You are here:
- Home
- Arts/Humanities
- Visual Arts
- Architecture
Architecture/Questions Answered by Expert Richard Taylor, AIA
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Foundation | 1/25/2012 |
| Q: I see some homes with a deep basement and some with a shallow basement. What normally decide the ... A: Let's start from the bottom and work up - footings are designed to carry the weight of the house ... | |
| "Cold" Roof = Vaulted / Shed | 1/5/2012 |
| Q: Richard, thank you so much for offering your expertise. I just read your comments regarding Hot & ... A: Alaska sounds wonderful, I can only imagine how nice the mountain and forest views must be! The ... | |
| Changing a Contemp Home to More Traditional Look | 12/6/2011 |
| Q: I'm looking at a house in Westchester County, NY that's a contemporary. I don't like contemporary's, ... A: Hey Robert - thanks for your question! I'm going to recommend you pass this one by, for a couple of ... | |
| bearing wall | 9/25/2011 |
| Q: We are in the process of remodeling our 1920's era home and discovered that a bearing wall in the ... A: Good morning Hugh - thanks for your question. Assuming there's no "other side of the story" then ... | |
| Single Window to a Picture Window | 9/22/2011 |
| Q: Good evening, We are planning a great room addition to our existing 11 year old home. It will be ... A: You are right to be concerned about this - if the the new, larger "hole" in the wall is WIDER than ... | |
| turning a 1400 sq ft dug basement into a rental | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: Good Morning and I hope I have turned to the correct expert with my questions! I have a 1400 sq ft ... A: Good morning Allison - thanks for your question! I hope to be in your shoes in a few years - I have ... | |
| Regarding the subjects to focus on if i want to choose architecture as my profession. | 9/14/2011 |
| Q: I am a 11th grade student and am interested in architecture. I have taken engineering graphics as a ... A: You'll get lots of different opinions on this subject, but since you asked me, here's mine. The ... | |
| Portico Proportions | 8/9/2011 |
| Q: My house seems overly horizontal and out of proportion, a modified, ill conceived garrison colonial, ... A: Susan - the proportions (which are based on Greek and Roman ruins) are guidelines; you don't have to ... | |
| Portico Proportions | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: My house seems overly horizontal and out of proportion, a modified, ill conceived garrison colonial, ... A: It's not such a bad house as builder-colonials go - a nice portico should give it just the spark it ... | |
| 2009 stair tread code | 8/3/2011 |
| Q: I have to replace treads for my house which has about 26 treads going up 2 floors; half of them ... A: Good morning Joseph - thanks for your question. Stairs are a fairly complex exercise in geometry, ... | |
| changing style of roof | 7/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a craftsman bungalow home built in 1915. A some point some work was done to the garage but ... A: Good morning Vaud - thanks for your question! A 1915 Craftsman Bungalow! That's a dream home for ... | |
| Frank Lloyd Wright design style | 5/21/2011 |
| Q: How do I find a Frank Lloyd Wright design or in his style, for a garage with an apartment? A: I don't know if FLW ever designed a garage with an apartment above it, although it's certainly ... | |
| Death of Architect of Record | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: I represent a building contractor. The Architect who provided the drawings for a residential ... A: Lou - thanks for your question - definitely the first time I've heard of this situation! I think ... | |
| replacement windows | 5/8/2011 |
| Q: I am adding onto my house. The windows I am taking out are 2 year old replacement windows. Can I ... A: Whether you can use the windows in new construction depends on how they were installed in your ... | |
| deck and balcony | 5/4/2011 |
| Q: what is the difference between deck and balcony? A: Glenn - thanks for your question! Generally, a deck is any horizontal surface intended to be used ... | |
| Raising ceiling | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: I'm living in Texas and interested in buying a 1900 sq ft single story traditional home built in ... A: Yes, it's very expensive and complicated to raise a ceiling in a house. Everything is disrupted - ... | |
| Interior brick wall | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: I want to build an interior brick wall at right angles to a tiled bathroom wall. The shower curtain ... A: Martin - thanks for your question! One brick width (wythe) is probably structurally sound for what ... | |
| garages main visual | 2/13/2011 |
| Q: Growing up in the 50's, the garage to our house was detached and in the back of the house, where you ... A: Lee - thanks for your question! Yep, there's a reason - with the garage out in front, a room can be ... | |
| home addition--existing brick--adding stone | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: My ranch style home constructed in 1986--brick veneer. Want to add on both ends--one for new ... A: Good morning Steve - thanks for your question. Stone's certainly an option, but you can still use ... | |
| concrete block/stucco archway | 2/3/2011 |
| Q: ..I have an existing gated side entrance way to my backyard. The yard is walled off with cinder ... A: Aren - thanks for your question! The base of the wall in the photo you sent is almost certainly ... | |
| framing on existing walls | 1/24/2011 |
| Q: Richard, I am remodeling an existing house with standard 8 foot walls. I want to add some addition ... A: William - thanks for your question! The simple answer is no, you can't just build knee walls on ... | |
| stair tread size? | 1/3/2011 |
| Q: im building stairs to my basement. i have only enough space to make the trewad 9 inces, and the ... A: Jim - thanks for your question! The riser and tread sizes are ok in some jurisdictions, but you ... | |
| Roofing | 12/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a house about 2500 sf on the main floor, stucco exterior and ceiling height in all rooms is ... A: Divya - so much goes into estimating a project like this; it's impossible to guess without seeing ... | |
| Roofing | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a house about 2500 sf on the main floor, stucco exterior and ceiling height in all rooms is ... A: Divya - oops! Your message got overrun in my inbox - sorry I didn't get to this sooner. The ... | |
| raising first floor ceiling height | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: We have a 1984 two story home with a tile roof, 1404 first floor and 1092 sq.ft. 2nd floor, We hired ... A: Fred - thanks for your question! Wow, you're really on the bubble with this one! From my ... | |
| shed roof for porch | 10/31/2010 |
| Q: I have inquired with you before and was wanting to put a small gable in front of our house that ... A: The shed roof will work as long as the pitch is steep enough. Whether that's a 3:12 or 4:12 minimum ... | |
| wooden ceiling materials | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: Taylor and thanks in advance. We have a small house with high, sloped ceilings that in the back, ... A: You're right, the ceiling systems you mention are for large commercial applications. But Armstrong ... | |
| roof type on entablature | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: First, never knew what an entablature was until I read one of your recent question and answer ... A: Fernando - thanks for your question! Yes, I think a gabled roof on your new front porch would look ... | |
| Is it a load bearing wall? | 9/1/2010 |
| Q: Is it possible that a plasterboard wall only 5cm thick (including the plasterboards), 3.27m wide and ... A: Sokol - thanks for your question! It's possible - but not likely. That's an awfully thin wall to ... | |
| stone house R rating | 8/29/2010 |
| Q: If you have 2ft. thick stone walls in a house what would be the R rate. A: Stone isn't much of an insulator...at roughly 0.08 R per inch, a 2-foot wall has an R-value of about ... | |
| roofing | 8/22/2010 |
| Q: I want to build a green roof with a garden and/or pond. My wife doesn't like the "boxy" appearance ... A: Blue - thanks for your question! Interesting idea, but probably not one that's going to make your ... | |
| Block Wall | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Taylor, I also have a cinder block wall that I want to cover with mortar/stucco. My exterior ... A: Sonya - I'm afraid I don't quite follow your question; you want to cover a wall with stucco, but the ... | |
| Front of house | 8/9/2010 |
| Q: Here is the photo of the house in San Diego,that is in the country. Currently we took off the wood ... A: Good morning Nancy - thanks for your question! The valley shouldn't cause you any significant ... | |
| interior door hardware for greek revival house | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: I am a renovation contractor beginning work on a house built in the late 1860's built in the Greek ... A: Stan - thanks for your question! Do you have any photos of the doors? I can imagine several ... | |
| Rooftop Decks | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a deck on top of my garage roof which is flat and is a concrete slab. It is covered ... A: Adrian - thanks for your question! I have just the thing - galvanized steel hat channels. They're ... | |
| portico, gabled roof, covered entry | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: you answered a question about what the technical name of the covering over porch was and listed ... A: Good morning Pamela, thanks for your question! Typically, the part of the porch roof that is up ... | |
| walk-in-closets | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: If working with a limited amount of space in a master bedroom, is it better to put in one large ... A: Good afternoon Danielle - thanks for your question! A single large WIC generally has more "empty" ... | |
| re-shingling a mansard roof | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: My home has a mansard style roof, it was built in about 1975 and the current roof has been ... A: Good evening Isabelle - thanks for your question! A proper shingle application always requires ... | |
| door handle height | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: What is the standard US height for an interior door handle, like on a bedroom or bath? If there's a ... A: Good morning Mary Ann - thanks for your question! The typical interior door lockset is bored 36 to ... | |
| Home Addition | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: My wife and I were looking to purchase our first home. We have found a house we both like and feel ... A: Chris - thanks for your question! A residential architect in your area should be happy to consult ... | |
| trying to avoid a lighting mistake | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: We're doing some remodeling on our little 1945 house. The DR/Kitchen and LR (total space: 21 X 28) ... A: Good morning Mike - thanks for your question! Before we tackle the lighting, I want to talk a bit ... | |
| New Plumbing through Existing Joists | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: My parents are having their upstairs bathrooms renovated and enlarged in their home in Wisconsin. ... A: Chris - thanks for your question! Yikes! The plumbers did EVERYTHING wrong! Whatever you do to ... | |
| Window Stylexmj | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: We are considering Divided Lite Windows (2 over 2) for the front of the house. Does this then ... A: Ideally, your home design is conceived three-dimensionally; (some call it "4-sided architecture" but ... | |
| Missing slope and waterproofing problem | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: The framers who installed our balcony did not leave a slope causing water to pool next to door and ... A: Good evening Betty - thanks for your question! Sorry about the leaking - that's a very frustrating ... | |
| cantilever addition | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1960 era ranch house with a wood frame and poured concrete foundation. My master bath is ... A: Athene - thanks for your question! A cantilevered addition is often an easy and effective way to ... | |
| Replacing Masonite Siding on 1950's Ranch House | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: I have masonite siding that needs replacement. I am considering Hardipanels or stucco siding. Would ... A: Good evening Lee - thanks for your question. That's a very nice ranch - glad you're taking care of ... | |
| Structural Integrity | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: I've been looking at a house and have a question about its structural integrity. Its a 2 story, all ... A: Paul - thanks for your question! You'll need someone to look at this in person to be certain what's ... | |
| Stone Home/Cement Block Home | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: Can you cut a opening for sliding glass doors in the back of a stone/cement home? How do you ... A: Cutting an opening in a masonry or concrete wall is a bit tricky; you need a proper masonry/concrete ... | |
| Interior Cinder-Block Wall Texturing | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Taylor, I have volunteered to texture the inside of our church building which is of cinder-block ... A: Clint - thanks for you question. You're right, the spray-on method won't get you the results you ... | |
| attic in 1792 house | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: We have a 3-bedroom house in suburban Philadelphia of which parts are dated 1792. Tha main part of ... A: You have a very common problem - a growing family and a house bursting at the seams! While we try ... | |
| Siding our Mansard roof with vinyl siding | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: Our house was built in 1968. It has cedar shingles and a mansard roof. We are in the process of ... A: Johanna - thanks for your question! Keep the roof covered with roofing, no question there! The ... | |
| avoid settling when adding a great room | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: Good evening, We are planning a great room addition to our existing 11 year old home. It will be ... A: What about the addition design or the site gives you concern? Have you had settling problems ... | |
| Raising a Cape Cod Roof | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: Richard, My husband and I love our 1920s cape cod but with 2 children and 2 dogs we are in dire need ... A: Good morning Lisa - thanks for your question! Let's get right to it - there are a number of reasons ... | |
| What Type of House is best buy in State of Florida | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: We are planning to purchase house in Florida, since price is a lot lower than Bay Area, California. ... A: Good morning Toichi, thanks for your question! The fact that any house has survived 80 years in ... | |
| load bearing construction on the beach | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: Is it advisable to build a small single story beach house using load bearing stone walls? ... A: Saira - thanks for your question. At first glance, it would stand to reason that a massive ... | |
| Architecture Stairs And Walls | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: Taylor I have Couple of questions about building 1. Why is the most common width used for treads on ... A: Good morning Emily, thanks for your questions! The relationship between stair risers and treads is ... | |
| Adding a Crawlspace to a Historic Home | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: We own a historic home built in the 1850's in the "limestone belt" of southern Indiana. The ... A: Good morning Matthew - thanks for your question! What you're proposing isn't uncommon, and there ... | |
| roof truss queston | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: is it possible to make this vaulted by adding scissor supports like the picture i added this pic is ... A: Mike - thanks for your question! Yes, it's certainly possible - you will need to do a some ... | |
| Attic Insulation | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1960s split-foyer house with some kind of blown-in insulation in the attic. It looks kind ... A: Good morning Joe - thanks for your question! You have blown-in cellulose insulation in your attic - ... | |
| insulation in attic | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I noticed in our home (4 years old) that the girls' rooms which face west are really cold/hot. When ... A: Good morning Lynn - thanks for your question! Yes, you may have an insulation problem - the lack of ... | |
| Art niche | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: I am finishing my basement and will be installing a wall and making a right hand turn at the bottom ... A: Dave - thanks for your question. I like your idea, it will create a little drama as you descend. I ... | |
| Windows | 12/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a 11' by 14' room with a window on the 14' wall which is 32"H by 70"W, with the bottom of the ... A: Mike - thanks for your question! The high window in your room is probably entirely appropriate for ... | |
| square footage | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: how do I measure the square footage of my home adding the thickness of the outside walls? I need to ... A: Jeremy - thanks for your question! You need the area of the walls themselves - not the floor area ... | |
| another ? | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: I wanted to know what is the difference between interior architect %26 design, and an interior ... A: Gracie - if you get into an Architecture program, you'll do your undergrad work in 4 years; if you ... | |
| i have a ? | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: I wanted to know what is the difference between interior architect %26 design, and an interior ... A: Gracie - thanks for your question! Nope, they're not the same thing. An interior Architect is an ... | |
| wood frame house in florida | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: We are looking to buy a home in an upper scale neighborhood in Englewood florida. My concern is the ... A: Good morning Lisa, thanks for your question! Englewood has certainly changed since I was first ... | |
| Italianate Style House | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: We are are building 2700 sq. ft. Italianate Style house in CT. We have a 8x8 cupola attached. Trying ... A: Good morning Heather - thanks for your question! Congratulations, you've just stepped into the ... | |
| Italianate Style House | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: We are building Italianate style house with belvedere. Shingles are going on today. I am trying to ... A: Heather - thanks for your question! You're off to a pretty good start, but there are a few things ... | |
| Raising a 1st floor ceiling | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: We're buying a new house that has 7 3/4 feet ceilings and would like to raise them to 9 feet. We ... A: Nilo - thanks for your question! It's possible, but expensive. You're going to run into a number ... | |
| Weep holes covered by board trim | 8/1/2009 |
| Q: We just had a deck installed. The edges of the decking next to the house were not cut properly, so ... A: The screws into the brick aren't anything to worry about, but covering the weep holes is. They're ... | |
| Covered front entry on Colonial | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: I am interested in adding on a covered front porch or a portico to our Colonial. I am having ... A: The basic proportions of your house are pretty sound - except for the door surround, which is pretty ... | |
| How important are the walls which divid rooms? | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: When I look at house plans, I always wonder if a house would still be stable if some of the walls ... A: Judy - thanks for your question! Let's hope they consult with someone who knows construction, as ... | |
| Portico Arch | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: My contractor told me that he intends to use "plastic" for creating/framing the internal arch ... A: Dan - thanks for your question! There are several types of "flexible framing" products made of both ... | |
| cantilevered portico | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: Like Kyle, I too am looking to build a portico to protect a 3 foot door. I can figure out how to do ... A: How you attach the portico depends on a number of factors including the design of the portico and ... | |
| how many electrical receptacals for bath vanity | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: I am installing a large vanity, either 48" or 60". I am intending to have two 2-gang electrical ... A: David - thanks for your question! The right number of outlets is as many as you think you need. ... | |
| False dormers/Craftsman Bungalow | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: Why put false dormers on a house. Do false dormers indicate the intention of the builder to add a ... A: Generally, no...false dormers are exactly that, "false". They're typically installed on top of the ... | |
| buying a brand new house | 7/1/2009 |
| Q: We are going to buy a brand new house. Actually it is still under contruction. According to the ... A: Jennifer - thanks for your question! You're right to be concerned about the soil your foundation ... | |
| Lighting | 6/27/2009 |
| Q: Flush mounted lights versus recessed I am evaluating my lighting options and their associated costs ... A: Mr. Boylen - thanks for your question! The installation cost of flush vs. recessed isn't much ... | |
| design question | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: Can you tell me if having things like heated floors,towel racks and a toilet seat in a bathroom ... A: Danielle - thanks for your question! Sure, all those items (I assume you mean all are heated) use ... | |
| Questions about attic | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: Taylor: I am having a problem with the attic in my home. I have heard animals in the attic and am ... A: John - thanks for your question! You'll be surprised when you find the hole that the critters are ... | |
| 1976 Manufactered Home | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: I am looking at buying a one story manufactured home on an acreage with a basement. It was built in ... A: Tom - thanks for your question! Your house was probably built with "scissors" trusses, which have a ... | |
| Replacement Windows | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: Richard, I recently decided to have replacement windows installed in my home. After placing an ... A: Good morning Frank, thanks for your question. I've never heard of installing windows "too far in". ... | |
| House Addition | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: I am going to be putting an addition onto my house, it has an existing concrete foundation/basement ... A: If I'm reading you right, you want to put a deeper basement next to a shallower one...there are ... | |
| exterior wood door | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: I have an exterior wood door make of knotty alder. It is 4 years old. It is semi-protected from ... A: You do NOT want to recoat your door with polyurethane, that's part of the problem you're having now! ... | |
| modular roof deck on a rubber roof | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: On my house I have a 1st floor 24'x12' addition, with a rubber roof that was just installed. There ... A: Laurie - thanks for your question! You're 99% of the way there, everything you've written is ... | |
| Purchasing a New House | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: Richard, We are in the process of buying a new house from a new home builder. However, we have a ... A: Good morning Mr. Sewalk - thanks for your question! Home value is a complex equation, affected by ... | |
| 2x6 Laminated lumber | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: I'm planning a pergola for my backyard. I'm planning 18' X 18' in size. I would prefer not to use ... A: John - thanks for your question. Yes, you can laminate the 2 x 6s if you want. Since it's an ... | |
| Brick wall construction | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a question regarding the construction of brick walls and am searching for some answers prior ... A: Good morning Mike - thanks for your question! You have two questions, one of structure, one of ... | |
| Question about staircase. | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: Could you please tell me what is the minimum, optimum and maximum values for the riser and tread for ... A: Sean - thanks for your question! The answer is a matter of building codes, which vary from region ... | |
| Installing deck over flat rubber roof | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: We bought a brick attached house built on 1925. In the front, there is a sunroom (brick), the roof ... A: I had a question similar to yours not long ago, so I'll copy that answer for you below: You have a ... | |
| cantilevered portico plans | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I see that about a year ago you answered a question about an arched roof portico. I'm looking to do ... A: Kyle - thanks for your question! You won't find any plans for things like this, but there are ... | |
| poured concrete floors | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: I am adding a 12 x 12 foot addition onto the back of my house. It will be a sitting and ... A: Claire - thanks for your question! The look you're after isn't in the product you choose, it's in ... | |
| partial garage conversion | 3/1/2009 |
| Q: We would like to enlarge the kitchen by expanding it through the garage and convert approximately ... A: It sounds like you have a pretty straightforward project in mind - hope I can help you a bit. For ... | |
| Windows | 2/22/2009 |
| Q: What are the advantage and disadvantages of Vinyl clad with wood interior vs. all vinyl windows. My ... A: Good morning Maron - thanks for your question. Your wife is right; the advantage of a wood interior ... | |
| Patio Cover | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a large patio, however most of the summer months are too hot to enjoy because it gets direct ... A: You're right, the retractable awning's big drawback is the size and location. They're really quite ... | |
| Exterior Remodel | 2/9/2009 |
| Q: House was hit by car and the entire thing has to be "rebricked" (currently made of roman brick which ... A: Patricia - thanks for your question! Thanks also for the photo - helps a lot. It's an interesting ... | |
| trying to date this old house | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: I have recently purchased an older home in eastern Canada (2h away from the Maine/N.B. border)We are ... A: Jessica - thanks for your question! I'm sorry to be so long getting back to you - I hope you didn't ... | |
| basement question | 2/5/2009 |
| Q: I'm looking at possibly building a new home and there is a design I've come across that I like ... A: Jeff - thanks for your question! It's not a structural impossibility, but it is almost certainly a ... | |
| raising a floor | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: I have traditional centerhall colonial with side entry 2 car garage. I have a mudroom that is the ... A: You can easily raise the floor over the slab area; you'll want to be sure to use pressure-treated ... | |
| Sound proofing with Glass bricks | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: Just wanted to know the acoustic properties of glass bricks. Just in front of my house, there is a ... A: Good morning Chandan - thanks for your question! Glass bricks (or "block") themselves do mitigate ... | |
| cathedral ceiling | 1/18/2009 |
| Q: I live in Tennessee and I have a very serious problem. Hired a contractor to build a 24x40 ... A: Good morning Gary - thanks for your question! I'm sorry you're experiencing this very serious ... | |
| floor height transition(step) | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: I know stair code, but does it apply directly here?: two risers one "tread" between rooms:desired ... A: Stephen - thanks for your question. Residential stair codes only call for minimum tread depth and ... | |
| insulation attic | 12/5/2008 |
| Q: I would like to add insualtion to the attic of a 1930's colonial in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The ... A: Tim - thanks for your question! Careful here - this is a life-safety issue you need to pay close ... | |
| Doors in interiror walls | 11/30/2008 |
| Q: We have a colonial house built in 1752 in Connecticut. In several areas on the first and second ... A: Susan - thanks for your question! It's a tough one to answer without a photo, but I'll give it a ... | |
| living room ceiling | 11/29/2008 |
| Q: I recently bought a ranch style home in a suburban neighborhood. Built in 1985, it has a great open, ... A: What you've got is a "clipped" ceiling, a detail I see mostly on the upper floors of older homes - ... | |
| fireplace glass door | 11/23/2008 |
| Q: I am wondering if installing an airtight glass door for my masonry fireplace might help ... A: Marty - thanks for your question! The simple answer here is no - you'd cut off all the combustion ... | |
| egress window | 11/21/2008 |
| Q: I am buying a house and the basement has egress windows. My mother is handicapped and I would like ... A: Sandra - thanks for your question! Sure, it's possible! You need to decide up front what "degree ... | |
| Should a brick facade be closed at the top? | 11/20/2008 |
| Q: Our house suffered a lot of damage due to hurricane Ike. As part of the needed repairs, we have ... A: Clarissa - sorry to hear about the damage you suffered; I hope your family is ok and coping well ... | |
| Load Bearing Wall | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: I am going to be buying a house that has a wall completely dividing the living area and a ... A: Dan - thanks for your question! I wrote an article a while back that should help - the text of it ... | |
| rubber membrane covering flat porch roof | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Taylor: In 1999, I built a new home in Chester, South Carolina. The house has a 10'deep x ... A: Mike - thanks for your question. Based on the information you've provided it would appear that the ... | |
| Rancher addition | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: I'd like to add a great room to my hip roof rancher- the purpose of which would mainly be to expand ... A: Eric - thanks for your question. Unfortunately, you're up against a very common problem that nearly ... | |
| raising a roof | 11/9/2008 |
| Q: I am looking to attach my house and garage via an addition. The problem is, the garage roof is about ... A: Jason - thanks for your question! You don't necessarily need the roofs to be the same height to ... | |
| gas fireplace conversion | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: Re: question asked was: Subject: converting wood burning fireplace to gas I read with interest your ... A: Dona - thanks for your question! If I recall, the question you're referring to involved the ... | |
| roof measuring | 10/31/2008 |
| Q: "How can I determine roof slope on a two story house without getting up on the roof and measuring ... A: I can think of a couple of ways I've used before - the most accurate is to get into the attic and ... | |
| Installing a deck over a roof | 9/23/2008 |
| Q: We have a 71 year old (stone) house with an attached porch. The porch floor is slate with wooden ... A: Looks like a lovely home - there's a lot of value in the historic character of it, make sure you ... | |
| Reusing existing foundation | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: My wife found a property in a neighborhood she is particularly fond of but the house is trashed. ... A: "Unreasonable" is in the eye of the beholder, but what you're proposing is certainly worth ... | |
| How removing a wall will affect the structural integrity of a house | 9/20/2008 |
| Q: Is there an easy way to know which walls can be removed without compromising the structural ... A: Gail - thanks for your question! Please read the article below: Is That A Bearing Wall? Richard ... | |
| Roof | 9/20/2008 |
| Q: I have a back split home with a very low sloped roof. There isn't an attic - just a 2x10 cathedral ... A: Kurt - the existing roof structure (including the shingles) can usually stay in place while a new, ... | |
| remodeling questions | 9/17/2008 |
| Q: I have a few remodeling questions. First, is it possible to push up the ceilings in an apartment? If ... A: Raising ceiling heights within a building structure is usually a complex and expensive undertaking. ... | |
| Roof | 9/16/2008 |
| Q: I have a back split home with a very low sloped roof. There isn't an attic - just a 2x10 cathedral ... A: Kurt - thanks for your question! And thanks for including the photo. Raising the pitch of the roof ... | |
| designeers legal works | 8/2/2008 |
| Q: I am a cad drafter that have a very good skills and abilities for architectural design... as well ... A: Daniel - thanks for your question. I assume you're in the U.S., so I'll answer as if you are. Most ... | |
| Roof deck railing | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: My roof top deck is not properly sloped so the water pools in different places. The last roofer ... A: You should get the pooling taken care of; you're right, it will likely lead to problems later on. ... | |
| raising my ceilings | 7/30/2008 |
| Q: I also would like to raise my ceilings from 8 to 10 feet. My situation might be more promising. I ... A: Joseph - thanks for your question! I can't tell you whether the sistered 2x4s will work or not; ... | |
| What style is this. | 7/29/2008 |
| Q: Have you ever been into a Tommy Bahama store? How about a Hollister store? I like the way both of ... A: Race: Thanks for your question! You're not finding anything on those styles because they don't ... | |
| adding concrete patio to cantilever home | 7/28/2008 |
| Q: We were told that the foundation (poured concrete basement, partially regular basement, partially ... A: Emma - there's no ideal amount of space, just get as much as you can. My "rule of thumb" is that ... | |
| adding concrete patio to cantilever home | 7/27/2008 |
| Q: We were told that the foundation (poured concrete basement, partially regular basement, partially ... A: Emma - thanks for your question! I appreciate your detailed description...but wish I could see it - ... | |
| Flat roof design - Load specifications | 7/27/2008 |
| Q: I am designing a flat roof garage. It will ultimately be a green roof and I need to know of a source ... A: By "green roof" do you mean it will be planted? If so, the weight of the soil and water will have a ... | |
| taking down a wall | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: we want to take down the wall in between our kitchen and our living room. we live in vermont. my ... A: If it's load-bearing, you have to find out what it's supporting, and what is supporting it before ... | |
| mounting panels on rated wall | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: I have to fasten some decorative wall panels on a 2-hour rated wall, i thought I should build out a ... A: Siuling - thanks for your question. Any changes you make to a fire-rated wall may affect it's ... | |
| Foundation | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: We are about to close our new Townhouse. We had a Home inspector to inspect the house. He found a ... A: Hemalatha - thanks for your question! This should be easily fixable by your builder. Most water ... | |
| BUILDING FOOTPRINT | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: Could you please tell me if you include the eaves in a building footprint. I work for a small ... A: Good Morning Sally - thanks for your question! "Building Footprint" is always defined as the ... | |
| Texture coating outdoor/cinder block walls | 7/5/2008 |
| Q: After reading your profile I thought you might be able to help me. I am located in California. My ... A: The problem here might just be semantics - you don't want to "texture coat" this wall, you want to ... | |
| unlevel floors | 7/5/2008 |
| Q: My daughter has an old farmhouse. They just had siding and new windows done. The ones who did the ... A: Sharon - the best advice I can give you is to hire a local architect or engineer to look at your ... | |
| Properly construct a small bathroom | 7/4/2008 |
| Q: I am doing a large project that will require a good amount of reconstruction in the house. One ... A: I'd go with both fixtures on the 4' wall. Although they'd have more room between them on the 5' ... | |
| Dry Rot | 6/29/2008 |
| Q: I am starting an exotic crayfish farm, and I will be setting up two baby pools (about 10 feet ... A: "Dry Rot" shouldn't be your concern with this; long before you have structural problems in your ... | |
| new deck, cracked planks? | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: we got a new deck finished today, and two of the planks looked cracked, like when you put a nail ... A: Good morning Liana - thanks for your question! A certain amount of defect is expected and ... | |
| Definition of buildiing footprint. | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: I am engaged in a question as it relates to the definition of a building footprint. My past ... A: Good afternoon Richard - thanks for your question! A "footprint" is defined as the entire area of ... | |
| Remodeling bedroom window/sliding door | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: We are buying a 70's "fixer upper" and need help with replacing a sliding door. The master bedroom ... A: Diane - thanks for your question! I've seen exactly what you're talking about before! The ... | |
| changing style of house | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I are living in Connecticut. The popular houses in the area are Colonial. There are ... A: There are many factors that affect the cost of a remodeling project; it's impossible to guess what ... | |
| Storybook Cottages | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: I am very interested in storybook cottages. I love the cottages in Carmel, California. I believe ... A: The best source I've seen on the cottages you're describing is the book "Storybook Style", available ... | |
| Drawing Plans | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: I wrote you a question earlier regarding building a bachelor style residence. I got your answer and ... A: Chin - thanks for the clarification! I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help, however! Just like ... | |
| Changing ascending direction of stairs | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: I am an owner-resident of a townhouse-style condo in a Southern California CID community (with a ... A: Jennifer - thanks for your question! I can only guess at the structure, but it sounds to me like ... | |
| Building new home on old basement | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: Property is rural in Northeast Washington state with an existing basement foundation on it. ... A: Sure, you can do this! After all this time, the existing foundation has probably done all the ... | |
| Square footage and floor plan drawings | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: When purchasing a townhouse where I am buying the walls in and not the exterior of the structure, ... A: Everyone in the homebuilding industry measures the area of a home a little differently so it's ... | |
| need patio cover ideas | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: I AM RENTING A HOME, IT HAS A LARGE CONCRETE PATIO (APPR 24'L X 6'W) BUT NOTHING ABOVE TO RELIEVE US ... A: The lattice solution you've heard violates two of your requirements: it won't be easy to remove ... | |
| Cinder Block vs Wood Frame Home Costs | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Taylor: I'm considering building a new house and was wondering which is more cost effective, a ... A: The difference between the two walls types you see is the difference in climate; in hot humid Miami ... | |
| portico addition | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: I want to add a gabled portico (with the same pitch as the roof on the house) to an existing brick ... A: You've got three ways to do this: 1) Attach a ledger board (aligned with the rafters) to the brick ... | |
| Building a BOX! | 4/30/2008 |
| Q: We have almost 6 acres of land in Florida and would love to build, but we made "chump" money when we ... A: Sandy: Thanks for your question! There are many, many books and websites you can purchase home ... | |
| Covered Deck Roof | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: Richard, I'm planning on putting a 16 X 16 covered deck on my house located in Penna. I was ... A: Jim - thanks for your question! The end of the ridge beam that bears on the exterior wall of the ... | |
| alignment of roof lines | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: The planned addition to our house extends outward at a right angle to the existing building, so the ... A: Arnold - thanks for your question! I'll admit I'm having a hard time picturing the small hip you're ... | |
| FIRST FLOOR/ GROUND FLOOR | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: If I'm not mistaken the American FIRST floor in a building is called GROUND floor in England. Am I ... A: Victor - excellent question! You're exactly right - the "first" floor (or story) in America is the ... | |
| Portico with an arched ceiling | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: I have been asked by a client to build a simple portico over a front entry door. The house is a box ... A: Bob - thanks for your question! The way you frame this will depend on how high the arch is. If ... | |
| Historic Preservation Law | 4/10/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I own a home (built in 1916) in a historic neighborhood in Florida. The home is a ... A: Katie - thanks for your question! I'm not a lawyer, nor am I giving you legal advice here (you need ... | |
| Changing pitch of roof/half story addition | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: I live in a 1920's historic house with a hip-style roof. The roof has to be completely torn off and ... A: If you raise the pitch of the roof, you're going to be tearing the entire thing out and rebuilding ... | |
| two story vesus one story | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: In april 06 you responded to a question by saying two stories are more cost effective than one. My ... A: Bill - thanks for your question! There's no formula that I know of, but in the example you cite the ... | |
| Exterior painting of stucco, the real stucco. | 3/22/2008 |
| Q: Please advise on the best exterior paint to use on previously painted stucco.All companies have ... A: Stephen - thanks for your question. A good quality exterior latex paint is the appropriate coating ... | |
| rooftop deck | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: My dad is an exterior and he his building a rooftop deck for his next job, we live in Minnesota and ... A: A "sleeper" is a strip of wood laid on top of the rubber roof, with the decking boards attached to ... | |
| Framing a sunroom | 3/8/2008 |
| Q: I am planning to build a sunroom on the rear of my existing house. The sunroom will be built as ... A: John - thanks for your question! There are two easy solutions, and both are available from a ... | |
| stair cases | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: my question is : Can you put a staircase into a house ie in my living room where there of course ... A: Tracy - thanks for your question! Of course! That's a very common alteration, especially when ... | |
| moving a house | 3/3/2008 |
| Q: I am moving a house that is presently on a basement 2 and a half hours away. I have gone up to ... A: David - thanks for your question! Foundations are almost never perfectly squared, new or old - your ... | |
| Possible danger weight bearing beam cut | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: I am selling my house and the buyer had the house inspection done. The inspector told me to replace ... A: Alice - sorry, I can't help you with pricing. There's just no way to do it "online"! What you need ... | |
| Possible danger weight bearing beam cut | 2/24/2008 |
| Q: I am selling my house and the buyer had the house inspection done. The inspector told me to replace ... A: Alice - thanks for your question. You need to replace this beam. Even though you haven't had ... | |
| CBS Construction | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: I live in Orlando, FL and I am thinking about buying a brand new home with CBS construction. ... A: The biggest pro is that concrete block is a very common building material in Florida, so you're ... | |
| bedroom | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: We live in a townhouse. Our spare room is against the wall and aove the back corner of the ... A: Jackie - thanks for your question! As you've no doubt discovered, bad odors get absorbed into ... | |
| Remodeling & Additions | 2/17/2008 |
| Q: We want to add a 1st and 2nd floor to our exisiting older home we have lived in for 10 years. We ... A: If you know exactly what you want and don't need much advice in the way of design, then a draftsman ... | |
| mansard roof pitch | 2/12/2008 |
| Q: Is there a specific pitch or range of pitches for mansard roofs? We, Yankeetown planning ... A: 36:12 is practically vertical; there's really no need to set a top-end limit to the pitch. Is your ... | |
| Architect: what should i do? | 2/12/2008 |
| Q: Im Abigail and I speak and write Japanese and i want to be an architect. I LOVE drawing and ... A: You're already on the right track. Be sure you choose a well-known accredited School of ... | |
| Remodeling | 2/9/2008 |
| Q: We are thinking of adding more living space to our home. We have an screened in deck on the back of ... A: Building codes sometimes won't let you do that. Once you enclose a space, it has to meet all the ... | |
| Blocking in 2X8 floors | 2/5/2008 |
| Q: I have an attic space made of 2X8's and want to put down a sub floor (3/4 OSB). There is no ... A: I assume you're talking about bridging? This is a code issue, so the requirements may differ ... | |
| Cold roof construction | 2/4/2008 |
| Q: What is your take on insulation in a true cold roof w' sleepers and 2 layers of plywood in regards ... A: Collin - thanks for your question. I'm not sure I fully understand what you're asking, but here's ... | |
| remodel and additons | 2/1/2008 |
| Q: We have a three bedroom old farmhouse on 2 acres. It was built in the early forties. Our family ... A: It sounds to me like you're thinking of adding the space(s) you need, and not considering enough ... | |
| Exterior Paint | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: I have been searching and searching for exterior paint color combination ideas and haven't found ... A: Kristen - thanks for your question! Choosing colors is tricky, as you've discovered! Sometimes the ... | |
| Basement Stairs | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: I have a a basement set of stairs that I would like to turn the last 2 steps 90' to the right. The ... A: Howard - thanks for your question! That's basically it, yes. The only thing I'll add is that when ... | |
| Replacement windows in new construction | 1/23/2008 |
| Q: Mr. Taylor, I am trying to assist a friend who has been having problems with a leak in her new ... A: Eli - thanks for your question! You're right, a replacement window doesn't have the nailing fins ... | |
| Re-locating a staircase i an 1840's post & beam house | 1/20/2008 |
| Q: I recently purchased a 24' X 20' post and beam house that has gone through a number of disasterous ... A: Thea - thanks for your question! I'm so glad to hear that you're taking care of this home - sounds ... | |
| Trouble with Addition? | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: 5 years ago we added a room above our garage. 2 years or so I noticed minor bubbling in the ... A: Sean - thanks for your question! From your description it sounds as though it's the paint, not the ... | |
| interior door style | 1/15/2008 |
| Q: We are building in Bend, Oregon on 10 acres. 3800 sq.ft. ranch. We want a country/farmhouse/ranchy ... A: Bend and Sunriver are two of my favorite places in the world - great scenery, great people, great ... | |
| remodeling contemporaries | 1/10/2008 |
| Q: I saw this house in a terrific neighborhood but it is a dated 1980 contemporary. It has unusual ... A: Mary - thanks for your question! Hard to say how difficult/expensive it would be without seeing the ... | |
| exterior stairs/steps | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: We are in the middle of a renovation and are having issues regarding steps outside being built from ... A: Melissa - simplest way is to call the city (or county) goverment where you live and ask for the ... | |
| exterior stairs/steps | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: We are in the middle of a renovation and are having issues regarding steps outside being built from ... A: Melissa - thanks for your question! Yes, building codes are very specific about the "rise and run" ... | |
| Room Addition to Make Third Floor | 12/20/2007 |
| Q: My husband and I are looking at purchasing a home in Tiburon. The home currently has the master ... A: There are at least three places you'll need support for the additional floor. One is the floor ... | |
| wood stair tread | 12/19/2007 |
| Q: Richard, We are considering installing wood floor in living room and stairs leading up to it from ... A: Larry - thanks for your question. Yes, wood flooring can slippery when wet...but no more than any ... | |
| raising 80 inch ceilings | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: .we have purchased a beautiful old home built in 1824. The ceilings on the first floor are fine at ... A: Mike and Linda - thanks for your question! Always a tough call...the lower ceilings are certainly a ... | |
| plaster repair | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: Our home was built in the 1920's, & is in a historic neighborhood. The sunroom on the home has a ... A: Everything you've said is correct - plaster relief is made using custom screeds. As long as there's ... | |
| porcelain tile | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: what is the best way to cut in the middle of a porcelain tile? we are putting it on the walls and ... A: You have to use a wet saw, with a good porcelain (diamond) blade, and cut very slowly. Cut edges ... | |
| Sealing a Deck | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: Richard, I read an answer you gave around NOT sealing a deck that has fungus growth. I too have a ... A: Brad - thanks for your question! The problem with sealing is that it eliminates a path for moisture ... | |
| Use of Silver Maple Beams for Interior | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: From clearing my home building lot I have enough large silver maple logs for beams and lumber that I ... A: Samuel - thanks for your question! Silver Maple is a "softer" hardwood than the other maple species ... | |
| hi | 11/26/2007 |
| Q: i was wondering what are some good materials for 1.) sound reflection and 2.) absorption. also if u ... A: Guy - thanks for your question! I wrote an article about sound control recently, you can find it ... | |
| steel vs wood | 11/24/2007 |
| Q: A buddy and myself got into a little arguement about what is stronger in framing a house.( as in a ... A: Mike - thanks for your question! By the time the temperature was high enough to deform a steel beam ... | |
| Treadmill on floor above garage | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: I just bought a treadmill and want to use it on the floor above the garage as it is my family room. ... A: Saima - I can't absolutely assure you that it won't be a problem without actually seeing the garage, ... | |
| Treadmill on floor above garage | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: I just bought a treadmill and want to use it on the floor above the garage as it is my family room. ... A: I assume you're worried about the machine being too heavy for the attic floor structure. That ... | |
| Corner Cantilever | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: I am having a hard time finding information on two sided cantilever (corner cantilever) design. This ... A: Alicia - uplift shouldn't be problem if the length of the cantilever is reasonable; the foundation ... | |
| Corner Cantilever | 11/18/2007 |
| Q: I am having a hard time finding information on two sided cantilever (corner cantilever) design. This ... A: Alicia - thanks for your question! Corners can easily be cantilevered - you are essentially ... | |
| acoustical isolation problem. | 11/12/2007 |
| Q: I am an enthousiastic guitar player wishing to build a room in my house with adequate ... A: Dagmar - thanks for your question! I can't point you towards the details you're looking for; but ... | |
| Tear-down & Architectual Salvage | 11/10/2007 |
| Q: Our property is for sale. It is in a very valuable estate neighborhood where the majority of houses ... A: Jessica - thanks for your question! Unfortunately, you won't do well financially in salvage. ... | |
| College for Architecture | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: Okay this may seem like a strange question to be put on here, but here it goes. I am a senior in ... A: "Environmental Design" is just a euphemism for Architecture in regards to your curriculum. But that ... | |
| Black Truss | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: What is a black truss as compared to a regular truss system? A: Richard - thanks for your question! "Black trusses" have nothing to do with the typical wood-framed ... | |
| converting wood burning fireplace to gas | 10/26/2007 |
| Q: our vacation home is at the beach, and we have a large, open, wood burning fireplace. While it looks ... A: What you're asking is easily done with a prefabricated metal fireplace insert, including a metal ... | |
| Exterior window decoration from the 1940,s | 10/26/2007 |
| Q: I am trying to determine what is the name of the exterior window panels that adorned the ... A: Cheri - thanks for your question! There's no formal name that I know of, but what you're talking ... | |
| Cantilevered Floors | 10/25/2007 |
| Q: Hey Mr. Taylor, My wife and I are considering designing a passive solar ranch with a completely ... A: Shawn - thanks for your question! Typically, the "parent span" should be at least 3 times the ... | |
| Draftsman costs | 10/23/2007 |
| Q: WE live in central California, and are remodeling our attached garage into family space and will be ... A: Here in Central Ohio, I'd consider that a very reasonable fee, assuming he knows what he's doing and ... | |
| New construction | 10/12/2007 |
| Q: Richard, I am interested in building a new home in a high altitude location in colorado (8-10,000 ... A: Rustin - thanks for your question! I've just returned from Colorado and had the opportunity to tour ... | |
| Drywall over mortar | 10/7/2007 |
| Q: I am replacing some failed ceramic tile in my bathroom. The tile pulls right off in many places--it ... A: The best thing would be to remove all the lath and mortar and start with the studs, but if not, you ... | |
| archway gate | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: I need to rebuild the gate between my house and the neighbor's. I live in San Diego and want to put ... A: The steel you might put in the concrete arch would be much more for helping keep cracking under ... | |
| Feasibility of Cantilevered addition | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: How difficult is it to add on to a second-story room without extending the foundation? How far out ... A: A general "rule of thumb" for cantilevers is that the parent span (the part of the structure that's ... | |
| dormers | 9/29/2007 |
| Q: I am adding a 30 foot wide by 26 foot deep garage onto my 44 x 28 foot colonial. The garage will ... A: On a garage that large, 3 dormers would be fine - as long as they don't get too big! Two dormers ... | |
| changing pitch of roof? | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: We own a 6 year old house in Georgia, but it looks much older because of the pitch of the roof - it ... A: It is possible to overlay a new, steeper roof over the existing, depending upon the the shape and ... | |
| cold roof | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: Does a "cold roof" require a 1:300 ratio of ventilation in order to be effective? A: Mike: Thanks for your question! A classic "cold" roof design doesn't require the same kind of ... | |
| Does you know were i can find a floor plan that has 2 staircases to the bedrooms? | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: Does you know were i can find a floor plan that has 2 staircases to the bedrooms? i would want 1 ... A: There are SO many house plan sites on the web, it's hard to know where to begin! But plans with 2 ... | |
| Roofs | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: I live in Thailand where the rain seems to come down at many angles. I am bulding a detached small ... A: Mike - thanks for your question. I would expect "local knowledge" to be your most reliable guide; ... | |
| Is it possible to move a house 4 ft to the side | 8/12/2007 |
| Q: We have a 1912 two story home with a generous side yard but is tight to the neighbors on the other. ... A: Lisa - thanks for your question! It's possible - tricky, but possible. The question is whether the ... | |
| home siding | 8/6/2007 |
| Q: We recently purchased a house we said we would never buy, multi-story, cedar sided. We are at the ... A: Just about any Architect, designer, or drafter with a computer and a digital camera can do this for ... | |
| Praire Ranch Remodel | 8/5/2007 |
| Q: What's a ball-park figure for what I should plan for on a Prairie Ranch Remodel? My husband and I ... A: Good morning Nicolle - thanks for your question! There are so many factors that come into play here ... | |
| Steel support posts | 8/3/2007 |
| Q: August 3rd, 2007 In the basement of my childhood house were steel posts supporting a steel I beam. ... A: Mr. Scott - thanks for your question! Those posts are still used, and are in almost every home we ... | |
| to raise or not to raise | 7/30/2007 |
| Q: Richard, Thanks for all of the great advice in the forum. I have a rather simply question for you. ... A: What you're proposing is pretty common, and sometimes makes the most economic sense. There are a ... | |
| hardwood flooring | 7/30/2007 |
| Q: I am about to have hardwood floors installed in my home. It now has 1/2" plywood on the bottom and ... A: Tommie - thanks for your question! The extra layer of subflooring is overkill; assuming your floor ... | |
| matching wood floors | 7/23/2007 |
| Q: I have a 110yr old row home in Baltimore Maryland. At one point there was wood throughout (maybe ... A: There's just one "rule" and it's simply that the new floors should be of the same character as the ... | |
| Fixing/Replacing Creaking Wood Floors | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: We have original wood floors throughout most of the house (except an addition). In many areas, the ... A: Creaky wood floors are caused by the floorboards rubbing against the nails holding them in. As the ... | |
| replacement windows. | 7/15/2007 |
| Q: We're having windows replaced in a house built in 1979 in Seattle. The house faces a fairly busy ... A: Louisa - thanks for your question! Unfortunately, STC and OITC ratings aren't widely used for ... | |
| basement renov | 7/12/2007 |
| Q: We have an old house with an old musty humid moldy cement basement. I'd like to have one of those ... A: Louis - yes, the drain tile is at the bottom of the wall - it's a big job to replace or install one ... | |
| Historic Homes | 7/11/2007 |
| Q: Richard, Do you have a definition of what constitutes a historic house? I keep running into ... A: A home is "historic" only if an organization believes it is and makes it publicly known. There's no ... | |
| basement renov | 7/7/2007 |
| Q: We have an old house with an old musty humid moldy cement basement. I'd like to have one of those ... A: You're right, applying a water barrier to the inside of the wall does little good, and can do a lot ... | |
| What is "Moment-Framing" | 7/3/2007 |
| Q: Richard- I am working on building a home and my architect called for "moment- framing" around some ... A: A "moment" is a physics term relating to rotational force; on a see-saw for example, there's more ... | |
| Sill plate sealer | 7/3/2007 |
| Q: We added a small glass room on the back of our house, but did not use sill plate sealer between the ... A: The sill sealer is only one component of the system that prevents water infiltration at this ... | |
| Removing Kitchen Wall | 6/8/2007 |
| Q: I was told that if your house has rafter styled joists then the walls are not load bearing. I'm ... A: Curtic - I'm guessing that you're talking about open-web floor trusses here; the "v" you're talking ... | |
| Removing Kitchen Wall | 6/8/2007 |
| Q: I was told that if your house has rafter styled joists then the walls are not load bearing. I'm ... A: Good Morning Curtis - thanks for your question! Let's get the symantic difficulties out of the way ... | |
| Another Raise the Roof Question | 6/5/2007 |
| Q: Saw your answer to Erica's question about "raising the roof" so her attic rooms would have more ... A: Bob - thanks for your question! It's not a difficult technique, any competent residential architect ... | |
| addition | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: Richard I own a 2000 SF 2-story pitched-roof adobe (in Santa Fe area) that is sited near a sloping ... A: Mary - that makes more sense. I suspected you meant a "cantilevered" building addition. Steel ... | |
| addition | 6/4/2007 |
| Q: Richard I own a 2000 SF 2-story pitched-roof adobe (in Santa Fe area) that is sited near a sloping ... A: I need a little more info - what exactly to you mean by "suspending" the room addition and why do ... | |
| deck on flat roof | 6/2/2007 |
| Q: we have a flat roof on our Illinois house that is replaced every 10 years or so. I would like to ... A: Lolla - thanks for your question! You've probably already hit on the easiest and least expensive ... | |
| Post and beam floor finishing | 6/1/2007 |
| Q: We are building a post and beam log home in western MA. The second level floor (which serves as the ... A: Madeline - thanks for your question! Coincidentally, I'm sitting at home reading my "Timberhome ... | |
| 1951 ranch--needs new roof | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: Our ranch with all-original interior needs a new roof. Any advice on roofing material? Currently ... A: Linda - thanks for your question! Sound like you should have a dark brown dimensional asphalt ... | |
| FiberCon decking | 5/25/2007 |
| Q: I have a FiberCon 16 by 44 foot deck surface that developed blochey stains all over it. I tried ... A: Sal - thanks for your question! You're probably experiencing mold growth. Mold grows in colonies, ... | |
| raising or changing pitch of roof | 5/13/2007 |
| Q: I have a Cape style cottage. The previous owners finished the attic into a master suite, but the ... A: Good morning Erica - thanks for your question! 6 1/2 feet doesn't sound like much of a master ... | |
| living area | 5/10/2007 |
| Q: we planning on building a new home and are looking for plans online. When the plan says total ... A: Mike - thanks for your question! Typically, the answer is no - but that can vary from one plan ... | |
| Porte-Cochere | 5/9/2007 |
| Q: Is there a recommended height for the ceiling of a Porte-Cochere? We are adding on a Porte-Cochere ... A: Good morning Mary - thanks for your question! There's no magic number on what the height of the ... | |
| Removel of chimney breast | 5/6/2007 |
| Q: I am thinking of buying a house and the only thing that is putting me off is there is a huge chimney ... A: Good morning Danny - thanks for your question! I assume you're talking about masonry construction, ... | |
| home remodeling | 4/30/2007 |
| Q: In our remodeling, after our contractor installed our beautiful gable window only for us to learn ... A: Delana - thanks for your question! Sounds like you have three options: 1) move the door - although ... | |
| half bathroom makeover | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: Our house was built in 1953. The 1/2 bath is tiled halfway up all walls. We wish to remove the ... A: The answer depends upon what's under the tile. If it's the original 1953 tile, there's likely ... | |
| heifunon | 4/10/2007 |
| Q: In the film "At First Sight" the word "heifunon" was mentioned as a supposed architectural term ... A: My guess is that they're talking about a "hyphen"...it's a small connecting piece between two larger ... | |
| Cape Cod architecture | 4/5/2007 |
| Q: I just inherited a classic cape cod style house built in 1930. Like many capes there is nothing over ... A: Dee - thanks for your question! You're experiencing a problem common to owners of older homes - how ... | |
| R-value | 4/1/2007 |
| Q: What is the R-value of below grade earth that is surrounding the foundation of a house that is ... A: The insulation you're talking about is usually about R-5 per inch. Some types of high-density ... | |
| patio doors | 3/30/2007 |
| Q: I am replacing 7 patio doors that surround my sunroom. I have had 2 window reps come out. One of ... A: All types of plastic or vinyl "outgas" some organic compounds after manufacturing. It's not a big ... | |
| Replacement Windows | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: I live in the Kansas City metro area and am looking to replace the existing wood windows on my 30 ... A: The trim width will have to be big enough to cover the gap you cut to make room for the flange. ... | |
| Replacement Windows | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: I live in the Kansas City metro area and am looking to replace the existing wood windows on my 30 ... A: I'm assuming the siding (sounds like board and batten) comes right up to the windows, with no trim ... | |
| Renovating beach cottage | 3/22/2007 |
| Q: We own a cinderblock cottage on a beautiful span of beach on one of the great lakes in Michigan. ... A: Wendy - thanks for your question! Location is everything. There's a limited amount of beautiful ... | |
| Pediments | 3/13/2007 |
| Q: I own a condo in a brick building from 1929. The wood ramshead pediment over the front door has ... A: Good morning Roger - thanks for your question! Rotting exterior wood is a common problem with older ... | |
| Replacement Windows | 2/27/2007 |
| Q: We live in NE Florida, in a cedar shake house, and are replacing our 1952 aluminum casement ... A: No surprises here! I hear the same arguments frequently. Let's start with your needs (I'm making ... | |
| Smooth Stucco | 2/24/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Taylor. I've been playing with the idea of building a house, but I'd like it to look old--like ... A: A modern stucco finish can easily be made as smooth as you like; it's really just a matter of how ... | |
| Ideas for Frank Lloyd Wright theme bathroom and garage | 2/22/2007 |
| Q: I just visited your website and found your designs beautiful. My husband and I live in Wisconsin in ... A: and for the compliments! As you know FLW did a great deal of work in the upper midwest so it's not ... | |
| open shower | 2/3/2007 |
| Q: As i dream about building a new home, I have drawn out a shower i saw in a magazine- approximately ... A: We do a lot of showers without doors - sometimes called "lockerroom" type showers. The trick is to ... | |
| basement or 2nd level | 1/30/2007 |
| Q: I will start out with my question right off the bat so that you can easily follow our ... A: It seems to me that if you don't have any need for the second level, then it isn't of any value - ... | |
| Hardwood floors | 1/12/2007 |
| Q: We had our hardwood floors done 3 years ago (buy a local guy) and in the last month our floors have ... A: Alisa - thanks for your question! What do you mean by "done"? Is the floor new, or was it just ... | |
| Selling a House to be moved | 1/11/2007 |
| Q: My parents have recently decided to rebuild on the same place that our current house is. Instead of ... A: I've never heard of donating an entire house intact, but you might start with Habitat For Humanity ... | |
| Drilling | 1/9/2007 |
| Q: I am a electrical apprentice and had a question about drilling glue limbs and or load bearing ... A: Ian - thanks for your question! I assume you mean gluelams (glued/laminated beams). Those are ... | |
| architectural | 1/4/2007 |
| Q: What is the general size of an architectural floorplan? Are the conversions usually 1/4 = 1" ?? A: Toni - thanks for your question! Do you mean what is the general "scale" of a floor plan? In the ... | |
| Takeout Restaurant | 1/3/2007 |
| Q: I am writing a business plan to obtain a business loan from the Small Business Administration. I ... A: Good Morning Arthur - thanks for your question! Drawings for commercial projects are required to ... | |
| building homes in a hot & humid climate | 12/10/2006 |
| Q: MR. TAYLOR I read the answers to the various queries sent to you. The way you have clarified the ... A: Shilpa - thanks for your question! I assume you're asking about maintaining indoor air comfort in ... | |
| Basements | 12/7/2006 |
| Q: Why are there no basements in parts of the country, like Texas? Is it because the soil won't support ... A: Jennifer - thanks for the question! You've already answered part of it - basements in cold climates ... | |
| Glass | 12/6/2006 |
| Q: I'm in Georgia. I have a screened-in back porch I want to convert to a glassed-in porch. The walls ... A: Fred - thanks for your question! Hope the weather's a bit warmer there than it is here today. ... | |
| Front door for a Brick Cape | 12/3/2006 |
| Q: I'd like to replace my front door but am not happy with the "standards" offered at the box stores. ... A: Marci - thanks for your question! I know the frustration you're feeling! Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. ... | |
| Cracks on Celing | 11/30/2006 |
| Q: We have just viewed a property in Clayhall, it is a 1930's terrace house. there is a crack in the ... A: Ravinder - thanks for your question! Cracked plaster is very common, especially in locations around ... | |
| how to raise low ceilings | 11/29/2006 |
| Q: I have 8 feet ceilings on all three levels of my home. Is there a reasonable way to raise the ... A: Jane - thanks for your questions! No, there's no "reasonable" way to raise ceilings throughout the ... | |
| Bathroom vent | 11/27/2006 |
| Q: I have a first floor bathroom in a cape house which seems to get alof of cold air from the light/fan ... A: That damper should work fine. It should be installed at the outside wall, where it will keep the ... | |
| junior paper | 11/24/2006 |
| Q: i dont know if you can answer this or not and i hope u dont feel as if this is a waste of time but, ... A: Spencer - thanks for your question! If you want to become an Architect, you don't have a choice! ... | |
| moving a house | 11/19/2006 |
| Q: I am a Realtor. I have a company who is in the process of purchasing one of my listing just for the ... A: Good Morning Ruby - thanks for your question! A very, very rounded figure for moving an ... | |
| bathroom design | 11/10/2006 |
| Q: When one looks into a bathroom from the doorway, what is the proper placement of the sink, toilet ... A: Okhee - thanks for your question! Although there's no "proper" placement of the fixtures, it's ... | |
| Roof deck | 11/7/2006 |
| Q: I read your answer to Ed Brady on 8-11-04 about adding a roof deck (very informative, thanks) . I am ... A: Sal - thanks for your question(s)! The answer to all of them is...yes! You should lap the membrane ... | |
| Tall ceilings | 11/4/2006 |
| Q: My turn of the century Colonial Revival is pretty simple except when it comes to restoring. I'm ... A: Domingo - thanks for your question! Sure it's possible - and there are several ways to go about it. ... | |
| DEFINITION | 11/2/2006 |
| Q: What is the difference between a cellar and a basement? A: DJ - thanks for your questions! The differences are slight - at one time, a cellar was an area ... | |
| Hot/Cold Roof | 10/27/2006 |
| Q: Mr. Taylor, I read with some interest one of your past tussles, presumably with another architect, ... A: Paul - thanks for your question! I do appreciate your thorough research, and have great respect for ... | |
| Front Stoop Design | 10/24/2006 |
| Q: My house is an L-shaped ranch. The front door is placed in the corner (i.e. the intersection of the ... A: I like the idea of the curved stoop - the fact that it's wider than the door is a good thing, in my ... | |
| Tieing addition to existing structure | 10/22/2006 |
| Q: I have a 1500 sf 1927 Spanish style home on Orlando, FL, and am contemplating an 800 sf addition to ... A: Jon - thanks for your question! There are a couple of ways to approach addition projects. One is ... | |
| Window Replacement | 10/18/2006 |
| Q: We reside in a medium-size condominium association of approx. 75 units (architecturally renovated ... A: John - thanks for your question! I'm assuming you're talking about windows with aluminum frames, ... | |
| addition roof pitch | 10/15/2006 |
| Q: I am constructing a 20X24 addition to a 20X30 existing structure. The has a 5/12 roof pitch. ... A: RJ - thanks for your question! If the ridge on the addition is running perpendicular to the ... | |
| Kitchen wall removal | 10/14/2006 |
| Q: I own a house in MD, DC metro area, and I am looking into knocking down a wall that is inbetween the ... A: Before you get started, you should carefully consider how the new space will be configured. If the ... | |
| cinderblock home | 10/10/2006 |
| Q: Seattle, WA we are looking at a cinderblock home (1948)to purchase (home appears to be in good ... A: I assume we're talking about a home with block walls, concrete floors, and a wood roof structure, ... | |
| basement addition | 10/9/2006 |
| Q: My husband and I live in Southrn California. We have a smaller (1300 sq. ft.) house that was built ... A: Rachel - thanks for your question! I've been asked that many times and my answer always is - if you ... | |
| leveling or not leveling the house | 10/6/2006 |
| Q: my house is currently not level. The foundation in place was build around 6 years ago, and it was ... A: Out of level (or out of "plumb") can be a serious issue, even if the house isn't currently settling. ... | |
| adding a 2 story addition to a classic ranch | 10/2/2006 |
| Q: My wife and I are contemplating purchasing an 1800sq.ft., 1950s ranch(flexed wing, obtuse angle with ... A: Bob - thanks for your question! Heresy? That's a little strong! To add to a ranch badly, yes, ... | |
| Skylights | 6/3/2006 |
| Q: Should the skylight on the roof face West or South-- I have a choice. Is one dirrection better for ... A: Richard - that's information that you can only get from the manufacturer. They should be able to ... | |
| Foundational durability? | 6/2/2006 |
| Q: In my home, beneath a layer carpet, is a hard, smooth greyish surface, presumably concrete. I would ... A: Willem - thanks for your question! If it's concrete, and the concrete is in good condition (no ... | |
| wood cladding | 6/1/2006 |
| Q: I would like to have cladding applied to the exterior of the existing wood frames of my windows and ... A: Jay - thanks for your question. Windows are usually "clad" in vinyl or aluminum; your subject line ... | |
| Skylights | 5/31/2006 |
| Q: I want to install a skylight in my living room; the room is about 12' x 15' with an 8'x4' window on ... A: Richard - thanks for your question! In a room that size, any skylight will add a significant amount ... | |
| applying mud/joint compound over primed drywall | 5/29/2006 |
| Q: I have to replaster a room that a drywall worker did for me. He primed the room after he plastered. ... A: Good Morning Carl - thanks for your questions! All your questions are about drywall except one ... | |
| Problems in Antique Farmhouse | 5/23/2006 |
| Q: I am in the market to buy a home and fell in love with an antique farmhouse (built between 1900 - ... A: FYI, a "joist" is a horizontal member and a "post" is a vertical member - what you've got is a wood ... | |
| Extension on difficult lot | 5/23/2006 |
| Q: We are interested in a lot with a small house on it. We would like to build an extension to this ... A: Susan: Thanks for your question! Four feet doesn't sound like it should cause you any significant ... | |
| remodeling | 5/22/2006 |
| Q: I need help in structural design remodel my house. I ve small house (27 x33 ) a ramber style, I want ... A: Sam - thanks for your question. I'll be happy to look at your sketch. I can't do structural design ... | |
| roof extension | 4/21/2006 |
| Q: I'm building a 45'deck along the back of my house and want to add a roof extension to cover it. ... A: The big "shed" roof you're talking about is going to cause you all sorts of problems (just what you ... | |
| Windows for patio room | 4/18/2006 |
| Q: We recently moved to western Pennsylvania and bought a brick colonial which is ca. 37 years old. ... A: Sally - thanks for your question! Sorry for the delay, but I've just received it. I guess the ... | |
| Patio Cover | 4/11/2006 |
| Q: We have a U shape patio area we would like to cover by attaching to the eaves. We'd like the top to ... A: Sonya - thanks for your question! I had to laugh at "hardly any tornadoes"! Not something you'd put ... | |
| Wood Deck To treat or not to treat | 4/4/2006 |
| Q: We live in south central Pennsylvania. We have a lovely deck. It's made of treated wood (but NOT the ... A: The green growth will definitely shorten the life of the deck - it's a fungus that feeds on moisture ... | |
| 2 story vs ranch value, (not necc cost) | 4/3/2006 |
| Q: We live in the midwest and have 5 young children (15 - 2 years old). Because of the occasional ... A: I'd put as few bedrooms in the basement as possible. They're not counted as much toward value or ... | |
| Creeky houses | 3/21/2006 |
| Q: Hey my name is carole sorrells, my class is compiling a unanswerable questions encyclopedia, my ... A: This isn't "unanswerable" at all! Houses are dynamic; they're made of many, many pieces of wood, ... | |
| room wall removal | 3/21/2006 |
| Q: The house I own is in Lakewood ohio. It was built in 1890. The house has been completely gutted ... A: If your goal is to maximize resale, you should go with the advice of your real estate agent. I'm ... | |
| Finishing a basement | 3/13/2006 |
| Q: I live in CT and want to finish my basement. I have a series of questions. 1) some people recommend ... A: Mark - thanks for your question! Many crews prefer metal studs because they're faster to install ... | |
| Crawl Space Waterproofing | 2/22/2006 |
| Q: I have a diffcult problem with a wet crawl space and I could use some advice. The home is a 24x28 ... A: Scott - thanks for your question! You're right, you've got a real problem. In fact, you have ... | |
| Vinyl versus wood/wood clad New Construction | 2/21/2006 |
| Q: Yes, how much different is vinyl versus wood&wood clad? Background: Colorado location for the ... A: Doug - you could do site-built stopped-in glazing, but you won't get the benefits of the ... | |
| Vinyl versus wood/wood clad New Construction | 2/20/2006 |
| Q: Yes, how much different is vinyl versus wood&wood clad? Background: Colorado location for the ... A: Doug - thanks for your question! There are big differences between vinyl windows and wood windows - ... | |
| Adding stone exterior to existing home | 2/16/2006 |
| Q: We live in NE Mississippi in a house we built on a tiny budget 14 years ago. At the time we used ... A: Ms. Shelton - thanks for your question! Generally, stone is more expensive to install than brick. ... | |
| screen room enclosure | 2/10/2006 |
| Q: i want to replace the bottom part of my pool enclosure with aluminum panels(?). there is an existing ... A: Larry - thanks for your question! Aluminum comes in both rolls and sheets, but you don't want ... | |
| installing elevator in 90 year old house | 2/8/2006 |
| Q: I live in Clevleand Heights and need to install elevator in the 90 year old house. I'm looking for ... A: Arun: Thanks for your question! I'd recommend you start looking for referrals by contacting ... | |
| To renovate or not | 1/26/2006 |
| Q: My elderly parents are needing to make a residence change due to my dad's recent stroke. When he ... A: The only reliable estimating tool for such a project would be to get contractor's bids; the inherent ... | |
| Exterior trim paint color | 1/20/2006 |
| Q: We have a 1960's Ranch-style home in rural Oklahoma. The house is YELLOW BRICK. I know what you're ... A: A yellow house...hmm...one thing's for sure - don't use any trim color that's anywhere near brown ... | |
| load bearing beam | 12/28/2005 |
| Q: I would like to add a room to my existing home. The space would be above the garage. I have span of ... A: Tom - thanks for your question! I can't do structural engineering in this forum but I can give you ... | |
| house square footage | 12/22/2005 |
| Q: When houses are listed for sale either new or resale, they list a square footage for the size. Is ... A: Gerald - thanks for your question! You've hit on an issue that's been a thorn in the sides of ... | |
| solar energy | 12/18/2005 |
| Q: We are planning to build a home in Northern Thailand in next few years. Are there some solar energy ... A: Bob - thanks for your question! It depends on what you want to do with the energy - if you're ... | |
| Bathroom wall | 12/8/2005 |
| Q: I hope you can help. Our house was built in the 70s. When you enter the main bathroom (2nd floor) ... A: Carolyn: Thanks for your question! Without photographs and a measured plan of the bath I can't ... | |
| building materials | 12/4/2005 |
| Q: What are the best building materials to use to floodproof your home? A: D. Muyshondt: Thanks for your question! The answer is: high ground! Seriously, to my knowledge, ... | |
| Fireplace Insert | 11/20/2005 |
| Q: I've recently been given an older insert for my fireplace. After manhandling the thing home, I find ... A: I assume you've talked to several sweeps and have the same number from each. The flue liner is for ... | |
| Adding a room to a house for a spa | 11/19/2005 |
| Q: I may be getting a fair amount of money in a few months and I thought it would be a great birthday ... A: Your project sounds pretty straight forward - with the right people helping you, it should go ... | |
| Street Appeal | 11/19/2005 |
| Q: Please refer to the following link where I have been doing some fooling around in Photoshop ... A: Your house is a classic Colonial Revival "Four-Square" - there are hundreds of thousands of similar ... | |
| bathtubs | 11/13/2005 |
| Q: I'm living in Mexico & am having a concrete bathtub made. Can you tell me what the standard INSIDE ... A: Hope it's sunny and warm where you are! There aren't any "standard" dimensions for a 60x30 tub ... | |
| Floor tile selection | 11/6/2005 |
| Q: Taylor: We are planning to replace our home's wall to wall carpeting with tile. Is porcelain ... A: Everything that ceramic tile is, porcelain tile is "more" - more durability, more water resistance, ... | |
| Noise pollution | 10/28/2005 |
| Q: I have a big problem of noise pollution. Our house is right next to a gym/concert hall. Four days ... A: I'm sorry for the problem you're having - if I were you I'd keep working with the concert hall and ... | |
| Exterior paint color | 10/13/2005 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could help me with choosing an exterior color for our new home being built. ... A: So some houses in your area are brightly colored, while others are neutral? That sounds like a ... | |
| architecture | 9/29/2005 |
| Q: Did Frank Lloyd wright designed de stijl architecture and prairie style architecture? A: No, de stijl was a Dutch precursor of the Bauhaus school and although it's practictioners were ... | |
| How to make our House appears TALLER | 8/29/2005 |
| Q: How can I make my house appear taller? We just bought a single level house built on a slab ... A: Bob and Deb: Thanks for your question! Can you send a photo? Send it to rich@rtastudio.com. I'm ... | |
| garage | 8/26/2005 |
| Q: We have neighbors in Wyoming who are in the process of making plans to build a home. A question has ... A: What's going on isn't that the garage is lower, it's that the house is higher. Building codes ... | |
| style of house? | 8/24/2005 |
| Q: I wanted to thank you in advance for participating in allexperts.com. Allexperts has really been a ... A: I greatly appreciate the information and the photo - it helps a lot. The house is undoubtably an ... | |
| Home Building | 8/22/2005 |
| Q: I'm building a 4,200 sqft (plus basement) home in Boulder, Colorado. I am removing an existing home ... A: Andrew: Thanks for your question! From what I've heard, U Build It can be a successful and ... | |
| New home insulation | 8/21/2005 |
| Q: We are considering building a home in the hot humid Fort Worth, TX area. We will be building a 2 ... A: Scott: Thanks for your question! You have to look at the entire system when you consider how to ... | |
| design | 8/17/2005 |
| Q: Thank you also for pointing out that most design aside from preliminary sketch work is done on ... A: There are a number of affordable "home design" programs out there. You'll find them on the shelves ... | |
| Drafting Set | 8/17/2005 |
| Q: I'm interested in acquiring a quality set of drafting tools. Living in a rural area this isn't ... A: Since you've called yourself "future designer" I feel compelled to point out that almost all ... | |
| windows for a new home | 8/11/2005 |
| Q: I am building a new home and I am overwhelmed with the choices of windows. I would like a short ... A: Most "brand name" windows are well-made (I've listed some names at the bottom) but there are other ... | |
| finish on original flooring | 8/10/2005 |
| Q: My husband and I recently bought a house that we believe to be built in 1867. We believe it to be a ... A: It's entirely possible that the upstairs floors were originally painted. Wood floors in 1867 ... | |
| Floor coating | 8/5/2005 |
| Q: I'm planning to renovate part of my house. I plan to pull down a few walls to create a large open ... A: Aviva: Thanks for your question! You've got a lot of materials to choose from for this situation, ... | |
| Recessed Lights | 7/31/2005 |
| Q: I am in the process of building a home in Nashville, TN. My builder wants to charge me $95 per can ... A: Jamie: Thanks for your question! Find out whether the $95 price includes the trim rings, and what ... | |
| Education | 7/29/2005 |
| Q: I'm currently in the summer of my junior year in college. To this point I've studied mostly history ... A: The answer depends entirely upon which school you choose. Generally, it's difficult to get into a ... | |
| Replacing our old small deck | 7/17/2005 |
| Q: Five different contractors have told me 5 different things. Construction of our deck was halted ... A: Permits are required for decks almost everywhere - you should hold your contractor 100% accountable ... | |
| drawing a deck plan | 7/16/2005 |
| Q: Taylor, I know how I want to build a particular deck. I would like to buy software that I ... A: We don't normally deal with consumer software, but after a bit of research I'd recommend looking at ... | |
| Basement waterproofing | 7/15/2005 |
| Q: I am in the process of building a new home that will have an underground basement. I have a great ... A: Good Morning Randy - thanks for your question! Let's get the Xypex off of the table right at the ... | |
| ~*Storybook Cottage*~ | 6/27/2005 |
| Q: I dont know if your the right guy I should be asking, but you might can help me. I was looking at ... A: The Spadena house is one of the most famous and frequently visited tourist sites in Beverly Hills. ... | |
| sagging leaded glass window | 6/5/2005 |
| Q: Home built approximately 1885.Front window is quite large with 1/2 moon leaded glass transom.Leaded ... A: Greg: Thanks for your question! The best solution would be to remove the window and have it ... | |
| spiral stairs | 6/3/2005 |
| Q: Do spiral stairs have a constant slope? A: Yes, true spiral stairs have fixed, equal tread lengths and riser heights - which is the same as ... | |
| house remodeling | 6/1/2005 |
| Q: Yes the house trailers or manufactured trailers will have a common roof over the top and sided all ... A: Leane: That's a structural engineering question and outside of the scope of what I'm allowed to do ... | |
| house remodeling | 6/1/2005 |
| Q: We want to put two house trailers together and make them one. I want to know how to take the wall ... A: The building codes call house trailers "manufactured homes" and have strict guidelines regarding ... | |
| home insulation | 5/30/2005 |
| Q: I am asking this question in order to help my daughter with a science project. She will be building ... A: The insulating value of building material is measured in "R-value", which is the resistance to the ... | |
| Ways to attractively conceal waste receptacle | 5/25/2005 |
| Q: While the problem presented may be a small one, I am hoping your insight may help prevent WWIII. ... A: You're right, 8 x 12 is a large and potentially unsightly structure to have to look at in your ... | |
| flooring | 5/24/2005 |
| Q: I am going to install a slate floor over wood - plywood good one side and would like to know is ... A: Richard - thanks for your question! Yes, thinset is appropriate, as long as you have the proper ... | |
| Big Plans | 5/24/2005 |
| Q: I am looking into starting a big project. My father passed a few weeks ago and we have the ... A: Homebuilding is a complex task, even for experienced builders. In addition to the specialized ... | |
| Patio covers | 5/23/2005 |
| Q: I am planning to have a patio cover built and I am wondering if someone of your expertise has an ... A: Sounds like my kind of climate - especially the "no-snow" part! The climate is the key - but the ... | |
| walls - brick or rendered, cost? | 5/21/2005 |
| Q: pretty basic question this. which is more expensive, an outside rendered or brick wall? Thank you. A: Karen: Thanks for your question! You almost had me there with "rendered" - in the US, we call it ... | |
| GPS survey map | 5/13/2005 |
| Q: I can't seem to find a category on allexperts that is more direct, so perhaps if you can't answer my ... A: Robert - thanks for your question! The ONLY data you can use to legally enforce boundaries must be ... | |
| Cornerstones and Capstones | 5/11/2005 |
| Q: What is the historical significance of a cornerstone and a capstone? What were they used for? How ... A: Cornerstones were (and still are!) part of a ceremony to officially begin the construction on a ... | |
| Home Renovation / Addition | 5/4/2005 |
| Q: Richard, Thanks for your time in answering my question. I have an 1800 sqft home, 3 bedrooms 2 ... A: Good Afternoon Bryce: There's no easy answer to your question - some houses are much easier to ... | |
| Rehab vs New Construction | 4/29/2005 |
| Q: I am looking to own property in the center city area of philadelphia. The houses here are typically ... A: There's no easy answer to this one - you've got to start by sitting down and making of list of your ... | |
| "Correct" colors for a Prairie Style home? | 4/19/2005 |
| Q: We have a 22 year old Prairie style home in northern Oklahoma. The house is partially set into a ... A: Good Morning, Dave (wasn't that a line from 2001: A Space Odessey?) Thanks for your question! ... | |
| waterproofing a new foundation | 4/11/2005 |
| Q: We are building a house in an area with a lot of groundwater, (though no flooding), and want to know ... A: Michael: Waterproofing the foundation is NOT the place to skimp on quality or cost - you can't ... | |
| Interior design; need specific design term | 4/8/2005 |
| Q: I read an article about using the design concept of "a room-within-a-room" and I can't for the life ... A: I think you're talking about an "inglenook". It's a small alcove off a larger room, often with a ... | |
| Heating/Air Conditioning Requirements | 4/6/2005 |
| Q: Is there a standard/rule for determining the size of an a/c unit per square footage? I have a 1,950 ... A: Nope, there's no rule of thumb! Actually, square footage doesn't have that much to do with the ... | |
| Installing trim problem | 3/30/2005 |
| Q: We have been serving as general contractor of a home we have been building over the past 3 years. ... A: Rachel - thanks for your question - I would like to have responded earlier but I've been out of ... | |
| home addition | 3/30/2005 |
| Q: I am adding on to my house. The addition will include a breezeway approximately 10'x16' that ... A: Jay - thanks for your question! I would have gotten back to you earlier but I've been out of town. ... | |
| Exterior . | 3/22/2005 |
| Q: Need the name of the metal sloped flashing, Sometimes it's painted, or a copper or bronze finish. ... A: Joshua - thanks for your question! I'll assume you're talking about metal roofing, not flashing. ... | |
| concrete block vs frame | 3/21/2005 |
| Q: I am thinking of building a 2 story home and would like to know the cost difference / pros and cons ... A: John: Thanks for your question! The material choices for the exterior walls of a house depend upon ... | |
| Historic question - Commerative house plaque | 3/16/2005 |
| Q: I am about to complete the purchase of a house with a Queen victoria 1897 commerative plaque in the ... A: It sounds like you have a piece of Royal Memorabilia from Queen Victoria's 1897 Diamond Jubilee. If ... | |
| home questions | 3/13/2005 |
| Q: I am thinking about having a house built. I received a list of options that can be put into the ... A: Tyvek is an "infiltration barrier" that goes on the outside of the wood framing - it helps keep ... | |
| modular home | 3/10/2005 |
| Q: I am looking at buying a modular home that was built in 2001. It is one story and has a full walk ... A: Scott - thanks for your question! If you have a flat ceiling in the area of the crack, it's most ... | |
| Basement Addition | 3/8/2005 |
| Q: We are contemplating adding a sizeable addition (~35' x 16') to the back of our house. The current ... A: Good morning, Carl - thanks for your question! There's more than one way to look at the "cost" of a ... | |
| very old blueprint of ornate house in michigan | 3/6/2005 |
| Q: Is there any value to a mid to late 1800 blue print of a house? The blueprint is in great condition ... A: The value of the print depends upon a number of things. First, there's no value in it for ... | |
| building cohousing home/worried too small rooms | 2/24/2005 |
| Q: I am moving into what is a kind of planned community called cohousing. In this type of development, ... A: Shelly - thanks for your question - and my apologies for not answering sooner! I've just now ... | |
| Roof extension over main entrance door | 2/16/2005 |
| Q: One of the main entrance doors on my house has no roof over the door. The door is located on the ... A: I don't know if there's a technical name for what you have in mind - could be a portico, a gabled ... | |
| Residential Blueprints | 2/9/2005 |
| Q: Is there a location to buy stock blueprints on cd or other methods for residential construction ... A: Ryan: Thanks for your question! You're probably not going to find "full" CDs anywhere for less ... | |
| Angled ceilings | 2/7/2005 |
| Q: Our bedroom is at the top floor of the house and has an angled ceiling due to the roof. Is there any ... A: As long as you can find a place where there's enough height for clothes to hang, you can build a ... | |
| Windows | 2/2/2005 |
| Q: Richard, My Wife and I just bought our first house. It's a 104 year old semi-detached brick home ... A: There are a couple of ways to approach this - one is an authentic historical restoration, in which ... | |
| Retired Building | 1/31/2005 |
| Q: I need some basic information about a retired structure or a structure that is no longer being used ... A: Alex - thanks for your question! I'm not sure what you're asking for here or where this building ... | |
| Space & water heating options for a live-in workshop | 1/29/2005 |
| Q: I plan to build a 2400 sq. ft. live-in workshop in northwest Colorado and need help with the space ... A: I'll start by telling you I can't recommend a system without a great deal more information about the ... | |
| porteco or portecoche | 1/28/2005 |
| Q: I am looking for pictures and information on a porteco or portecoche. They are attached ... A: You're talking about a Porte-Cochere, which literally means "carriage door" but refers to a porch ... | |
| remodeling | 1/25/2005 |
| Q: what does changing the roof pitch on an already existing structure involve--time, expense, etc.? A: It depends upon whether you're raising or lowering the pitch. If you're lowering it, you have to ... | |
| Universal Design | 1/18/2005 |
| Q: Do you know of a place that is universally designed that is out of the ordinary. For example there ... A: Rachel: There are several excellent information sources about UD on the web. North Carolina State ... | |
| Support Beam | 1/11/2005 |
| Q: Richard, I have a steel I beam (in the basement) running the length of my house. It has 3 suppot ... A: Edward: Thanks for your question, but I can't do structural analysis in this forum - too many ... | |
| standard stair tread and riser geometries | 1/10/2005 |
| Q: Rich, I'm considering renovating the stairway to my basement/family room. The house is a 1950's ... A: Jon: Thanks for your question! Yes, that's a very steep stair, and illegal everywhere. Tread and ... | |
| Hand-cut beams 150 years old. | 1/8/2005 |
| Q: I have the framing for a two story house, over one hundred and fifty years old. Handhuw'd post ... A: Ms. Spence: Thanks for your question! You should contact the Timber Framer's Guild at ... | |
| where to start on a home addition | 1/6/2005 |
| Q: We desperately need more living space, and want to add on to our two-bedroom, one-bath ranch style ... A: You're facing a common dilemma but you can get great results if you do a little homework. Start ... | |
| Screenhouse/pool enclosure | 1/5/2005 |
| Q: nice name. I am a volunteer in Insurance Law. In a couple of months I will be the sole owner of a ... A: Richard: Thanks for your question! The screened pool enclosures you're talking about are ... | |
| Post and Beam plank deck floors/ceilings | 1/5/2005 |
| Q: we bought our house near asheville NC and it is approx 20 yrs old Post and Beam construction with ... A: Good Morning, Barry - thanks for your question! In your climate, heat loss through an overhang ... | |
| Selecting Entry Lighting | 12/27/2004 |
| Q: I need to replace the two entry light fixtures flanking my front door (also a storm door over it). ... A: Meredith: Sure, that's ok, there aren't any hard and fast rules. You're going for larger fixtures ... | |
| Selecting Entry Lighting | 12/27/2004 |
| Q: I need to replace the two entry light fixtures flanking my front door (also a storm door over it). ... A: Meredith: Thanks for your question! Bright brass can weather rapidly, depending upon what part of ... | |
| Footer/foundation design | 12/10/2004 |
| Q: I'm searching for a book that discusses footer/foundation design for a cabin with a walk-out ... A: Dave: Thanks for your question! Foundation design is soil and climate-dependant, so specific ... | |
| exterior painting | 12/6/2004 |
| Q: how would you brighten up this exterior without much money? i am thinking of painting the doors and ... A: Paul: Thanks for the photos. You don't need to paint the brick - in fact, that would just add to ... | |
| home construction | 11/28/2004 |
| Q: Richard, I'm thinking about moving to southern Arizona, desert country. I want an energy efficeint ... A: Lee: Thanks for your question! I don't know where you're moving from, but I know you'll like ... | |
| SIP panels | 11/13/2004 |
| Q: We are about to start design of a passive solar house, using these panels. Prior to installation, ... A: Ramona: Thanks for your question! The cavities in the foam panel for wiring are very small and ... | |
| Cold & Warm Roofs | 11/12/2004 |
| Q: I read your definition of a warm and cold roof that you gave on 11/1/03 "A warm roof is the standard ... A: Jeff: Thanks for your question, but I gotta disagree with you. Rob Thallon's book describes ... | |
| home addition | 11/5/2004 |
| Q: Unfortunately, it created more questions. You mention a drain tile at bottom of frost wall. What ... A: Phil: Yup, the black plastic stuff is the drain tile. It's placed at the bottom of the wall where ... | |
| home addition | 11/4/2004 |
| Q: Making a 16x16 room addition off the back of my house. We will be removing a 10x15 deck that ... A: Phil: Thanks for your question! If I understand correctly, you and your contractor are concerned ... | |
| new home | 10/19/2004 |
| Q: I'm thnking about building a new home around 3000 sq. ft. give or take. What is the latest trend in ... A: Bob: Thanks for your questions. The latest trend depends on where you are and what your budget is! ... | |
| design and build a home--getting started | 10/1/2004 |
| Q: I have a 30+ acre piece of property I want to build on. The piece is in NW Oregon. The county says ... A: David: Thanks for your question! The first step is to think through your goals. Not just what you ... | |
| PC software | 9/30/2004 |
| Q: Is there any pc software I could use to draw an appartment. I mean like a blueprint (walls,doors, ... A: Panagis: Thanks for your question! Whether you want it or not, if you buy software for 2D use, ... | |
| Victorian cottages | 8/17/2004 |
| Q: I recently visited Wellesley Island State Park in the Thousand Islands and was amazed by all the ... A: Kristy: Thanks for your question! Victorian architecture in general began as a revolt against ... | |
| Roof deck | 8/11/2004 |
| Q: Richard, I am working on designing an addition to my house. I have an 85-year-old colonial in the ... A: Mr. Brady: Thanks for your question! You've got better options than concrete in this case. I'd ... | |
| Pergola | 8/9/2004 |
| Q: What is the best way to attach a Pergola to a house? A: James: Thanks for your question! With a little more information about what you're building and ... | |
| construction type for certain sites | 8/5/2004 |
| Q: Taylor, I am planning to build a new home in Southern California.Because of forest fire and ... A: Pamela: Thanks for your question! I'm sorry to be so long answering, but I've had some problems ... | |
| Obtaining Bricks | 7/23/2004 |
| Q: My house is 17 years old, and I live in Richmond Hill, GA (Savannah area). I'm in the process of ... A: Paul: Thanks for your question! I have a couple of suggestions for you. You obviously know the ... | |
| schooling | 7/10/2004 |
| Q: my son is interested in pursuing some kind of career in architecture or engineering. i want him to ... A: Mike: Thanks for your question! Top of the list would probably be Rice in Houston, although there ... | |
| load bearing wall | 7/8/2004 |
| Q: How can you tell a load bearing wall from a no load bearing wall without the use of blueprints? A: James: Thanks for your question! Generally, structural loads in homes are distributed from the ... | |
| Deck Material | 7/6/2004 |
| Q: I am planning on having a deck built. I live on Long Island. I am undecided about composite (not ... A: Judy: AYC is considered the hardest known Cedar in the world; it's quite unlike the softer Southern ... | |
| Cracks on walls and ceilings in house | 7/4/2004 |
| Q: My house is newly built about 6 years ago. Now I have noticed cracks on quite many areas around the ... A: Jack: Thanks for your question! Did I read correctly that your house is solid brick, not brick ... | |
| Water Damage | 7/4/2004 |
| Q: My mother has a barn that is 20'long 10'wide and 15'high. The barn is located in Texas. The floor ... A: Phil: Thanks for your question! Your first job is to determine the cause of the rotting 2x4s. ... | |
| load bearing | 6/29/2004 |
| Q: How can one tell whether a structure(i.e. a pillar) is load bearing or merely cosmetic? A: Loki: Thanks for your question! Generally, structural loads in homes are distributed from the roof ... | |
| lake view lot, difficulty finding a house plan with the living space on front. | 6/26/2004 |
| Q: We've spent $600 trying to get a plan we feel comfortable with. Putting stairs in a 1800 sq ft ... A: Rue: Thanks for your question! I was following along with your comments until you said you are ... | |
| 100 yr old home | 6/2/2004 |
| Q: My husband and I looked at a 100 yr. old home yesterday. It is obviously plaster. It is a 10 bedroom ... A: Cheryl: Thanks for your question! Before you do anything about the plaster, you've got to find the ... | |
| Old World Design | 5/31/2004 |
| Q: I am having trouble pinpointing exactly what Old World design is. It seems to be a blend of Italian ... A: Todd: Thanks for your question! "Old World" is a VERY broad definition of architectural style - ... | |
| prairie style architecture | 5/14/2004 |
| Q: I currently have a flat roofed contemporary house. I want to change the exterior to prairie style. ... A: Ron: Thanks for your question! You've asked something quite complex; the pitch of the roof and ... | |
| Moment framing | 5/12/2004 |
| Q: I am in the process of finishing drawings for a 2-story lakefront home that has about 80% glass on ... A: Tom: Thanks for your question! Wish I could help you here, but you really need someone to look at ... | |
| waterproofing | 5/9/2004 |
| Q: I think I sent you a different question last week. I have two new topics to ask about today. I am ... A: Jeff: Thanks for your questions! Here's some info on cleaning aluminum windows: Cleaning Aluminum ... | |
| Architecture | 5/4/2004 |
| Q: what education, preparation or backround is needed? what school subjects are most helpful A: Jerell: Thanks for your question! Can you give me a little more information? I assume you're ... | |
| Carport | 5/4/2004 |
| Q: Can I build a carport on my property line (or less than the setback requirement of 3-5 feet) if it ... A: Alix: I noticed that you may not have been completely satisfied with my answer earlier today. ... | |
| storage shed | 5/3/2004 |
| Q: I want to build a storage shed and would like to know how thick the plywood walls should be, and ... A: Jerry: Thanks for your question! The thickness of the sheathing depends upon the spacing between ... | |
| New Roof | 4/30/2004 |
| Q: Our roof is more than 25 years old and trying to get quotes from roofing contractors. Our roof ... A: Prakash: Thanks for your question! It's impossible to remove only one layer of roofing. Take the ... | |
| 2X8 Span Problem | 4/28/2004 |
| Q: I recently had an addition built as per plans from an architect. The addition size is 32' X 33". The ... A: Ralph: Thanks for your question! Oops! There are a number of solutions for this problem, but ... | |
| Backyard remodeling | 4/25/2004 |
| Q: Finally I decided to remodel my backyard and I am trying to decide what kind of floor surface will ... A: Bruno: Thanks for your question! You can do textured concrete, but by the time you hire the ... | |
| Need advice on structural integrity of home | 4/24/2004 |
| Q: my Question involves my current home a coverted carriage house/stable built in 1850.We just placed ... A: Patti: Thanks for your question! I've never heard of a carriage house wall that was deliberately ... | |
| slab foundation | 4/20/2004 |
| Q: I bought a parcel of land in Talkeetna Alaska (115 miles northwest of Anchorage). My plan is to ... A: Mary Alice: Thanks for your question! The problem with putting a slab foundation on permafrost ... | |
| residential entrance door modification | 4/20/2004 |
| Q: I am a residiential home investor/rehabber. A home I am currently working on has a rear entrance ... A: Jeff: Thanks for your question! Your have three choices for exterior hinges on outswing doors to ... | |
| to header or not to header | 4/20/2004 |
| Q: Answers to most of your questions: How old is the house? 30 What is the span of the floor joists ... A: Don: If the floor joists only span 4 feet, and there aren't any other loads on them other than the ... | |
| to header or not to header | 4/19/2004 |
| Q: Good morning, I am very experienced with home remodeling. My wife and I have owned 13 homes, 3 ... A: Don: Thanks for your question. I need more information: How old is the house? What is the span of ... | |
| Cooling a room | 4/18/2004 |
| Q: april and may are rather hot months in my country...i would like to find out if theres any advice as ... A: Thomas: Thanks for your question. There are many strategies for dealing with excessive daytime ... | |
| architecture | 4/16/2004 |
| Q: Do you happen to know the most highly rated architectural school in America? If not in America, then ... A: Taimik: Thanks for your question! How you rate schools depends upon what you want to get out of ... | |
| metal vs.wood studs | 4/14/2004 |
| Q: I know why a 2"x4" is actually 1.5"x3.5" but why are metal studs 1 5/8" x 3 5/8" ? A: Ken: Thanks for your question! Wood and metal studs are often used together; the wood studs are ... | |
| possible addition over garage | 4/14/2004 |
| Q: I'm looking at putting an addition over my garage. I had a contractor come by my house and he was ... A: Sean: Thanks for your question! It's impossible for me to give you a proper structural analysis in ... | |
| framing | 4/14/2004 |
| Q: Richard I live in south jersey Planning to build a house for a friend of mine and always forget ... A: Mike: Thanks for your question. I can only answer it in a general sense, as there are a number of ... | |
| We want to move a house back on its property | 4/11/2004 |
| Q: We own a house on a large piece of property, where my husband grew up in. The house is now his and ... A: Irene: Thanks for your question! It seems you've already done your homework on what's needed to ... | |
| patio roof | 4/7/2004 |
| Q: I'm building a roof over my existing patio. The patio is approximately 18 foot wide and 12 foot ... A: Jay: Thanks for your question! While I can't give you a true structural analysis in this forum, it ... | |
| Architect or not? | 4/2/2004 |
| Q: I'm a civil engineering student interested in architecture. I'm hoping to get your opinion on what ... A: Brian: If you obtain the education you're talking about, you'll be a valuable hire to someone, no ... | |
| Architect or not? | 4/1/2004 |
| Q: I'm a civil engineering student interested in architecture. I'm hoping to get your opinion on what ... A: Brian: Thanks for your question! I'm going to answer it with another question - CE is a specialist ... | |
| Making an arched doorway in a stone wall | 3/31/2004 |
| Q: Taylor, I have recently bought a 19th century farmhouse in S. France that has immensely thick stone ... A: Fred: Thanks for your question! The best way to resolve this is for you to fly my wife and I to ... | |
| bathroom remodel | 3/19/2004 |
| Q: I have two small bathrooms in my one story ranch style home. The guest bath is next to a small ... A: Mr. March: Thanks for your question! It's tough to get in the middle of a situation like this, ... | |
| difference between a balcony and terrace | 3/14/2004 |
| Q: My hotel in Italy advertises a room with a balcony or terrace overlooking the sea. Is there a ... A: John: Thanks for your question! Generally, a balcony is suspended over an open space (think of the ... | |
| wet basement | 3/5/2004 |
| Q: Let me start out with basic information first. I lve in the Buffalo, NY area. My home was built in ... A: Mr. Whit: Thanks for your question! Sounds like someone drilled those weep holes and cut that ... | |
| Bearing wall | 2/11/2004 |
| Q: About 11 years ago I put a 20 x 42 framed addition on my house. This is a flat ceiling with the ... A: Bob: Thanks for your question! I can't make a formal structural analysis in this forum, but I can ... | |
| Cavity Wall Insulation | 2/5/2004 |
| Q: I live in an attached house and can hear my neighbours' TV etc. Would cavity wall insulation reduce ... A: Steve: Thanks for your question! Sound is transmitted through building materials in several ways, ... | |
| Moving a house | 1/22/2004 |
| Q: My husband and I are considering buying a farm in Vermont with a small farmhouse built in 1840. The ... A: Vivien: Thanks for your question! Part of a house-mover's job is to secure the house so that it ... | |
| Room Addition Insulation | 1/21/2004 |
| Q: I am adding a 16x16 room to my home in the Detroit area of Michigan. It will have a vaulted ceiling ... A: Jim: Thanks for your question! Insulation standards are governed by building code and vary from ... | |
| Mid Century Modern House in Upper Midwest | 1/21/2004 |
| Q: I have found a great Carl Graffunder home in the upper Midwest that I would love to buy. The price ... A: L Nelson: Thanks for your question! The whole reason for pitched roofs is to shed water, ice, and ... | |
| How to determine the latest trend | 1/21/2004 |
| Q: Richard - I have a 33 yr old rambler in the Seattle area that I am remodeling for sale. I am ... A: Tom: Thanks for your question! That's always a "local" question - the very best source for good ... | |
| Venetian terrazzo | 1/7/2004 |
| Q: my name is Brad Balukjian and I'm a research editor at Islands Magazine in California. I am ... A: Brad: Thanks for your question! Terrazzo is indeed an old flooring finish system, and its roots go ... | |
| mobile interiors | 12/3/2003 |
| Q: Can you tell me about mobile interiors...i.e, the process in designing the interiors of trains, ... A: Cortney: Thanks for your question! I can't give you much information - we don't do that kind of ... | |
| Home model | 11/12/2003 |
| Q: I've designed a house we will be building, and I'm looking for a source(s) where I can buy materials ... A: Mike: Thanks for your question! The materials you need depends upon the level of detail you want ... | |
| solar power | 11/1/2003 |
| Q: I am considering buying new construction. The buiders are Energy Star builders who are also listed ... A: Doreen: Energy Star doesn't mean anything particularly unusual. Energy Star is an EPA program that ... | |
| Slab on Grade | 11/1/2003 |
| Q: Because I'm working with a limited budget, and have had some house building experience, I'm ... A: Mr. Stark: Thanks for your question! Wright did two houses for the Jacobs; the second was the ... | |
| Cement question | 10/24/2003 |
| Q: I'm considering buying a beautiful but somewhat remote parcel of land. I have been told by a broker ... A: Jon: Thanks for your question! Your broker's wrong. Concrete is routinely delivered much farther ... | |
| Houses with ballrooms | 8/5/2003 |
| Q: Taylor, I just ran across this site recently and was wondering if perhaps you could help me. I ... A: Glenn: Thanks for your question! Third-floor ballrooms were idiosyncrasies in some larger ... | |
| Steel Framed Houses | 7/17/2003 |
| Q: What do you think about steel and concrete framed houses? How do you hang pictures on steel studs? ... A: Audrey: Thanks for your question! Steel framing for homes is slowly gaining some ground on wood ... | |
| House Construction - Relative Prices | 7/14/2003 |
| Q: We are in the very early stages of buying a piece of property and having a home built for us. We are ... A: Matthew: Thanks for you question! I appreciate the information up front - I get a lot of "how much ... | |
| Kitchen | 7/9/2003 |
| Q: In your professional opinion, what is the appropriate size of a kitchen that is able to accomodate ... A: Lori: Thanks for your question! Generally, you need to leave a minimum of 40" between countertops. ... | |
| waterproofing a basement | 6/4/2003 |
| Q: Mr. Taylor, Hello. I have a question regarding waterproofing a basement. My basement is ... A: Yolanda: Thanks for your question! Anything you do on the inside is "treating the symptom", not ... | |
| day to day work | 5/31/2003 |
| Q: im looking in to architecture as a career, and wanted to ask you: Q. What are to high lights of ... A: It's an easy one! The highlights are being in a creative field; I get to see my ideas actually ... | |
| Geodesic Home Design | 5/28/2003 |
| Q: Are geodesic homes catastrophy resistant due to their shape or concrete material construction? Are ... A: Debra: Thanks for your question! The geodesic dome structural system was invented by the ... | |
Architecture
Answers by Expert:
Richard Taylor, AIA
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Ask me about all aspects of house, remodeling. , and room addition design and construction. Ask me about historic homes, renovation, and restoration. Ask me about materials and techniques, and about how you can get the best value for your design and construction dollar. Ask me how you can make your home a very special place. I can't, however, answer specific structural engineering questions in this forum - that's something you'll need on-site observation for.
Experience
I own a full-service residential architectural firm, and have been designing custom homes, remodelings, and room additions across the country since 1983. Check us out at Richard Taylor Architects and RTA Plans. I have written and been published extensively on the subject of residential architecture.
Organizations
American Institute of Architects, City of Dublin Architectural Review Board, Vice Chair of City of Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission, American Planning Association, Board Member Historic Dublin Business Association, Past Editor of SPLASH (a software forum), Past Editor of Open Directory Project, Assistant Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America
Publications
Business First of Columbus, Suburban New Publications, About.com, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch Residential Architect
Custom Home Architect
Remodeling Architect
Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) Miami University 1983
For more about home design, check out my blog at Sense Of Place and join the conversation on our Facebook Page.
Awards and Honors
2010 Dublin Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.