| Subject | Date Asked |
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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". ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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! ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 - ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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; ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 - ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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' ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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" ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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; ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 - ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| ~*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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| "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! ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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! ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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, ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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