Windows and Skylights (Best of Fine Homebuilding) [Paperback]

Fine Homebuilding (Author), Taunton Press (Author)

Book Description

Series: Best of Fine Homebuilding | Publication Date: March 14, 1996

Here are trade secrets for choosing the best new windows, restringing double-hung windows and installing and building skylights. How-to articles on how to build shutters and window frames and how to install casement, bay, and arch-top windows are also included. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Here is professional advice about installing, building and renovating windows and skylights that you won't find anywhere else. This collection of articles from Fine Homebuilding magazine will show you how to choose the best new windows; restring double-hung windows; build a skylight from common materials or install a manufactured skylight; build shutters, window frames, casement windows and bay windows; and install arch-top windows. Since it began publication in 1981, Fine Homebuilding has been the magazine of choice for builders and homeowners interested in working smarter, faster and better. "The Best of Fine Homebuilding" series organized the most useful articles from the first 100 issues by subject. Whether you are working on your own house or in the building trades, you will find the field-tested information you need right here.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (March 14, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561581275
• ISBN-13: 978-1561581276
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,329 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly what I needed, but helped., March 20, 2001

By 

Robert N Hood Jr. (Cincinnati, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windows and Skylights (Best of Fine Homebuilding) (Paperback)

If your goal is to build windows in a new home, this is your book. I was looking for a "do it yourself" book on installing windows in an existing home, and thought this would be a good resource. Unfortunatley it wasn't what I was looking for, but I did get some benefit. I learned about what makes a good window and how to do some shopping, hence my 3 star rating. Certainly not a waste of 11 bucks.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great surprize!, September 9, 2005

By 

David Swanson (Providence, RI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windows and Skylights (Best of Fine Homebuilding) (Paperback)

I've been searching high and low for resources on making your own windows. More specifically OLD window sash. There's literally a section where the author reproduces a 200 year old window sash. Windows that old typically use plank cases, but the author just built the sash which is fine for what I needed to see. There are casement windows, arched windows and some other aspects to window construction that I haven't seen anywhere!

There are a lot of books on restoring windows, and installing windows. Which are helpful. If you're do inclined you could take apart an old window and copy it. But, I first like to get some info if I can that may explain certain things that are unique to window contruction so I can learn from someone elses experience. Now, unless you work for a sash company you're left with researching and perhaps you could take lots of pictures at Old Sturbridge village.

I'm looking at the sash router bit sets with a coping bit to construct mortise and tenon window. The problem is that they're designed to build newer windows that are 1 3/8" thick. An old window might be 1" thick. Plus, the muntins are narrow, there's no parting bead and the profile is wrong. My windows use a GREEK ogee profile, all router bits use a Roman ogee. There's a distinct difference.
You could have a sash company mill some stock or perhaps a lumber yard. I'm still stuck on trying to do it myself.
The author describes a way to grind your own router bits profiles using steel blank. I was going to go as far as making my own wooden planes or have some bits custom made.

I found this book by accident. The title doesn't give a good enough description as to what exactly this book is about. I almost past it buy as another mere installation of window book.
It wasn't until I read the previous post that I realized this was just what I needed!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but dated set of articles, February 24, 2006

By 

maxxreader (Whittier, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Windows and Skylights (Best of Fine Homebuilding) (Paperback)

This is a nice collection of articles printed in Fine Homebuilding. Most of the articles are 10+ years old at the time of this review. Because they are articles that address specific issues by a builder/craftsman/contractor they do not present a comprehensive approach to any window issue, nor do they present a survey of the field. Nonetheless, if you are looking for some practical advice there is much to be found here.