for strong and level flooring structures. What makes a proper joist layout essential for stability?

Editor’s note: Welcome to the second installment of This Ugly House, a reader renovation diary. We’re excited to publish this tale of a hands-on renovation of a wood-frame house in Bed Stuy. See the ...

Q: Should we insulate the rim-joist cavities of a crawlspace foundation? I am a builder, and where I live the codes require insulation, but I have discovered that the insulation causes decay and mold ...

Our build expert explains how best to add a layer of intermediate insulation in a two-storey house for soundproofing, fire ...