Thomas Martinez

When you are looking down into a hole, and you don’t have any idea of what size pile of stone to dump in there, you … Read more

Behind the shingles is the ridge beam, a house’s spine. Does the roof collapse in the wind and snow? Or does it maintain its shape … Read more

Any backyard remodel will tell you: Before you buy your first brick, the price of materials is already apparent. Perhaps you have your heart set … Read more

One of the biggest errors people make when laying out a tile job is reading the front of the package and believing the box contains … Read more

When you begin a brick walkway, you know what you want; by the end, there’s always some sand left over and extra bits of brick. … Read more

When people plan to build a deck, most think about the surface. What kind of handsome boards will they use? How much concrete do I … Read more

Everyone sees a barn roof as just a triangle pushed outward on all sides, but that overlooks what makes the gambrel shape useful: It creates … Read more

Here’s an example: You pick up a shaft at the lathe whose intended use require it to fit inside some other part. A drawing specifies … Read more

It’s gratifying to make sure the screw head sits snug against wood without tearing up the wood in the process. Getting that right involves more … Read more

So there you are, standing in front of an empty wall cavity armed with a can of spray foam, and you’re thinking, “the math ain’t … Read more

There’s a steel plate in your hands and a muddy trench below you. And you know: A thing’s strength depend more on how it relates … Read more