| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| Ridged foam Insulation | 10/12/2008 | Dave Johnson |
Q: I have sheets of Dense ridged foam insulation,That was removed from Large commercial Freezer. that ...
A: Actually, you need to leave little or no space. Ideally the way to apply this is to cut as closely ...
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| corrugated tin roof | 10/11/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: The corrugated tin roof in my outhouse drips dew during the winter season. We have been covering it ...
A: dew is formed during the transfer of heat from hot to cold thus the term "dew point". By putting ...
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| footer reinforcement | 10/10/2008 | Brian McElroy |
Q: I work in Collier County (Naples), the worst county for inspections. These guys fail at least 50% ...
A: This is an easy one. The inspector is required by statute to quote specific section and verse of the ...
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| gable dormers | 10/9/2008 | Marc Byerley |
Q: I am wondering if gable dormers are limited to the width? The room/attic where I am putting it is ...
A: Gable dormers can be as large as the existing roof structure can allow. To provide you with more ...
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| Concrete Porch | 10/8/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: I have a front concrete porch with an ugly rug. I plan on pulling up the rug, but then not sure ...
A: you covered two options already wood and tile. Another option is to just clean up the concrete. ...
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| Cutting a Birds Mouth | 10/8/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: What's the best tool to make a bird's mouth cut on a rafter? Saws with a circular blade won't leave ...
A: I usually do my initial cuts with a skil saw (circular saw) but I don't overcut past my marks. Then ...
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| Pole Barn Repair | 10/7/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: How to I replace or repair treated poles in a 30x40 pole barn that are rotting out at ground level? ...
A: it depends on how the poles are installed. If the poles are embedded into holes filled with ...
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| Insulating a room with cement block walls | 10/7/2008 | Brian McElroy |
Q: In our pastor's home, the bedroom is on the south side and the exterior wall is cement block. ...
A: It is typical Florida construction to build homes in this manner. You can contact any reputable ...
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| Drywall | 10/7/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: I live in a 58 year old single story ranch style home on a concrete slab. It's been a very dry year ...
A: If you haven't patched the crack yet I would try that before I re drywalled the ceiling. In doing a ...
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| toenailing/ header nailling | 10/6/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: You have helped me a lot in the past! I really appreciate. Again I'd like to know some basics ...
A: the best toenailing for studs is normally two 8 penny nails on each side into the plate however if ...
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| garage | 10/6/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: I have a garage that is 20 X 20 with 2x6 ceiling joist. I have no center support down to floor and ...
A: If your rafters are stout enough you can jack up the ceiling joists and attach them to the rafters ...
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| Attics with folding stairs | 10/6/2008 | Brian McElroy |
Q: I'm conducting a study for a business plan of residential homes in the U.S. with attics having ...
A: Sounds correct. Although 2 story homes may have walk in access, many 2 story homes I build still use ...
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| Converting Garage Attic into workshop | 10/5/2008 | Marc Byerley |
Q: I am thinking about converting my Garage Attic into a workshop. There are currently 'W' shaped ...
A: It's completely possible to do what you are wanting. The trusses you currently have were designed to ...
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| Leaks in suspended concrete slab | 10/4/2008 | Dan Griffin |
Q: We moved into a newly constructed home 9 months ago. Before occupancy we notice a growing crack in ...
A: I have not used them, they are meant to try to avoid rebar when installing some types of equipment ...
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| Leaks in suspended concrete slab | 10/3/2008 | Dan Griffin |
Q: We moved into a newly constructed home 9 months ago. Before occupancy we notice a growing crack in ...
A: Mary, I am having a hard time following the issues. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by a cold ...
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| 2x8 headers max span | 10/3/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: Can I use 2 2x8 (side-by-side) inch headers to span a total of 76 inchs on an interior load bearing ...
A: a rule of thumb for headers is one inch of thickness per foot of span so in your case 76" is just a ...
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| Water leaking in between foundation and stucco wall | 10/3/2008 | Brian McElroy |
Q: We just bought this house in Utah and it is a stucco with stone accents. In Utah most houses have ...
A: Water near the foundation is never a good thing. I would say yes, you should move it away. Also, you ...
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| Utilizing an exisiting foundation to support a deck | 10/2/2008 | Marc Byerley |
Q: I'm rebuilding a deck off the back of my house. On the house side I want to tie into the existing ...
A: I would use pressure treated materials (2" X 12") for the ledger that will attach directly to the ...
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| 1950's Suspended Concrete Floor | 9/30/2008 | Dan Griffin |
Q: I'm considering the purchase of a mid-century home that has a suspended concrete floor. From the ...
A: John, I am not familiar with this type of residential floor system. I have not ever heard any scare ...
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| patio header spans & rafters | 9/30/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: I need to build a large patio cover. I am planning 8x8 posts 20ft apart. I believe an 8x8header ...
A: I'm sorry I thought you got both of my email answers. I guess when I sent you the link to the rafter ...
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| waterproofing exteior real stucco | 9/30/2008 | Dave Johnson |
Q: What is the best,easiest and what product is to be used to waterproof a home built around 1930 that ...
A: O.K. I would go to your best local paint store, like Sherwin Williams and tell them what you used ...
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| waterproof exterior stucco | 9/30/2008 | Dan Griffin |
Q: Please tell me the best way and product to waterproof real exterior stucco that has been painted ...
A: The best real stucco work is usually not painted. If yours has been painted, you probably need to ...
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| Waterproofing exterior real stucco that has been painted | 9/30/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: What is the easiest and best way and what product will waterproof exterior real stucco. House was ...
A: A good elastomeric paint should work provided it is applied properly. Any good exterior paint ...
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| concrete porch slab & steps - repairing pour | 9/30/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: We recently contracted to have a new 10' x 24' porch slab with six steps and an approach on our 1927 ...
A: if this is the contractor that originally did the work then you are probably lucky that it took only ...
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| patio header spans & rafters | 9/30/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: I need to build a large patio cover. I am planning 8x8 posts 20ft apart. I believe an 8x8header ...
A: I rechecked the span tables at this website ...
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| laminated beam | 9/29/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: We are putting an addition on our house and combining rooms. we wanted to put a beam where the ...
A: I imagine a double 1 3/4X 14" LVL would work at a cost of around 8-10 dollars a foot apiece. ...
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| adding sheet insulation under vinyl siding | 9/28/2008 | Dave Johnson |
Q: I have a stick built home that has 1/2 inch foam insulation under vinyl siding that is loose. I am ...
A: Yes, any insulating you can do in these ridiculous economic times is a good idea!! If you're doing ...
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| Concrete in heavy rain | 9/26/2008 | Dan Griffin |
Q: I have an outdoor sign to install. The sign is held by (2) 2"x2" squre steel posts. I must dig 3".0" ...
A: Nat, sounds like you're going to get wet. Digging the post holes will be muddy and nasty. If you ...
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| load bearing walls | 9/26/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: I need to install two standard doors in a forty inch thick stone load bearing wall. any Advice or ...
A: I guess I need more information. Stone or masonry is fairly self supporting if installed properly. ...
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| block wall | 9/26/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: I have a interior block wall painted. Can i apply drywall joint compound directly on to wall to make ...
A: I have done this before and it works fine. You might want to take some 80 grit sand paper and rough ...
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| repairing water leakage in sheetrock ceiling | 9/25/2008 | Dan Griffin |
Q: Can you put beadboard or wood directly onto a sheetrock kitchen ceiling that has had previous water ...
A: Dora, I would not put a wood/flammable product on ceilings by choice. If the tape joints of the ...
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| room extension | 9/25/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: Bruce, if I were to extend an existing built-up tar flat roof (rafters are 2x6 at 16" o.c.) such ...
A: yes unreinforced concrete would be fine. If you are doing it from bagged goods and you can get the ...
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| repairing water leakage in sheetrock ceiling | 9/25/2008 | Dan Griffin |
Q: Can you put beadboard or wood directly onto a sheetrock kitchen ceiling that has had previous water ...
A: Dora, I assme you are asking if there is anyhthing wrong with going over the top of drywall that ...
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| room extension | 9/25/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: Bruce, if I were to extend an existing built-up tar flat roof (rafters are 2x6 at 16" o.c.) such ...
A: if your post spacing is 8' then a 4x8 beam or a double 2x8 beam should suffice. To attach the beam ...
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| Building a Circle Type Home | 9/24/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: I am looking into building a circle type home out of cinder block and rebar. Here is my question. If ...
A: I don't know why your design wouldn't be stable. If you have ever seen a castle with a round turret ...
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| Raising the roof for 2nd story | 9/24/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: We're trying to get more headroom on our Cape Cod house, and have drawings for a 2nd floor addition. ...
A: have you considered installing dormers? By installing dormers you can just cut a big hole in the ...
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| insulation in older homes | 9/24/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: We just bought a home in Wisconsin, it was built in 1927, we are in the process of remodeling and ...
A: back during the Great Depression people used pretty much anything they could find for insulation. ...
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| Raising a house | 9/23/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: A friend of mine needs to fill in her basement and raise her house about 3 feet- there was a ...
A: look up house moving companies on line. There are some very professional movers in NY that travel ...
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| new construction | 9/23/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: We are building home with a 12x 12 roof pitch[ cape cod roof] Do we have to have collar ties? We ...
A: if you have a substantial ridge beam or maybe a heavy LVL ridge board that is well supported you ...
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| celing beam | 9/23/2008 | Bruce E. Johnson |
Q: I would like to replace a load bearing wall with a 13 ft glue lam beam. What height(thickness) ...
A: you can probably get a glue lam beam or LVL to make that span in a 4x10 or 12, or in LVL 3 1/2 x 9 ...
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