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About Bruce E. Johnson
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I can answer any construction related question in regards to carpentry, concrete, drywall, masonry, structural elements of any type of building, residential or commercial. Interior or exterior.

Experience
Custom Commercial and residential buildings. Churches, theaters, schools and auditoriums. Most recently I am working with the Catholic Church on several design build committees. I have a website related to scheduling and project supervision. Although my expertise is more related to multimillion dollar commercial, educational and theatrical projects my generous credentials in residential and remodelling construction make me a viable source of information regarding all forms of building questions.
   

You are here:  Experts > Industry > Construction Industry > Building Homes or Extensions

SubjectDate AskedExpert

stucco9/5/2008Bill
  Q: On the new housing where stucco is the preferred type of siding, columns made of styrofoam and/or ...
  A: Jim, You are correct that a lathe is fixed to the backboard to allow bonding and a key for the ...
BUILDING A NEW HAWAIIAN TROJAN HOME9/5/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: Read your answer to Eric conc: Pier & Post or concrete slab. The lumber co. prefers pier & post & ...
  A: I personally prefer a concrete slab foundation as opposed to a post and beam crawlspace. Even in a ...
Insulating concrete block, new heating system9/5/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: My husband and I are working on my mother-in-laws cottage in Michigan. It's at least 60 years old ...
  A: first of all I would like to address your heating and cooling concerns. You mentioned window A/C ...
Converting a shed9/4/2008Marc Byerley
  Q: I really appreciate it! Ok so I have a pre-fabed shed that came with my house when I bought it. It ...
  A: Great way to add a nice space on a budget! OK, I'm going to go down your list 1 by 1. 1. I would ...
crawl space to basement dealign with venting & moisture9/4/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: I am having my crawl space made into a basement professionally however I am wondering about venting ...
  A: He merdith weiss, venting will not be a problem because the basement is now part of the house so the ...
Concrete slabs separating9/3/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: About 2 years ago I installed a brick walkway on a concrete base in front of my home. To install ...
  A: you didn't say what size the piece of concrete was that you replaced and whether or not you mud set ...
decking screws9/3/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: if my decking boards are 32mm thick and im using 100x50mm joists (on concrete base) what length ...
  A: The way I would frame this floor is to lay my studs (joists) on edge as you are, then I would have a ...
Put dry wall on ceiling in the basement9/3/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: I try to put dry wall on ceiling in the basement and want to make it as higher as it can go. Can I ...
  A: I don't see any reason why you can't. As long as the ducts don't show signs of moisture ...
Put dry wall on ceiling in the basement9/3/2008Dan Griffin
  Q: I try to put dry wall on ceiling in the basement and want to make it as higher as it can go. Can I ...
  A: JZ, yes you can nail drywall directly to the bottom of the floor joists. The long dimension of the ...
Patio9/3/2008Dan Griffin
  Q: I am looking to hire someone out to build a patio for me in my front yard. I already have the ...
  A: George, it is not the intent of this forum to try to price work in your locale. I have no idea ...
concrete9/2/2008Dan Griffin
  Q: Had a new home built between Sept. 2007 and Feb. 2008. the driveway, basement, and garage were ...
  A: Jason, I assume we are talking about conventional grey Portland cement work, not stained or ...
decking screws9/2/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: if my decking boards are 32mm thick and im using 100x50mm joists (on concrete base) what length ...
  A: if your joists are on edge you can use a 76mm screw (if there is such a thing, I use 3" screws which ...
movement of concrete steps9/2/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: Concrete steps (7 high) have separated from the front porch. The wood railing that lines the steps ...
  A: you can probably patch the gap caused by the separation and fix the railing. But to really repair ...
Leaking Enclosed Porch9/2/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: Bruce, We recently had a porch enclosed and we have a leak a corner around the floor. It looks like ...
  A: Silicon is not a good caulk for this application. For one thing unless the slab and the wood are ...
cutting a opening in weight supporting wall9/1/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: There was an addition added to my huse. The original weight supporting wall was left in place. I ...
  A: basically you have to shore up the roof trusses or rafters that bear on the wall in question and ...
addng decorative columns8/31/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: We are in the process of building a new home. We are our own general contractor and do quite a bit ...
  A: if your columns have an adjustable base or capitol then they should be installed after the flooring. ...
refurbishing a flat roof8/31/2008Dave Johnson
  Q: I have a 2 car addition on my house that has a flat roof. The roofing looks a bit aged and the ...
  A: I would use rubber roofing. After stripping the old material off, check the sheathing. And go by the ...
Roof trusses vs. rafter construction8/30/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: I am in the process of designing a 14x26' garage and wish to mimic the hip roof design on my house. ...
  A: trusses are overall generally less expensive than conventionally framed roofs for the following ...
Nail in truss8/30/2008Marc Byerley
  Q: MARC Need to know on factory buit common web truss square cut Flush to outside top plate there ...
  A: Its my experience that most trusses have a real small bottom cord & thus makes it only possible to ...
New Home Construction Labor/Material Ratio8/30/2008Marc Byerley
  Q: I wonder if you would be good enough to give me a general answer to a question that I have. Simply, ...
  A: Good morning Jeff; I think that's one of the great "MYTHS" still going around! The cost of the ...
Fibre concrete floor8/29/2008Dan Griffin
  Q: Griffin We have a case when in the basement the fibre concrete garage floor finish (5 inches thick) ...
  A: Ross, you want the columns separated from the slab with a full construction or isolation joint. It ...
Attach a ledger to a brick house8/29/2008Marc Byerley
  Q: I am attempting to build my own addition. I have fairly good all round construction knowledge. What ...
  A: Joe, if I'm understanding you properly, its sounds like to me that I would reccomend removing the ...
Attach a ledger to a brick house8/28/2008Marc Byerley
  Q: I am attempting to build my own addition. I have fairly good all round construction knowledge. What ...
  A: Im trying to understand what the ledger will be for? Can you try to describe your addition in how it ...
Support Beam8/28/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: I have a balloon frame house with a totally open floorplan (no walls)and the second floor deck is ...
  A: a 1X12 ledger? Are you sure it's not a 2 x 12? Plus I'm not sure what you are asking. You want a ...
floor load for whirlpool tub8/28/2008Marc Byerley
  Q: I am thinking of installing a whirlpool tub - 54" x 54" (corner tub), with a floor load rating of ...
  A: Being in the Remodeling Industry for a number of years, we have run across this issue a number of ...
T-111 for interior walls8/27/2008Ted Barnhill (Principal, Design45 LLC)
  Q: I happened to see the previous question to you regarding use of T-111 for interior walls. We have a ...
  A: Tina, If you aren't especially chemically-sensitive, you will likely be fine. The offgassing is ...
Wood and ceramic tile flooring and particle board8/27/2008Dave Johnson
  Q: I am buying a 1979 home that has "Redx"(sp?) sub-flooring. To my eye it is dense particle board and ...
  A: Ideally you should replace the particle board before placing the tile. As far as the wood goes, it ...
load bearing walls8/27/2008Dan Griffin
  Q: Does a 24x52 double wide mobile home have a load bearing wall in it. Since each section is only 12 ...
  A: Elizabeth, I'm sorry I am not very familiar with trailer construction. I assume each 1/2 is self ...
removing support post8/27/2008Dan Griffin
  Q: I have a two story building. On the first floor there are like 8 post that run from the front to the ...
  A: javier, all things are possible, but sometimes not practical. YOu have posts/columns about 12' ...
addition on home8/27/2008Dave Johnson
  Q: Iam putting an addition on my present home which measures 8'x24' and need a formula for cutting the ...
  A: Thats called a 4/12 pitch. (meaning that the rafter rises 4" in every 12" of run) If you hold a ...
Steel Beams vs. Wood8/26/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: Building a home on the Rogue River in Oregon - steel beams vs. wood beams with concrete block ...
  A: I'm jealous. I love that area! My brother lives in Cave Junction, beautiful country! Anyhow, ...
House out of square by 2"8/26/2008Dave Johnson
  Q: I am adding a generator and tool room to the back of my house and am doing it by adding two walls- ...
  A: I think you should always build anything square, that way you aren't creating any more problems than ...
laying stone for patio and knee wall8/25/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: I have poured a concrete base for a stone patio and built a small retaining wall (Knee wall 18" ...
  A: A cleat is merely a piece of 2x4 pt attached to the wall, preferably at a stud. Keep it small ...
cap top of concrete walls8/25/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: I am building a 2-story residence.The first floor is concrete block. I would like to know if it is ...
  A: a single 2x8 mudsill is really all that is needed. I am assuming that the top of the masonry is ...
Bathtub Weight8/25/2008Dan Griffin
  Q: Griffin - We just remodeled a bathroom on the second floor supported by 2x8's with a 1/2" plywood ...
  A: Kevin, I used 40# per square foot as a typical residential required minimum load. The big issues ...
Bathtub Weight8/25/2008Dan Griffin
  Q: Griffin - We just remodeled a bathroom on the second floor supported by 2x8's with a 1/2" plywood ...
  A: The 1/4" cement board helped provide an even and tile compatible substrate, it really didn't add any ...
Help with rim joist wrap8/24/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: I have just recently removed the lower siding from our new house (5 years old) to install a deck, ...
  A: If you only have a few soft spots in the joist and it is dry you can repair it with a product ...
laying stone for patio and knee wall8/24/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: I have poured a concrete base for a stone patio and built a small retaining wall (Knee wall 18" ...
  A: a post base attached to the concrete with a redhead or sleeve anchor is the best way to attach your ...
drywall plaster spider cracks8/24/2008Bruce E. Johnson
  Q: I have an old house that has plaster walls with a rough surface, I applied drywall plaster over my ...
  A: putting down a layer of mesh won't help that much. The mesh may keep the cracks from getting wider ...
Bathtub Weight8/24/2008Dan Griffin
  Q: Griffin - We just remodeled a bathroom on the second floor supported by 2x8's with a 1/2" plywood ...
  A: I will be surprised if the tile job does not fail. Ceramic tile demands limiting deflection to ...

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Questions by
Active Experts:
BillBruce E. JohnsonMarc Byerley
Daniel HumphreyMichael CurryStephen Major (Owner--Major Design Group)
Dan GriffinDave JohnsonTed Barnhill (Principal, Design45 LLC)
Brian McElroy  

     
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