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Building Homes or Extensions/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Attached Pergola | 2/9/2012 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: I want to install an attached pergola to my stucco wall. The ledger has to be attached to the stud ... A: most stud framed walls have studs spaced at 16" on center. By locating one definite stud in the ... | ||
| Basement Posts for New Construction | 2/6/2012 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: We re in the process of building a new home, and we need to install 2 support posts for a beam on ... A: I'm not a big fan of "buried" posts especially in basements. If there is moisture present you may ... | ||
| basement | 1/31/2012 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: I will soon be pouring a slab to build a shop on. I would like to build a cellar/storm shelter under ... A: the footings are poured first, then the walls then the floor in most cases however if it is a small ... | ||
| basement | 1/30/2012 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: I will soon be pouring a slab to build a shop on. I would like to build a cellar/storm shelter under ... A: basically you need to do a basement foundation with a Foundation drain around it . The poured ... | ||
| Crack in new driveway | 1/25/2012 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: I recently had a new residential driveway poured. I watched the installation and they did appear to ... A: there is something wrong with this picture. If this work was done "recently" and you are already ... | ||
| stucco type products | 1/25/2012 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: Is there a replacement product for stucco that does not have the moisture problems that stucco has? A: merlex and Quaker both offer waterproofing additives for stucco if that's what you are looking for. ... | ||
| Carport Installation | 1/25/2012 | Stephen Major (Owner--Major Design Group) |
| Q: I am planning on installing a carport (10'x20') to cover my driveway. The instructions only explain ... A: Brandy, From your description I assume that you are describing a pre-fabricated metal carport kit. ... | ||
| Crack in new driveway | 1/24/2012 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: I recently had a new residential driveway poured. I watched the installation and they did appear to ... A: that sucks. It looks like, from your photo, that there are control joints cut into the concrete. ... | ||
| opening bearing wall | 1/24/2012 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: Bruce- I have a 115 yr old Victorian 2 and half story home, original structure 2 course brick (about ... A: If you are concerned about shoring there is a way..first you cut out a column of brick in the center ... | ||
| elevated concrete deck | 1/23/2012 | Dan Griffin |
| Q: I have a project of building a 33" X 33" elevated concrete deck, 4" thick. 10" I Beam running north ... A: Steve, the 2 1/2" is typical. Yes, I would put fiber mesh in the mix. If you are planning to ... | ||
| Concrte wall footing | 1/23/2012 | Craig Fiore |
| Q: I have some experience laying concrete blocks, but now I want to take on building a concrete block ... A: Chris - To answer how deep and wide the footing should be and what type of rebar to use would ... | ||
| missing lally column | 1/22/2012 | Dan Griffin |
| Q: I recently bought a 1960 cape home and noticed that a lally column was removed from the basement. ... A: David, there are several manufacturers of these columns. Lally is a great one - you can't buy one ... | ||
| opening bearing wall | 1/21/2012 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: Bruce- I have a 115 yr old Victorian 2 and half story home, original structure 2 course brick (about ... A: yes you can use angle iron to create a lintel for your new opening. However without looking at all ... | ||
| removing brick bearing wall | 1/18/2012 | Dan Griffin |
| Q: Dan- I have a 115 yr old Victorian 2 and half story home, original structure 2 course brick (about ... A: Jeff, quite a challenge. I am not a structural engineer and this is one time that I really feel one ... | ||
| elevated concrete deck | 1/17/2012 | Dan Griffin |
| Q: I have a project of building a 33" X 33" elevated concrete deck, 4" thick. 10" I Beam running north ... A: Steve, You indicate purlins on 4 inch centers. I suspect you mean 4 feet. You mention welded ... | ||
| Insulating an exposed deck on beam ceiling | 1/14/2012 | Daniel Humphrey |
| Q: Dan, I have an exposed deck on beam constructed home in Southern New Jersey and I would like to ... A: The proper way to do it is to insulate above and re-roof. Infilling between the beams is difficult, ... | ||
| Advice for an apt over a garage? | 1/14/2012 | Dan Griffin |
| Q: I'm building a 2-car garage (24 x 24) and I'd like to turn the upper level into a studio apartment. ... A: Curt, having a room, often a bed room, over a garage is very common. There are usually not any ... | ||
| Advice for an apt over a garage? | 1/14/2012 | Daniel Humphrey |
| Q: I'm building a 2-car garage (24 x 24) and I'd like to turn the upper level into a studio apartment. ... A: Curtis, Mainly, make sure the floor between the two is airtight. You have a chance to seal the ... | ||
| Protecting concrete stair treads during construction | 1/12/2012 | Dan Griffin |
| Q: I'm currently working on a construction project where there are quite a few interior metal stairs ... A: Simon, a common problem during construction. If the pan stairs are open at the risers, you can use ... | ||
| soil and clay content | 1/12/2012 | Daniel Humphrey |
| Q: Life to me is simple, you plan for the worse and hope for the best. In bad soil with clay content ... A: Danny, Put the spread footers where the support is needed most. If the footer beneath the back beam ... | ||
| handiap bathroo remodling | 1/11/2012 | Diane Plesset |
| Q: I am designing a bathroom for a person who is in a wheel chair. The bathroom is 5' x 8' and since he ... A: Wally. Fortunately, there is a lot of information available to help you plan an accessible ... | ||
| Best place for treadmill | 1/10/2012 | Dan Griffin |
| Q: I have read every answer you have given on this. I figure I am safe to place the treadmill on the ... A: Rose, you are well withing safe limits of floor loading. Put the treadmill where it works the best ... | ||
| soil and clay content | 1/8/2012 | Daniel Humphrey |
| Q: Life to me is simple, you plan for the worse and hope for the best. In bad soil with clay content ... A: You probably are safe in assuming the sinking is due to the clay getting wet and being displaced by ... | ||
| loft conversion | 1/7/2012 | Diane Plesset |
| Q: are 4x2 joists over a 16ft stretch strong enough floor support for my sons bedroom ,i have added ... A: Paul. 2x4's are NOT strong enough to span that distance, even at 13" on center (330mm). You really ... | ||
| soil and clay content | 1/7/2012 | Daniel Humphrey |
| Q: Life to me is simple, you plan for the worse and hope for the best. In bad soil with clay content ... A: Digging down and pouring a continuous footer and concrete stem wall all around the house is the best ... | ||
| Spanning a Bearing Wall | 1/2/2012 | Michael Curry |
| Q: I am renovating my basement and currently have a load bearing wall that I would like to remove and ... A: I cannot really answer this question as these details are normally calculated by an engineer. A 14' ... | ||
| Installing receptacles in Hardiplank siding | 12/29/2011 | Dan Griffin |
| Q: I'm a "regular" builder for Habitat and would like to clean up the look our our exterior lights and ... A: Keith, you're getting a pretty clean install. I started to suggest a raised block (Azek comes to ... | ||
| Installing receptacles in Hardiplank siding | 12/26/2011 | Dan Griffin |
| Q: I'm a "regular" builder for Habitat and would like to clean up the look our our exterior lights and ... A: Keith, it sounds as if someone has worked out a fairly good way to position the box to allow the ... | ||
| mould in a single skin bathroom | 12/21/2011 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: I have done all the usual things, applied special paints etc but obviously to no avail. I would ... A: making the exterior wall a "double wythe" with a weep space between may be the answer provided the ... | ||
| New Home Foundation | 12/21/2011 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: I am building a new house. I am concerned about a specific part of the foundation that the builder ... A: it's hard to say from the photo but it looks like whoever repaired the foundation here did a ... | ||
| mould in a single skin bathroom | 12/20/2011 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: I have done all the usual things, applied special paints etc but obviously to no avail. I would ... A: I'm not sure what you are calling the "skin"? If you are referring to the drywall or gypsum board ... | ||
| Flooring & Wall decoration | 12/20/2011 | Dan Griffin |
| Q: Flooring & Wall decoration Hi, currently my jeweler shop construction is goin on, now the time for ... A: Kedar, I learned long ago NOT to have anything to do with colors. I have very strong opinions and I ... | ||
| Green home | 12/20/2011 | Diane Plesset |
| Q: I have many questions. However, my first must be about where I can find the requirements for ... A: Steven. Congratulations for wanting to do whatever you can to help our environment by choosing an ... | ||
| Insulation for outdoor tool shed floor | 12/19/2011 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: I have a 10 x 16 outdoor storage shed with a work bench. It has vinyl siding and a shingle roof. ... A: pressure treated wood or pressure treated plywood are probably the most economical and longer ... | ||
| Flooring & Wall decoration | 12/18/2011 | Diane Plesset |
| Q: currently my jeweler shop construction is goin on, now the time for flooring. i m wondering which ... A: Kedar. Because you manufacture for someone else, and don't have display cases, it sounds like you ... | ||
| lean to over trailor | 12/17/2011 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: I have a 10 by 40 single wide trailor, want to build a lean to pole barn over it to protect roof ... ... A: I don't think a lean to is quite what you want..I would put some poles on each side df the trailer, ... | ||
| Creaking noise in ceiling when windy | 12/16/2011 | Dan Griffin |
| Q: We recently moved into a 2 story home and every time it is really windy outside I hear a noise that ... A: Sonia, I hate mystery noises. Sometimes just knowing what it is can make it all right, it is the ... | ||
| Scraping noise in attic when windy | 12/16/2011 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: We recently moved into a 2 story home and every time it is really windy outside I hear a noise that ... A: I think I answered this question already but I had another thought on the subject. What kind of ... | ||
| Insulation for outdoor tool shed floor | 12/15/2011 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: I have a 10 x 16 outdoor storage shed with a work bench. It has vinyl siding and a shingle roof. ... A: You can enclose the perimeter of the floors crawl space and insulate the outside which will turn the ... | ||
| slab foundation | 12/13/2011 | Bruce E. Johnson |
| Q: I have a home built on a slab foundation. I'm going to be converting the attached garage into an ... A: this is an unusual situation..generally the entire garage floor is four to six inches below the ... | ||
Building Homes or Extensions
Answers by Expert:
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.
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