AIt’s easy to find a joist in the ceiling from which to hang the fan mounting box. A gadget called a stud finder reads differences in density electronically and lights or beeps to tell you when you ...

Q: I have an attic that runs the entire length of the house. The peak of the roof is high enough to allow me to stand up in the space. The obvious storage opportunities have me foaming at the mouth.

Some demolition is done on the old ell to prepare it for renovation, while ceiling joists and roof rafters go up in the new section of the house.