Exterior walls can be framed with standard 2-by-4 studs, or larger 2-by-6s. Both are widely available, and easy to measure, cut, and nail — for you or your contractor. To choose between them, you need ...

Last week I began a reply to D.C. about how best to finish a portion of his basement. The house is about a year old, so my first concern was that he make absolutely certain that there are not water ...