Building Homes or Extensions - Construction Industry - Industry

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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.

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Questions Answered By Expert Bruce E. Johnson
In Category Building Homes or Extensions

Subject	Date Asked

siding	11/21/2009
Q: I am reducing an 18 foot garage opening to 9 feet. It's the front of the house, and is actually the ... A: if the existing wood siding, I am betting that it is plywood T-111, is in good termite free ...
conceal beam	11/20/2009
Q: i have a room of 28 feet* 11 feet. 28 feet in length and 11 in width. this room apart from ... A: it sounds to me like the builder needed to add the "intermediate" flush beam to cut the span of your ...
home repair	11/19/2009
Q: just removed a window encasement. want to fill hole with cinder block.want to know the correct way ... A: a little trick I have seen masons do, and I have done it myself, is to use chips of block or small ...
building a shed on a brick foundation	11/19/2009
Q: I recently moved into a home with a little shed in the back. The old shed sits on a 15 x 15 foot ... A: I've read this question several times over the last couple days trying to figure it out. A lot of ...
Outside basement entrance	11/18/2009
Q: We are finishing our basement and want to add an outside entrance to our basement. The basement has ... A: a standard, handicap accessible ramp is a 1/12 pitch so every one foot of rise would require 12' of ...
Leaking Floor	11/15/2009
Q: In the process of expanding the kitchen wall out into flushed existing concrete deck, my contractor ... A: you can try caulking along the exterior where the wall meets the slab. Use a good urethane caulk, ...
Concrete roof	11/15/2009
Q: I'm building a concrete shed with 8" filled CMU block walls and 12ft x 8ft interior roof span. The ... A: Using #4 rebar, I would go to 8" on center or up my rebar size to #5. The steel should be located ...
Foundation-Water Seepage	11/15/2009
Q: I just recently renovated my home. The joint where the new foundation wall meets the old, I am ... A: the best place for water intrusion protection is outside. If you can dig up the area in question ...
support pole with water in it(basement)	11/13/2009
Q: We removed the old support pole for the main beam and reinforced same in the basement. However, ... A: you definitely need to remove as much of the post as possible and probably remove the section of ...
Possible code violation	11/13/2009
Q: I live in Pennsylvania and I was wondering if in an apartment building if they don't have heater ... A: it's easy enough to find out. Call your fire department or building department and request an ...
support pole with water in it(basement)	11/12/2009
Q: We removed the old support pole for the main beam and reinforced same in the basement. However, ... A: hydraulic cement should do the trick. There are also some commercial products available through ...
surfacing a deck/roof	11/11/2009
Q: we have a huge problem with a 1000 square foot flat roof which is supposed to be a deck. It was ... A: there are several cementious type of underlayments that are mainly used to level floors prior to ...
surfacing a deck/roof	11/10/2009
Q: we have a huge problem with a 1000 square foot flat roof which is supposed to be a deck. It was ... A: no wood or tile? That kind of narrows your choices down. I like to use composite decking in these ...
building	11/8/2009
Q: I have a house that sits in high water table area with sandy loam. The basement is 8 feet down. We ... A: what kind of problems are you having? If it's water getting into the basement, this can be fixed. ...
removing section of load bearing wall.	11/7/2009
Q: Bruce, I have a split entry built in '77. I want to open a span on the main load bearing wall ... A: for a span of less than ten feet, either of your ideas will work. Just be sure to support the floor ...
Patio Cover	11/6/2009
Q: We are planning to build an attached patio cover in the back of our home on top of a concrete slab ... A: It kind of depends on how your walls are constructed. If they are cement block with brick veneer ...
Granite and Marbles	11/6/2009
Q: A supplier is supplying different kind of marble and granite to my site to be fixed as thresholds ... A: if you are testing for specificity then the tests would be related to what you ordered: verification ...
Side Entrance to Basement	11/6/2009
Q: I am in the midst of trying to hire a contractor to put a side entrance for direct access to the ... A: a basement entrance will require retaining walls on each side of the entrance beginning at the ...
adding to a roof	11/5/2009
Q: I saw a question from 2008 that was similar to my issue, My Mom's house has the main entry ... A: it appears from your drawing that the eaves at the inside corner of your roof are level. I would ...
adding bathroom and toilet	11/5/2009
Q: My house is a 2 story with a toilet on the main floor. I'd like add a half bath and a toilet in the ... A: it sounds like you will need to cut into your concrete floor and bring the sewer into the house from ...
Granite and Marbles	11/5/2009
Q: A supplier is supplying different kind of marble and granite to my site to be fixed as thresholds ... A: I am assuming that the marble and granite was ordered per a specification in the project spec ...
Patio Cover	11/5/2009
Q: We are planning to build an attached patio cover in the back of our home on top of a concrete slab ... A: I would trim the rafter tails back at what I assume is the kitchen roof and then attach the ledger ...
adding bathroom and toilet	11/4/2009
Q: My house is a 2 story with a toilet on the main floor. I'd like add a half bath and a toilet in the ... A: that is a complicated question. Without knowing some particulars I can only speculate on cost and ...
reinforce foundation	11/3/2009
Q: old house in Calif.with weak foundation (not slab; 8 inch concrete 'curb' to which mudsill bolted). ... A: it is not necessarily mandatory for the mudsill to be bolted. There are straps available for this ...
addition	10/31/2009
Q: I am trying to extend the family room over my existing patio. It measures 13' by 23'. minimum ... A: with just the information given I would say your cost will be somewhere between 50-75 dollars a ...
reinforce foundation	10/30/2009
Q: old house in Calif.with weak foundation (not slab; 8 inch concrete 'curb' to which mudsill bolted). ... A: if you had similar work done before what is preventing you from having the same type of work ...
New Header	10/30/2009
Q: I recently had a three panel door installed in the back wall of my family room which used to be a ... A: it's hard to say what is causing your problem. Apparently you and the contractor have decided that ...
porch posts	10/29/2009
Q: If we want to build a small house (1100sq.ft.) and want to add a front porch (10x10) how many ... A: are you talking about just a porch floor? A post 55" tall wouldn't work to support a porch roof ...
Expanding an existing doorway in a load bearing brick wall	10/28/2009
Q: I sure hope you can help! My husband and I are renovating his mother's old house. They added an all ... A: the column support isn't the main problem here that needs to be overcome. Over this old door ...
foudation	10/28/2009
Q: I have a ? for you,the term Recap a foundation what does that mean ?, the ? is a California based ?, ... A: Okay, that makes more sense..apparently the foundation on one side of the house needs to be elevated ...
foudation	10/27/2009
Q: I have a ? for you,the term Recap a foundation what does that mean ?, the ? is a California based ?, ... A: it is not a familiar term to me..It sounds like maybe your foundation top needs to be floated with ...
bulding garage on cinder block foundation	10/27/2009
Q: The garage is insulated and half drywalled. The question that i have is the walls are built on top ... A: it's not a big deal if the wood sill is pressure treated wood or some other decay resistang species ...
commercial low slope roof	10/27/2009
Q: I basically need to know how to tell if people don't know what they are doing, and if they are even ... A: where do I start? It sounds like you have done some legwork already on this one. First of all, the ...
below grade	10/26/2009
Q: What does it mean when a fire says my basement has to be below 2 1/2 feet below grade? A: not sure what you mean by "fire" in this question. But normally grade is the surround ground around ...
spalling or scaling concrete	10/26/2009
Q: In the Lake Chapala area of Mexico, a common problem in nearly all buildings is the spalling of both ... A: the best way to prevent moisture penetration is to stop it at its source which is the exterior of ...
Can my floor hold a fish tank?	10/25/2009
Q: We were given a large fish tank and want to make sure it won't fall through the floor to the ... A: without knowing what size the floor joists in your floor system and how long they span makes it hard ...
microlam	10/24/2009
Q: i am opening up a gable end wall that has a finished garage on other side of it to extend the living ... A: for a ten foot span I would use at least a 9.5" microlam beam, or a double 2x10..your microlam ...
Water leak from chimney	10/24/2009
Q: There is a water leak originating from the area where the chimney flashing meets the roof. the water ... A: I suppose you could take a sawzall and cut between the joists, up through the subfloor and drop out ...
Using rigid insulation behind standard insulation	10/23/2009
Q: I have a room above our garage that i am attempting to make into a living space. It currently has ... A: no need for extensive furring strips and all that stuff..the newer foam insulation sheets are dense ...
concrete building	10/23/2009
Q: I am wanting to build a concrete block building with a metal roof for a bunk house at our ranch ... A: If you are going to use steel roof joists you install metal embed plates in the concrete bond beam ...
Building a new cedar deck over existing concrete patio	10/23/2009
Q: We are currently getting estimates to have a new 12'x28' deck built onto an existing, 8 year old ... A: I don't see any reason to worry about deck "circulation" in your case. First of all you would want ...
Floor Joists	10/22/2009
Q: Bruce, I am adding an addition onto the back of my house. It will span 32' by 18'6". I built 3 8" ... A: you need an intermediate support beam to cut the span of your joists in half..a 2x10 floor joist ...
concrete	10/22/2009
Q: I am building an addition to my house witch involves me connecting a slab which is a 10 x 16 and ... A: first of all if you have good soil conditions, the pad is well compacted prior to pourng the new ...
Adding footing to carport slab in order to enclose it	10/22/2009
Q: We want to add walls to an existing carport that currently has a concrete slab (about 5-6" thick). ... A: usually in a situation like this you can dig down and undermine the edge of the slab, dig underneath ...
header boxes in ceiling joists	10/22/2009
Q: Is there a limit to the number of header boxes you can build into the ceiling joists? I'm looking ... A: if you are heading off the joists then you should be okay..athe 25" rule was for drilling a hole in ...
header boxes in ceiling joists	10/21/2009
Q: Is there a limit to the number of header boxes you can build into the ceiling joists? I'm looking ... A: normally you put your boxes alongside the joist/beam instead of inside the joist or beam..If it is ...
Garage door header replacement.	10/20/2009
Q: I purchased a home built in the late sixties that has a roof that has been leaking for some time and ... A: yes that is the right way to do it..another option is to have the header all the way up to the ...
Load Bearing and headers	10/19/2009
Q: Couple questions - Window header on the main floor of a 2story. It's on a load bearing wall and we ... A: Yes you can move your window header up and hang those joists on hangers. Good call. Same with the ...
pier versus footings for garage	10/19/2009
Q: I am renovating 60 year old 15ft wide X 18ft garage with rotted out sill on 18ft side that appeared ... A: if the old footings have been holding up the wall and your only problem is the bad mudsill then you ...
Replacing Main Beam	10/18/2009
Q: I'm selling my home and the buyer's building inspection revealed the main beam in my house is ... A: it kind of depends on the access..It sounds like it is a basement or a main floor situation so the ...
concrete	10/18/2009
Q: Bruce, I'm building an exterior patio that is going to be raised about 8 feet off the ground. It ... A: for abutting the plywood walls I would first flash the wall with galvanized metal or a peel and ...
Mobile Home Addition	10/18/2009
Q: I have a stand alone room that I would like to attach to the back door of my mobile home. My mobile ... A: if you are talking about weatherproofing the connection then it is not too difficult for the wall ...
small addition footings	10/17/2009
Q: Im doing a 8x8 mud room addition onto my existing house. What kind of footings should i use and how ... A: it depends on where you live. Most northern states have deep freezes and it is best to put you ...
Raising the roof of 2nd story attic	10/16/2009
Q: We live in a lovely 1912 bungalow which has stairs leading to an attic but the ceiling and roof are ... A: making an attic into a living area doesn't really add that much weight to a foundation and support ...
Raft foundation pumping	10/15/2009
Q: I am having a reinforced concrete raft foundation laid on poor ground conditions. It is 35 feet ... A: in this country we usually use a laser level to level and grade large areas. Tamping is the process ...
Raft foundation pumping	10/15/2009
Q: I am having a reinforced concrete raft foundation laid on poor ground conditions. It is 35 feet ... A: I have done this type of foundation both ways but I prefer the first method and this is the method I ...
Replacement of garage lintel	10/13/2009
Q: We are currently getting estimates about dealing with a bent (wavy distortion). iron lintel over the ... A: Ouch! It's costly but is it too much? If your home is worth $350,000 then the cost to the value of ...
Replacement of garage lintel	10/13/2009
Q: We are currently getting estimates about dealing with a bent (wavy distortion). iron lintel over the ... A: since I cannot physically look at the beam in question it's tough for me to make a qualified answer ...
replacing flooring in an old house	10/13/2009
Q: we have a house 75 years old, we just had a creek overflow and flood and have gotten government ... A: It's not a difficult project if done properly. If there are floor joists bearing on the beam and ...
basement and a crawl	10/12/2009
Q: Under our home we have a 1/2 basement, that is finished and the rest is a crawl space. The crawl ... A: of course it is possible to remove the dirt and turn the crawl space into a basement. It involves ...
Replacement of garage lintel	10/12/2009
Q: We are currently getting estimates about dealing with a bent (wavy distortion). iron lintel over the ... A: Oftentimes when masons are doing residential work, and sometimes on commercial work they don't flash ...
joinery	10/12/2009
Q: how to construct a birds mouth A: I am going to assume that you know how to layout for a birds mouth and a rafter end? I am attaching ...
Foundation Design	10/10/2009
Q: Other than perimeter and load bearing walls what is the recommended max. spacing for interior grade ... A: it depends on the floor system you are going to use. If you are using a floating concrete slab ...
ceramic tile backing	10/10/2009
Q: I am remodeling bathrooms for the federal government and have ran into a problem. the existing walls ... A: most certainly you can tile directly to this type of wall system..as long as the paint is in decent ...
Crawl space insulation	10/8/2009
Q: Help - PLEASE! Description: There is an addition on the house we just purchased which has about a 2 ... A: If the area between the joists is dry at the time of the insulation install you shouldn't have a ...
locating TV cable new construct	10/6/2009
Q: We are updating the up stairs of our house. The great room will be the place where the entertainment ... A: I like to do a hollow wall intallation on my flat screens. In your local hardware or big box store ...
Soaking of walls by Underground water	10/6/2009
Q: Good day Sir, I am a young civil engineer bu there is a problem perculiar in my environment. The ... A: this is a problem with concrete or masonry. In order to be externally waterproofed the concrete ...
basement entrance	10/5/2009
Q: We have a full basement that we would like to finish and our laundry room is down there. The problem ... A: the answer is yes and maybe. Without seeing a floor plan of your house and knowing some other ...
basement walls/partitions	10/5/2009
Q: Our home originally had an unfinished basement and years ago I put up some un-permitted walls and ... A: as I mentioned earlier there are reasons for pressure treating. If your floor is dry and the slab ...
stepped footers	10/5/2009
Q: We are having a cabin built,the location is on a hillside so the contractor had to step the footers. ... A: it is imperitive that your footers be continuous and connected together especially on a hillside ...
Header support beam	10/4/2009
Q: I am preparing to remove a load bearing wall and put up a header to open up the living room to the ... A: you can build a simple temporary stud wall with studs spaced to match your floor joists underneath ...
basement walls/partitions	10/4/2009
Q: Our home originally had an unfinished basement and years ago I put up some un-permitted walls and ... A: pressure treated wood is made to discourage wood destroying organisms and termites. Most concrete ...
concrete roof	10/4/2009
Q: My questions are about concrete and structural applications. I am building a house, in Bolivia. ... A: a 12 meter diameter translates to almost 40 feet which means the span from outside edge of wall to ...
converting an attached carport to a garage	10/4/2009
Q: I have a 1959 to 60s home in South Florida with an attached carport that I wish to enclose as a ... A: you can draw and submit your own plans to the building department and do your own work as a ...
CRAWLSPACES	10/3/2009
Q: We need to add 3 steel lolly columns to our crawlspace. We had an inspector come in (we are trying ... A: the inspector you speak of was a private home inspector? If so, then his recommendations are just ...
Basement Finishing	10/3/2009
Q: I am in the process of preparing to finish my basement which measured at 1400 S.F. or 44' by 45' and ... A: drywall is usually figured by the square foot..since your overall area is 1400 sq ft that would be ...
leveling a ceiling	10/1/2009
Q: I've removed the plaster and slats from the ceiling and started putting up the drywall but the ... A: oftentimes you can strip ceiling joists with 1x2, 1x4, metal high hat, or resilient channel. By ...
Building porch over existing raised patio	9/17/2009
Q: I have a 15x30 raised brick patio with a two ft. high brick basketweave wall around it. I want to ... A: Without actually seeing how your existing patio is built it is hard for me to comment on your ...
x ray before slab coring	9/17/2009
Q: I saw the plumber engage someone carrying out x ray to the slab before they core for holes at the ... A: check out the following website for potential scanning equipment. X-rays are becoming passe and ...
Flat Roof Deck	9/16/2009
Q: The roof I am installing over my deck will have a 3" (plus or minus 1/4") slope in 15' and I am ... A: I suppose you could do it that way. Generally the ceiling is what is level and the rafters slope. ...
Flat Roof	9/16/2009
Q: I am installing a (flat) roof over my deck that will only have a 3" fall in 15' and want to make ... A: if this system is accepted by local building departments then it must be sufficiently attached to ...
Flat Roof	9/15/2009
Q: I am installing a (flat) roof over my deck that will only have a 3" fall in 15' and want to make ... A: honestly? I have not done an IB roof system so I can't really comment on its viability in your ...
Ledger attachments.	9/15/2009
Q: Why would you give advice that is not only wrong but that could cause great injury if these ... A: whatever...gee I wonder what people used before wedge anchors and epoxy bolts? How many freaking ...
rafters	9/14/2009
Q: OK my question is ...I am about to build a small house and the plan we picked was of a lofted house. ... A: when you say 24 foot span I am assuming that you mean the building is 24' wide and your span from ...
Ledger attachments.	9/14/2009
Q: Why would you give advice that is not only wrong but that could cause great injury if these ... A: first of all, everything I do is repeat business. Secondly I reviewed my answers regarding ledger ...
Gap around windows	9/14/2009
Q: I own a 3 year old stucco house. I am noticing the stucco is moving away from the windows as far as ... A: the best repair for this problem is to use a good urethane caulk and caulk around the windows. The ...
Ledger attachments.	9/13/2009
Q: Why would you give advice that is not only wrong but that could cause great injury if these ... A: I have used lag shield for years without problems the size and spacing of the lag bolt will ...
CONCRETE	9/11/2009
Q: WE HAVE A Q-HUT TYPE BUILDING 30X40 WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT A CONCRETE PAD INSIDE 25X25 WHAT WOULD BE A ... A: your slab of 625 square feet can be figured a couple of ways. One is dollars per square foot. This ...
Footing cost	9/11/2009
Q: What is a reasonable price for a footing for a building 28'wide and 37'long. The footing will be ... A: a rule of thumb for this type of work is two times the cost of the materials. In your case the cost ...
house on a concrete slab	9/10/2009
Q: My house was built in the 50's, and on a concrete slab. I have always wondered, and so have a lot of ... A: it is common for the main sewer lateral to be outside and the water main to be outside the house ...
Extension floor	9/10/2009
Q: I want to add an extension using a concrete slab floor, as it butts up to an existing slab floor. ... A: building your addition over the pipe should pose no problems. The pipe is already protected by ...
brick ledge	9/9/2009
Q: would like to add brick veneer to raised foundation,no brickledge was formed is there something ... A: there are a couple of things you can do. First of all, use brick ties to help in attaching the ...
base material for a concrete driveway	9/8/2009
Q: Bruce I am getting ready to pour a concrete driveway at my house. I have removed the old drive way, ... A: four inches of rock can develop a lot of voids in it. By compacting the base you eliminate a good ...
load bearing??	9/8/2009
Q: I have a L shaped wall dividing my kitchen and dining room that I want to remove. The long side ... A: If you can get in the attic and position yourself approximately in the area of the walls below you ...
load bearing??	9/8/2009
Q: I have a L shaped wall dividing my kitchen and dining room that I want to remove. The long side ... A: reasonably these walls aren't seemingly long enough to be bearing walls unless there is a hidden ...
base material for a concrete driveway	9/8/2009
Q: Bruce I am getting ready to pour a concrete driveway at my house. I have removed the old drive way, ... A: as long as your base is compacted well you should be okay using the fiber mesh concrete. If you ...
building a shelter	9/7/2009
Q: . I'm doing a design AS and the project is about designing and making a shelter. I just wanted to ... A: I would probably build a bus stop out of aluminum tubing and polycarbonate panels. The aluminum for ...
Installing hinges on door jamb extenions	9/7/2009
Q: I hope this doesn't sound too basically uninformed, but if I install jamb extensions on an exterior ... A: the only time it would be necessary to move the hinges is if the jamb extensions interfere with full ...
Addition	9/4/2009
Q: I have 2 questions for you. I am in the 'thinking about it' stage of adding space onto my house. I ... A: regarding your firstin both cases you would be adding a room on. The only difference would be the ...
reverse birds mouth truss	9/3/2009
Q: we are constructing horse barn. my son says there is a reverse bird mouth cut that is very load ... A: I know what your son is talking about but I always call it a bird's mouth whether it is inside or ...
Extension	9/2/2009
Q: I have laid down foundation of my house.concrete footing and columns are laid down. The Engineers ... A: The bearing capacity of the soil is good if the information given is correct. Based on the existing ...
Extension	8/31/2009
Q: I have laid down foundation of my house.concrete footing and columns are laid down. The Engineers ... A: if you could do a drawing showing me what is existing and then show me what you want to do with ...
removing load-bearing brickwork	8/31/2009
Q: I have just read a reply posted by you (from 2007) regarding supporting overhead brickwork whilst ... A: you can use a concrete lintel no problem. Just make sure that you have at least 4" of bearing on ...
Rotten 4 x 6 cedar posts on a sunporch	8/29/2009
Q: We have a twenty year-old sunporch made with 4 x 6 cedar posts, with the windows attached to the ... A: yes you can double up the bottom sill plate or replace it with a pressure treated 4x6 ..splicing the ...
Extension	8/29/2009
Q: I have laid down foundation of my house.concrete footing and columns are laid down. The Engineers ... A: it is generally better to have a foundation engineered prior to pouring the concrete. In your case ...
20'x20' extension room on mobile home	8/28/2009
Q: I would like to dig a basement beside my mobile home 20'x20' and use the concrete slab(ceiling of ... A: the roof design I sent you does rest on the addition. The only thing sitting on the Mobile roof is ...
20'x20' extension room on mobile home	8/27/2009
Q: I would like to dig a basement beside my mobile home 20'x20' and use the concrete slab(ceiling of ... A: it's not too difficult of a tie in. If your addition abuts the eave side of your home, basically ...
interior cinder block	8/24/2009
Q: My porch has AC/heat but it's still warm in the summer and cold in the winter. Most walls are cinder ... A: you shouldn't need to prep the wall for the foam board. The board can be glued onto the wall with ...
subfloor	8/23/2009
Q: The situation is a 12 x 12 addition that was put on about 30 years ago in the White Mountains of New ... A: you took the words out of my mouth..first you need a vapor barrier on the ground, 6 mil visqueen or ...
beam size	8/22/2009
Q: i am connecting a patio cover to excisting roof. i have 2 6x6 post 16' from house that are 12' apart ... A: 4x6 is kind of puny for a 12' span. I would go at least 4x10 on your beam. The 4x4's you have ...
building on slabs vs. crawl space	8/21/2009
Q: Bruce, can you tell me the advantages or disadvantages of building apartments on slabs. And the same ... A: commercial monolithic slabs are more cost effective than foundations with floor systems or stem ...
electrical box for above ground pool in new jersey	8/21/2009
Q: what does the box look like and what are the rules and regulation for box in west orange new jersey ... A: pool pumps require a disconnect which is a simple metal box with a switch or lever on the side. It ...
30x60 mobile home piers	8/20/2009
Q: I just have a quick question about a mobile home in the Los Angeles area of California. How many ... A: the required footings for a manufactured home really depends on the manufacturer of the home. The ...
smelly texture	8/18/2009
Q: Yesterday we had texture sprayed on 1/4 of the rooms in our house. The entire house still smells - ... A: I get this question often. Unfortunately I get the questions after the "sour" texture has already ...
relocating my washer/dryer	8/18/2009
Q: My arctic entry is also my laundry room, and I hate that so I want to move my washer/dryer to my ... A: A washing machine requires a water supply, hot and cold,and electricity. It also needs a drain. I ...
Garage Ceiling Supports	8/18/2009
Q: I have a 20'x20' detached wood-frame & stucco garage. The house was built in 1956 and has so far ... A: I have to say, that is the wierdest sounding roof structure I have ever heard of. I don't get the ...
foundation problems	8/17/2009
Q: We want to buy this 1000 sq.ft. house that is made of block. It is a little lopsided and would like ... A: if you have access to a level you can put it up against the walls that look tilted and see if the ...
foundation problems	8/16/2009
Q: We want to buy this 1000 sq.ft. house that is made of block. It is a little lopsided and would like ... A: 45,000 seems like a cheap price unless other homes in the area cost less. If similar homes in the ...
garage door	8/16/2009
Q: Bruce, I have an attached 2+ garage. The entrance to the garage is from the south, and in remodeling ... A: yes it can be more complicated than that depending on how your garage is built. If the garage has a ...
Crumbling Steps	8/15/2009
Q: The front steps on my parent's house are crumbling. They appear to be cinder block with a skim-coat ... A: these steps can be patched but it may require a touch up every couple of years. First of all you ...
Exterior paint	8/15/2009
Q: Hey, Bruce!! Don't know if this is within your area of expertise or not, but here goes: Do I need ... A: when it comes to paint I like to follow the manufacturers recommendations because not all paints are ...
truss roof addition to existing modular home	8/14/2009
Q: I have a modular home with a truss roof. We are adding a 20' x 24' addition to the back of the ... A: if you can cut the tails off without compromising the gang nail plates that hold the truss end ...
Header support beam	8/13/2009
Q: I am preparing to remove a load bearing wall and put up a header to open up the living room to the ... A: Yes. You are concentrating the load from that twelve foot section of wall to the two points at each ...
Installing a flat roof over my existing deck	8/12/2009
Q: I am cutting off my soffit where the roof will connect to the house and want to know if I need to ... A: you can do all of the above. You can cut off the existing rafter tails and attach your ledger to ...
Open Rafters on Sunroom	8/11/2009
Q: Bruce, thanks so much for your help. It wouldn't let me ask another follow-up, so had to ask a new ... A: if your nails can be at least 2" from the end of the rafter your collar length will work. Two ...
CONCRETE PATIO	8/10/2009
Q: MY BUILDER HASTILY PUT IN A CONCRETE PATIO LATE IN THE FALL. IN THE WINTERTIME I UNSUSPECTINGLY PUT ... A: some people pay extra for a salt finish on their concrete. But if you don't like the look the patio ...
internal load bearing wall	8/9/2009
Q: We are hoping to remove an internal load bearing wall between our dining room and kitchen. I was ... A: Sizing a beam for your requirements depends on what is bearing on the existing wall. If it is just ...
Crumbling Steps	8/7/2009
Q: The front steps on my parent's house are crumbling. They appear to be cinder block with a skim-coat ... A: 4500 dollars for three steps? Unless they go half way around the house that sounds a little ...
Suspended concrete pad	8/7/2009
Q: Bruce, I,m building a garage 30x30 with a half basement 15x30 and would like to know what it would ... A: I would have to see a structural drawing of how your masonry walls are connected to the footings, ...
Open rafter ceilings on	8/7/2009
Q: I recently began building an enclosed porch/sunroom off of the side of my house. There was ... A: first of all your outside bearing wall is holding more than half your roof load. The shed of the ...
fixed window replacement	8/6/2009
Q: 4'x5' fixed window has a leak in the seal and needs to be replaced. My question is..there is some ... A: if the windows that are seeping tar are in the sun it could be the sealant used is heating up and ...
Open rafter ceilings on	8/5/2009
Q: I recently began building an enclosed porch/sunroom off of the side of my house. There was ... A: no you don't need the collar tie in this situation and when ceiling joists are used in conventional ...
Open rafter ceilings on "Shed" roof?	8/5/2009
Q: I recently began building an enclosed porch/sunroom off of the side of my house. There was ... A: you should be okay attaching your drywall directly to the bottom of the rafters. If the rafters are ...
siding	8/5/2009
Q: I am replacing broken siding from hail damage. Should i also replace the house wrap? The house ... A: if you have the old siding off it wouldn't hurt to stick a new layer of house wrap on over the top ...
converting patio to sun room/structural	8/4/2009
Q: We just converted our 10' x 35' patio and want to make a sun room. It's about 4' feet above the ... A: If the perimeter (the 35' side) of porch where your new walls and windows are going to sit have a ...
stucco coating gone bad	8/3/2009
Q: My mothers home was sprayed with stucco by Sears Coating 15 yrs. ago. It started to peal within the ... A: two of your choices are already on the table. Either you remove the coating with either ...
Sheet plexiglass skylight flashing	8/2/2009
Q: I want to put a 1x2'skylight in a new shed roof I am working on. Rather than frame the opening and ... A: I would run the shingles as normal down the edges of the plexiglass making sure to caulk between the ...
converting patio to sun room/structural	8/2/2009
Q: We just converted our 10' x 35' patio and want to make a sun room. It's about 4' feet above the ... A: your roof system is already in place and apparently properly supported. You don't say what kind of ...
Sheet plexiglass skylight flashing	8/2/2009
Q: I want to put a 1x2'skylight in a new shed roof I am working on. Rather than frame the opening and ... A: I suppose it will work okay. Try to layer the plexiglass with the shed of the shingles. In other ...
A Structural Question.	8/1/2009
Q: Well I'm a student, and our teacher gave us this question to think about. If the roof is being held ... A: if the roof system is an engineered truss then the truss spans from bearing wall to bearing wall or ...
Limestone steps cracking	7/31/2009
Q: I had limestone steps installed with a railing and a couple of weeks later, the limestone cracked ... A: limestone is pretty soft and subject to cracking under various circumstances. I can't say for sure ...
autoclaved aerated concrete	7/30/2009
Q: I have been searching for hours trying to find the Fl.acceptance or Notice of Acceptance for this ... A: most building departments in Florida require either a NOA for structural products or the seal of an ...
mono-slab vs. stem wall	7/30/2009
Q: I will be building a barn in CT (New England winters are a concern). The size is 36'x36'. Which ... A: gosh, without knowing exactly how the barn is going to built, how tall etc. it's hard to say what ...
concrete	7/29/2009
Q: Bruce- I have 2 questions: 1) I have a front porch with a concrete block foundation. Is there ... A: sure you can get some stucco mix at your local home depot, lowes or lumber yard. Just mix it with ...
Interior Door Frame Installation Issue	7/27/2009
Q: I'm building a new house in Houston, TX area. The house finished Phase 2. It is processing on Phase ... A: it is pretty common to make the rough openings for prehung doors wider and higher than normal. How ...
Adding a foundation to existing house.	7/27/2009
Q: Read an old post you answered about adding a foundation to foundation-less residential house. I'm ... A: it is easier to keep the new wall down enough to form and pump concrete into it and then fill the ...
Making Window in Old Concrete Block Wall	7/26/2009
Q: Johnson, Background Information: We have a building 150' x 40' in plan, originally made as a ... A: the units are inches. 3/16 of an inch in thickness with a 6" vertical leg and a 6" horizontal leg ...
backsplash	7/26/2009
Q: The walls in my house are plastered covered shiplap and I was wondering if I can apply a backsplash ... A: I can't think of any reason you can't apply a backsplash directly to the plaster. Tile and other ...
Making Window in Old Concrete Block Wall	7/25/2009
Q: Johnson, Background Information: We have a building 150' x 40' in plan, originally made as a ... A: chances are that the top of your existing wall has a concrete beam or a two course concrete filled ...
2" pipe in studs	7/24/2009
Q: Bruce, Hello. I am remodeling our 2nd floor master bath and I'm looking for some advice. We are ... A: have you looked at rerouting the vent in the floor joists below? It will involve a little drywall ...
Question	7/24/2009
Q: I had some bad siding, and after removing it, I noticed the wall behind was kind of rotted at the ... A: It looks like particle board or denny board behind the felt but I can't say for sure. I would ...
Need to run 2" vent horizontally	7/23/2009
Q: Bruce, Hello. I am remodeling our 2nd floor master bath and I'm looking for some advice. We are ... A: you have a couple of options. First of all you can run 2" pipe through 2x4 studs it is done all the ...
Window Caulking	7/23/2009
Q: The caulking around our windows are cracked and I wanted to fix that. I was wondering what kind of ... A: commercially we use a product call Vulcum, or another similar product Eucolastic. They are both ...
stairway stringers	7/22/2009
Q: My stairway stringers are stained a dark oak. My stairs are carpet. I want to veneer a clear oak on ... A: Without seeing your exact stair construction, I would have to say yes you can veneer your stairs. ...
Manufactured Home addition	7/21/2009
Q: I have an additional question to the two that I have seen posted on additions to mobile homes. My ... A: the rafter tails beyond the outside wall of the existing home can usually be trimmed back to the ...
ceiling joists	7/21/2009
Q: I want to raise the ceiling level in a one story ranch house by exposing the beams in the ceiling ... A: 1x4 tongue and groove? You might be able to go up to 32" spacing. I hope this information helps, ...
Modifying Trusses	7/20/2009
Q: me again =o) I've drawn a picture, not to scale, and attached it. Hopefully this will help. Note: ... A: it looks like you did everything I mentioned except add the side cleats on each side of your 2x6 ...
pergola	7/20/2009
Q: Bruce, I have started a pergola over an existing deck it will be in two section on higher the the ... A: 2x8 for a 16 foot span is kind of puny. But if it is just for a pergola and you put the crown of the ...
Siding over ornamental concrete blocks	7/19/2009
Q: My home's lower basement level has 2 small walls constructed with flower-patterned ornamental ... A: I would use both tapcon concrete screws and exterior liquid nails to attach your siding. The screws ...
Modifying Trusses	7/18/2009
Q: me again =o) I've drawn a picture, not to scale, and attached it. Hopefully this will help. Note: ... A: okay I have a better clue as to what you want to do. Yes you can probably cut this area back if you ...
staining roof	7/18/2009
Q: http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb153/sgull1/IMG_1133.jpg ... A: the Superdeck product you mention will suffice for stain and sealer. Just find the color you want ...
staining roof "slats"	7/17/2009
Q: http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb153/sgull1/IMG_1133.jpg ... A: pressure treated wood will have a stamp on it and a greenish or bluish hue. It will wash out over ...
bus stop shelter	7/17/2009
Q: In my capacity employed as a maintenance person at a tourist/visitor center, I've been assigned the ... A: the main reason I said I would notch the rafters is because with a big header at the top plate your ...
concrete	7/17/2009
Q: First I want to thank you for the answers that you've provided to me in the past regarding my ... A: the material goes by several names and manufacturers. Home Depot usually carries a Mappe product ...
concrete	7/16/2009
Q: First I want to thank you for the answers that you've provided to me in the past regarding my ... A: normally for projects like this we just snap some lines after the concrete is finished and can be ...
bus stop shelter	7/16/2009
Q: In my capacity employed as a maintenance person at a tourist/visitor center, I've been assigned the ... A: basically you frame up the entry similar to the window shown on the drawing only make it bigger. ...
Modifying Trusses	7/15/2009
Q: Bruce, since Sep 2007 you've answered many questions about a project I was then planning and am now ... A: take a look at the attached sketch I did and see if this kind of describes what you are planning to ...
rust on I beams	7/14/2009
Q: We have a parking deck that is only 6 years old. The new I-beams we put in are already rusting. ... A: I don't have a lot of information on how this parking deck is constructed or actually what a parking ...
Foundation Question	7/14/2009
Q: Can you roughly estimate the cost of pouring the foundation/footings with the following information. ... A: In your instance it probably is better to go with all poured concrete mainly because it will involve ...
Modifying Trusses	7/13/2009
Q: Bruce, since Sep 2007 you've answered many questions about a project I was then planning and am now ... A: has the roof already been built? If not why not just have the truss company build you some scissor ...
Header Beam for garage door	7/13/2009
Q: We're building a large garage (22x36'# with attic trusses #10/12 pitch# with a 16' x 8' garage door. ... A: it is best to connect the two LVLs to each other and then furr out the remaining thickness with ...
garage door headers	7/11/2009
Q: I am doing some home renos and i would like to replace my existing 9'x7' garage door with a 12'x7' ... A: if the wall is supporting a hip roof then you basically build a simple wall inside the supporting ...
Fire rated corridor	7/10/2009
Q: I am a designer in Kissimmee, Fl. and am working in a small project (1400 s.f. Tea house). this is ... A: you submit your plans and the city will determine the occupancy, then you will have to post the ...
Revamp Deteriotated Brick Veneer Wall Assembly	7/9/2009
Q: We are remodeling our kitchen and expanding it into the garage. Our Florida home was built in ... A: that will probably work okay. Other than tearing off the brick and doing the work from the outside ...
header size	7/9/2009
Q: I need to know what size header to use for a 22' openning, 24' in length supporting a hip roof(22' ... A: I wouldn't go any smaller than either a 6x16 wood beam or a double 16" LVL (laminated) beam. I ...
concrete vs. wooden steps	7/8/2009
Q: I'm moving to a new home with a front yard that slopes downward. I would like to have some steps ... A: concrete is probably a little more expensive but it sounds like you may need to build some stepped ...
Calculating Live Load in Bath	7/8/2009
Q: I am planning out a bathroom remodel. We are moving the location of the jetted bathtub to a location ... A: it's quite simple really you take the weight of the filled tub 700 pounds and divide it by the ...
concrete block crumbling	7/8/2009
Q: I have an interior, concrete-block wall on an attached garage. There are 3 courses of block above ... A: it sounds like you have a water intrusion problem. I am a bit confused as to where this wall is ...
Fire rated corridor	7/8/2009
Q: I am a designer in Kissimmee, Fl. and am working in a small project (1400 s.f. Tea house). this is ... A: here is the page from the code book: FIRE RESISTANCE RATING OF EXIT ACCESS ...
making covered deck into sunroom	7/7/2009
Q: we just bought a house that has across the full back length of the house a covered patio. The ... A: a 2x8 joist with a 10 foot span will be a little springy. I would support it at mid span. ...
paver patio & pergola	7/6/2009
Q: I am planning to put a pergola on a patio that I haven't laid yet. Should I lay the gravel base and ... A: you can do it either way. If you dig the holes first then you should probably fill them with ...
wood beam to cement connector	7/5/2009
Q: I wanted to know how I could hang 4x8 douglas fir joists. I have a loft apartment with huge 3 story ... A: You can hang a ledger board to the concrete using concrete anchors and then attach joist hangers to ...
house extension	7/4/2009
Q: l want to build a single story extension,the full length of the back and side of the house.l would ... A: This type of foundation/ floor slab saves you in labor and materials. I hope this information ...
removing a basement support post	7/3/2009
Q: I am finishing my basement and have a question regarding removing a support post. I have a wooden ... A: there must be a reason for that post. Do the beam's 2x10 break or join on top of the post? Is ...
new contruction concrete slab foundation	7/3/2009
Q: My question concerns new construction concrete slab foundation to be poured on south Texas clay ... A: making sure the ground is compacted well prior the concrete being poured is a necessity. You should ...
Concrete Slab for Basement costs?	7/3/2009
Q: What is the / squarefoot cost for poured concrete floor or concrete basement slab. Also, what is ... A: both slabs should cost about the same, somewhere between 5-7 dollars a square foot depending on the ...
concrete driveway	7/3/2009
Q: I was hopping you could answer my question. I am doing a driveway extension. If I drill some holes ... A: control joints and expansion joints are different animals. Due to the nature of concrete, it will ...
concrete driveway	7/3/2009
Q: I was hopping you could answer my question. I am doing a driveway extension. If I drill some holes ... A: not necessarily. You can drill a 5/8" hole for a #4 rebar and then slip the rebar into the slab end ...
humidity	7/2/2009
Q: Bruce, I had an addition on the back of my house. It was built on a crawlspace where there was 6" ... A: 45-50% is perfect in my book. If it has been at 70 or higher for a length of time it might take a ...
Remodelling a Split Entry Home	7/1/2009
Q: My fiance and I recently purchased a split entry home, however we are finding the layout to be very ... A: It depends on how your roof is built. Most modern homes built from the 60's on have manufactured ...
Tools for scraping off foam from roof	7/1/2009
Q: I've been remodeling my roof and I filled the interior of my roof with polyurethane foam, but I need ... A: you might try a sawzall, reciprocating saw, with a long blade. A large commercial razor blade ...
Remodelling a Split Entry Home	6/30/2009
Q: My fiance and I recently purchased a split entry home, however we are finding the layout to be very ... A: I would make the kitchen, living and master bedroom to suit my needs and not worry about how many ...
Garage addition	6/30/2009
Q: Bruce, we would like to add a 11'-6" garage to the side of our current 3-car garage. With 11'-0" ... A: I don't have the whole story here. Why is there a stem wall in a garage? What is the existing ...
Removing a Fireplace that is in the center of the house	6/30/2009
Q: I have a large brick fireplace that is in the center of my house. It measures 11 feet x 5 feet and ... A: it is not an impossible project. A couple of energetic people with a chipping hammer and sledge ...
Replacing a beam	6/29/2009
Q: We had removed a load bearing wall years ago and replaced it with a beam. We want to replace that ... A: measure the total width of the opening that you want that is your "span". Then measure from the ...
digging out a small basement from a 3 foot crawl space	6/29/2009
Q: whats the best tools to used, any type of excavator tread belt to remove dirt available. do you have ... A: I have seen it done with a pick, a shovel and a wheelbarrow. I have seen it done with a bobcat. I ...
Remodel/Move Laundry Room	6/28/2009
Q: I would like to move my washer/dryer to my garage and I do not have any plumbing out there except ... A: I doubt that a standard washer pump can pump the water that far and especially that high. You can ...
Lally column	6/27/2009
Q: In the house we're planning to buy, the sellers had a gas line run along the back wall of the garage ... A: first of all at six inches above the floor it is unlikely that a car will be able to hit the line at ...
large oak lintel	6/25/2009
Q: Our builder is renovating our house and put in a massive oak lintel in a one story extension over 2 ... A: I can't tell you if the sun is causing the cracking because I don't know how much sun it gets or how ...
Remodel/Move Laundry Room	6/25/2009
Q: I would like to move my washer/dryer to my garage and I do not have any plumbing out there except ... A: getting the water to your machines is as simple as tying into the piping going into (cold) and ...
croncrete block	6/24/2009
Q: I would like to know if it is possible to insulate an existing home where the exterior walls are ... A: if it is available in your area there are foam injection systems that insulation companies have that ...
Residential Framing Issues concerned	6/23/2009
Q: The builder had the framer to redo the window framing in the family room already. They reframed ... A: for some reason I couldn't access the website to look at the photos. But I will try to answer your ...
framing a small greenhouse	6/23/2009
Q: I would like to rebuild a small (about 5'7' X 8') with wooden framing, a very crude first drawing is ... A: I've been giving your project some thought and this is my advice: 1. your ceiling panels and wall ...
Bracing under floor joist	6/22/2009
Q: I have a question about bracing under floor joist; I live in a split level ranch home, I am ... A: I don't know how your floor system is built but most conventional floor systems can support a ...
new crawl space foundation	6/22/2009
Q: First of all thank you for any answer. Here is the uestion. We like to add a room to our house. My ... A: I would use #5 rebar for your new footing two continuous. If your existing basement wall is solid ...
decking	6/21/2009
Q: my garden is about 20ft x16ft and is all lawn can i put decking straight on top if so how far do the ... A: I don't know what is available in your area but here in the States we can get precast footing blocks ...
addition	6/20/2009
Q: Adding screen porch to mobile home free floating deck. This will be at 90 degree to home. Using ... A: not necessarily. If your porch walls are taller than your mobile walls then your new roof can go ...
Interior Wall Removal	6/19/2009
Q: I am about to remove an interior wall from a single story cinder block house with a stick framed ... A: this should work. It sounds like you are only dealing with ceiling load anyhow. Your LVL dealer ...
Facing a Block Wall with Brick	6/18/2009
Q: I'm planning to face an existing 8 course concrete block wall with brick. How do I integrate (or ... A: When adding a full sized brick face to a masonry wall one usually keeps a space between the brick ...
Installation of Corner Posts and Sofit	6/18/2009
Q: I'm currently residing my house, I've never done siding before and would like to know if i should do ... A: I usually do the corner trim up to the soffit for a cleaner look. But you can do the corner trim ...
Large Patio Cover	6/18/2009
Q: From Bruce, "Hi again Billy, how hig you go up on the existing roof shouldn't be an issue but I ... A: yes the solid bridging or in some cases x bracing between joists keeps them from twisting and gives ...
Large Patio Cover	6/17/2009
Q: From Bruce, "Hi again Billy, how hig you go up on the existing roof shouldn't be an issue but I ... A: I prefer the bolted buckets but if you are going to enclose the room then the SDS screws will be ...
Room Addition	6/17/2009
Q: Roughly, how much would it cost to turn a screened in porch (w/ light/fan) into an extra room (big ... A: it depends on a lot of things but a basic enclosure of an existing roof and slab should run ...
exterior LVL's?	6/17/2009
Q: my wife and I are having a screened room and new deck built on the back of our house and the plans ... A: have you considered girder trusses? A girder truss is an engineered box truss which can then be ...
Steel window lintels	6/16/2009
Q: I am removing and replacing windows in the downstairs of a block home. The window lintels that are ... A: it bothers me that the angle iron is sagging in the middle. Normally the angle iron is just ...
exterior tile application on ecisting t&g fir/hem slats[covered porch]	6/16/2009
Q: Advantech I have not heard of...I'll look into it online. I am researching what app to use for a ... A: a cement board underlayment is probably your best bet for this application. Hardi makes a tile ...
filling void underneath pool deck	6/15/2009
Q: I have a concrete deck (sidewalk) surrounding my inground vinyl pool. Over the years a plumbing ... A: a non-shrink, non metallic grout will work. It can be mixed as thin as you need it and will flow ...
6x6 Patio Cover Colum Concrete Anchors	6/15/2009
Q: I'm building a patio cover over my deck that will be 20x16. I'm using 3 6x6 columns and attaching ... A: how hig you go up on the existing roof shouldn't be an issue but I don't know how your existing roof ...
Steel window lintels	6/15/2009
Q: I am removing and replacing windows in the downstairs of a block home. The window lintels that are ... A: So you are removing the old lintels and replacing them with new lintels? Also, what are you calling ...
6x6 Patio Cover Colum Concrete Anchors	6/15/2009
Q: I'm building a patio cover over my deck that will be 20x16. I'm using 3 6x6 columns and attaching ... A: yes you can go up the existing roof. Basically you take like a 2x10 and lay it flat across your ...
Residential window wood frame structure	6/15/2009
Q: Bruce E. Johnson, I'm building a new house in Houston, TX area (Harris County). I have few questions ... A: both methods of framing are acceptable. I do think that clips should be used to attach the cripples ...
concrete ceiling	6/13/2009
Q: I have a concrete block house with a formed concrete roof. Taking out the drop ceilings to expose ... A: if the material was several inches thick and foamy looking or looks like a bunch of spitballs made ...
Breaking through exterior brick wall	6/11/2009
Q: apologies if you've answered this kind of question already here. I have build on an extension to ... A: the gable end generally doesn't have as much bearing weight on it as the rafter bearing walls. If ...
adding floor above living room	6/11/2009
Q: I want to add a floor above my living room and a contractor said he would secure a ledger board ... A: it would probably be a good idea, especially for a floor system. Over time the drywall may break ...
stilt home enclosure	6/11/2009
Q: My husband is looking to buy this stilt home in Florida{not in flood zone,so no idea why it's on ... A: chances are good that you can enclose it. You will need to contact your local building department ...
6x6 Patio Cover Colum Concrete Anchors	6/11/2009
Q: I'm building a patio cover over my deck that will be 20x16. I'm using 3 6x6 columns and attaching ... A: go to Simpsonanchors.com. Simpson makes several kinds of post bases and post anchors. Find the one ...
exterior wall siding	6/10/2009
Q: My house is located in Southern California. It was built ca. 1925 with exterior clapboard siding ... A: it is not necessary to install furring strips over the plywood. Generally the only time furring ...
RE: Cabinetry in New Construction	6/10/2009
Q: Bruce, I would appreciate your opinion regarding the storage of the cabinets for our new home. The ... A: yes you should be concerned, especially if the weather is humid and the cabinets are not covered in ...
exterior wall siding	6/10/2009
Q: My house is located in Southern California. It was built ca. 1925 with exterior clapboard siding ... A: first of all you will need a permit to do anything to the wall including replacing the window unless ...
Patio	6/8/2009
Q: I would like to build a concrete slab for my garbage cans and other outdoor equipment. The problem I ... A: you don't need to connect to the existing concrete. Just make sure your sub grade (the ground you ...
hollow 'window seat' - want to place load on	6/5/2009
Q: We have an approx. 2 foot deep by 104 inch wide/long 'window seat' It is built extending out from ... A: if the window seat is drywall or some other not so stable material then I would opt for the 3/4" ...
hollow 'window seat' - want to place load on	6/5/2009
Q: We have an approx. 2 foot deep by 104 inch wide/long 'window seat' It is built extending out from ... A: if the dressers have solid bottoms then they should distribute the weight evenly enough without the ...
hollow 'window seat' - want to place load on	6/5/2009
Q: We have an approx. 2 foot deep by 104 inch wide/long 'window seat' It is built extending out from ... A: you can take the window seat out if you are worried about it holding the weight. Or you can install ...
Cob house...	6/4/2009
Q: I live in the wonderful state of Florida and I was wondering how much trouble would I need to go ... A: I have never built a Cob Structure however according to the proponents of this building technique it ...
Deck Enclosure	6/3/2009
Q: We are thinking about enclosing our deck, making it a screened deck (using a contractor). We have a ... A: most screen manufacturers also make vinyl windows. They are like sliding glass doors in their own ...
more space	6/3/2009
Q: I would like an educated guess of how much it would cost me to extend my kitchen to enclose a ... A: it depends on how much structural work is needed to open up the wall and make the living areas ...
Concrete Repair	6/3/2009
Q: I have an outdoor concrete window sill that has a large chunck of concrete missing. I only noticed ... A: you can patch it with a concrete patching mix. Make sure the area is clean. Mix the concrete ...
what is right way to keep a small room for washer and dryer.	6/3/2009
Q: It will be attached to my kitchen wall. What can I do to keep it being protected from shifting and ... A: generally speaking you have to build your foundation footings below the local frost line. In Maine ...
air conditioning ductwork	6/2/2009
Q: What size sheet metal ductwork(insulated on the inside) should be used to handle 4,000 cfm of air ... A: this is not a question that can be answered based on the information given. If you are talking ...
Enclosing Covered Patio	5/29/2009
Q: I have a covered patio and it has a tile roof like the rest of the house, Span is about 18'x18', it ... A: I like to use tapcons for attaching wood sills to concrete. 1/4" galvanized at least long enough ...
attaching concrete block to exsisting cement pad	5/29/2009
Q: the back addition of my house about 18 feet by 18 feet was build on poured concrete into those ... A: if you have a reasonable footing along the edge of the concrete slab then you can drill into the ...
Ledger for patio cover	5/28/2009
Q: I want to build a 10x16 patio cover over an existing brick patio. The wall I need to attach the ... A: when you say the "wall" you want to attach to has a "cantilever" doesn't make sense to me, sorry. ...
Fencing	5/26/2009
Q: I am building 800 ft fence in width. I want the pickets to be 8ft in height with 4" spacers. How ... A: if you are setting posts at every ten feet then you will have 80 sections of ten feet each..or 30 ...
lumber	5/26/2009
Q: i am going to build a pergola. is using sealed non pressure treated douglas fir the same as using ... A: yes in this case I use the term joists to refer to the rafters...cantilever means that your ...
RESIDENTIAL MOISTURE/VAPOR BARRIER BELOW SLAB	5/26/2009
Q: I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, THAT MY MOISTURE BARRIER BELOW MY SLAB IS BREACHED IN ... A: the slab will have to be jackhammered up, all the rubble removed, a new vapor barrier installed, and ...
Options and cost to repair patio	5/25/2009
Q: I recently bought a 60-year old house and I have a 30x12 patio in my back yard that has settled and, ... A: the cost of pouring a patio should run around 5-7 dollars a square foot or about a third of what the ...
Brick to what?	5/25/2009
Q: I have acquired an old brick block house and was curious as to what the best way to add extensions? ... A: you don't necessarily have to build your additions exactly like the original, however the final wall ...
Respacing studs in a load-bearing wall	5/24/2009
Q: I have a wall between my kitchen and living room. It is a load-bearing wall I think because it's the ... A: the rule of thumb for headers is one foot of width per inch of height in a 4x? or a double 2x?..In ...
RESIDENTIAL MOISTURE/VAPOR BARRIER BELOW SLAB	5/24/2009
Q: I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, THAT MY MOISTURE BARRIER BELOW MY SLAB IS BREACHED IN ... A: well if all of the above have been done then it is possible that there is nothing left to do but ...
Respacing studs in a load-bearing wall	5/24/2009
Q: I have a wall between my kitchen and living room. It is a load-bearing wall I think because it's the ... A: yes you can put headers in the areas you want to cut out the bearing wall studs. For these small of ...
RESIDENTIAL MOISTURE/VAPOR BARRIER BELOW SLAB	5/22/2009
Q: I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, THAT MY MOISTURE BARRIER BELOW MY SLAB IS BREACHED IN ... A: If you have a basement and the slab is in the basement you can help by making sure there is a ...
Block Moisture	5/21/2009
Q: I have a block building in Upstate NY. I had it painted 3 years ago by a pro. The weather side is ... A: unfortunately the only way to go is to repaint..did you really think that Sherwin Williams or the ...
Concrete Slab	5/21/2009
Q: I live in East Durham, N.Y.. I'm looking to put a slab under my 14x70 mobile home to stop the ... A: the easiest way to do it is to pull the mobile off the property, form and pour a new slab and then ...
Sistering joists	5/20/2009
Q: I've got a 1971 home in southern PA. I am trying to sister some 2x8 joists (99" span) which are ... A: you can probably just toe nail the existing joists to the beams and then remove the 2x3 without any ...
Extension to a house with a slab for foundation	5/20/2009
Q: Can you build an extension to a house that has a slab foundation? I want to add a bathroom, extend ... A: of course you can add onto slab foundation buildings..find out where your sewer line is located ...
lumber	5/20/2009
Q: i am going to build a pergola. is using sealed non pressure treated douglas fir the same as using ... A: I thought you were going to use 4x4 posts? 15' is a long span for a 2x8 unless you cantilever the ...
railing height	5/19/2009
Q: I live in Los Angeles and we are constructing a new patio and upper deck. My framer tells me the ... A: 42" is a standard almost anywhere in the country. The railing should have pickets every 4" apart ...
3D software/custom home	5/19/2009
Q: we need very EASY TO USE software that allows us to draw/design & then SEE our custom home ... A: I use Turbo-cad for my basic drawings..it comes with a 3d program but I have never used it..but I ...
Concrete Building	5/19/2009
Q: I have a 9x12 concrete block storage building that also is used for storm protection that has been ... A: 100 dollars a square foot is generally a good guesstimating start..so you are looking at ten grand ...
steel beam	5/19/2009
Q: I have just built a composite deck and now want to screen in the lower level (basement walkout). We ... A: contact your local steel beam supplier and get an engineered response to this question. I am not an ...
Ramp Slope	5/19/2009
Q: Sir I have to design a ramp for forklifter to approach our Ware house which FFL is +5', Please ... A: generally speaking you can go 4-6" rise per foot of run. So a ramp would need to be either 15 feet ...
Master bath and Closet addition	5/18/2009
Q: Bruce- I am planning to add an master bath and walk in closet onto the rear of my master bedroom. ... A: I would match the existing foundation. It would look better and even if you did go with a post and ...
Sistering joists	5/18/2009
Q: I've got a 1971 home in southern PA. I am trying to sister some 2x8 joists (99" span) which are ... A: that is definately a ledger and should not be removed unless you have joist hangers or other form of ...
lumber	5/18/2009
Q: i am going to build a pergola. is using sealed non pressure treated douglas fir the same as using ... A: for a pergola exposed to the outdoors I would go either cedar or pressure treated joist or beams and ...
Paint peeling on exterior concrete block	5/18/2009
Q: We live in a concrete block house built in the 1950's. We became occupants in 1990. The exterior ... A: it could be a combination of things but I would opt for the rain bouncing off the patio and hitting ...
Basement walls samp	5/18/2009
Q: My house was built in 1915. The basement walls are very thick concrete, but porous, crumbly, and ... A: sorry I haven't gotten back sooner but I have been away..still am actually..anyhow: Any of the above ...
Basement walls samp	5/17/2009
Q: My house was built in 1915. The basement walls are very thick concrete, but porous, crumbly, and ... A: I prefer to use a sandblaster for cleaning walls like yours. Home Depot, Lowes and other tool ...
Raised patios against foundations	5/16/2009
Q: When constructing a raised patio against a house when the height of the patio is taller than the ... A: you can catch the water in a drain of some sort and shuttle it off to the side..you can get slotted ...
build a deck onto a house built on a slab	5/16/2009
Q: Is it possible to build a deck onto a house which is built on a slab using a floating foundation ... A: of course it is. All you need is about six inches between the elevation of the surrounding yard and ...
Building block steps attached to a building	5/16/2009
Q: Would you please be able to advise how to build a block of stairs to a first floor level from a ... A: I would need to know what type of building structure you are talking about. Is it a wood structure? ...
Slab Foundation Cutting	5/16/2009
Q: I'm planning an addition onto my home which has an unusually solid 8" slab foundation. I would like ... A: Are you sure the entire existing slab is 8" thick? Sometimes just the edges of a slab foundation ...
Double Wythe Brick Wall	5/15/2009
Q: I am building a 3-sided, double wythe brick wall on the perimeter of my small property. I'm building ... A: you need some sort of vertical support on this wall if it is over 4'high..one method is to do ...
Double Wythe Brick Wall	5/14/2009
Q: I am building a 3-sided, double wythe brick wall on the perimeter of my small property. I'm building ... A: on a double wythe fence wall the width or thickness is normally the length of a full brick. This ...
should a brick ledge be caped if not used for brick	5/13/2009
Q: I recently purchased my first home and wile mulching my front landscaping,I discovered a hole dug ... A: are you sure of what you are looking at? Is it the open cells of an 8" block or is it a 4" ...
Career in real estate development	5/13/2009
Q: My name is Rashad. I’m in the process of registering for school at a 2 year college. I want to ... A: Obvious area 1 is necessary for the basic educational requirements leading up to your degree. The ...
build a deck on top of exsisting patio	5/13/2009
Q: We have a 12 ft x 16ft block patio that is about 3 feet high on one side and tapers to about 1 foot ... A: I've built some nice decks over old block and concrete patios etc. Most of the time you can use the ...
Truss repair	5/11/2009
Q: We have a 1999 Fleetwood home that we are going to repair to be used for a ministry. It has fire ... A: a carpenter can probably repair the bad trusses using new rafter wood and plywood gussets glued and ...
garden decking	5/10/2009
Q: I wish to lay garden decking over & beyond my current solid concrete patio. Can you please advise me ... A: normally when doing a wood deck over concrete slab I use 2x4 joists laid on edge and 24" apart with ...
concrete joists	5/10/2009
Q: I have recently brought a house and just been informed by the neighbour the previous owner has ... A: I can't say from your description what was done and how it affects your structure. When you say ...
rough grade	5/10/2009
Q: what is the "rough grade" for a building? Thank you. A: rough grade is a term generally referring to the ground elevation surrounding a building during ...
120 gallon aquarium on a 50's post and pier floor	5/9/2009
Q: We're getting a 120 gallon aquarium with about 35 more gallons of water in the sump below, in the ... A: your beams where they bear on the wall have a shear of 175-300 psi (depending on the type of wood) ...
I beam end support	5/8/2009
Q: I am buying a house and found the following setup for an I beam support. It looks to me like the ... A: It's hard to see the small print on your photo and this website doesn't allow for enlarging the ...
Concrete Mix	5/8/2009
Q: I'm planning to extend my Concrete Patio. I've figured an Area about 300 SF. To pour 4" thick I ... A: a simple mix is 1 portland cement, 2 sand, 4 aggregate..However I prefer a 1 cement, 2 sand and 3 ...
moisture in a block building	5/8/2009
Q: my husband built a building with cement block buildings. the problem is anything in the building ... A: the first product that comes to mind is called "Dry-loc" it is a heavy paint that can be applied to ...
weep holes vs. french drain	5/7/2009
Q: We're currently getting bids on putting in a paver patio along the back of our house and replacing a ... A: weep holes will relieve the hydrostatic pressure behind the retaining wall (one of the largest ...
Patio Cover: span and beam size etc.	5/7/2009
Q: Bruce, I've attached a file that contains my question. Thanks so much for your help. A: I'm sorry but the size and resolution of your picture are too small, I can't read the writing..if ...
hanging curtain rods	5/7/2009
Q: i guess i will be doing a lot of filling holes that i drilled in frustration of trying to find one ... A: it is unlikely that the drywall would be mounted directly to the concrete if your walls are ...
joists	5/6/2009
Q: what size joists do i need for a flat garage roof with a span of 2900mm it is just going to be ... A: I don't know what size lumber is available to you in metrics but I can tell you what will work in ...
repair or replace pole foundation	5/5/2009
Q: About 30 years ago I built a house on 9 6x6 treated poles on a steep mountainside. The poles were ... A: Generally if there is rot at ground level then the problem may be deeper. The best way to replace ...
supporting headers	5/4/2009
Q: Bruce, I'm confident with most aspects of building a single story but I'm not sure about the ... A: for windows up to 4' wide generally a single cripple on each side will suffice. 4-8' wide openings ...
Addition of 36" door in garage wall	5/4/2009
Q: Bruce, I have a back garage wall (2x4) which I want to add a 36" door. There is 1 cinder block layer ... A: I would remove the masonry down to the slab and set the door at that level. Otherwise you will be ...
4 by 6 limits	5/3/2009
Q: I am tearing out a wall and wonder what span a 4 by 6 sitting on 4 by 4's can span safely. Although ... A: a 4x6 with no bearing weight can probably span 10-12 feet before it begins to sag over time. It ...
cocrete pad	5/1/2009
Q: i want to build a second story on my house,i would like to know if a 20 inch pad is thick enough to ... A: this really isn't enough information to go on. Is the pad 20 inches thick or 20 inches wide? What ...
Floor Creaks	4/30/2009
Q: I live in a new house I had built out in the country a few years ago. My problem is the floors in ... A: if you are certain that the main beams are settling and need adjustment you can do it manually as ...
Shelving in a Double Wide	4/29/2009
Q: I just moved into a double wide trailer with my fiancee for our school break however with the small ... A: most mobile homes, especially the double wides have regular studs in the walls so I don't see a ...
Unlevel stringers	4/29/2009
Q: causing my risers and treads to be unlevel-how can I install the risers without seeing a gap between ... A: shim only those treads or parts of treads that are out of whack. Obviously you want your stairs to ...
Unlevel stringers	4/28/2009
Q: causing my risers and treads to be unlevel-how can I install the risers without seeing a gap between ... A: in Home Depot or Lowes you can get cedar shim shingles that can be put into the gap or used to force ...
Room addition to 2002 modular home	4/28/2009
Q: We have a 2002 modular home on a foundation. We want to add a 12x12 bedroom to the back of it where ... A: T-111 plywood siding on the exterior, simple single hung aluminum fin windows will help keep the ...
removing a structural wall	4/28/2009
Q: so it will need to have a beam put in place to support the existing building, the wall is in effect ... A: first of all you need to consult an engineer who specialized in structural elements. In this ...
Patio/balcony	4/27/2009
Q: I'm thinking about building a balcony from my bedroom by changing the current windows to double ... A: you may or may not need a permit depending on your local building department guidelines. Usually if ...
Room addition to 2002 modular home	4/27/2009
Q: We have a 2002 modular home on a foundation. We want to add a 12x12 bedroom to the back of it where ... A: modular homes are built just like stick framed homes in most cases. They use regular sized studs ...
Material specifications for span of pergola	4/27/2009
Q: Morning Bruce, We are a very handy at DIY projects but need some assistance with the recommended ... A: 6x6 posts are fine, 4x12 beam at least..but a 6x12 will work better with the 6" posts or you can ...
Floor Creaks	4/27/2009
Q: I live in a new house I had built out in the country a few years ago. My problem is the floors in ... A: it's possible that there is some settling going on..If you have access to the support beams it is ...
vinyl siding	4/26/2009
Q: What are the things to watch out for if I go a non-traditional route and have soffit panels ... A: first of all you would have to use non ventilated soffit for this application..regular ventilated ...
Installing 100lb boxing bag.	4/25/2009
Q: I want to install a 100 lb boxing bag in my 3-car garage. My 2-story house was built by DR Horton ... A: it's possible that your garage ceiling is stripped with metal furring like a "high hat" or a Z metal ...
construction industry	4/25/2009
Q: what is the Employer's "plan room"? Thank you A: I think of a room filled with building plans if it is a construction company or a company that ...
uneven floor	4/23/2009
Q: I am hoping to purchase a house which was originally built in 1856, I have noticed that on the first ... A: a severly sloping floor is a sign of settling. It might not be too serious of a fix. If you have a ...
cutting lumber	4/22/2009
Q: I need to cut an angle on an existing deck joist so that I can expand the area. It will be similar ... A: the easiest way and the quickest is to just take a sample piece of wood and start making cuts in 5 ...
Concrete Slab	4/22/2009
Q: I live in Saginaw, Michigan. I would like to have a backyard cement slab (for picnic table, ... A: I would go maybe 12x16 if you have the room..a picnic table has a pretty big footprint and those few ...
roof framing	4/20/2009
Q: I am building a 14'wide 23' long building. When I start the roof how can I span the 14' without use ... A: you can use engineered trusses for one thing. Contact your local roof truss company for further ...
Flashing	4/20/2009
Q: I have some rotting boards in my foundation. The foundation cap (2x6) and the floor joist end board ... A: the flashing may have been used properly as to separate the the concrete from the wood but the patio ...
CARPENTRY	4/20/2009
Q: Easy question, I have been building a deck, my first one. I measure twice and cut once, but every ... A: getting a perfect fit is tough even for the most experienced carpenters. One of the biggest ...
Building a deck onto house with slab foundation	4/19/2009
Q: I have recently started the process of building a deck onto our ranch style house with slab ... A: no "stud" under your door frame? I'm not sure what you are telling me here. If your house is on a ...
Garage Storage Loft	4/19/2009
Q: I have a 3 car garage with a 13' ceiling in a finished garage, 2003 construction. I want to build an ... A: if your loft has walls going all the way to the floor of the garage then yes. If your loft is ...
remove a window installed in cinder block	4/18/2009
Q: I need to remove a window from a cinder block extension, the window was installed with the flange ... A: If destroying the window isn't an issue then I would take a grinder with a metal cutting blade and ...
First floor weight capability...	4/17/2009
Q: I have a random question for ya...I am buying a 400 gallon fish tank and I would like to place it on ... A: I need more information. What are the actual dimensions of the fish tank? What is the size and ...
Flashing	4/17/2009
Q: I have some rotting boards in my foundation. The foundation cap (2x6) and the floor joist end board ... A: first of all is the wood in question pressure treated? Secondly why is the patio sloping toward the ...
window in block exterior wall	4/17/2009
Q: I have a home built with 4X8X16 Block. I want to install a window 5'w X 6't in my wall. I went to ... A: I have found over the years when dealing with building departments it is usually better to do what ...
Garage foundation	4/16/2009
Q: I live in Buffalo NY.I have plans to build a 24x30 two story garage (2nd story storage only) Is it ... A: in this area where you have the potential for ground freeze it might not be possible to build any ...
attic	4/15/2009
Q: I have a 2 story, 10 yr old home with unfinished attic space. The Roof Truss design is made up ... A: standard roof trusses have been engineered for a certain amount of live load, this includes the ...
cost of a patio	4/15/2009
Q: I am putting in a 8 foot by 20 foot patio in from of my house and was wondering what I would be ... A: I'm not sure what gravel or sand goes for in your area but a quick call to a local fill dirt ...
Adding a front porch to a brick home	4/14/2009
Q: We are in the process of house hunting and have come across a house in a neighborhood that we like ... A: , of course it's possible to add a porch across the front of this house. It's a beauty by the way! ...
concrete patio	4/13/2009
Q: I would like to build a concrete patio in my back yard that extends the length of my house to be ... A: a concrete patio will have different characteristics than a concrete floor. Patios have to slope ...
cost of fence	4/13/2009
Q: I was just wondering what would be the cost to put up a fence on my property line. I would like to ... A: basically a pressure treated wood fence of most types six feet tall will cost 5-10 dollars a lineal ...
Covering t-111 indoors	4/13/2009
Q: About 23 years ago we added a sunroom off our house and did the interior in T-111. It has served us ... A: not sure where you are coming from on the Health issue..As far as I know there is no health problem ...
Foundation problems - Minor or Severe?	4/12/2009
Q: I'm planning on buying a house and have found that most houses have something wrong with the ... A: if you have ever seen a masonry block it has two hollow cells in it. When the blocks are laid the ...
Foundation problems - Minor or Severe?	4/12/2009
Q: I'm planning on buying a house and have found that most houses have something wrong with the ... A: most masonry foundations are generally unfinished or poorly pointed (good solid mortar joints) on ...
How To Repair A Crumbled Porch Step	4/11/2009
Q: Johnson, One of my concrete porch steps crumbled and I don't have a clue on how to fix it. Is there ... A: without being able to see it, it's hard to give you a fix. And without knowing your skills in ...
Joint reiforcement	4/10/2009
Q: Must joint reinforcement for masonry block construction (residential or commercial) be a 'ladder' ... A: both HJR (horizontal joint reinforcement) ladder type and truss type are acceptable for use in CMU ...
brick ledge	4/10/2009
Q: The ground on the side of my house is higher than that on the side of my neighbor's house. My ... A: if you are referring to the ledge that the brick sits on then it can be at ground level or lower. ...
slate as exterior residential cladding	4/10/2009
Q: We are in the final stages of designing a new home. We are very fond of natural stone, and ... A: slate can be installed pretty much the same as any other stone. If you are installing thin slate ...
Free Standing Roof	4/9/2009
Q: I have a mobile home with a porch deck but no roof. I want to put a free standing roof over the ... A: six feet with a single 2x8 would probably be okay. How do you plan on attaching the 2x8 to the ...
Free Standing Roof	4/9/2009
Q: I have a mobile home with a porch deck but no roof. I want to put a free standing roof over the ... A: post spacing is dependent on your beam size. If you are using double 2x8 beams to support your ...
exterior wall and inside carpet	4/9/2009
Q: Problem" ground floor condo exterior bedroom wall;inside carpet dark dirty edge and draft along part ... A: It sounds like you just need to caulk the inside joint where the wall meets the floor. And if you ...
Floor Joists	4/9/2009
Q: Last year I purchased a split level home in southwesten PA. It was built in 1965. When we ... A: yes you can add the bridging and use it to force your joists back into shape if possible. That's ...
Floor Joists	4/9/2009
Q: Last year I purchased a split level home in southwesten PA. It was built in 1965. When we ... A: I was just in Southern PA looking at old Victorians to refurbish. A beautiful area. Anyhow, it ...
pergola	4/8/2009
Q: i need to build a pergola on my deck. it faces south with no shade.my deck is 18'wide by 20' deep ... A: 18-20 feet is a long span for nominal lumber. You might be able to run a hefty beam mid way to cut ...
building on	4/7/2009
Q: i am trying to figure out how much money it will cost if i add a second story on to my baseball ... A: I was figuring a four hundred foot by four hundred foot square so you could probably tweak those ...
needing a frost wall?	4/7/2009
Q: Bruce. I am preparing to enclose my carport into a bedroom and just started trying at getting the ... A: The purpose of a frost wall is to contain an area of dirt that will be heated and stay contained ...
slab on grade garage with temporary living space	4/7/2009
Q: I'm thinking about building a 30x40 garage on some land and use it occasionally as a weekend ... A: different states and counties have differing codes on this. In some places it is 8" but you can get ...
Demo Plaster Wall	4/7/2009
Q: In the process of removing a tile backsplash in my kitchen, I realized my walls were constructed of ... A: That sounds like it will work.. Or you can use some lattice strips to get the 1/4" thickness and use ...
Can you pour a foundation after a wood frame house is build	4/6/2009
Q: Me and my wife are extremely interested in purchasing a home here in Tampa, FL. The house that we ... A: yes you can do a poured foundation after the fact. It would be much easier to do a poured footing ...
Wiring lights and outlets	4/6/2009
Q: I am doing some rewiring in a bathroom I am remodeling. The house was built in 1956 and has old ... A: I would use 14/3 because of the ground wire..but the 14 gauge wire should be okay for a couple of ...
basement leak through furnace exhaust pipe	4/6/2009
Q: Starting last fall, when it rained very heavily for a long time, lots of water got into the basement ... A: I answer probably five questions a week regarding foundations leaking and the answer is always, yes ...
Foundation stabilization	4/6/2009
Q: Bruce, I have a 10,000 psi hydraulic ram system for driving piles under the footers of my home to ... A: any piling manufacturer will provide you with the size pilings you need. Precast concrete ...
Adding on to a manufactor home	4/5/2009
Q: My question is this, I would like to add two additional room to a double wide manufactor home. Is ... A: yes it is done all the time. A double wide is built pretty much like a regular wood framed house so ...
Addition to a Block Home	4/5/2009
Q: I am considering adding a two story addition to my concrete block home that was built in the late ... A: most building code enforcement agencies allow you build your own stuff, i.e. be your own contractor, ...
Replace bottom rotted wooden panel garage door row	4/4/2009
Q: Greetings, As must be common, the bottom row of my panel wooden garage door is rotted. Very basic ... A: yeah, finding replacement panels for old garage doors is pretty much impossible. If you have ...
Deck support column question?	4/4/2009
Q: I am replacing a upper deck and it's five 4X4 wood support columns. The ground under and around the ... A: One solution to your problem is to set the top of your column base at the finish floor elevation on ...
Ceiling in Pole Barn Structure	4/3/2009
Q: I have a 32' by 40' pole barn with 4/12 trusses spaced 4' oc. They have a 2x4 bottom cord. Will ... A: Without seeing the spec sheet on these trusses it's hard to say what kind of dead load they can ...
old siding nails and wrapping house	4/3/2009
Q: We just removed old shingle siding from our 1950's home and there are nails sticking out all over ... A: you can just pound them in. Some of them you will probably want to pull for various reasons but ...
horsehair plaster	4/3/2009
Q: After peeling off the wallpaper I discovered horsehair plaster through out my house... How could I ... A: only you know your own capabilities. If you are a good drywall finisher than the skim coating of ...
Sealing Roof Edges	4/3/2009
Q: I live in central Florida in a home that is three years old with architectural asphalt shingles. I ... A: most shingle roofs are sealed to the drip edge by using a starter strip with an adhesive back that ...
brick steps	4/2/2009
Q: I need to fix cracks in my brick steps and want to know how to remove the sandstone top cap so I can ... A: you have to be very careful with sandstone or it will break. I would try to repair the brick ...
Vaulted ceiling - support wall removal	4/2/2009
Q: I have 2 rooms separated by an 2x4 wall 8' long I would like to open up. One side has a 15' high ... A: 17 feet is a big span for 2x12's doubled up. Your best bet might be to use a double LVL beam of ...
Dry wall or Panel	4/2/2009
Q: can Drywall handle extreme temperature changes. on our Garage with loft i was wondering if we can ... A: gypsum materials such as drywall can handle very extreme temperature changes. For this reason they ...
Why use Corner Beads	4/1/2009
Q: I'm a supplier in corner beads,groove joints and other plastering aids in the Philippines,and am ... A: I'm sorry, my last letter addressed interior drywall and corner bead. I guess I was in a hurry and ...
Large Patio cover	4/1/2009
Q: Ok so here’s the scenario…I extended my current concrete pad to be about 20’W x 18’D. I want to ... A: I suppose you could do the 1x with the osb cap with a 4 foot spacing if you are using tongue and ...
Why use Corner Beads	4/1/2009
Q: I'm a supplier in corner beads,groove joints and other plastering aids in the Philippines,and am ... A: I have done corners with tape and with bead. I find the bead more durable when bumped during ...
ceiling height	4/1/2009
Q: Bruce, We live in a house built in 1951, and just put our house on the market. Today a realtor came ... A: if the tax assessor counts it as a room then I don't see why you can't call it a room. Code wise, I ...
stone sidewalk on conrete pad	4/1/2009
Q: My wife wants me to put in a stone sidewalk in front of our house, I however want concrete. I ... A: either material will work. The mortar is probaby your best bet. Liquid Nail makes a glue that is ...
Tile flange	3/31/2009
Q: I am completely upgrading our bathroom. I am going to be installing a new bathtub soon. The ... A: true, grout is not waterproof unless it has been sealed properly. However it also is not a sieve ...
Tile flange	3/31/2009
Q: I am completely upgrading our bathroom. I am going to be installing a new bathtub soon. The ... A: I have never used one in all the tile work I have done. I generally just make sure I grout ...
Demo Plaster Wall	3/31/2009
Q: In the process of removing a tile backsplash in my kitchen, I realized my walls were constructed of ... A: rock lath is basically drywall. I take a small right angle grinder for jobs like this, with a ...
truss replacement	3/30/2009
Q: i have an 840 square foot home with one floor. we need one extra room and were wondering if it is ... A: I would venture to guess that you are looking at 12-15000 dollars. But you need to do some local ...
RE: Custom ceiling for Daughters room	3/30/2009
Q: I have just completed an open raftered them for my sons room. Now I am moving onto the Rock Star ... A: I went to the website and couldn't find the "rock star" theme you mention. That said, I think you ...
Basement Remodel	3/30/2009
Q: Plan to finish basement.Block foundation(gets wet in a few spots)Using metal studs and mold/moisture ... A: a good sealer/ mastic on the walls would be the vapor barrier. I suppose if there is a moisture ...
truss replacement	3/30/2009
Q: i have an 840 square foot home with one floor. we need one extra room and were wondering if it is ... A: Yes it is possible to replace existing trusses with trusses that have built in floor joists in them ...
Constructing concrete block door opening and installing door	3/29/2009
Q: I am building 12 in. concrete block walls to support steel beams which will support a raised (about ... A: foam backer rod can be found in the weather stripping section of Home Depot or other similar stores. ...
Basement Remodel	3/29/2009
Q: Plan to finish basement.Block foundation(gets wet in a few spots)Using metal studs and mold/moisture ... A: yes you need to seal the block. The rubber mastic is a good way to go. There is a cementious ...
Constructing concrete block door opening and installing door	3/28/2009
Q: I am building 12 in. concrete block walls to support steel beams which will support a raised (about ... A: the opening for your door project is based on your brick mould. Calculate two times the width of ...
Retaining wall	3/27/2009
Q: I am building my first retaining wall & it is about 20m long with inside & outside curves. It will ... A: a wall this tall probably can do without a poured concrete footing especially since you have some ...
Bracing in basement	3/27/2009
Q: my wife and I are first time homebuyers and we are currently looking at some houses on the market in ... A: you didn't say what the basement foundation is made of, poured concrete, masonry, wood framing..My ...
Studs over brick	3/27/2009
Q: I have an old brick building (3 or 4 bricks thick) and the inside walls are looking pretty sad. I'd ... A: I am not a big fan of interior vapor barriers because they tend to trap moisture on the inside face ...
loft in a porch	3/26/2009
Q: I would like to add a storage loft above my porch. I have recently had our porch screened in with ... A: If you can build a deck you can build this project, it is similar. You know how to frame a wall ...
dropped ceiling	3/26/2009
Q: I am installing a drop ceiling. I have installed the wall angles on all 4 walls, what I would like ... A: Actually when I do a drop ceiling layout I usually start at the center, both directions and squared ...
non toxic wood beams instead of steel with ecrete block	3/26/2009
Q: building a home as green & secure as possible in houston texas. since you advised that wood is ... A: basically any non treated beam will fit your needs..contact your local lumber supplier, maybe Cox, ...
dropped ceiling	3/25/2009
Q: I am installing a drop ceiling. I have installed the wall angles on all 4 walls, what I would like ... A: What I am trying to tell you is that you don't need a tee along the wall. Your wall angle serves as ...
dropped ceiling	3/24/2009
Q: I am installing a drop ceiling. I have installed the wall angles on all 4 walls, what I would like ... A: let me get this straight. Your 12' main tees have slots that start in 3" from the ends? I don't ...
Exterior drywall	3/24/2009
Q: I have a 12'X35' exterior lanai that has a smooth textured drywall ceiling. The home is in SW ... A: sounds like you need a different type of drywall mud. The "setting" type of mud works better for ...
hanging curtain rods on stucco walls	3/23/2009
Q: The exterior of my house is stucco and the interior is drywall. However, when I tried to find a ... A: chances are you have masonry walls with furring strips nailed on the inside and then drywall ...
Wood Basement Vs. Poured Concrete	3/23/2009
Q: I live in sw mn, and am thinking of building a new home. What if any would be the pros vs. Cons of ... A: I have reviewed wood basements over the years as compared to concrete and to be honest I have ...
Header for door	3/23/2009
Q: I am redesigning a bathroom. One wall I am going to use to put a door. The wall is load-bearing. ... A: you can probably make the change out without any temporary shoring for this instance. I would ...
Adding new concrete patio	3/23/2009
Q: Do you need concrete piers under a concrete patio. We are having a new front patio installed. The ... A: if it is just a patio? Then I see no need for piers. I like to do a thickened edge of 8" deep by ...
stair rise & depth	3/22/2009
Q: Having a remodel project done in my 2nd floor (bedrooms and bath) and as an additional part to the ... A: attic stairs or stairs going to certain storage places can be different, i.e. steeper pitched with ...
floor for an addition	3/21/2009
Q: Hey Bruce- I am talking with contractors about an addition to my house. I live in a flood plane in ... A: I see no advantage to using a full blown foundation over monolithic slab structurally speaking or ...
dropped ceiling	3/21/2009
Q: I am installing a drop ceiling. I have installed the wall angles on all 4 walls, what I would like ... A: yes the wall angle supports the tees at the edges. Your main tees are also supported by attaching ...
Small deck 8x10 3ft high over cement patio	3/21/2009
Q: I want to build a small deck over supoorted by existing concrete patio that is about 3ft below my ... A: attaching to the concrete is rather simple. Simpson makes a post base that you bolt to the concrete ...
enclosing a screened porch	3/19/2009
Q: I want to enclose an existing 12'x19' screened room with concrete sloped flooring. We want to use ... A: Leveling up the floor can be done with concrete, just pour new concrete that is level and at the ...
Texas full pour basement in "black gumbo" soil	3/19/2009
Q: I am looking at a couple of parcels (small acreage) in North Texas (Bonham area) where the soil is ... A: when building on this type of soil as pretty much any basement foundation the key is to make sure ...
building construction	3/19/2009
Q: first questio, explain the use of formwork in floor construction .second question, what are the ... A: if you are going to pour an elevated slab then the bottom elevation of the slab would be formwork. ...
Concrete Piers	3/19/2009
Q: I am having a concrete patio made (23ft by 12ft) attached to my backyard. I want to later add a wood ... A: yes the footing is the bottom, supporting part of the foundation. In a monolithic slab the footing ...
adding on	3/19/2009
Q: we are adding on to an existing house. we are not sure on code for the crawl space. what depth is ... A: it depends on where you live..If the frost line is three feet then the top of your foundation ...
stair step cracks on exterios brick walls	3/18/2009
Q: Bruce, Our house was built in 2005. Recently I noticed that there are stair-step cracks on our ... A: From the photo, it looks like you are experiencing a simple expansion crack. You can grind it out ...
Concrete Piers	3/18/2009
Q: I am having a concrete patio made (23ft by 12ft) attached to my backyard. I want to later add a wood ... A: if your soil conditions are loose and you are building on a sloping piece of property where a ...
Concrete Piers	3/17/2009
Q: I am having a concrete patio made (23ft by 12ft) attached to my backyard. I want to later add a wood ... A: #5 would be my choice, however if he uses enough #3 it would be okay I suppose. #5's in a grid of ...
floor for an addition	3/17/2009
Q: Hey Bruce- I am talking with contractors about an addition to my house. I live in a flood plane in ... A: I am a big proponent of monolithic slabs whenever they are possible. It is a much simpler and ...
concrete replacement	3/10/2009
Q: I had a driveway poured two years ago. I live in a cold winter climate (Wisconsin) My driveway has ... A: without knowing all the information it's hard to say what is going on here. If you live in an area ...
Need a detail	3/8/2009
Q: Where can i get a detail of an LVL beam to remove a bearing wall? The 2nd floor joists run parallel ... A: I guess it depends on what detail you are looking for. An LVL beam is just a solid laminated ...
Loft Conversion	3/8/2009
Q: I live in Northern Ireland and I have 2 questions. Firstly I'm coinverting one half of my 'L' shaped ... A: the thickness of your joists is more related to the span of the joist than anything else. Right now ...
Removing wall on a rancher home	3/7/2009
Q: I have a single story rancher home built in 1976.(24x44) I want to remove part of the wall between ... A: chances are pretty good that the trusses are clear spanning and the wall is non-bearing. If you can ...
concrete spalling under a stone wall	3/6/2009
Q: The property is a condo complex located on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. Many areas of ... A: you might have to remove enough of the facade to do the repair work. It sounds to me like your ...
Rust on a lally column	3/6/2009
Q: I have a attached garage that has a lolly column set in concrete that holds up a wooden beam for the ... A: residential columns holding up wooden beams are not generally filled with concrete. Most base ...
studs	3/6/2009
Q: what kind of studs and nails do I need to hang it to a concrete or masonry wall? A: what are you trying to hang on a concrete or masonry wall? Your question is not too informative. ...
pouring slab over carport	3/6/2009
Q: I would like to close in my garage for more living area. The current slab is 4" below the living ... A: I understand about raising up your slab the 4" but the rest of your question confuses me. If you ...
Freestanding Porch Roof	3/5/2009
Q: My husband and I just bought a home in El Paso, TX this past September. The house has a back porch ... A: a free standing roof set on posts needs lateral bracing. This can be easily accomplished withe knee ...
Concrete and Lally column issue	3/5/2009
Q: I had an addition put on my house that consisted of an open front basement which is the garage and a ... A: non shrink Grout is used under columns after they have been set. It can be found in most home ...
Concrete and Lally column issue	3/5/2009
Q: I had an addition put on my house that consisted of an open front basement which is the garage and a ... A: you are definitely on the right track. First of all you can get a special paint that takes rust and ...
add on	3/4/2009
Q: I live in a small slab home, what i want to do is add on a 10+12 laundry, mud room of the back of my ... A: even if you do a monolithic slab foundation similar to your house you really won't need heavy ...
Enclosing a screen porch	3/4/2009
Q: I am enclosing a 12X18 porch that already has a roof. The house and existing porch are built on ... A: go the Simpson website. Strongtie.com and find the joist hangers or clips to meet your needs. A ...
Second floor room extension	3/3/2009
Q: I am interested in extending my second floor media room. The extension will be on top of the guest ... A: it seems doable based on this information. I am not familiar with the term "may clearances". If ...
Adding door to create walk out basement	3/3/2009
Q: One corner of my basement is only about 3ft in the ground and thought I could cut the earth out ... A: I don't think you need to worry about the frost line too much. Your existing footing is probably ...
How to reinforce existing 2x4 tress roof	3/2/2009
Q: I have a truss roof system that was built before the codes were changed here (Mt. Shasta) from ... A: of course. You can double up the top, bottom chords and the webs. If there is a truss company ...
Enclosing a carport	3/1/2009
Q: Bruce, I am getting ready to enclose my carport for additional GLA, however I want to pour a ... A: honestly? You need to cut out the edges anyhow and dig your perimeter footings below grade. ...
Suspended ladder	3/1/2009
Q: Bruce-- We have a barn with a 10 foot ceiling. We want to have a set of stairs (not folding) to get ... A: a lot can be learned from looking at the drop down attic ladders you can find at home improvement ...
building a portico	2/27/2009
Q: I have a cape and I would like to put a portico over my front door. The house, looking at it from ... A: Where the sleeper is placed is determined by the pitch of the roof. I used 2-3 inches as a "for ...
rule-of-thumb for selfbuild in the country	2/27/2009
Q: Planning a selfbuild and wondered whether we are being overpriced at £900 per square metre. Have ... A: Either figure seems right. A lot of it depends on who you use to sub-contract the work and what ...
building a portico	2/26/2009
Q: I have a cape and I would like to put a portico over my front door. The house, looking at it from ... A: the purpose of the sleepers laid flat at your valley angles is so that the new roof weight is ...
Framing addition	2/26/2009
Q: Thinking of adding a two story addition off the back of my house. In trying to draw some ... A: contact your local truss manufacturers. You can purchase box trusses and/or box girders to make a ...
building a portico	2/26/2009
Q: I have a cape and I would like to put a portico over my front door. The house, looking at it from ... A: it's a nice thought but the answer is "no". If you don't want a roof leak you need to do the right ...
Large Patio cover	2/25/2009
Q: Ok so here’s the scenario…I extended my current concrete pad to be about 20’W x 18’D. I want to ... A: it looks like you are using a truss system for the main body of the roof? Or are you planning on ...
small basement windows	2/24/2009
Q: I have a house which is about 100 yrs old with a stone and block foundation, the basement windows ... A: have you done much research on the web? Most window manufacturers have sizes that will fit any ...
Rafters for a pergola	2/24/2009
Q: I am building a 14'x20' pergola using trated pine. The four posts will be 6"x6". The beams will be ... A: you are attempting to do something that just won't work. 22' span is pretty much out of the ...
adding a jet tub	2/24/2009
Q: My question is similar to one you answered in 2006 so I will use that format. I'm in the midst of ... A: if you go to the following link :http://www.southernpine.com/spantables.shtml and check on table #4 ...
additions	2/23/2009
Q: Bruce: I am interested in expanding a kitchen by adding new foundation (slab) to the existing, ... A: yes, with the proper compaction of your sub grade and similar sized footings tied into the existing ...
Rafters for a pergola	2/23/2009
Q: I am building a 14'x20' pergola using trated pine. The four posts will be 6"x6". The beams will be ... A: you are better off running your rafters the 14' direction. 22' is a long span for nominal lumber of ...
Concrete slab with no footings	2/22/2009
Q: I'm trying to find out if an addition done to my house prior to my purchase (in 2001) is up to ... A: chances are that the slab is only 4-6" thick and the exterior edge of it is 12" thick. This is ...
House Creaks during wind gusts	2/20/2009
Q: I recently added an addition to my house and now find that when the wind hits the house directly, it ... A: you have reinforced my original supposition that the exterior plywood is nailed improperly. Let's ...
building a concrete patio	2/20/2009
Q: We are planning to build a concrete patio in our backyard in Maryland. The lowest estimate we ... A: I never pour concrete flatwork over a gravel base. Compacted soil is adequate in most areas. If ...
House Creaks during wind gusts	2/20/2009
Q: I recently added an addition to my house and now find that when the wind hits the house directly, it ... A: from this picture I don't see any attic space. It looks to me like the roof system is stick framed ...
drywall/tape	2/20/2009
Q: Bruce - I am trying to get pricing for the installation of standard 4 x 8 x 1/2" sheetrock and the ... A: who are you talking to? A sheetrock contractor local to your area should be able to give you some ...
Hole in Cinder Block Wall for Small Air Conditioner	2/19/2009
Q: I want to put an air conditioner in my garage wall. The wall contains no rebar; just blocks and ... A: you should be able to cut this hole without any added supports. Try to make your cuts to correspond ...
Hollow Metal Door	2/19/2009
Q: I'm wanting to cut a opening in a cinder block wall block to install a standard hollow metal door. ... A: you will need a concrete cut saw of some sort. You can rent one that is gas powered or electric. ...
Vapor barrier	2/19/2009
Q: Is it necessary to use a vapor barrier on the interior side of your exterior walls if your batt ... A: yes Tyvek or Typar are the new external vapor barriers that have taken over the older methods such ...
Levelling and Supporting a House on Posts	2/19/2009
Q: We bought a seasonal property which is built on posts. The house is not level. We had one side ... A: in Maine the frost line for foundations is pretty deep, probably 3-4' which means that any ...
foundation walls	2/18/2009
Q: Bruce, Am going to add an addition onto my house that has concrete block walls on good footings. My ... A: I used to be strictly a "poured concrete" proponent until I moved to Florida and really got into ...
Vapor barrier	2/18/2009
Q: Is it necessary to use a vapor barrier on the interior side of your exterior walls if your batt ... A: I have a very distinct belief about vapor barriers. They belong at the outside of a wall, not the ...
rafter material and spacing	2/17/2009
Q: I AM WONDERING WHAT SIZE RAFTER IS NEEDED TO SPAN A DISTANCE OF 15' AND A 5/12 PITCH FOR A GARAGE ... A: when you say 15' span are you referring to from the center of the building to exterior or the entire ...
Leaking Chimney...	2/17/2009
Q: We have had a leak from the chimney (an old non functioning chimney) a few times when there has been ... A: at this point a sump may be your best option. If water is coming through the flue and you are not ...
BATHROOM RENOVATION	2/17/2009
Q: I am in the process of renovating our main bathroom. This started out as a project to replace the ... A: whether or not you need engineer involvement depends a lot on how the roof system is presently ...
flooring	2/16/2009
Q: Second floor has two rooms, one finished. The unfinished room has 2"x8" floor joists with 16' span. ... A: I'm not sure what the 2x4's will accomplish short of adding more weight. Sixteen feet is about ...
Basement support	2/15/2009
Q: I have a Ranch home built in 1975. My floor joist go only half the distance of the home and are ... A: normally a rule of thumb is one inch of depth per foot of span for supporting beams. Which means ...
taping vaulted ceilings	2/15/2009
Q: What is the best way to keep the peak of a vaulted ceiling from popping. I have done it twice now ... A: gee I guess we need to look at your roof system. If you are using vaulted scissor trusses you need ...
Concrete slab crack	2/15/2009
Q: My front door will not open it sticks. The floor in front of it slopes down towards the door. ... A: yes it is very possible that the roots are causing problems. If the concrete is heaving up instead ...
Concrete slab crack	2/15/2009
Q: My front door will not open it sticks. The floor in front of it slopes down towards the door. ... A: it sounds like the foundation is settling in this area. This could be caused by several things. A ...
structural integrity and windows	2/14/2009
Q: I live in a CBC condo building. We are told since the windows are old they threaten the structurl ... A: no the windows are not part of the structural support in a building. What is probably being referred ...
attaching floor to blocks	2/13/2009
Q: I am going to build a home and I am curious what is the best way to attach the joists to the block ... A: your masonry wall will have a u-block for the top course filled solid with concrete. Embedded in ...
rafters	2/13/2009
Q: I was in my father inlaws attic checking to see why the roof had soft spots on it when I had to ... A: without actually seeing the stuff I will have to guess but it sounds like a wood fungus. This may ...
built up columns on covered deck	2/12/2009
Q: I am designing a new house for clients. I am a draftsman/designer for residential projects in ... A: your method will work fine. Any way to furr out the column and provide a base for the finish wood ...
wet wood	2/12/2009
Q: Our house is built on top of a slab of concrete. It rained a lot this past week, and while cleaning ... A: I am confused with your description. If your house is on a slab why would there be a sheet of ...
Flashing for a Shed Roof against existing Brick Veneer	2/12/2009
Q: I'm planning to add a front porch to my home this Spring and plan to make it a shed style roof ... A: I guess you will have to go through the motions of finding the studs inside and marking them ...
W truss	2/12/2009
Q: Mr. Johnson, I recently purchased my first home. In the attic i have W trusses that extend from a ... A: first of all you will have to settle for a "fake" open beam ceiling if you want to keep the roof in ...
Remove fireplace surround	2/12/2009
Q: Bruce, I bought my house and it has gas logs with a black slate surround. I would like to replace ... A: chances are pretty good that the slate is attached to drywall which abuts the firebox and probably ...
Slab or Joist	2/11/2009
Q: We are adding an extension onto our home. Current home has a basement - so first floor has joists. ... A: I have found over the years that a slab on grade is always cheaper than a foundation with floor ...
Flashing for a Shed Roof against existing Brick Veneer	2/11/2009
Q: I'm planning to add a front porch to my home this Spring and plan to make it a shed style roof ... A: you can use a stud finder inside the house to locate your studs and then use a point of reference on ...
built up columns on covered deck	2/11/2009
Q: I am designing a new house for clients. I am a draftsman/designer for residential projects in ... A: it's rather simple really. The colums in your case can have a 2x6x9' attached to the two sides ...
Flashing for a Shed Roof against existing Brick Veneer	2/10/2009
Q: I'm planning to add a front porch to my home this Spring and plan to make it a shed style roof ... A: If your wall is wood frame with brick veneer it is always best to find the studs of the wall and use ...
Adding onto concrete	2/10/2009
Q: I have an older home with a 25 X 8 concrete front porch. I want to convert a bedroom window to a ... A: we have been using epoxy anchor bolts lately. They are basically all-thread bolt material, 5/8-3/4" ...
Adding onto concrete	2/10/2009
Q: I have an older home with a 25 X 8 concrete front porch. I want to convert a bedroom window to a ... A: Of course you can put a bathroom on that slab. You will probably need to level it up though. Most ...
trailer house	2/9/2009
Q: I have a trailer house that is 16 by 60 feet and i want to extend it 12 feet towards the front but i ... A: at what it would cost you to do a remodel of this scope it would probably cost less to just buy a ...
Foundation Crack	2/8/2009
Q: We are in the process of buying a home & have come across one that is perfect (1 story approx 1450 ... A: a one inch wide crack? That is an indication of a major settling or structural problem..from the ...
adding a four seasons room to mfg home	2/8/2009
Q: I have a 1999 manufactured home (double wide) permanently attached to a full basement. I would like ... A: when adding on to any building you generally make the foundation and structure of the new addition ...
Foundation Crack	2/7/2009
Q: We are in the process of buying a home & have come across one that is perfect (1 story approx 1450 ... A: settling is a rather common development in new construction. Any time you take a large weight and ...
Wall creaking after new siding was installed	2/7/2009
Q: We have recently had James Hardi siding installed on our 22 year old home. During windy weather, we ... A: it's possible that the material was not installed properly. It's hard to say. If it is 7 1/4" lap ...
Adding on to an existing foundation	2/7/2009
Q: I would like to build an addition on my home with a full poured basement and two stories. I am ... A: okay, cool. If your existing foundation is a basement also then you will need a vertical column of ...
construction	2/7/2009
Q: i am a new general contractor with 10 yrs exp as a finish carpenter most of my work has been ... A: gosh, I am totally out of touch with the west coast anymore. I used to live and work in that area ...
using concrete block to build a home	2/6/2009
Q: I had forgot to tell you that I wanted to build a home made of concret blocks. It doesn't rain much ... A: concrete block is one of the best ways to build a house. It withstands all kinds of external forces ...
concret home building	2/6/2009
Q: I live in the high desert in southern ca. ( victorville area) I was wondering if I can use concrete ... A: I love concrete block for desert climates. I recommend using a foam block fill insulation once the ...
Adding on to an existing foundation	2/6/2009
Q: I would like to build an addition on my home with a full poured basement and two stories. I am ... A: this question requires more information. Is your existing home on a crawlspace foundation? How ...
room addition	2/5/2009
Q: I am considering adding a walkin closet to the second story of my house. it would cover a portion ... A: I am not at all familiar with particular contractors in your area, however, by going to the phone ...
multiple roof lines causing pre-plan head scratching	2/5/2009
Q: Bruce; We have a 1 and 1/2 story, and want to 'bump out' living room to connect with back yard. In ... A: for just a one story bump out definately a gable end matching the shallower pitch on the left of the ...
garage door repair	2/5/2009
Q: Recently (I don't know if coincidentally), my garage door started having a problem. The door can be ... A: see if you can find your manual or get online and look it up. It sounds like your remote sensor ...
multiple roof lines causing pre-plan head scratching	2/4/2009
Q: Bruce; We have a 1 and 1/2 story, and want to 'bump out' living room to connect with back yard. In ... A: from what I can gather (I'm not sure how much of the side you want to "bump out") I would just match ...
HOUSE FOUNDATION	2/4/2009
Q: HAD A NEW HOME BUILT IN FEB. 2002. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO SMALL CRACKS STARTED APPEARING AROUND THE ... A: I am not an attorney, however, from previous contracts I have been involved with over the years the ...
Church Floor Renovation Material	2/3/2009
Q: Our parish is starting a renovation project and one major item is replacing the carpet in the ... A: obviously ceramic or porcelein tile, marble, slate or other stones come to mind. I recently ...
Adding Walk-Up to Daylight Basement	2/3/2009
Q: Bruce, I am thinking about finishing my basement, but had an idea worth vetting. The basement is ... A: so you are talking about building an exterior set of stairs going up from the basement? Or an ...
Load bearing wall beam requirement	2/3/2009
Q: I have a 2 story home that I want to put an addition on the rear lower level. This addition is on ... A: a rule of thumb for beam spans, using a nominal 4" beam is as follows: One inch of depth per foot ...
installing french door in daylight basement	2/1/2009
Q: We are replacing a 70" window with a french door. The rough opening given by the manufacturer of the ... A: the best way to do an inswinging door to allow maximum swing is to mount the door jamb flush to the ...
attic door	2/1/2009
Q: I have an attic door, the fold down kind. I want to take it down, and be able to re-use it in ... A: the best way to take down a pull down ladder (it sounds like this is what you are describing) is to ...
footings and foundations	1/31/2009
Q: i am building an unattached garage and in the plans it shows a continuous footing and a gradebeam ... A: that is a goofy drawing. It's hard to say just what is going on there. It looks like there is a ...
steel beam condensation	1/31/2009
Q: building an office under a patio with a 6" slab of concrete. there is a steel beam running across ... A: if the beam is sweating from lack of air circulation and you are going to aircondition this space ...
Heat N Glo firplace insert - draft	1/31/2009
Q: I have a Heat N glo fireplace insert in the 6 year old home I bought. It is model # SL-750-TRC There ... A: I don't recommend closing up any vents or blocking any openings to the outside that are part of the ...
support beam	1/30/2009
Q: We are putting in a support beam in an old farm house,to support the 2nd floor. The span is 19 ft. ... A: that is a pretty hefty beam. I think it should work. A 4x12 will span up to 14' for this kind of ...
Painting concrete block foundation exteriors	1/29/2009
Q: I was wondering as I see so many new homes being built that they are left on grundgy,dirty,rust ... A: a lot of what you see is iron rust caused by poorly aimed irrigation systems and water with a lot of ...
Concrete Steps	1/29/2009
Q: My original steps were concrete faced with brick. The brick was coming off and an area mason put a ... A: you can. But believe me it would be easier to rent a big jack hammer and take out the whole set of ...
second-story cost	1/29/2009
Q: Hey, Bruce. I'd like to add a second-story to my home in Huntington, Long Island, New York. I've ... A: for Long Island, these prices don't seem too far out of whack. A project such as this second story ...
block house	1/29/2009
Q: I just bought a block home built in 1949. There is no insulation inside the block, and there is ... A: many home insulation contractors offer foam core injection for masonry block homes. Your best bet ...
plywood and snow	1/27/2009
Q: Damon here in CO. I am an interior carpenter by trade. I am going to be working on a house in ... A: I know it's hard when you see something that isn't right and keeping quiet about it. Believe me I ...
My Knee walls in our basement.	1/27/2009
Q: Good day! Our home is 11 years old. We have always had wet windows. They are wet on the side in our ... A: first of all do you have airconditioning? If so, do you use it or have a dehumidifier? Interior ...
plywood and snow	1/26/2009
Q: Damon here in CO. I am an interior carpenter by trade. I am going to be working on a house in ... A: it is true that moisture can be hard on the framework of an unfinished house however not disastrous. ...
concrete foundation	1/26/2009
Q: I am putting on an addition to my house.I would like to know if there is some kind of membrane that ... A: are you doing a basement foundation, a crawl space foundation or a monolithic slab foundation? For ...
concrete topping	1/25/2009
Q: the slab out front of my garage has several cracks in it and I would like to try to cover them up. I ... A: there is a product called "Pavecrete" that can be used to top concrete. You can fill the cracks ...
header or no header	1/25/2009
Q: We want to open up an existing opening from 32" to 7 1/2' in an interior load bearing wall. This is ... A: most cape cod homes have a main bearing wall down the center or close to it. This wall supports the ...
mergeing n old house to a mobile home	1/24/2009
Q: My wife and I have a 1982 14x70 mobile home, I remodeled the kitchen and master bath . It is on our ... A: this is complicated question without having any real information about the house or the mobile. ...
Basement finishing, insulation, vapor barrier	1/24/2009
Q: I live in the Chicago area and I am finishing my basement. I did much research on the vapor barrier ... A: do this, take some strips of the wall insulation you are using and plug the gap with that. It will ...
Basement finishing, insulation, vapor barrier	1/23/2009
Q: I live in the Chicago area and I am finishing my basement. I did much research on the vapor barrier ... A: it sounds like you are on the right track for sure. I wouldn't seal the top gap. For one thing the ...
Hardiplank	1/23/2009
Q: We have a transportable holiday home in Perth.Exterior is finished in hardiplank.Have added more ... A: if the Hardi is a flat white color then it is pre primed and you shouldn't need to prime it before ...
formed/poured concrete corbels??	1/22/2009
Q: Want to attach 3 poured corbels (1/2 yrd each) to concrete block foundation to support a 4" concrete ... A: a half yard of concrete weighs about 2000 pounds if my memory serves me plus your deck is another ...
estimate of cost	1/22/2009
Q: What is a rough estimate too pour a foundation 25'by40'for a home. A: it's been a while since I have done residential foundations but a ball park figure can go like ...
stucco coming off house	1/21/2009
Q: We built a house several years ago in South Carolina. The exterior is real stucco. Within the ... A: the metal corner bead does have expanded metal that will probably hold the stucco a little better ...
stucco coming off house	1/21/2009
Q: We built a house several years ago in South Carolina. The exterior is real stucco. Within the ... A: by "seams" are you talking about the expansion joints? If so then it sounds to me like the stucco ...
windows	1/21/2009
Q: do i have to use a specific window in a block wall?there is no opening where i will be putting this ... A: you can pretty much use any kind of window in a block wall with the proper preparation. If you are ...
diagonal wall crack (drywall & exterior siding)	1/21/2009
Q: I recently moved into a 120-year old home, whose kitchen was completely gutted and renovated. A ... A: I would venture to say that yes the two cracks are related if they follow similar paths. What may ...
fixing basement walls	1/20/2009
Q: I live in a house that is over a 100 years old. the problem that I have is I want to create a play ... A: that's strange that your foundation wall doesn't have a poured concrete cap on it. Generally there ...
slab for mobile home	1/19/2009
Q: I need to figure the cost for a slab for a 28' by 60' Doublewide Manufactured Home. We are hoping ... A: depending on where you live slab costs will run anywhere from 4 dollars up to 7 dollars a square ...
extending the roof line or rebuild	1/19/2009
Q: my husband and I are in the beginning stages of planning an addition. Our house is a 2nd empire ... A: the term shed roof simply means that it is a single pitched roof, higher at the interior wall and ...
attic insulation	1/19/2009
Q: I have purchased an older home in which previous owners converted garage into family room. They did ... A: a vapor barrier is generally not needed in the ceiling. If you insulate with a foil or paper backed ...
Atrium support	1/19/2009
Q: i have an atrium ranch house that was built three years ago. The builder is not around anymore to ... A: chances are that the post and beam you are describing have nothing to do with the atrium style of ...
attic insulation	1/19/2009
Q: I have purchased an older home in which previous owners converted garage into family room. They did ... A: If the garage is attached to the house then it probably has the same vapor barriers that the house ...
extending the roof line or rebuild	1/18/2009
Q: my husband and I are in the beginning stages of planning an addition. Our house is a 2nd empire ... A: It's hard to say what kind of roof you have over the porch right now from the picture you have sent. ...
Noise in walls when windy	1/18/2009
Q: In a specific place in the wall of my house when the wind blows it sounds like the brick ties are in ... A: well I don't know what else to tell you. If the wind is really blowing hard, I guess it could put ...
Roof framing question	1/17/2009
Q: I have a study question that has me stumped, the question is : If the valley rafter had a ... A: okay, this is a stumper. Most valley framing is done after the main roof is sheathed so it is ...
replacing basement ceiling in double-wide home	1/16/2009
Q: please excuse my ignorance of building construction terminology, I'll phrase the question as best as ... A: I can't think of any reason why you can't remove the ceiling covering. The floor joists are your ...
beams	1/15/2009
Q: I recently jacked up my cabin and had a 8' concrete basement installed. I am trying to get rid of ... A: I'm sorry but I really don't understand what you want to do here. 2x8's no matter how many you nail ...
Noise in walls when windy	1/14/2009
Q: In a specific place in the wall of my house when the wind blows it sounds like the brick ties are in ... A: that would be a stretch for a brick house to make pinking sounds when wind blows. I would venture a ...
Slab Foundation on slope	1/14/2009
Q: I am getting ready to start building a house (with my own 2 hands) My problem is that I really want ... A: gee, I guess Amazon or any bookstore has books on foundations. What I know about foundations came ...
Insulating Cinder Block	1/13/2009
Q: We bought a house in upstate NY with a finished basement last winter. When spring came the ... A: the problem you have with the moisture is probably from a clogged, poorly installed or totally ...
Addition on Modular home	1/13/2009
Q: we have a 2004 model modular home that is on our own private property. The home is considered to be ... A: I guess the only people that can answer that question is your local building department. I can't ...
Foundation for concrete steps	1/12/2009
Q: We are working on an addition to our home which includes a new back entrance with a landing and two ... A: I hope this information helps feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely ...
Brick House Backerboard?	1/12/2009
Q: I own a 1945 brick Tudor home in Washington state. The basement recently flooded and I peeled off ... A: I'm not sure what that material is, possibly denny board. Denny board was made of fibers and ...
Removing brick piers under single level house	1/12/2009
Q: I am looking to buy a small house built on brick piers, its built about 8 foot off the ground. If I ... A: the size of your floor joists will determine how many beams you need to add to support the living ...
2nd floor addition - flooring issues	1/12/2009
Q: Bruce- We have been living in our home for 3 years now, and I decided to tackle the issue we have ... A: the support posts are not the problem. Apparently the span of your joists between support beams is ...
construction	1/11/2009
Q: I would like to replace the shingles on the exterior of my ranch home with stone facing. The frontal ... A: Normally you would need to pour a concrete footing for the stone to rest on. Depending on the size ...
12./12 pitch roof	1/10/2009
Q: i am re-shingling my garage, it has a 12/12 pitch.. what is the safest way to secure myself while ... A: A good harness is a must. They can be purchased for 30-60 dollars from any building supply store. ...
chimney leak into basement	1/10/2009
Q: Intermittently, when it rains, I get a leak behind my outside chimney into the basement where the ... A: Basement leaks can be daunting. If it is ground water building up and leaking into the basement you ...
loud crack	1/10/2009
Q: i heard a loud crack--in the middle of the night of course--and assuming it was the outside electric ... A: If your home has experienced settling issues over time then this is possibly another one. The loud ...
loud crack	1/10/2009
Q: i heard a loud crack--in the middle of the night of course--and assuming it was the outside electric ... A: you didn't mention where you lived or what the weather conditions were when you heard the noise. ...
chimney leak into basement	1/9/2009
Q: Intermittently, when it rains, I get a leak behind my outside chimney into the basement where the ... A: digging around the chimney and waterproofing that area below grade is not a bad idea. It should have ...
dig a basement from a crawl space	1/9/2009
Q: can this be done with a bobcat and do they have books on how to do this. my crawl space is proxy 40 ... A: digging basements from crawlspaces is done all the time. I don't know of any books on the subject ...
Residential garage door and header issue.	1/8/2009
Q: I want to replace two doors with one long door. Total length is 19'4". It is a brick home, double ... A: it's kind of hard to make that call. First of all, how does your roof system bear on these headers? ...
Brick house "cracking" noise	1/7/2009
Q: I live in a two story 1988 brick house plus a walk out basement. The house seems solid and is real ... A: the cracking sound you hear is probably related to the wood part of the structure. Either the roof ...
tyvek wrap	1/7/2009
Q: Can I use Tyvek to wrap my interior basement poured concrete walls before I strap and insulate. ... A: if you are framing walls up against your concrete then it is probably a good idea to leave a half ...
mold behind walls of new construction home	1/6/2009
Q: My husband was the contractor on our home,the wood frame was exposed to the elements,heat ... A: if the wood was dry before the drywall etc. was installed you are probably okay. Plus it takes ...
build wooden second story oo brick garage	1/6/2009
Q: I have a 6 x 6 meter garage constructed from brick and would like to build a small bachelor ... A: Depending on your location and the availability the best system to use for this would be wood ...
Window install in block wall	1/6/2009
Q: I need to in stall two 40''H x 6o''L windows into a block wall these will serve as egress windows ... A: that's a tricky one. If your masonry wall was done correctly there should be at least one course at ...
carpentry building code baltimore md.	1/6/2009
Q: I am building an exterior split-level staircase extending to a second story deck.Iam useing 4x4 ... A: I am not familiar with your local building codes, however, 4x4's can be used up to pretty much any ...
tyvek wrap	1/6/2009
Q: Can I use Tyvek to wrap my interior basement poured concrete walls before I strap and insulate. ... A: Tyvek is an exterior product made for specific exterior applications. Before trying on interior ...
Loft Load Bearing	1/5/2009
Q: I'd like to know whether I can convert my loft space into a liveable area (spare bedroom). I am very ... A: It's hard to say without knowing what your loft is built out of just exactly what kind of load it ...
insulation	12/13/2008
Q: I had asked you about insulating a ceiling in a room under a front porch. I have heavy condesation ... A: Im sorry Bob I thought I answered that question. My point in my last answer is that you need to dry ...
Steel I-beam span	12/12/2008
Q: I am redesigning a residential house, and I want to open the floorplan on the main floor. This ... A: I'm not an engineer so all I can do is point in the right direction. ...
Attic floor	12/12/2008
Q: I have a victorian terraced house and would like to use our attic either as storage or as a room if ... A: floor joist spans can be figured using an old "rule of thumb" method. Generally the floor joist ...
fruit celler insulation	12/12/2008
Q: I have an area underneath my front porch accesable from my basement. It is an enclosed area with a ... A: you need a couple of things. If you are going to use this as a fruit cellar then you should read ...
Weight on Second Floor	12/11/2008
Q: We want to put a home office on the second floor of our house. The room has an outside wall and a ... A: you didn't tell me how big the hutch is because that would determine how many pounds per sq. foot ...
Add a Floor	12/10/2008
Q: I recently bought a 44' W x 48' L, all brick ranch home. I would like to add a floor to it. I have ... A: it depends on a few things but I have added second story additions without having to mess with the ...
Basement	12/9/2008
Q: I recently hired a contractor to straighten a basement wall and provide some external waterproofing ... A: yes this is the proper way to do a perimeter drain or french drain. The perforated pipe catches the ...
commercial flooring	12/9/2008
Q: which one is more expensive 3500 psi concrete or 4000 psi.also for a commercial floor wwith constant ... A: 4000 pound mix is more expensive because it has more cement in it. A six inch thick 4000# slab ...
construction ghosting?	12/7/2008
Q: I moved into a newly built home in February, and started to notice a bunch of black on the walls and ... A: the term construction "ghosting" isn't familiar but I can see where it comes from. If you ever look ...
reinforcein roof trusses	12/5/2008
Q: I want to strengthe roof truss (made of single 2x4 pine. I thought I could add anther 2x4 ( small ... A: I'm a little leery of giving advice regarding altering "engineered trusses". The problem with this ...
Buckling Drywall Throughout House	12/4/2008
Q: I live in a house in Charlotte, NC that was built in 1983. It is built over an open air crawl space ... A: the roof may affect your walls but for a different reason. The roof structure takes the most wind ...
Buckling Drywall Throughout House	12/3/2008
Q: I live in a house in Charlotte, NC that was built in 1983. It is built over an open air crawl space ... A: gosh that's a puzzler. No evidence of settling in the foundation? Okay then. There could be a ...
Condensation	12/3/2008
Q: If an exposed concrete roof deck with terracotta tile finish does not have insulation, will there be ... A: are you sure the roof isn't insulated? Most concrete roof decks that I have done have a 3" ...
Fruit Cellars	12/3/2008
Q: We had a storm cellar built in the basement of our new home. Decided to use it for a fruit cellar. ... A: I know that fruit storage needs certain conditions to be successful. The temperature needs to be ...
Stairs	12/3/2008
Q: We have built interior stairs to the attic where we will be building a bedroom. We want a door at ... A: generally speaking "attic" stairs do not need a landing when there is a door involved at the bottom. ...
removal of support beam	12/2/2008
Q: our house is shaped in a large L, we removed walls surrounding the kitchen and are left with two ... A: what exactly did the engineer say? I'm a bit confused with your terminology. When you say you have ...
popcorn ceilings	12/2/2008
Q: What is the best way to do it your self popcorn ceilings or should I just bite the bullet and hire ... A: sorry. I thought you wanted to do the popcorn. If the ceiling hasn't been painted too many times ...
additional attic insulation in an older home	12/2/2008
Q: I recently bought a home built in the late '20s in grand rapids, michigan. the attic has what ... A: you will get a nicer looking job if you run the fibeglass batts between the joists first. But why ...
Outdoor turf base material	11/30/2008
Q: Bruce, I am going to install outdoor turf carpet around a pool. I need to know what type of material ... A: I am not a big fan of crushed limestone, it becomes nasty when it gets wet and eventually turns to ...
Crywall texture odor	11/30/2008
Q: Followup to last night'sI went to Home Depot to buy more paint and the guy at the paint counter said ... A: you definitely want to reconsider your carpet and flooring schedule until you get this odor problem ...
popcorn ceilings	11/30/2008
Q: What is the best way to do it your self popcorn ceilings or should I just bite the bullet and hire ... A: you can rent a texture machine and buy the texture at your local building supply store, mix up the ...
drywall texture odor	11/30/2008
Q: I read the 11/05/08 posting re: the drywall texture smell. We are remodeling 2/3 of our upstairs ... A: what do you have to lose? I would clean everything that has absorbed that sour smell, air out the ...
concrete slab	11/29/2008
Q: I WANT TO BUILD A SMALL CAMP IN VERMONT 25'X25' WITH A 6'X14' BUMP-OUT IN FRONT. I NEED IT TO BE AS ... A: I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish here. If you want a cheap and easy building to build ...
Roof framing	11/28/2008
Q: ...Bear with me and I'll try to explain what I am pondering. Ok,I have an existing bungalow (1 1/2 ... A: if you are going to provide a girder truss or some other structurally capable method of supporting ...
hardi backer board	11/27/2008
Q: my hardi backer board got soaking wet.. with a plumbing mishap.. now my contractor is wanting to lay ... A: it shouldn't need to be replaced but it should at least dry out some. It probably doesn't need to be ...
Roof framing	11/26/2008
Q: ...Bear with me and I'll try to explain what I am pondering. Ok,I have an existing bungalow (1 1/2 ... A: I'm not sure what you are asking here. Let me explain a little bit about your roof framing. Right ...
structural ceiling beam	11/26/2008
Q: I am looking at extending my kitchen into my laundry room which is possible. the only thing is if we ... A: without seeing how your existing roof and ceiling system is framed up I can't give you too much ...
Access in crawl space	11/25/2008
Q: I recently bought a house built in the 1940s. One of the first things I wanted to take care of was ... A: a standard crawl space is normally 24" high from grade to bottom of joist. The best way to cut ...
Roof framing	11/24/2008
Q: ...Bear with me and I'll try to explain what I am pondering. Ok,I have an existing bungalow (1 1/2 ... A: what you are describing is basically a modified "saltbox" roof design. A saltbox is basically a ...
ridge vent	11/24/2008
Q: I have leak in the roof over my kitchen table. It's a bump out so there's only one floor there. One ... A: we have been building the last two years with no attic ventilation. To do this however you need to ...
carpentry	11/22/2008
Q: I am building a second level storage area that will be 24feet by 24feet and I would like to build it ... A: the bearing capacity of the wood I-beams depends on I-beams. Contact your local truss manufacturer ...
driveway	11/21/2008
Q: I need to pour a 12'x 38'x 4" drive way in preparation for a metal carport. Q1. wire mesh vs rebar? ... A: a control joint is either a cut joint one inch deep done with a concrete saw as soon as the concrete ...
driveway	11/21/2008
Q: I need to pour a 12'x 38'x 4" drive way in preparation for a metal carport. Q1. wire mesh vs rebar? ... A: 1. I prefer rebar in a thickened edge at the perimeter where your building will be located and wire ...
Beam sizing and roof design	11/20/2008
Q: I am designing a small stick-built home, and want to ensure it is structurally sound. I would ... A: over the years I have used the rule of thumb method for sizing residential beams. For every foot of ...
Re-building a garage on existing concrete slab	11/19/2008
Q: We are looking to buy a house that had a 2-car garage that was destroyed by a tree that fell on it. ... A: it depends. If the impact on the house caused the framing to shift out of plumb (vertical level) ...
suspended concrete ceiling	11/19/2008
Q: we have a suspended concrete floor above our finished basement. It has 1" insulation board on the ... A: why do you have insulation between floors? Your basement should be a conditioned space so that the ...
supporting a family room over a garage	11/19/2008
Q: I am building a family room which will be built much like deck in some ways. 2x12' floor joists ... A: generally speaking any solid support the width of your beam should suffice. A 4x6 or 6x6 or a 6" ...
drivet	11/18/2008
Q: We are considering purchasing a home that had drivet on it at one point. The house is 10 yrs old. ... A: most home inspection companies are qualified to look at stuff like this. If the drivet installation ...
Insulation under existing wood decking with addition	11/18/2008
Q: We had a contractor put an addition on the back of our home and put 18x18 tiles on the flooring but ... A: I'm not sure what you are hearing. But your floor insulation should be at least r-19 (6") or r-30 ...
Re-building a garage on existing concrete slab	11/18/2008
Q: We are looking to buy a house that had a 2-car garage that was destroyed by a tree that fell on it. ... A: figure around 40-50 dollars a square foot for a job like this. It may vary a few bucks one way or ...
Lumber span with minimal sagging	11/17/2008
Q: I am planning a pergola that will have 6 x 6 posts on the corners of a 10' x 16' area. I plan on ... A: for non structural joists like Pergola joists I usually will accept a 6 foot span with 2x4 and a 10' ...
Beam sizing and roof design	11/17/2008
Q: I am designing a small stick-built home, and want to ensure it is structurally sound. I would ... A: First of all, the sway bracing may become necessary when using skip sheathing or some other non ...
supporting a family room over a garage	11/16/2008
Q: I am building a family room which will be built much like deck in some ways. 2x12' floor joists ... A: The following beam span chart should help you figure you beams sizes. It looks like a W14x22 would ...
Warped Patio Support Beam	11/14/2008
Q: I have a covered patio built by the prior owner of my recently purchased home. One of the two ... A: okay you are referring to the post that holds up the beam. The post should probably be replaced if ...
beam	11/14/2008
Q: I built a carport attached to my house and used 4x4 posts on the ouside edge with 2-2x6's laminated ... A: adding the steel angle to the composite 4x6 beam helps so that might be okay. The 7/16" osb is a ...
Drywall cracks along tape line ion ceiling	11/13/2008
Q: I have a home that was built in 2001. I've been in the house since 2004. Every winter, when it ... A: what you are probably experiencing is expansion and contraction in your roof system. You didn't say ...
cracks in drywall ceiling	11/13/2008
Q: I would like to know the best way to patch a crack in a blown on textured wall? I have a long crack ... A: first of all you try to scrape or sand the texture off on both sides and including the crack about ...
3" vent pipe	11/12/2008
Q: I have to run a stack vent vertically (3 inches abs pipe ), coming from the slab, then through one ... A: yes it is allowed otherwise there would be no vents in half the plumbing in the country. Use a hole ...
Wood Span for 16x16 Pergola	11/12/2008
Q: I am builing a 16'x 16' pergola. I plan to have 8 4"x4" posts, one in each corner and also in the ... A: the middle support is a little puny considering there is no post. You might try tripling up the ...
patio roof	11/12/2008
Q: What were the building codes for the size of the roof joists used in 1980 for a patio roof in New ... A: first of all I am not an attorney but you need to go back to your insurance company. They have ...
patio roof	11/11/2008
Q: What were the building codes for the size of the roof joists used in 1980 for a patio roof in New ... A: it's hard to say. I suppose you could maybe look up building code archives at your local building ...
Cracks above windows in mortar joints	11/11/2008
Q: I am looking at purchasing a 40 year old brick exterior home. I have noticed cracks outside in the ... A: in a forty year old house you should expect some cracks somewhere. The fact that they are at the ...
Building Home in Wet Climate - Follow Up Question	11/10/2008
Q: Following up to my earlier question ... Do you know a particular construction technique that is ... A: most building types can withstand the wet weather. The trick is waterproofing and roofing. A good ...
insulating under existing home	11/10/2008
Q: Bruce, I have a home which is above ground which needs additional insulation underneath in the back ... A: what kind of foundation does your home sit on? If it is up on piers and the sides of the foundation ...
patio slab to foundation row integration	11/10/2008
Q: We have an 1870's double brick with two 70's rear additions that we are planning to put a patio to. ... A: if I am understanding you correctly you should put an expansion joint between the slab and the ...
putting a bay window in an existing home	11/10/2008
Q: I HAVE A 1960'S 5 ROOM RANCH AND IT HAD A CAR PORT THAT WAS MADE INTO 2 ROOMS. I WANT TO PUT A BAY ... A: if the width of the bay window is wider than the window you are replacing then chances are good that ...
building on an existing slab	11/9/2008
Q: I have a concrete pad at the end of my 57 stone driveway and want put a 12'x20' addition on the ... A: first of all you will have to reinforce the edges of the slab that will be bearing the weight of the ...
Move an exterior door (bump in)	11/8/2008
Q: My existing entry door is a double french door with side lites. It's a prehung unit and 8ft wide. ... A: leaks under doors is normally caused by the following situations or a combination: The first being ...
adding a wood lintel in a masonary block wall	11/6/2008
Q: I am adding a door to a cinder block wall, 8x8x16 block size, single story, truss construction. I ... A: okay that makes more sense. If you leave the bond beam intact and can get your wood beam underneath ...
adding a wood lintel in a masonary block wall	11/6/2008
Q: I am adding a door to a cinder block wall, 8x8x16 block size, single story, truss construction. I ... A: I don't think using a wood beam in a masonry wall is a big deal. But I am wondering why you need a ...
Drywall texture smell	11/5/2008
Q: The drywall texture our builder used smells terrible. Could it be old? It's been three days and it ... A: if he is using a big spray rig truck and keeps the hopper full of wet material for a long period of ...
Are all standard Gable trusses free spanning?	11/4/2008
Q: I framed houses for about a year back in the 90's. I'm looking at buying a split level with gable ... A: most truss type roof systems are two point bearing, meaning that they bear on the outside walls and ...
Folding Stairs	11/3/2008
Q: I have attic space that is 22.75" higher than the bonus room floor. Access is through a standard ... A: we use a commercial door closer with a built in hold open device on a lot of our projects. This way ...
Frame section separating from stone section of house	11/3/2008
Q: I have a house that was built in three sections. The first two sections are stone and were built in ... A: a structural engineer or P.E. is probably your best bet at the beginning. He can look at the ...
Porch Columns	11/3/2008
Q: Bruce, I have a situation where I noticed that the porch columns holding the roof over my front ... A: I am not an attorney so I'm not sure what claim if any you can have against the builder since I ...
House in northern Wisconsin	11/3/2008
Q: We have a cinder block house on cement slab built in the early 60's. The house is built very close ... A: in extreme climates whether it be hot or cold it is always a good idea to keep the house at least at ...
wet drywall	11/2/2008
Q: we had an addition put on our house. the contractor left before the job was finished. all inside was ... A: if the water was casual and you have gotten the area dried out, most drywall materials will hold up ...
Folding Stairs	11/2/2008
Q: I have attic space that is 22.75" higher than the bonus room floor. Access is through a standard ... A: it appears that what you want to do should be easily constructed using basic hardware found at most ...
concrete building blocks	10/31/2008
Q: We are going to build a steel frame home with split faced concrete block walls. We would like the ... A: I build a lot of block buildings and the best way to insulate masonry is foam injection. We use ...
Floor Bounce	10/31/2008
Q: I have a brick home that is 30+ years old. There is a crawl space below, and I believe the joist ... A: is it possible that the beam holding up the floor joists hasn't shifted or settled? Maybe just ...
Corrugated Tin Roof Edge Sealing	10/31/2008
Q: I need to know the best method of sealing the gaps left at the edge of a corrugated tin roof between ... A: they make a pre molded foam insert for this type of thing. It is made to fit tightly on a ...
Uneven floors due to past settling	10/31/2008
Q: We have recently moved into an older home, 25-30 years. The floors on both the 1st and 2nd floor ... A: you have a couple of options. House movers, carpentry contractors or foundation contractors are ...
Moving opening in wall	10/30/2008
Q: The floor joist above are sitting on the wall i want to create the hole in. the structure is brick ... A: truth be told there isn't much bearing weight on this narrow of an opening so you really don't need ...
Moving back door opening.	10/29/2008
Q: i have no problem with bricking the existing one up. Its just making the new one on a outside wall i ... A: is the wall you are cutting the hole in brick or wood frame or masonry and brick? Corners of ...
metal door install into cement block building	10/29/2008
Q: There is a difference between the shoring and the Furring for the door installation. Now you ... A: I see your dilemma, for some reason when you said 9/16 mud joints I pictured the butt joints and not ...
metal door install into cement block building	10/28/2008
Q: There is a difference between the shoring and the Furring for the door installation. Now you ... A: you shouldn't need to worry about a 9/16 mud joint. Do what you have to do. That vertical cell on ...
driveway and carport	10/28/2008
Q: We just had our driveway redone(7 days ago) and the concrete has crack lines all over. The ... A: If you like the look of the concrete he showed you and he was the one that did the work then by all ...
reseal concrete driveway	10/28/2008
Q: I have a stamped concrete driveway that needs to be resealed. I was told that there are water base, ... A: chances are pretty good that your sealer is not water (latex) or oil based. Most concrete sealers ...
driveway and carport	10/27/2008
Q: We just had our driveway redone(7 days ago) and the concrete has crack lines all over. The ... A: I hope this email is in time. I don't know where to begin. You are obviously the "customer". The ...
metal door install into cement block building	10/26/2008
Q: am constructing a basic cement block building and have purchased a metal door with metal jambs and ... A: There is a difference between the shoring and the Furring for the door installation. Now you ...
community theater remodeling	10/26/2008
Q: My little community theater group is remodeling a building that was filled with offices into a black ... A: I went to your website and looked at your photos. It was kind of hard to envision the volume of the ...
driveway and carport	10/26/2008
Q: We just had our driveway redone(7 days ago) and the concrete has crack lines all over. The ... A: unfortunately concrete does crack. It is an unfortunate side effect of expansion and contraction ...
metal door install into cement block building	10/25/2008
Q: am constructing a basic cement block building and have purchased a metal door with metal jambs and ... A: I'm sorry I thought you were only inquiring about the installation of the door. I didn't realize ...
Inside corner wallboard tape buckles	10/25/2008
Q: I have a 27 year old home. The tape in the corner of one bedroom, and in one corner of our ... A: the puckering of corner tape can be caused by two different things. The first possibility is that ...
Horsehair plaster	10/25/2008
Q: Bruce, My kitchen was plastered and painted over horsehair. Now all the paint and plaster is peeling ... A: there are a couple of ways to remove the suface scale on old plaster but it seems like you are ...
metal door install into cement block building	10/25/2008
Q: am constructing a basic cement block building and have purchased a metal door with metal jambs and ... A: If your door requires the 2x8 furring around the opening to attach your jambs to then really all you ...
Moving a "portable"storage shed	10/25/2008
Q: I would like to find out how to move a storage shed approximately 1 hour away. It's a x. It is ... A: moving a shed isn't too difficult if it has "runnners" underneath it. Runners are like what the ...
Structural Design	10/24/2008
Q: I Have to design a building but i am not sure from where i start i have to design the roof of ... A: A 50 foot clear span is a long distance for a concrete slab unless you either incorporate ...
adding attic floor	10/23/2008
Q: my boss wants me to add an attic to a room in his clinic, I know better but would like to ask ... A: If you have a decent roof structure above the ceiling joists you might be able to suspend part of ...
set tumbled marble tile on drywall	10/23/2008
Q: I'm building a kitchen island and planning to set 4"x4" marble tile on the 1/2 thick drywall, but ... A: the cement board is a better backer board for any wet areas around sinks etc. But for regular ...
Installing a oak Beam	10/21/2008
Q: I am a building surveying student and have an assignment in structural method. I would like to know ... A: I can help you with your problem but I need more information. First of all: you are supporting the ...
Tricky Interior Wall	10/20/2008
Q: I need advice on how to build an interior wall with a few hiccups. First, the home is already ... A: if I understand you correctly the answer is fairly simple. First of all you build your new wall so ...
removing a wall	10/20/2008
Q: we are looking to extend our lounge downstairs and would like to knock a wall through of about 14 ... A: without knowing all the details I would have to say yes, it probably can be done if you have enough ...
Butchered floor joists!!!	10/19/2008
Q: I'm looking for your expert advice. We are interested in a house (100 yrs)that has a major ... A: you are right. If there is access underneath the house to get at the joist then definately that is ...
Butchered floor joists!!!	10/19/2008
Q: I'm looking for your expert advice. We are interested in a house (100 yrs)that has a major ... A: A house mover can jack the house up generally without breaking anything. They put large timbers ...
metal/aluminum patio trusses	10/18/2008
Q: I am in southern california. I looking to buy metal trusses spanning 30 feet. It is to be used as ... A: I live in Florida and we have several metal truss manufacturers locally. I did some searching for ...
OSB on walls	10/17/2008
Q: When installing the OSB (Aspenite) on the wall, does the shinny side go outside or inside. Also, if ... A: sorry I forgot to address that question earlier. For Storm sheathing (wall sheathing) I believe you ...
OSB on walls	10/17/2008
Q: When installing the OSB (Aspenite) on the wall, does the shinny side go outside or inside. Also, if ... A: I don't think it makes a difference. If it did there would be a big stamp on the product "THIS ...
Concerning roof slab?	10/17/2008
Q: First of all let me tell you that you are doing a really great job by helping people in solving ... A: I thought I was pretty clear about my answer. I feel that there is not enough steel based on your ...
Support Columns	10/16/2008
Q: I would like to widen the distance between the support columns in my basement. The beam is a W8X21 ... A: you should be okay. Worst case scenario would be a little more bounce in the floor system. This ...
Concerning roof slab?	10/16/2008
Q: First of all let me tell you that you are doing a really great job by helping people in solving ... A: I don't see why you can't increase the distance between the bars to 300mm. This is less than 12" on ...
mold on recently wall papered wall	10/14/2008
Q: I have a wall assembly that is made up of 8" concrete block that has smooth stucco exterior finish ... A: preventing water intrusion always starts at the exterior first. You need to have a good paint job ...
confidentiality?	10/14/2008
Q: what does confidentiality mean in a construction work environment. A: confidentiality means the same thing in any work environ. It means that things discussed between ...
Top Chord Bearing floor truss	10/13/2008
Q: I am having a house built and the builder ordered Top chord bearing floor trusses. I am concerned ... A: generally speaking a truss is a truss and they are all made with those gang nail or pressed plates. ...
Top Chord Bearing floor truss	10/13/2008
Q: I am having a house built and the builder ordered Top chord bearing floor trusses. I am concerned ... A: if the trusses are built according to appropriate specifications made by the structural engineer, ...
frost line	10/12/2008
Q: If the frost line is at 30 inches, Where should the bottom of my 12" thick footer lay, at the frost ... A: the top of the footing should be at the frost line and the footing below it. That is my opinion and ...
Rafter Span	10/12/2008
Q: Mich area. The roof will measure 17' x 14'. It will be essentially flat (2" pitch), will have a ... A: check out this website: http://www.southernpine.com/spantables.shtml it gives a detailed description ...
concrete garage slab bad job	10/11/2008
Q: My garage floor slab was poured yesterday, The apron is not level to the garage door when closed. ... A: if the repair is done properly (and it seems like he went through the right procedures) then you ...
corrugated tin roof	10/11/2008
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 ...
Concrete Porch	10/8/2008
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. ...
Cutting a Birds Mouth	10/8/2008
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 ...
Pole Barn Repair	10/7/2008
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 ...
Drywall	10/7/2008
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 ...
toenailing/ header nailling	10/6/2008
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 ...
garage	10/6/2008
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 ...
2x8 headers max span	10/3/2008
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 ...
patio header spans & rafters	9/30/2008
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 ...
Waterproofing exterior real stucco that has been painted	9/30/2008
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 ...
concrete porch slab & steps - repairing pour	9/30/2008
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 ...
patio header spans & rafters	9/30/2008
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 ...
laminated beam	9/29/2008
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. ...
load bearing walls	9/26/2008
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. ...
block wall	9/26/2008
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 ...
room extension	9/25/2008
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 ...
room extension	9/25/2008
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 ...
Building a Circle Type Home	9/24/2008
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 ...
Raising the roof for 2nd story	9/24/2008
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 ...
insulation in older homes	9/24/2008
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. ...
Raising a house	9/23/2008
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 ...
new construction	9/23/2008
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 ...
celing beam	9/23/2008
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 ...
durock planter	9/23/2008
Q: Can Durock be used instead of PT wood for a 5'x5' planter? How do you think it would it hold up to ... A: the Durock itself is a good product and can be used in wet conditions interior or exterior. My only ...
Bottom Plate	9/21/2008
Q: My neighbor's house was recently flooded (Iowa) in June. They have lifted their house and are ... A: yes the wood should be pressure treated or minimally set on top of a strip of metal flashing or ...
building a covered patio	9/21/2008
Q: !! i have a 28ft wide x 16 ft long patio. 28ft along back of the house. i have footings on the front ... A: the thicker the beam doesn't necessarily make it capable of this length of span. Remember, it has to ...
Marriage wall opening	9/20/2008
Q: I have a modular home from American Homes. I have a 60" wide opening between my living room and ... A: I don't see why you can't remove the bands and trim down the studs. The bands are there to keep the ...
building a covered patio	9/20/2008
Q: !! i have a 28ft wide x 16 ft long patio. 28ft along back of the house. i have footings on the front ... A: I don't understand your footing size 3x3x4..is that inches or feet? 2x6 is a little puny for a 16' ...
replacing a load bearing wall	9/16/2008
Q: I would like to replace what I think is a load bearing wall which is approx. 12' long w/ a few ... A: a bearing wall carries the weight continuously over its length. This means that if you remove it ...
cladding	9/14/2008
Q: I would like to wrap my home in a combination of brick and stone cladding. Currently my home is ... A: if it is a veneer then you might not need any footing. If your exsiting foundation has a four to ...
Crawl space below grade	9/14/2008
Q: I'm about to replace the underpinning on a pier and beam house, and in some spots the crawl space ... A: talk about dejavu, I had almost an identical question a few months ago. I recommend using mortar ...
Column Starters and other questions??	9/14/2008
Q: Hoping that you are fine. My questions are that why starters are given prior to concreting in ... A: So when you are referring to starters you refer to the grout (cement mixture) that fills in the void ...
mobile home addition	9/13/2008
Q: we are adding onto a 24w by 40' 1989 redmon mobile home. we are adding onto the gable end. we are ... A: basically you can remove up to the bottom of the existing mobile's roof truss/ceiling joist. You ...
flooding	9/13/2008
Q: we can not make the ground outside lower or our place will be the lowest in the area and we will ... A: you could have a house mover come out and see what it would take to raise the barn and pour a new ...
Wind speed and window selection.	9/12/2008
Q: I am in the process of trying to figure out how to choose windows, based on wind speed/wind loading, ... A: you don't need a book to intrepet window construction. Florida building code requires that the ...
attaching open porch roof to built-up roof	9/12/2008
Q: live in Jacksonville, Florida and am considering building an outdoor porch on an existing concrete ... A: not sure where you can access designs related to your project, try this link ...
Second Story Egress	9/11/2008
Q: Bruce, I have a rather unique situation. My wife and I live in a 55, plus development in Bensalem, ... A: first of all, I am not an attorney so any comments I will make are based solely on my own personal ...
Column Starters and other questions??	9/11/2008
Q: Hoping that you are fine. My questions are that why starters are given prior to concreting in ... A: maybe it is a localized terminology but I am not familiar with the term "starters" in reference to ...
concrete porch slab & steps - repairing pour	9/11/2008
Q: We recently contracted to have a new 10' x 24' porch slab with six steps and an approach on our 1927 ... A: sometimes you have to bite the bullet and rip the whole thing out and redo it. I think this might ...
root cellar concrete roof	9/9/2008
Q: I came across your answers to someone else and wondered if you can help me. I'm building a ... A: I'm not sure if there is a website that has this information. But from experience I would say at ...
Extension of concrete slab	9/9/2008
Q: Hoping that you are keeping good.I ;m planning to extend concrete slab(floor) of first story. The ... A: drilling into the existing slab with a 3/4" concrete drill bit at least 6" and inserting a piece of ...
Door Headers	9/9/2008
Q: I cannot find the specs for the size of door headers I need on a garage. The doors are on an ... A: each lvl manufacturer has slightly different numbers for their beams..try this link..it is pretty ...
Door Headers	9/9/2008
Q: I cannot find the specs for the size of door headers I need on a garage. The doors are on an ... A: I am not an engineer, however, the rule of thumb for a nominal 4" thick wood beam (or doubled 2X) of ...
adding a bumpout to a first floor room on a two story house	9/7/2008
Q: We want to expand our first floor family room with a bump- out 6' deep by approx 15'long. It is a ... A: a beam to span 15 feet should probably be at least a 6x12 doug fir or southern yellow pine beam. I ...
decking screws	9/7/2008
Q: if my decking boards are 32mm thick and im using 100x50mm joists (on concrete base) what length ... A: if you are talking about just a low spot in the concrete here or there the joists you are using ...
Sun room foundation	9/7/2008
Q: I have an existing sunroom that is on a framed foundation. It is a modualr/panel type sunroom, ... A: Yes, this has been done before. If the floor panels can be removed and the remaining rim joist is ...
reaction of caulking to siloxane	9/6/2008
Q: You talked about the reaction of certain caulking to the siloxane. If the mason uses the urethane ... A: the urethane caulks are pretty compatible with most products. Generally speaking when using ...
brick stair repair	9/6/2008
Q: I have a very experienced mason that wants to repair the mortar joints on my brick stairs by using ... A: mortar can normally be sealed with siloxane based sealers after curing 3 days. As far as the ...
BUILDING A NEW HAWAIIAN TROJAN HOME	9/5/2008
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 system	9/5/2008
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 ...
crawl space to basement dealign with venting & moisture	9/4/2008
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 separating	9/3/2008
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 screws	9/3/2008
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 basement	9/3/2008
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 ...
decking screws	9/2/2008
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 steps	9/2/2008
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 Porch	9/2/2008
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 wall	9/1/2008
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 columns	8/31/2008
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. ...
Roof trusses vs. rafter construction	8/30/2008
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 ...
Support Beam	8/28/2008
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 ...
Steel Beams vs. Wood	8/26/2008
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, ...
laying stone for patio and knee wall	8/25/2008
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 walls	8/25/2008
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 ...
Help with rim joist wrap	8/24/2008
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 wall	8/24/2008
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 cracks	8/24/2008
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 ...
extending a half wall	8/23/2008
Q: I have a half wall in my loft that I want to extend to the ceiling thus having a floor to ceiling ... A: I will need to know how far the walls are from being flush and what walls you are talking about. ...
new & old concrete bonding in foundaion	8/23/2008
Q: Question about partial casting of footing. Sir , I want to know about old & new casting bond in ... A: unfortunately I don't like the idea of pouring a footing in multiple pours unless there is ...
trailor room additions	8/22/2008
Q: Mr. Johnson, In retiring we have decided to continue living @ east fork lake and that is where we ... A: before I went through the time, money and effort to add two large rooms onto a trailer I would ...
Post and Beam frame house underpenning	8/21/2008
Q: I am from BRICK HOME St Louis MO and have bought a 100 yr old post and beam frame house in Texas ... A: Yes you should have a vapor barrier under your house on top of the ground to keep moisture from ...
Earth berm on an existing house	8/21/2008
Q: I came across a question you answered in 2005 about earth-berming and existing home. You spoke of ... A: I don't recall that particular question. But to answer yours. I suppose you can use tires for rip ...
cleaning sidewalks	8/21/2008
Q: I live near the ocean and our sidewalk seems to attract a greenish tinge over time because of so ... A: for outdoor mold and mildew problems I like to use Clorox outdoor bleach. I use a mixing bottle ...
laying stone for patio and knee wall	8/21/2008
Q: I have poured a concrete base for a stone patio and built a small retaining wall (Knee wall 18" ... A: just regular mortar mix works the best for all of the above applications. I believe Brixment is ...
re:concrete wall 8/14/2008	8/19/2008
Q: I had asked you about a concrete wall, and was planning on pouring it on the front side of a ... A: by all means you can build your wall with the footing offset to the back. As I mentioned in my last ...
Deck Post Supported by Concrete Slab	8/19/2008
Q: I think you’ve answered a similar question before, but I’m just looking for some reassurance before ... A: if the concrete slab is in decent condition then I would have no qualms about using it to support ...
brick home	8/19/2008
Q: my family moved into a brick home in south Georgia a couple of years ago. We bought this house new ... A: there is a paperless drywall available nowadays that doesn't provide mold with "food" since it is ...
brick replacement	8/18/2008
Q: Ww have a two story traditional home with 3 sides brick and the back siding. We would love to ... A: you will have to trim out the windows similar to what you have now. Generally a brick moulding ...
Collar ties or beams	8/18/2008
Q: We want to instal an exposed collar tie or beam, in a barn, with an exposed (cathedral type roof. I ... A: try this website: http://www.sightlinesmn.com/system2.html The system you are talking about is ...
soffets and facia	8/18/2008
Q: what is your opinion on using hardie board as a material to reolace the all wood soffets and facia ... A: we use Hardi almost exclusively anymore for soffits but we still use pressure treated wood for the ...
Steel beams	8/17/2008
Q: My homes' steel beam that runs through the garage has a 4"x4"hole cut in it to make room for the ... A: I have had beams made with holes in them for A/C ducts etc. The beams were made this way. We did ...
double wide walls separating	8/17/2008
Q: What is the common gap between interior walls and exterior walls(where they join). Ours appear to be ... A: I can't think of any reason why there would be any separation between adjoining walls. I am trying ...
brick replacement	8/17/2008
Q: Ww have a two story traditional home with 3 sides brick and the back siding. We would love to ... A: I don't know what could be risky about it. Normally it is a cost saving issue when builders just do ...
RC1 resilient channel	8/16/2008
Q: I got the RC1 resilient channel today. It's 12 ft. long and it's z shaped :) One more question, do ... A: shimming the r-channel is an option. If you have joists that are too high you can shim the channel ...
concrete wall footer	8/16/2008
Q: I am pouring an 8' high, 12"think x 64' wall. ( 6' of that will be exposed, 2' feet underground) on ... A: A wall this size should probably be engineered if it is going to retain a lot of dirt and/or sits on ...
concrete wall	8/14/2008
Q: I am building forms for a concrete wall 8'tall by 12" wide by 60". I plan on pouring it on a 12"x36" ... A: the hook size on your vertical steel coming out of the footing confuses me. If the wall is a ...
Second Story addition	8/13/2008
Q: I am planning a second story addition to our house. The roof is built with manufactured trusses. ... A: I have done this before. With careful planning and the right floor system it is definitely ...
concreting sloping roof slab	8/13/2008
Q: I am building my home in India. My roof is 4" rcc slab that slops at 36 degrees, about to be poured ... A: water to cement ratio is generally figured in pounds in this country however using the metric scale ...
Leveling basement ceiling	8/13/2008
Q: I read one of your earlier answers regarding to leveling basement ceiling. "The one by two or one ... A: resilient channel is a Z shaped strip of metal 8-10 feet long. The top flat part of the Z is ...
finishing a room	8/12/2008
Q: We'd like to finish the room over the garage for a children's playroom. It has a small access door ... A: it sounds like the structure was built with the intention of finishing this area off eventually. I ...
Elevation of roof - ranch style home	8/10/2008
Q: I would like to extend the height of my ranch home to have stand-up acess in the attic where i would ... A: sending graphics from this website is impossible. But bonding a brick or stone face to a wall is a ...
rEMOVAL OF 1973 MOBILE HOME	8/10/2008
Q: WHAT IS THE CHEAPEST WAY TO GET RID OF THIS 1973 MOBILE HOME ON MY PROPERTY?AM I LIABLE IF I GIVE IT ... A: if the mobile is in decent shape you might be able to find someone to take it off your hands however ...
COnverting a garage	8/10/2008
Q: I wonder if you could help. I'm hoping to convert my garage into a physiotherapy practice but it has ... A: when you say asbestos roof are you referring to the shingles on the exterior? If so then they ...
Concrete Span for house	8/10/2008
Q: I have inherited a plot of land with an old mill stream and a 1950's house that has fallen into ... A: a 25 foot span for a concrete beam isn't that overtly expensive and can easily be included in the ...
Vinyl Siding	8/9/2008
Q: I plan to build two sheds and cover them with vertical Vinyl Siding. One shed will be tall and ... A: most vinyl siding comes with instructions but for the sake of this website I will try to answer your ...
Steel beam size	8/9/2008
Q: I am building a 25x36 apartment for my parents. It will have a basement and attic room trusses. I ... A: the size of the steel beam kind of depends on the spacing of the columns that support it, a W8 beam ...
Concrete Span for house	8/9/2008
Q: I have inherited a plot of land with an old mill stream and a 1950's house that has fallen into ... A: of course you can span 25 feet, you can span a hundred feet with the right structure. I would ...
concrete crack	8/8/2008
Q: I'm in escrow on a house. I had a home inspection yesterday and the inspector recommended I get a ... A: I'm not an attorney but in most inspection instances regarding real estate it is the buyers ...
concrete crack	8/8/2008
Q: I'm in escrow on a house. I had a home inspection yesterday and the inspector recommended I get a ... A: it's hard to say. It depends a lot on where the crack is located. If it is in a slab then I have ...
Lath and plaster	8/8/2008
Q: I am asking this question for my friend. She recently bought an older house and the walls are lath ... A: depending on how "rough" the walls are you can skim coat the wall with drywall mud until you get the ...
pergola span	8/7/2008
Q: We would like to build a 4 post timber (pressure treated pine) pergola that is 111 inches by 16 ... A: the 2x6 beams are a little puny for this length of span. You can add a knee brace from each post up ...
roof trusses	8/7/2008
Q: 1 - state 3 important checks to carry out prior to marking centres and erecting roof trusses. 2 - ... A: what is this your homework for a builder's exam? When erecting trusses you should a. always read ...
VINYL SIDING	8/6/2008
Q: I am going to put a deck on my house, so when we did an addition, I had the first two rows of siding ... A: sometimes you can split the difference and get the siding to appear lined up even though it isn't. ...
CMU basement	8/5/2008
Q: How long from the time I pour my footer until I can lay CMU wall blocks? Do I need to wait 28 days ... A: in the real construction world we start laying block if not the next day after the concrete is ...
Roof to Stucco	8/5/2008
Q: I am trying to replace the flashing behind my stucco wall and roofline due to leaking. I have cut a ... A: at this point you are better off screwing your new flashing to the wall and stuccoing over it or ...
VINYL SIDING	8/4/2008
Q: I am going to put a deck on my house, so when we did an addition, I had the first two rows of siding ... A: I really don't have enough information to give you an answer. It seems to me that if you left the ...
Help with rim joist wrap	8/4/2008
Q: I have just recently removed the lower siding from our new house (5 years old) to install a deck, ... A: you are correct. The bottom layer of house wrap should not be installed in such a way to trap ...
Asbestos Siding	8/4/2008
Q: Bruce, Would there be any problems if I installed new 1/2 inch plywood over top of asbestos siding ... A: I don't see any reason why you can't attach plywood over the existing siding. Use a good stud ...
Replacing 2x12 Joist with Steel	8/3/2008
Q: I have an exterior Deck which is integrated with the Roof of the House (the roof for the Deck is ... A: depending on how the deck is built you might be able to just cut out the 2x12 up to the thickness of ...
New window in existing stucco	8/2/2008
Q: I am building a room under our home that is on a hill. The home has a stucco exterior. I will be ... A: the key to doing a job like this is to keep the damage to the stucco to a minimum. This means that ...
concrete block foundation/leakage	8/1/2008
Q: I have a full brick house with a concrete block foundation that was built in 1915. I am in the ... A: real brick houses were normally built as double wythe or triple wythe structures meaning either two ...
insulate horsehair plaster	8/1/2008
Q: I have interiror walls with horsehair plaster circa 1890 covered with thin paneling 4x8 sheets. I ... A: Glue it on to the wall with liquid nails. As you glue the insulation on try to mark where the studs ...
suspended concrete garage floor	8/1/2008
Q: Can you recommend a specification for a suspended floor, 22-ft. x 22 ft., supported on ICF ... A: I am not a structural engineer so any of my comments are based solely on my experience and in no way ...
rafters	8/1/2008
Q: I AM BUILDING A 12 X 12 SHED.I WANT MY RAFTERS TO BE 99" IN LENGTH SO I CAN LAY 2 PCS OSB WITHOUT ... A: your pitch would be 4 3/8" / 12" so those would be the two numbers you would set your framing square ...
Removing a load bearing wall to make house bigger	7/31/2008
Q: I am trying to find out if this is possible. I want to remove my first floor exterior wall which is ... A: obviously you need the beam or girder to be hidden and really it is probably cheaper to do it that ...
void under exterior concrete walkup steps from basement	7/31/2008
Q: Bruce, I have walkup steps leading from the basement to the outside to a side yard. Due to ... A: if you have access to rocks, here is what I would do. I would pack some rocks into the voids and ...
Pink house	7/31/2008
Q: Bruce, We are considering buying a Foreclosure property her in Utah that has an exterior of brick ... A: I don't blame you, my wife hates pink and I'm not a big fan of it either. Changing the mortar color ...
building an addition	7/30/2008
Q: We want to add on to our 6 year old house. The contractor who built our house says that he cannot ... A: it's "never say never" in the building business. You just need a new contractor. There are beams ...
attaching studs to concrete walls	7/29/2008
Q: i am thinking about starting my basement. i am familiar with hanging sheetrock and framing, however ... A: the best thing for furring out basement walls is a pressure treated 1x4. They can be attached ...
need roof help	7/29/2008
Q: ineed help with a plan for what type of Frameing to use with 24'x36'garage roof i live in an area ... A: the length of a rafter with a 12 ' span and a 3 foot rise is 12' 4 7/16" not including overhang. It ...
tyvek	7/29/2008
Q: We recently had a cabin built in the adirondack area of NY. What are thte ramifications now and ... A: Tyvek and other brand name house wraps are merely modern versions of the old Tar paper wraps used ...
Patio door header	7/29/2008
Q: I'd like to have help about replacing a window by a patio door (6' width) : down to up we have : - ... A: for a header spanning six feet you need at least a 4x6 or a double 2x6..If your floor joist are ...
concrete slab	7/29/2008
Q: I just had a 12x12 concrete slab put down in my back yard for a dog kennel. I was wondering should I ... A: 12 x 12 is really not big enough to need control joints but the slab may crack anyhow because that's ...
stair step cracks on exterios brick walls	7/28/2008
Q: Bruce, Our house was built in 2005. Recently I noticed that there are stair-step cracks on our ... A: I can't say for certain why your particular house has the stair step cracking under the windows. ...
footings under posts in an old house	7/28/2008
Q: I have a 101 year old, two story, wood frame house in Chicago. The original posts are still holding ... A: a 2'x2' footing 12" deep will probably work okay but for two stories I prefer 3'x3' x 12" with a ...
need roof help	7/28/2008
Q: ineed help with a plan for what type of Frameing to use with 24'x36'garage roof i live in an area ... A: this is a pretty shallow pitch for a roof this wide, 24'. I would suggest that you have a truss ...
stair step cracks on exterios brick walls	7/28/2008
Q: Bruce, Our house was built in 2005. Recently I noticed that there are stair-step cracks on our ... A: window and door openings are the most common places for structural cracking to occur for obvious ...
Torque requirements for electric drill/driver	7/27/2008
Q: I thought this is a very simple question but no website or salesperson has been able to answer it. ... A: I'm not sure what you are asking for here? Normally 100+ foot lbs of torque should be enough to ...
Removing a load bearing wall to make house bigger	7/26/2008
Q: I am trying to find out if this is possible. I want to remove my first floor exterior wall which is ... A: anything is possible when building. By being able to use columns will help reduce the span of the ...
creating an entrance from room into the garage	7/26/2008
Q: The ranch house I just purchased contains two garage areas side-by-side - the original one car ... A: the ideal location for a passage door would be where the window between the two garages exists if ...
building a garage under the existing deck	7/26/2008
Q: We are trying to build a garage under deck for a tractor.We are using Tuftex sheets as a ceiling to ... A: most overhead door companies can build any size door you want if you want or need a custom size. ...
Exterior insulation/shingles	7/26/2008
Q: Question re: building a 2000 sqft 1.5 story 3-season cottage on Maine coast (strong winds, high ... A: there exists on the roofing market a great insulation product that comes with an OSB board attached ...
Exterior door sill	7/25/2008
Q: I have a timber front door and frame that the sill has become rotten and would like to replace just ... A: yes you just saw through the jamb on top of the sill. A trick to removing a sill like this is to ...
joist support	7/25/2008
Q: Bruce, Heres the story. My home was built in 1923 and is of Cape design, 2 stories. The main beams ... A: your floor system is a "ledger" design. The ledger being the wood nailed to the beam that the ...
combining mobile homes to make one	7/24/2008
Q: My husband and I are talking about building a house on some land we have, just recently he mentioned ... A: I suppose you could combine several mobiles together. Most mobiles have windows on the ends that ...
rate at which concrete gains strength.	7/23/2008
Q: Is there a formula that tells you at what rate poured concrete gains its strength? I know at 7 days ... A: concrete curing is complicated and relies on a variety of factors. check out this link: ...
Cracked	7/23/2008
Q: Alright... here we go! At the moment I am staying in a house in London, where cracks a have been ... A: this is a tricky question because you don't really describe what is cracking. Is it plaster? ...
Concrete Slab	7/23/2008
Q: We are getting ready to pour a 12' x 14' x 4" slab of concrete for a shed. We are required to have ... A: it really doesn't matter what the sequence is. You can grade out the slab area and then dig the ...
basement mono slab	7/23/2008
Q: I have lifted my 20'x30' gambrel style house using I beams and dug out a basement because the wooden ... A: the depth of your footings should be determined by a local engineer based on the soil in your area, ...
farmers porch	7/23/2008
Q: Could I add a farmers porch to a split level entry home? A: you can add a porch to a split level. If the front entry is elevated and you have to walk up steps ...
Attaching a ledger board	7/22/2008
Q: Is it safe to attach a ledger board for a deck to the studs of an interior wall? I have a split ... A: you can use screws. Instead of a 1/2" lag bolt in each stud you can use three screws per stud, no ...
Concrete Block Home walls not capped moisture	7/22/2008
Q: We bought a concrete block home that was built in 1948 and had foam board insulation and siding put ... A: the soft foam will solve your problem with the air coming out of your outlets because it will fill ...
Concrete Block Home walls not capped moisture	7/22/2008
Q: We bought a concrete block home that was built in 1948 and had foam board insulation and siding put ... A: I personally use the block foam exclusively in my projects. It is a wonderful product. I am not ...
Steep driveway	7/22/2008
Q: Bruce- We bought a new condo several months ago. The driveway is extremely steep going down into ... A: sorry to hear about your troubles. First of all most building departments and building codes have ...
Attaching a ledger board	7/22/2008
Q: Is it safe to attach a ledger board for a deck to the studs of an interior wall? I have a split ... A: of course it is possible to attach a ledger board to a stud wall, it is done all the time. You must ...
Zed Purlins	7/9/2008
Q: Australia Bruce, I want to know what is the maximum cantilevered distance (ie: the portion of floor ... A: g'day mate. I always wanted to say that to an Australian. Anyways, I'm not sure what you are ...
room addition	7/8/2008
Q: I am trying to add an addition on to my doublewide. It is 24x42 and I want to add an additional 16 ... A: are you saying that your access is located on the exterior of your doublewide and by adding the room ...
patio cover	7/8/2008
Q: I'm planning to build a stand alone patio cover, but I'm not sure what size header beams to use. ... A: the beams are a little puny for that kind of span especially if they are holding up a roof system. ...
concrete resurfacing	7/7/2008
Q: researching various resufacing products. found mesh backed flagstone by MS Internationsl. It is ... A: I am assuming that this product is not made for the application you want to use it in otherwise the ...
Foundation	7/7/2008
Q: My homebuilder poured my foundation last week, however they did not include the ledge on the back of ... A: this isn't a big deal. Make sure they drill and epoxy some rebar pieces into the new footing (two ...
home renovations	7/7/2008
Q: i have an existing 33x33 2 story slab on grade. i would like to build on to one side of the house, ... A: yes you can add a basement addition to a slab on grade foundation. It's a little tricky if you have ...
concrete wall psi needs	7/7/2008
Q: I am building a wall that will be 34 ft on one side 54 ft on other side, shaped in an l form. It ... A: I don't agree with any of your contractors: The 3500 psi is fine for the concrete strength. I don't ...
cardboard footings filled with concret	7/6/2008
Q: the inspector that checked our house for the pending sale informs me that I must remove all ... A: that's probably correct. It is something that should have been done during construction of the ...
concrete	7/4/2008
Q: I need about 775 square feet of 4" concrete walkway added around my existing concrete walkway around ... A: 775 sq. ft. of concrete 4" thick is 10 cubic yards of concrete. Depending on the cost of concrete ...
concrete wall psi needs	7/3/2008
Q: I am building a wall that will be 34 ft on one side 54 ft on other side, shaped in an l form. It ... A: I'm sorry but I thought you already had the wall designed pretty much. If you live in an area where ...
footings	7/2/2008
Q: I have dug out some footings and have clay pipes running through them. How do I concrete the ... A: you have to compensate for the pipes by making the footing deeper where the pipes cross through ...
Brick House Support Beam Dropped	7/2/2008
Q: Bruce, I just bought a 1916 Brick House that has a shelf basement. My inspector found that there ... A: If the shelf is poured concrete then you can probably get by with putting a post on it without a ...
drive way painting	7/2/2008
Q: Bruce-I had my drive way painted and t is slipery and is cracking. I would like to have someone come ... A: I am not familiar with contractors in your area. Try going to some local paint stores like Sherwin ...
Supporting rim joist for lowered (suspended) ceiling	7/2/2008
Q: I am hoping you can help me. I am installing a drywalled drop ceiling in a 10.5' x 9.5' room in an ... A: yes, we use screws for pretty much everything anymore when it comes to attaching anything that can ...
garage floor	7/2/2008
Q: I have to pour a floor for a six car garage, 48x35. The garage walls are poured concrete on ... A: when you say 18" columns are you referring to an 18" wide "footing" poured monolithically with the ...
Supporting rim joist for lowered (suspended) ceiling	7/1/2008
Q: I am hoping you can help me. I am installing a drywalled drop ceiling in a 10.5' x 9.5' room in an ... A: I'm not sure what your problem is here. If you have plaster and lathe over furring strips and brick ...
Wet carpet/ceiling/	7/1/2008
Q: Our air conditioning unit recently leaked in the attic. Water marks (some large) were visible ... A: the best thing to do whenever something like this happens is to try and vacuum up as much of the ...
Brick House Support Beam Dropped	7/1/2008
Q: Bruce, I just bought a 1916 Brick House that has a shelf basement. My inspector found that there ... A: I am wondering how a beam can drop two inches in a foundation pocket unless the end of the beam has ...
Tenant space	6/30/2008
Q: I am the owner of a space and I am trying to build a hair salon in Kissimmee Florida. I got a permit ... A: if you can change to a type III construction the interior non bearing walls etc. can be of ...
Tenant space	6/30/2008
Q: I am the owner of a space and I am trying to build a hair salon in Kissimmee Florida. I got a permit ... A: if the wall is not structural and the partition is not rated then what the wall is built out of ...
cement floors	6/29/2008
Q: We are building a new house with a garage and walkout basement. Someone told us to put plastic down ... A: the plastic or visqueen on the ground will keep moisture from weeping up through the concrete should ...
SCREW SPACING ON A TIN ROOF	6/29/2008
Q: I am building a 10 x 12 shed and am putting a corrugated tin roof on it. I am not sure of the ... A: I hope this email is soon enough, I was out of town for the weekend. The corrugated roof should be ...
Tenant space	6/28/2008
Q: I am the owner of a space and I am trying to build a hair salon in Kissimmee Florida. I got a permit ... A: it might just be an issue where you need to add another layer of drywall on each side of the wall. ...
Patio enclosure	6/28/2008
Q: I currently have a 12' x 34' screened in porch that I would like to enclose and make a great room. ... A: it sounds like you are going to need to get a building permit. In order to do this you will need to ...
Roofed Structure over Patio	6/28/2008
Q: I recently poured a patio and have 4 piers 2'X2'X2'6" incorporated into the slab. It was poured ... A: when I say third point I mean a third of the way down the rafter on each side. A good bolted ...
Patio enclosure	6/28/2008
Q: I currently have a 12' x 34' screened in porch that I would like to enclose and make a great room. ... A: you can get an r-19 with 6" fiberglass batts between the rafters. I'm not sure what you are looking ...
Brick cutting	6/27/2008
Q: We had a door build and when the installer went to install the door the exterior aluminum on the ... A: there aren't a lot of ways to do this except to cut or grind our the imposing brick. If it is just ...
Roofed Structure over Patio	6/27/2008
Q: I recently poured a patio and have 4 piers 2'X2'X2'6" incorporated into the slab. It was poured ... A: to keep your hand framed rafters from pushing the walls or beams out you normally use either a ...
Roofed Structure over Patio	6/27/2008
Q: I recently poured a patio and have 4 piers 2'X2'X2'6" incorporated into the slab. It was poured ... A: Simpson makes a good post anchor that attaches to the concrete with either an epoxied all thread ...
Vinyl siding gapping where meets cement wall	6/26/2008
Q: We have a modular built home. The first floor is made out of concrete panels and the 2nd floor is ... A: anything to close that gap will work. Strips of hardiboard cement siding cut to fit up inside or ...
Steel beam support(s)	6/26/2008
Q: I am in the process of building a 28x28 garage; two story with the garage above and living space ... A: I am not a structural engineer but I can give you some basics. First of all your truck weight is ...
Wall arch	6/25/2008
Q: My semi detached house already had a large arch in the load bearing wall between the lounge and ... A: The arch is probably self supporting at the header. I doubt if the shelves or the slate have ...
partition in garage	6/25/2008
Q: I am usually not afraid to try new things. But this makes me nervous.My husband hates doing this ... A: framing a wall isn't too difficult. I lay my top and bottom plates on edge together and lay them ...
Pergola beam span	6/23/2008
Q: I'm working on my plans for a 15'x18' (approx) pergola for my patio and have a concern about the ... A: your beam that sits on posts 7' apart can be double 2x10 no problem. It's the one spanning nearly ...
Pier and Beam Home	6/22/2008
Q: I'm a new home owner of a Pier and Beam Home that was built 50 years ago. I live in North Texas ... A: If your home was built 50 years ago and is not showing any signs of settling or soil movement ...
adding onto u shaped ranch	6/22/2008
Q: We would like to add a family room onto our u shaped ranch - enclosing the u to make the family ... A: if your U shaped portion of the house has a ridge down each side of the U then the easiest roof to ...
RE: How to construct a traditional suspended concrete floor tutorial	6/21/2008
Q: I would like to know how to construct a traditional suspended concrete floor which involves ... A: just like any other concrete structure you need to build forms to contain the concrete. The shoring ...
Attic access	6/20/2008
Q: Friday 20 June 2008 Dear Bruce, I have a standard folding pull down attic ladder but want to have ... A: gosh there are a million kinds of pull down attic ladders on the market. Google "attic stairs" or ...
Not sure..house settling?	6/20/2008
Q: .hopefully I can explain this so that it makes sense. Our home is 3 years old. We've noticed that ... A: first of all you need to determine if the hump in the floor is really caused by the beam or actually ...
basement	6/19/2008
Q: we live in a 1344 sq manufactured home, built in 2004, on a block foundation.. wondered how easy it ... A: A good house mover can take the house, move it off to the side and your new foundation constructed ...
Pergola Questions	6/19/2008
Q: I am building a pergola that is 10'x16'. I am using four 6"x6" posts spaced at 8'x14' on the ... A: the u-shaped post brackets are okay. In your case I would prefer to see an anchor embedded in the ...
Pergola Questions	6/19/2008
Q: I am building a pergola that is 10'x16'. I am using four 6"x6" posts spaced at 8'x14' on the ... A: that's a nice look. You can still do a knee brace if needed by using a 6x6 and running it up from ...
Pergola Questions	6/19/2008
Q: I am building a pergola that is 10'x16'. I am using four 6"x6" posts spaced at 8'x14' on the ... A: the 2x8's are spanning cross ways over the top of the 2x10 beams correct? It is the 2x10's that are ...
roof overhang extend	6/18/2008
Q: I am planing to extend the roof from the valley of the roof. Basically trying to turn an inside ... A: I'm not quite sure what you are trying to do here. Are you adding an addition to an inside corner ...
garage roof	6/16/2008
Q: I'm not sure if you can help us, but our garage roof presently has 1 black tile roof and we want to ... A: I need more information. When you say you have a black "tile" roof are you talking about tile like ...
Stone Patio	6/16/2008
Q: I laid a stone patio on a mortar mix and grouted between the stones. The stone didn't adhere to the ... A: there are a few products you might try that are a little less expensive than the Acrylic Epoxy. If ...
Convert FSP to bedroom - need permit?	6/16/2008
Q: I have a two-fold question. Ours is a Florida home that has a finished screen porch built at time of ... A: you will need a regular building permit which you will have to go down to the building department in ...
crawl versus stilts	6/14/2008
Q: I am building a soundfront home next year and in the planning stage. I am considering putting the ... A: the stilt type house might be slightly more expensive depending on several factors. If you live in ...
stabilising a half height wall	6/12/2008
Q: I had a full sized floor to ceiling wall on the second story running parallel with a staircase ... A: if you have access to the floor joists and don't mind pulling up some floor sheathing then your job ...
Plumbing and Structural Concrete	6/11/2008
Q: We are considering the purchase of a home with a structural concrete basement floor. The basement ... A: of course you can hook up to your drain and water system through the concrete. But it involves more ...
Beam sag	6/11/2008
Q: I own a 110 yr old frame row house - 2 story with basement, dimensions roughly 20x30'. The floors ... A: a week should be sufficient for concrete to achieve 80% of it's bearing capacity. It takes 28 days ...
Concrete Porch/brick veneer wall flashing	6/10/2008
Q: Bruce, I'm in the process of designing a 42'x 6' roofed, concrete front porch for my ... A: yes you can flash this area. A simple "L" type of flashing will work. If you can't find or make a ...
1/2" old to 15/32" new plywood sheathing	6/10/2008
Q: My house which is about 30 years old has wall sheathing which is 1/2" plywood. The width is actual ... A: welcome to the wacky world of dimensional lumber. Plywood used to be the thickness it claimed to be ...
second floor load capasity	6/10/2008
Q: I have a building in the northeast. The structure has 10in block outside walls and is 40x100ft in ... A: first of all I am not an engineer. Secondly there isn't nearly enough information given for me to ...
Cutting a basement door into a foundation	6/9/2008
Q: I would like to put a door in a foundation wall so I can have an exit/entrance to my basement. The ... A: I don't see any reason why you can't cut out this section of wall. As long as the header remains in ...
I Beam span	6/9/2008
Q: the dimensions are 24' by 18' (24' wide and 18' from house) becasue the span is pretty long 18' i ... A: a steel i-beam for that span would probably be a w-10x15 which is a ten inch beam that weighs 15 ...
Concrete Driveway	6/9/2008
Q: I would like to put a driveway in my home. I would like it to be 38' long by 44' wide... I am not ... A: a 4" thick slab normally suffices for most driveways. If you have real heavy truck traffic you ...
Floor Strength	6/8/2008
Q: I was wondering how to determine the amount of weight a floor can support. We are trying to setup a ... A: the closer you get to the middle of your joist span the weaker your floor system is. If your ...
Help With Roof Extension	6/8/2008
Q: I have posted my question with photos on the Internet, here is the link. ... A: you will need to consult an architect or structural engineer for the plans you need. Chances are ...
Wet drywall	6/7/2008
Q: I guess this isn't related to a new build, but I'm desparate and hoping you can answer a queation ... A: good question. If the event causing the moisture was just a one time event you might be okay once ...
roof pitch	6/7/2008
Q: i'm putting a lean type roof on the side of an existing shed for storing firewood, from the ground ... A: an eight foot rafter with a three foot rise should be plenty of pitch (it is very close to a 5/12). ...
pier and beam	6/5/2008
Q: I am building a cottage. I am supporting it with 3 30ft 4ply No.1 2x10 spruce beams. the building is ... A: I don't really have enough information about your beams. You cay that they are 4-ply spruce meaning ...
building support beam	6/5/2008
Q: I want to remove a load-bearing wall between kitchen and lounge of my Scottish house, and a ... A: Triad Timber Components in West Sussex advertises roof trusses and glu-lam beams. I also found this ...
Beam sag	6/5/2008
Q: I own a 110 yr old frame row house - 2 story with basement, dimensions roughly 20x30'. The floors ... A: I am not sure why the beam would lift off the foundation unless the foundation is out of level. If ...
Beam sag	6/4/2008
Q: I own a 110 yr old frame row house - 2 story with basement, dimensions roughly 20x30'. The floors ... A: I will try to be more specific with my answer this time, apparently my "clarity" wasn't quite good ...
SPANNING AN OPENNING	6/3/2008
Q: I NEED TO KNOW WHAT SIZE LVL I NEED TO SPAN AN 18' EXTERIOR WALL OPENNING. IT WAS SUGGESTED I NEED ... A: off the top of my head I would say a double 18"x 1 3/4" beam would work. However I am not an ...
Beams	6/3/2008
Q: I am adding a den to my house. The den is 20'long x 16' wide. I would like to use only 3 beams from ... A: If that is the case then you can probably get by with 4x10 beams however at 4' spacing your plywood ...
Beams	6/2/2008
Q: I am adding a den to my house. The den is 20'long x 16' wide. I would like to use only 3 beams from ... A: if your beams are supporting the joists then you should probably use at least a 4x12 or a double ...
foundation for hottub	6/2/2008
Q: I am trying to avoid a concrete slab for my hot tub. What are my options? Thank you, Diane ANSWER: ... A: the hot tub itself should be fully supported where the water filled part is. If this area isn't ...
Shaking floors in new office building	6/2/2008
Q: We moved into a new office building almost two years ago. Since day one, the floors tremble ... A: this type of reflexive floor is fairly common when you have a corrugated metal deck and only 3" of ...
foundation for hottub	6/2/2008
Q: I am trying to avoid a concrete slab for my hot tub. What are my options? Thank you, Diane A: you can get some concrete pads of various sizes at the local home improvement store. Situate them ...
Storage space over garage	6/1/2008
Q: I was reading some of your expert responses regarding reinforcing the engineered roof trusses. I ... A: If you want to add the bottom chord reinforcing that is entirely up to you. Like I mentioned ...
Storage space over garage	6/1/2008
Q: I was reading some of your expert responses regarding reinforcing the engineered roof trusses. I ... A: engineered trusses are made to transfer weight from the bottom chord to the top chord and back down ...
concrete patio replacement	6/1/2008
Q: We want replace old cracked sunken concrete on 12' by 24' concrete patio. Do we need also replace ... A: compacting the existing sub grade should suffice unless the old subgrade has a bunch of vegetation ...
Adding a concrete slab	5/21/2008
Q: I have a 10 x 12 garden shed built on top of a storm shelter. I am assuming the top of the storm ... A: you should be able to extend the slab no problem. You don't say how the roof etc. is built on the ...
walkout basement	5/20/2008
Q: I am submitting plans to the city to get a building permit to install a legal suite in an existing ... A: your engineer shouldn't have a hard time signing off on this aspect of the design. Tell him to seal ...
Concrete Slabs	5/20/2008
Q: I have an 8x8 concrete slab I poored last night. It is set but not cured. I did not have enough ... A: you can try and get by with the 2.5 inch slab. Just stay off of it for at least three days, ...
walkout basement	5/20/2008
Q: I am submitting plans to the city to get a building permit to install a legal suite in an existing ... A: I am not sure why your footing needs to be insulated, mainly because it is underneath an area that ...
concrete wall	5/20/2008
Q: I am building a 24' X 8' sunroom and I need to pour an 8" wide by 4" high concrete wall as a base ... A: The simplest way to bond this type of shallow height wall would be to get some all thread bolts. ...
block wall door replaces window	5/19/2008
Q: have a basement window with a opening height of 94" above floor level and a width less than french ... A: since your window opening is narrower than the new door opening that makes for a different situation ...
block wall door replaces window	5/19/2008
Q: have a basement window with a opening height of 94" above floor level and a width less than french ... A: there are several ways you can accomplish this. One is to do it with masonry. A precast concrete ...
Sub-Floor for Sunken Room	5/19/2008
Q: I have a one-story house in Houston, Texas built in 1952 on a slab foundation. The house originally ... A: I would put either wire mesh (made specifically for concrete slabs) or use fibermesh concrete ...
Garage Addition to house	5/19/2008
Q: I am planning a huge garage addition to my small house Can i just attach the slab to the house or ... A: you can do either. A monolithic slab foundation will work in most parts of the country. If you ...
Metal patio cover	5/19/2008
Q: I considered a pergola for shade on our west-facing patio but prices were higher than I hoped. I saw ... A: of course it can be done. The structure is a basic shed roof construction with posts and beam ...
Adding a second story to a manufactured ranch	5/18/2008
Q: We have a manufactured home built in 2000 that we would like to add a second story to and was ... A: if your home is a modular home built to normal house building specifications i.e. standard sized ...
Sub-Floor for Sunken Room	5/18/2008
Q: I have a one-story house in Houston, Texas built in 1952 on a slab foundation. The house originally ... A: you can add visqueen if you want, you can do both. You can just do the visqueen if you want but ...
Sub-Floor for Sunken Room	5/18/2008
Q: I have a one-story house in Houston, Texas built in 1952 on a slab foundation. The house originally ... A: you can paint the concrete with a roofing mastic or foundation waterproofing tar and then build your ...
Cavity Wall Framing @ Top Plate	5/16/2008
Q: In regard to wood framing construction where cavity walls meet roof framing is it better for the ... A: it kind of depends on what you are describing. If you are talking about wood trusses that span from ...
Pricing Fascia	5/16/2008
Q: I am replacing (3) 3" hollow metal poles that hold up a flat roof that is attached to the house. ... A: A small GC who does his own work or a BC (residential building contractor) is probably your best ...
Pier Foundation	5/16/2008
Q: The question I have is that I bought any older home that has a foundation resting on piers. I would ... A: it's not a difficult process once the skirting is removed and the support system is exposed. ...
Pricing Fascia	5/16/2008
Q: I am replacing (3) 3" hollow metal poles that hold up a flat roof that is attached to the house. ... A: it's hard to say how much something like this will cost without physically looking at the problem. ...
Cinderblock wall	5/15/2008
Q: I have lived here in Las Vegas, Nevada all of my life. Block walls are heaven to homeowners around ... A: you can raise it either way. The structural portion of the wall is already in place. You will be ...
concrete steps on hill	5/15/2008
Q: We are in the process of adding a deck to our concrete patio. There is the patio, a slope of about ... A: have you considered pressure treated wood? I have used PT on many occasions to make nice terraced ...
installing metal siding	5/14/2008
Q: I WANT TO KNOW HOW I SHOULD INSTALL MY FIRING STRIPS. AT WHAT SPACING DO I REALLY NEED THEM IN THIS ... A: if you are using corrugated metal you can get by with 3-4' spacing depending on the gauge of the ...
Concrete Block	5/14/2008
Q: I have a one story concrete block home. In my existing hall bath I have a window that I would like ... A: it is pretty straight forward. You would lay the block up just as you would any other wall. When ...
uncaulking	5/12/2008
Q: I have to correct a big mistake. I caulked doors and baseboard with a silicon based caulking. It ... A: the easiest way to remove silicone caulking would be to take a razor knife and gently cut along each ...
Steps on a Concrete Patio	5/12/2008
Q: Bruce, I'm having a patio poured in the next few weeks. I'm debating whether to have the ... A: let your contractor do the steps and be done with it. A nice set of concrete steps will be be more ...
weight garage can hold	5/10/2008
Q: I want to add a therapy spa that filled will weigh 12,000 pounds. I have a standard two car garage ... A: you will be fine. That weight spread over a 7'x7' area or 7056 square inches only amounts to 2 ...
Small patio	5/10/2008
Q: I'm laying a small patio for my sister in a small area of her garden where grass doesn't readily ... A: I would use sand. Dig out the area a couple of inches deeper and then bed the patio slabs on two ...
Enclosing a deck	5/9/2008
Q: I have an existing 18X20 deck supported by 4X6 pressure treated posts which sit on concrete filled ... A: I have built entire houses with concrete pilings so it is done on a regular basis. Whether or not ...
new roof	5/9/2008
Q: I'm in the planning stages of putting a pitched roof over an existing flat roof. The existing flat ... A: CDX plywood is basically plywood with a C face and a D face and it is exterior glued. In other ...
"Green" Asphalt	5/8/2008
Q: I had my driveway paved about 3 years ago. One section of the driveway that is close to the house ... A: sure, fungus will grow just about anywhere there is moisture and shade. Try some clorox outdoor ...
cleaning a brick stoop	5/8/2008
Q: I have an (3 steps) old red brick stoop in very good condition but needs desperately to be cleaned. ... A: It kind of depends on what kind of dirt is on the steps. Hydrochloric or muriatic acids work well ...
roof rafter	5/8/2008
Q: I am build a shed, 12 x 24. The rafters will span the 12 foot section. I am planning on a 3-12 pitch ... A: I think the 3/12 angle is 14 degrees. If you are exactly 12 feet of span then your rise will be 3 ...
Roof to Roof garage addition....	5/7/2008
Q: I would like to put a 16' wide addition beside my garage. The existing garage is a standard 24' X ... A: normally when you butt a shed roof into the pitch of a gable roof you would run a 2x ledger across ...
epoxy coatings for concrete	5/7/2008
Q: I'd like to use the Rustoleum 2-part solvent epoxy [professional] finish on the floor. They say to ... A: most concrete sealers used on freshly poured concrete are of the "walk-off" or dissipating variety. ...
tyvek	5/7/2008
Q: My home (built early 2007) has no tyvek or felt over the sheathing and under the vinyl siding. It ... A: as long as the siding was installed per manufacturers specifications you should be fine. I have a ...
drilling new concrete	5/6/2008
Q: We just poured a new garage floor. How long should we wait to drill holes for the new anchor ... A: I would wait three days for epoxy anchors and a week for wedge anchors..In three days concrete ...
Concrete Patio	5/6/2008
Q: My wife and I are trying to pay someone to lay a concrete patio in our backyard. The patio is away ... A: a patio this size should cost around 2000 dollars. Maybe a little more or a little less. It is ...
Rain water in my baseement	5/4/2008
Q: We seem to have a curse with water. We have had several fluke problems (washing machine, ... A: I wouldn't worry about it at this point. Uncommon events of this type may cause some water to ...
building with unseasoned lumber	5/2/2008
Q: I am in the process of building a small storage shed (7x8ft)using unseasoned lumber (Douglas fir). ... A: Build your shed. Your shed walls will breathe enough to allow for the material to dry after ...
Wall creaks during wind gusts	5/2/2008
Q: We have a 3 year-old house. Whenever there are wind gusts, this wall (near the corner) on our 1st ... A: you can begin your quest by getting up in the attic and trying to get over to the area in question. ...
mobile home addition	5/2/2008
Q: I have purchased a mobile with an unfinshed addition on it. In my finishing plans, I'd like to know ... A: yes you can add an entrance in your wall but you have to go about doing it a certain way. First you ...
Concrete steps & porch	5/1/2008
Q: I have a 6' x 6' concrete porch with prefab concrete steps. I want to close the opening on the step ... A: if this area is as hard as you say it is and has good drainage then you probably don't even need to ...
Concrete steps & porch	5/1/2008
Q: I have a 6' x 6' concrete porch with prefab concrete steps. I want to close the opening on the step ... A: I would either pour a concrete footing or instead of that you can make your first course out of 8" ...
cracked concrete patio	5/1/2008
Q: i have a craked concrete patio under a flat roof. i want to build a deck on top of it. i have about ... A: sounds like you are on the right track. I have done this many times and it works fine. I use ...
Taking a wall out	4/29/2008
Q: I would like to take out an interior wall that separates our living room from our kitchen. We have ... A: yes you can remove the wall. However you will need to replace it with something else, generally a ...
footers and foundations	4/29/2008
Q: 1.Do you recommend pouring footers first or doing a grand pour whereby you pour footers and ... A: 1. I have done individual pours and monolithic pours and I prefer the individual pours because it is ...
building steps up to porch	4/28/2008
Q: It's funny, I just read a question that is wildly similar to my current (4-25-08) project: I need ... A: your top step can be the step before the landing or even with the landing itself. Either way it has ...
building steps up to porch	4/27/2008
Q: It's funny, I just read a question that is wildly similar to my current (4-25-08) project: I need ... A: 1. yes, your 40" is divided by five 8" risers or steps. 2. Yes, your first step would be minus the ...
Porch foundation	4/27/2008
Q: I had a new home built last October with a large home builder and it included a custom covered front ... A: building codes require footings and foundations under support structures of any kind. The footings ...
front steps on a split entry home	4/26/2008
Q: My husband & I would like to replace the front steps of our split entry home. We're not sure what ... A: www. stairpartsusa.com is a pretty good website. They have a bunch of stairways shown and can ...
CMU foundation wall	4/25/2008
Q: I live in the Midwest with a max frost line of 42". I had a block contractor put a foundation wall ... A: I have done foundations below grade both ways, grouted fill cells only, or entirely solid grouted. ...
Beam to shorten joist spans	4/25/2008
Q: We live among a group of Depression-era bungalows built on a steep hill in SoCal. Our neighbor had ... A: you can. The problem isn't with the bearing capacity of the hanger. The problem lies in the ...
building steps up to porch	4/25/2008
Q: It's funny, I just read a question that is wildly similar to my current (4-25-08) project: I need ... A: you need to work backwards. First you need to define your finish materials, i.e. bluestone steps, ...
monolithic slab footings	4/24/2008
Q: Bruce, i am planning on building a sheathing and shingle covered pavillion using 6x6x8 treated ... A: most Florida footings are similar of single story garages etc. You need to be at least eight inches ...
Porch foundation	4/24/2008
Q: I had a new home built last October with a large home builder and it included a custom covered front ... A: I am not an attorney so all I can comment on is what I know about construction documents. Generally ...
structure supporting joists	4/23/2008
Q: Recently I started removing plaster for a remodel in a basement / walk out of 30 year old raised ... A: you can get some 2" self tapping screws and screw the 2x4 to the beam flange, one between each joist ...
New Exterior Door Installation	4/23/2008
Q: I am installing a new exterior door on a house in southern Minnesota. The one story house is built ... A: if you have a regular drill you can "tapcon" each side of the sill plate prior to installing the ...
Crawlspace to Basement	4/22/2008
Q: I read your answer to the "Crawlspace to Basement question. You wouldn't happen to know the total $ ... A: I get so many questions that I can't place that particular one without a lot of research. But ...
drywall over or behind tub lip/ surround to follow	4/22/2008
Q: Bathroom was completely gutted. Does drywall go flush to top of lip of tub, or behind? I am planning ... A: go with the surround directions. The tub directions are for tile installations or just painted wall ...
THE STABILITY OF THE 4X4 HOLDING UP THE PATIO ROOF	4/20/2008
Q: WE HAVE AN EXISTING CEMENT SLAB APPROX 20X13. WHEN THE CEMENT WAS POURED SADDLES WERE PUT IN THE ... A: you didn't say whether or not the roof was complete and the sheathing nailed off properly. If this ...
Finishing a concrete basement	4/20/2008
Q: I want to paint and add carpet and fix up my basement that has concrete walls and floors. What ... A: if you want to drywall the walls and ceiling then you will need to add furring strips (1x4 pressure ...
Foundation cracks	4/20/2008
Q: I have several cracks in my foundation, both on the walls and floor. Is this normal? There are about ... A: I'm not sure what the standard warranties are in Maine for construction. Here in Florida the homes ...
form-release oil	4/19/2008
Q: I had a bldg. put up on my farm in n. e. PA. (Typical footer, 42" stemwall foundation, normal stud ... A: you are correct for being upset. The form release oil should have been applied prior to the forms ...
floor weight limit residential/oregon	4/18/2008
Q: i want to put a 150gal aquarium in my livingroom. house was built in the 70s. aquarium should weigh ... A: it depends on several factors. The square footage of the aquarium..i.e. 2' wide by 6' long is 12 sq ...
brick veneer applications	4/17/2008
Q: I live in Alberta Canada and we have cold, fluctuating temperatures especially in winter. I have a ... A: any siliconized or acrylic sealer that is made for concrete brick or stone will work. I like the ...
2x8's structural question	4/17/2008
Q: I am spanning a 2nd floor area of 24' from wall to wall (with 2x8's, 16" o.c.) and a support area of ... A: when calculating people per sq ft it is usually considered that one person will occupy a 3'x3' ...
Natural stone columns	4/17/2008
Q: I want to build natural ledge or veneer stone columns and am curious how to do so. There will be ... A: for your beam support I would recommend using a steel column with attachements at the top for the ...
Dry Stacked vs. Masonry Piers	4/15/2008
Q: In the process of selling my home and a structural engineer has said I must replace dry stacked ... A: this may be a real concern. I am assuming that by dry stacked you are referring to solid stacked ...
caping old concrete steps	4/15/2008
Q: forming the steps what size lumber should i use and how do i reinforce the old steps to make the ... A: I would give at least four inches between the front of the step and the new face of concrete. I ...
Gravel Driveway	4/14/2008
Q: We have lived at our house for almost 3 years and have had a limestone/crushed concrete driveway. ... A: a compactor isn't a bad idea or you can add some cement to the existing mix if you like and make ...
Support Beams	4/14/2008
Q: Bruce - I have an outdoor porch with a 10 foot wide concrete floor. Overhead is a walk out ... A: your best bet is to contact a local roof truss manufacturer and tell them, or show them with a ...
cellulose insulation	4/14/2008
Q: I have a 7 year old home with cellulose insulation in the attic.Since i do not know who the ... A: I suppose the quickest and best way is to call around to local insulation contractors who do that ...
saging kitchen floor	4/14/2008
Q: I have a 80 yr old house that has two low spots in the kitchen and i have an unfinished basement. ... A: first of all you need to look up at your floor joists from the basement and find out where and why ...
POLE BARN/OPEN CAR PORT	4/14/2008
Q: I'M GETTING READY TO BUILD AN OPEN POLE BARN I QUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT .I'M TRYING TO SPAN A 28 FOOT ... A: if you are using an engineered truss then you can free span as far as you want. 28' is nothing with ...
Back Patio Cover	4/13/2008
Q: I want to extend my back patio concrete and cover. The existing cover is 12' x 16'. I want to ... A: contact your local truss manufacturer for glue lam or Lvl specs but I think a double 2x12 lvl or a ...
modular homes on basements	4/13/2008
Q: can i put a modular home over a basement without having to remove the steel beams under the house? i ... A: I don't see why you can't put the modular, steel beams and all over a foundation. You might need to ...
Finishing Basement	4/13/2008
Q: My husband and I have decided to TRY and finish our basement ourselves. We are beginners. My ... A: drywall comes is 4'wide by 8'long sheets. !/2" thickness for walls and 5/8" thickness for ceilings ...
Cement Resurfacing	4/11/2008
Q: I have cement around the foundation of my home (not the foundation). It is in sections and ... A: I like the Pavecrete resurfacing products. But pretty much any resurfacing cement is like the ...
Water problem	4/10/2008
Q: We have a problem no one can seem to figure out. I live in PA in a Ranch home that is on a slab of ... A: hmm. It sounds like you have a mystery. Is the concrete exposed where the water seems to be ...
Split Foyer Conversion	4/10/2008
Q: I have a split foyer. When you enter the front door there is a small landing- w/ stairs going up or ... A: sure you can do this. I'm not sure where you live and what the depth of your frost line is. But ...
patio around my pool	4/9/2008
Q: I was wondering the price to have concrete around my inground pool. I will give you want we ... A: you have 1167 Sq. feet of pool deck which equates down to around 15 cubic yards of concrete. The ...
cap old concrete step	4/9/2008
Q: how thick do the side and top need to be ,and what kind of material i need to attach to the old ... A: are you wanting to cap the old concrete with concrete or wood? Your question is a bit confusing. ...
Concrete patio	4/8/2008
Q: I'm planning on putting a concrete patio in my back yard, and I'm trying to find out how deep I'm ... A: concrete contractors in your area will be able to tell you what is considered common in your area. ...
Adding windows for basement	4/8/2008
Q: We are purchasing a home in New Hampshire and the basement is unfinished. We would like to convert ... A: If you keep the window width to 24" and leave at least a 12" beam above them you probably will be ...
Beam Span?	4/8/2008
Q: Alright so I will try to do my best in explaining this...So I want to build an attached patio cover. ... A: you will need at least a 6x12 beam for your ridge and your bearing beams. 4x8 beams should be fine ...
Rafter Span versus Run	4/7/2008
Q: I am confused about rafter span versus rafter run. I am trying to find out what size common rafter ... A: span normally refers to the overall span of the building support elements. In other words if the ...
bonding pavers to concrete	4/7/2008
Q: what should I use to bond 1" thick granite paver slabs (12"x12") to a concrete porch (this is an ... A: you can use an exterior grade thin set for tile. Another option would be an exterior glue like ...
tightening a loose half wall	4/6/2008
Q: We have a 1/2 wall between our kitchen and family room that ha become loose. We are preparing our ... A: try toe nail screwing the individual studs to the bottom plate with the long screws. Chances are ...
Patio Cover	4/6/2008
Q: We had a local construction company put a roof over our concrete patio. There was not much of a ... A: yeah, particle board per se is not a good material for humidity. Some exterior grade OSB board is a ...
Closing in Screened Porch	4/5/2008
Q: I have a 10x12 screened porch off my Master Bedroom that I intend to close in and make a sitting ... A: concrete would be the best bet here. If you use fiber mesh concrete you won't even need any ...
Structural Design To Support 5000lb Tub 10 ft. off ground	4/4/2008
Q: My wife and I are building a 24' x 12' deck that will come off of our 2nd story kitchen (10ft above ... A: as long as your ledger is attached to the wall properly you really shouldn't need to reinforce this ...
cutting brick	4/1/2008
Q: I need to "trim" about 1/8 to 1/4 inch from several trim bricks on the left and right side of a ... A: we usually use a 4 1/2" grinder with a masonry blade for this type of work. A chisel will work also ...
wall header	4/1/2008
Q: I am planning to open a 16' span of load wall. my house is two story with a basement. The span is ... A: I guess it depends on how tall the LVLs are. A sixteen foot span probably would require at least a ...
attic insulation	3/31/2008
Q: We are planning to get the attic of our 1970's home insulated. We live in central Ohio. One company ... A: I guess it depends on how much they want for the extra work. Stopping the cold air from penetrating ...
patio roff	3/31/2008
Q: I'm think about adding a flat roof over my patio. The wall to come off from is brick. Do I have to ... A: yes you should try to get your lags into the actual structure which would be the studs. One way to ...
basement supports	3/30/2008
Q: i have a house that is 40' long the floor joists are 20' and over lap the main metal "I" beam the I ... A: the footings are dug below the slab and the thickened concrete is not visible. In other words, ...
Garage door panel replacement	3/30/2008
Q: Bruce, I have one of my 5 wooden garage door panels that has some rot on it and i have a replacement ... A: You really shouldn't have to do anything to the springs other than you might want to work on the ...
Concrete Patio Grading	3/29/2008
Q: Bruce - My husband and I are extending our back patio out 20 feet and we were wondering if there ... A: water will eventually run off even the slightest grade but standard practices dictate a quarter inch ...
Garage Workshop Addition	3/29/2008
Q: I have read many of them in research for my project. Here is what I’m planning; I’m converting my ... A: it sounds like there is a little more involved here than just a simple garage storage space. I ...
basement supports	3/29/2008
Q: i have a house that is 40' long the floor joists are 20' and over lap the main metal "I" beam the I ... A: I doubt if it will affect the beam that much. However, under the basement slab there are probably ...
Garage Workshop Addition	3/28/2008
Q: I have read many of them in research for my project. Here is what I’m planning; I’m converting my ... A: I don't have any extra bracing etc. in my garage attic and my ceiling is 5/8 drywall with a pull ...
Securing 2nd floor wall when installing flush mount beam in first floor	3/28/2008
Q: I have a 2 story house and I'm planning on replacing a 14 ft span of a bearing wall in the first ... A: by supporting your upper ceiling joists you are removing the major part of the weight on the wall in ...
Securing 2nd floor wall when installing flush mount beam in first floor	3/28/2008
Q: I have a 2 story house and I'm planning on replacing a 14 ft span of a bearing wall in the first ... A: I am assuming that the upstairs floor goes underneath the upstairs wall. In other words the plywood ...
Bathtub detail	3/27/2008
Q: Bruce, I have a question pertaining to the finishing of a tub transition. Cast iron tubs have a ... A: the general consensus is to butt the backer board to the top of the lip and then tile down over the ...
Extending Concrete Porch	3/26/2008
Q: My husband and I would like to make our concrete side porch about 30 inches or so wider than it is ... A: yes, pretty much any kind of dirt can be used as a backfill as long as it doesn't contain a lot of ...
replacing roof	3/25/2008
Q: I recently discovered a leak in my parents double-wide mobile home. I took down the ruined ceiling ... A: there are a couple of ways to do this. If you have the ceiling down and can get at the roof from ...
Extending Concrete Porch	3/24/2008
Q: My husband and I would like to make our concrete side porch about 30 inches or so wider than it is ... A: you are exactly right. You dig down to expose the foundation of the existing porch and tie into it ...
roof supports	3/24/2008
Q: I own a new 2 story home with a lot of unused space around the upstairs rooms. I am expanding into ... A: so you are planning on changing the location of the support system? I thought you were just going ...
Beam cost	3/24/2008
Q: I am building a house in near future and wanted to put in full basement. The wall on the south end ... A: gosh beam costs can vary greatly. For a span this size I would say you are looking at 1,000 to 1200 ...
Concern over pre-existing house settling	3/23/2008
Q: I am preparing to put an offer on a house in Jacksonville, FL. My concern is that 9 years ago it was ... A: I'm not sure where he got the "ten" year number. From what I have seen there is an initial settling ...
roof supports	3/23/2008
Q: I own a new 2 story home with a lot of unused space around the upstairs rooms. I am expanding into ... A: it's possible that you can do as you suggest and replace the vertical webs with a wall system of ...
kitchen beam	3/22/2008
Q: I am adding an addition onto our existing 2 story home...the existing exterior load bearing kitchen ... A: you won't gain that much with a steel beam. You might be able to go with an 8" steel beam, saving ...
uneven floors	3/22/2008
Q: Have concrete floor that has a 1" drop to the lower level in a room I just opened up the wall ... A: any kind of patching cement will work good for this. Patchcrete is a good one. Mortar mix will ...
Load or no load?	3/21/2008
Q: I appreciate this service. In my neck of the woods, it's a challenge to get contractors to return ... A: Tanner, Even non-bearing walls need some support especially if they run parallel to floor joists ...
Tying existing footer with new footer	3/20/2008
Q: I am pooring a new footer for an addition directly connected to the house. I was told I have to put ... A: I am not familiar with the VSBCode, however normal embedment for this type of work is 4-6 inches ...
Steel beam for loft	3/19/2008
Q: I am planning a storage loft in my garage 22' x 9'. The 9' joists will bear on a wall on one end, ... A: I guess I wasn't too clear. I assumed that you wanted the beam to be embedded in the 2x8 rafters ...
Steel beam for loft	3/19/2008
Q: I am planning a storage loft in my garage 22' x 9'. The 9' joists will bear on a wall on one end, ... A: 2x6 at 16" on center would probably be okay for a storage loft depending on what you are going to be ...
adding brick to an existing home	3/19/2008
Q: About 6 years ago, we built our home on a first time home owners modest budget. We couldn't work ... A: sorry I called you Mike in my last email. And hi to Shayla. I went to the Quietrock website and if ...
2nd story garage	3/19/2008
Q: My detached garage is located on a pretty steep incline next to the road. I intend to raise the ... A: You can probably get a box truss girders for this application that are maybe 24" deep but if you put ...
2nd story garage	3/19/2008
Q: My detached garage is located on a pretty steep incline next to the road. I intend to raise the ... A: when you say you want it to be open underneath are you saying that you don't have enough headroom ...
damaged TJI bottom chord	3/18/2008
Q: During sheetrock/insulation removal (burst pipe, water damage) the workers cut deeply in several ... A: plywood gussets will work but you need to do them in two phases. The first phase fills the truss ...
Unattached Patio Covering 24' Beam span	3/18/2008
Q: I plan on building an unattached covered patio. I would like to use 24' beams in the center with 12' ... A: 24' believe it or not is a long span for one piece of wood. Not only does this beam have to support ...
foundation failure	3/18/2008
Q: prior to the 10th year on a new house a piling foundation failed, builder and engineer confirmed ... A: I am not an attorney however I have give counsel to attorneys regarding standards and practices. ...
adding brick to an existing home	3/18/2008
Q: About 6 years ago, we built our home on a first time home owners modest budget. We couldn't work ... A: cultured stone is probably the better insulator because it is porous and trapped air makes the best ...
Pre-fab I Beams	3/17/2008
Q: I was curious to know if there is any difference in quality with pre-fab I beams for floor supports ... A: both materials are acceptable. The I-joists are lighter and maintain their uniformity as opposed to ...
Adding roof over patio	3/17/2008
Q: The project is to build a low slope roof over my patio and my question is what is the proper way to ... A: I use Z-metal flashing for projectslike this. The Z-metal can usually be found at most home ...
under new siding	3/17/2008
Q: I live in Ga. im going to put on vinyl siding over cider. do i need to put a wrap on it? A: I always recommend that you follow manufacturers recommendations and if the siding manufacturer says ...
LOLLY COLUMNS	3/17/2008
Q: I'M RENOVATING MY KITCHEN AND REMOVED A WALL WHICH CONTAINS A LOLLY COLUMN, NOW ITS RIGHT IN THE ... A: I would never recommend removing structural elements of an existing design without the owner having ...
steel i-beam / floor joist	3/15/2008
Q: I would like to know how to make the connection between i-beam (steel - width : 5 1/4" - height : 8" ... A: that's why I like the self tapping screws because they drill their own hole. You just need a driver ...
wall opening	3/15/2008
Q: I have a two story home. With an existing breakfast nook addittion. The opening is on the old ... A: maybe a double lvl of that size will work. Side by side they should make up the thickness of your ...
Outdoor porch	3/15/2008
Q: I am considering a new look for the porch of my brick bungalow home in Chicago. I've gotten a few ... A: it is really an issue over how you want it to look. There are many concrete finishes,i.e. exposed ...
joist and beam span	3/14/2008
Q: I am planning on building an extension onto my existing home. The ledger will be 16' and will extend ... A: actually three two by twelves or one two by twelve plus a four by twelve can be substituted for a ...
How to determine how thick the beam should be?	3/12/2008
Q: Johnson; We are taking out an interior wall in a 30'x21' single family home. We want to run a beam ... A: your best bet is to contact a truss manufacturer and see what kind of engineered beam or girder they ...
steel i-beam / floor joist	3/12/2008
Q: I would like to know how to make the connection between i-beam (steel - width : 5 1/4" - height : 8" ... A: Obviously you realize that one method is to attach a 2x6 pressure treated sill plate to the beam ...
Single Wythe Architectural block walls>	3/12/2008
Q: Bruce, I about to add a modern 2 storey with basement addition onto my home. Smooth and split face ... A: one successful way to drain single wythe masonry is to do a depression in your slab along the edge ...
deck over a patio	3/11/2008
Q: Our patio (built in 1954) is about 3.5 high and supported by large railroad ties. The ties are ... A: you probably could tear out the flagstone and then build a patio on top of what's left but unless ...
laminate flooring	3/10/2008
Q: I live in a 3storey townhouse and am wanting to install laminate flooring weighing 2000 lbs on the ... A: I get this question often. Laminate flooring weight is comparable to other flooring materials plus ...
Hurricane resistant window wind loads	3/10/2008
Q: From an engineering perspective, I was wondering if you could possibly explain to me the "real ... A: if you live in a hurricane prone area your glass will have to be made for the wind loads common to ...
Single Wythe Architectural block walls>	3/10/2008
Q: Bruce, I about to add a modern 2 storey with basement addition onto my home. Smooth and split face ... A: it is done all the time in commercial buildings The masonry is insulated through the open cells. ...
Windows on new construction	3/9/2008
Q: My husband and I are building a new house here in the South. The house is a story and half with ... A: you are correct in all of your assumptions. 1. the flange of the window frame should be caulked ...
Repairing brick steps	3/9/2008
Q: I have enjoyed reading some answers you've posted about steps. We have 5 brick steps to our front ... A: yes to all of the above. You can chisel out the bad brick and relay them, you can demolish the ...
Wall added without a permit	3/7/2008
Q: I'm in the process of busing a home and in the disclosure the seller has mentioned that he has built ... A: I am not an attorney so I can't give you legal advice regarding your real estate dealings. However ...
Concrete patio	3/7/2008
Q: I live in Leonardo New Jersey, I just had an inground pool put in. The concrete walk around the pool ... A: $6.50 a sq. foot is probably in the ball park for your area. I'm sorry but earlier I screwed up, I ...
Building a deck over a patio	3/7/2008
Q: I saw a reply you had made to someone asking about building a deck over their existing concrete ... A: a two by four on edge is 3 5/8" plus the thickness of your decking which is either 5/4x6 (1 1/8") or ...
Concrete patio	3/7/2008
Q: I live in Leonardo New Jersey, I just had an inground pool put in. The concrete walk around the pool ... A: concrete costs vary from state to state and city to city. If your sidewalk and patio are a nominal ...
Floor Ventilation Under Bathroom/Over Deck	3/6/2008
Q: Our home has a deck on the north side with a bathroom above it. It is sort of a dormer type ... A: the thinking about venting enclosed insulated spaces has changed over the years. A good majority of ...
stem wall	3/6/2008
Q: I am building a 4 course stem wall on a footer. Should I fill all the cells with concrete before the ... A: normally with a stem wall foundation you have vertical steel every 32-48" which you pour concrete ...
moisture on concrete foundation for home	3/5/2008
Q: We are building a home. The second story is up, the windows in, electric in, and we are ready for ... A: before you actually get the heat and air conditioning going you are going to have moisture coming up ...
building a basement under existing home	3/5/2008
Q: I read a response that you gave about the possibility of adding a basement under an existing home. ... A: When done properly it really isn't that difficult to accomplish. I knew a young couple that dug a ...
Moisture on Cinderblock foundation wall.	3/5/2008
Q: I have some moisture that's somehow seeping through my foundation walls on one corner of my cinder ... A: I'm sorry. The product deko drain is usually found at pool supply stores or related stores. It is ...
Moisture on Cinderblock foundation wall.	3/4/2008
Q: I have some moisture that's somehow seeping through my foundation walls on one corner of my cinder ... A: is it possible that your driveway pitches toward the wall here? If this is the case then you might ...
Thermal breaks, suspended concrete slabs and outdoor concrete deck	3/4/2008
Q: Bruce, I'm building an ICF home. The home will be constructed structurally completely out of ... A: I still think you are trying to overevaluate the situation. Any heat loss you experience at a ...
Need new foundation under a 1960s addition	3/3/2008
Q: We have been told the foundation is not salvageable under our addition (added around 1967-68, we ... A: you never did say what was wrong with the existing foundation. Is it beginning to settle or fall ...
ROOF LOAD PER SQ .ft	3/3/2008
Q: will a 2"x6"x20' on 16'" be good? it is a 24'x20' lean-two. will it carry the load or do i need to ... A: I would put a beam in and cut the span to 10'. Yes a 2x6 will span twenty feet but it will ...
Thermal breaks, suspended concrete slabs and outdoor concrete deck	3/2/2008
Q: Bruce, I'm building an ICF home. The home will be constructed structurally completely out of ... A: My understanding is that the ICF structure is completely insulated on the exterior and interior. I ...
half wall for a carport	3/2/2008
Q: We have a carport that collects everything that blows around the area. we want to build a half ... A: you can still do a masonry wall and then cover it with matching siding. All that is required are ...
Need new foundation under a 1960s addition	3/2/2008
Q: We have been told the foundation is not salvageable under our addition (added around 1967-68, we ... A: anything is possible with enough money. In your case you can possibly have some large house moving ...
Basement windows blocked by support beam	3/1/2008
Q: My parents late 1950's ranch has about a foot long overhang above the basement foundation in the ... A: I'm not sure what you are looking for here. It might be possible to move the support beam up inside ...
expanding part way across patio slab	3/1/2008
Q: Johnson, I would like to expand my dining area out over an existing patio slab. The slab is 1 ft ... A: if your patio slab is only four inches thick you will need to reinforce it somehow to support the ...
Concrete Block walls	2/28/2008
Q: Bruce, I am buliding an storage building and the walls will be built using concrete block. I ... A: the spec for sills is usually a knockout block filled with concrete with a piece of rebar in it. ...
double-wide manufactured home	2/28/2008
Q: I am looking into purchasing a newer (have to get more detail: manufacturer, date, etc.) double wide ... A: most newer mobile home manufacturers have websites where you can see how they are constructed. ...
Install cabinets on plaster-hollow brick wall	2/27/2008
Q: Bruce, thanks for taking my questions. I would like to install kitchen cabinets in my 1928 home. ... A: most wall cabinets nowadays are hung with 3/4" x3" plywood wall cleats, one at the top one at the ...
Second Story Addition Partially Over Garage Area	2/26/2008
Q: I am in the planning stages of adding a garage and second story addition to my home. The garage will ... A: of course it is possible. You can do pretty much anything with the proper engineering. A free ...
Deck	2/26/2008
Q: I am building a 24'x12' wood deck that will mostly cover a 20'x10' concrete patio. Problem is that ... A: I build my decks that sit on top of sloped slabs this way: Like you suggest I would tapcon some ...
replace carpet with hardwood flooring--weight concerns.	2/24/2008
Q: We are replacing old wall-to-wall carpet with hardwood flooring throughout our second floor. This ... A: I don't think you have anything to worry about. For one thing tongue and groove hardwood makes for a ...
cold weather and footings	2/24/2008
Q: I understand that pouring concrete footers during hard freeze is bad and it will ruin the concrete. ... A: concrete creates its own heat when it cures so if you can contain that heat during the curing ...
mobile home extension	2/24/2008
Q: we have a single wide mobile home, about 20 years old. it is pretty solidly built but only two ... A: a 20' x 12' room will cost at least ten thousand dollars and probably more depending on how much you ...
settling house	2/23/2008
Q: Bruce our home is about 20 years old. every winter one part of our bathroom ceiling separates from ... A: you didn't say whether the the separation is vertically or horizontally. If it is horizontal then ...
Flashing for Existing Ledgerboard	2/23/2008
Q: I saw your response to an 11/18/2007 question re flashing a stucco home's roof -- "saw cut a reglet ... A: yes you can use the technique above the ledger. Below the ledger your flashing would have to tucked ...
corrugated tin ceiling	2/23/2008
Q: I want to put a corrugated tin ceiling in my bathroom. Do you know where to buy corrugated panels ... A: specifically no. I am not familiar with NYC building supply companies and outlets. I would look up ...
extention	2/23/2008
Q: We would like to extend the kitchen (using existing plumbing) and build an extra bedroom using an ... A: if you don't need to do any structural work you can probably do most of this project yourself or at ...
hardwood flooring	2/22/2008
Q: When useing cleats on 3- Quarter hardwood how much pressure should I have my pneumatic floor nailer ... A: First of all I install my tongue and groove with the tongue edge pointing out and use a piece of the ...
Slab Home Plumbing Problems	2/22/2008
Q: I have a question. I own a slab home with no crawl space. Recently we have noticed wet spots on our ... A: it sounds like you have a backed up drain. The wet spots on your carpet are probably from water ...
foundation for enclosing patio	2/22/2008
Q: We are wanting to enclose our patio that sits on a cement slab. How thick does the cement slab have ... A: If your enclosure isn't too heavy and your slab is 6" thick and reinforced you might be able to get ...
Building a room in my garage	2/21/2008
Q: I'm expecting a new child later this year and would like to build a room for my oldest in the ... A: if you have a Home Depot nearby they have a book and magazine section with several good books on ...
Attic flooring	2/20/2008
Q: I want to floor my garage attic for storage (about 20x20). Rafters are spaced 24 inches oc. I'm ... A: you didn't say what type of rafter and ceiling system you have. If you have engineered trusses then ...
Putting an existing 11'x16' shed on new foundation.	2/20/2008
Q: I've got an 11'x16' metal over wood frame shed in my back yard. It has 2"x6", on 16" center, floor ... A: without actually seeing how your walls etc. are built I can only offer some suggestions. First of ...
Removal of 1st floor wall	2/20/2008
Q: I would like to remove most of the wall that separates our kitchen from our dining room, about 10 ... A: if you are going to do some ceiling work anyhow you can open up a hole in the ceiling next to the ...
what does schedule of values mean in the contracting business?	2/19/2008
Q: i am new to the bidding business and am cleaning a 6000 sq foot empty building with carpet and tile ... A: in a sense yes. A schedule of values is basically a breakdown of your bid. If you are bidding on ...
Concrete footings	2/19/2008
Q: I am building a home with a foundation consisting of 14 piers. Each pier is about 4 foot by 4 foot ... A: I wouldn't worry about it. I would make sure that the rest of the pads are compacted properly prior ...
concrete floor	2/19/2008
Q: I'm in the process of doing over my garage and noticed that the concrete floor is producing ... A: contact your local paint dealers or most home improvement stores carry various products for this. ...
x-ray machine for core drilling in concrete	2/19/2008
Q: Is there an x-ray machine available to either rent or buy in order to detect conduits in a concrete ... A: I'm not sure if you can rent the machines but there are companies that will come out and do the ...
Wet insulation behind shower walls	2/17/2008
Q: Don't know if this is the right place to ask this question or not but here goes! I removed my tub ... A: every time you have a heat exchange between a very cold area and a warm area there is going to be ...
Cocrete Driveway Peeling	2/17/2008
Q: I live in Eastern Washington state. We have summer heat and winter freeze. I have a nearly 3 yr. ... A: there are several products available for resurfacing concrete my favorite is Pavecrete. It has a ...
concrete drive way	2/16/2008
Q: I plan to widen my existing concrete drive way,existing drive sort of spade as an hour glass,16wide ... A: you probably don't need expansion joint where the new slab ties into the old slab this is a natural ...
removing load bearing wall	2/14/2008
Q: I am removing a load bearing wall between our kitchen and dining room in a two story house. It will ... A: Although I am not a structural engineer I do believe that what you have planned is sufficient. ...
Sunroom	2/13/2008
Q: I am looking to buy a home with a second-story four-season sunroom. The sunroom protrudes 5' from ... A: what you have is a cantilevered porch where the structural supports are designed to stick out and be ...
steel header for small commercial building/for garage opening(10' opening)	2/13/2008
Q: back at you..they told me to ask a new question. how are you today? i was wondering if you could ... A: off the top of my head I can't think of any website that will address your particular situation. If ...
Figuring out concrete yards	2/12/2008
Q: How do you figure out how many yards of concrete is need for a 24'X16 4" thick concrete driveway? A: it is simply a matter of figuring the volume in cubic feet and then dividing by 27 since there are ...
stucco on outside of home	2/12/2008
Q: I am purchasing a home in Tucson AZ, the home is red brick exterior and it has very low curb ... A: stucco is figured by the square yard when estimating. You take the height of the wall times the ...
siding as a barrier	2/12/2008
Q: Bruce: I'm replacing old chalky aluminum siding I took off the house with vinyl. I'm also bringing ... A: I think anytime you can recycle materials it is a good idea. The only thing wrong with the aluminum ...
adding a garage door to an existing ,3,000 sq,ft.,commercial building,pa.	2/11/2008
Q: i have a 3,000,sq.ft., commercial building,(2,story,block)(pa.)i have cut out and installed steel ... A: I wouldn't be disheartened if I were you. You have a good beam support in place. I didn't realize ...
Cracked block bsmt walls	2/11/2008
Q: I have recd quotes from many co's at about $20k to repair our step cracks on the bsmt walls. They ... A: you are a hundred percent correct. The first line of defense against water infiltration is the ...
adding a garage door to an existing ,3,000 sq,ft.,commercial building,pa.	2/11/2008
Q: i have a 3,000,sq.ft., commercial building,(2,story,block)(pa.)i have cut out and installed steel ... A: normally, even with concrete precast lintels there is rebar run through the lintel and tied to the ...
adding a garage door to an existing ,3,000 sq,ft.,commercial building,pa.	2/11/2008
Q: i have a 3,000,sq.ft., commercial building,(2,story,block)(pa.)i have cut out and installed steel ... A: most building departments do require a permit for this type of work since it involves the structure. ...
Drywall Question	2/10/2008
Q: I know that this question is going to be WAY below your qualifications, but it is something that I ... A: like I said earlier the tapered and untapered joints are finished the same way anyhow. The same ...
venting lean-to roof	2/10/2008
Q: Bruce: I'm currently adding an addition to my kitchen that is covered by a lean-to roof with about ... A: I felt the same way when I first began to build this way. And who is to say that in fifteen years ...
uneven floors	2/10/2008
Q: we bought an old house which sits on a dirt basement accsess is in a lift in the kitchen floor with ... A: you didn't really state what your problem is. If the floor is uneven in the middle of a room and ...
front porch	2/10/2008
Q: how should I lay down a composite wood tongue and groove floor on top of a concrete slab on my front ... A: first of all if your flooring comes with instructions, follow them as closely as possible. This ...
Drywall Question	2/9/2008
Q: I know that this question is going to be WAY below your qualifications, but it is something that I ... A: a nine foot wall is generally drywalled this way: The drywall is run horizontally and pushed up ...
cost of installing precast bulkhead stairs	2/9/2008
Q: We are planning a small cabin home(28'x38')in Minnesota on a tight budget. We are putting in a full ... A: either system is probably about the same price when it's all said and done. The precast system ...
cost of installing precast bulkhead stairs	2/9/2008
Q: We are planning a small cabin home(28'x38')in Minnesota on a tight budget. We are putting in a full ... A: I located the following website which might help answer your question. Whenever I do stairs like ...
Building under a stilt home	2/9/2008
Q: Currently I have been looking at a home to buy. The home is now a true stilt home. It was built on ... A: I too live in Pasco county. I believe that you can build underneath a stilt house but that living ...
Attic- closet	2/8/2008
Q: I would like to build an attic using pre-fab trusses (open in the middle) over an existing 18 x 18 ... A: you can pretty much do anything you want with trusses nowadays. At this juncture I would say Yes ...
venting lean-to roof	2/8/2008
Q: Bruce: I'm currently adding an addition to my kitchen that is covered by a lean-to roof with about ... A: good news! You don't need to vent it, how's that? Closed roof systems are the going rage nowadays. ...
Foundation Best Practices Follow Up 1	2/7/2008
Q: I asked about the pros and cons to post and beam vs. Joist and you mentioned slab on grade. It's ... A: I used to have the same doubts about slab on grade until I moved to Florida and began living in ...
Closing in a skylight	2/7/2008
Q: We recently had our roof replaced and closed in our skylights in the process. We're happy to have ... A: closing in a skylight should be fairly easy. First of all you will need to put a ledger board (a ...
mobile home addition	2/6/2008
Q: I have a 1969 single mobile home that i want to add on a "L" shape addition to, (mainly a master ... A: If there are expensive homes being built in your area then that will increase the value of the land ...
mobile home addition	2/6/2008
Q: I have a 1969 single mobile home that i want to add on a "L" shape addition to, (mainly a master ... A: regardless of what you do to the mobile home it will always be a mobile home. You can dress it up ...
strongback over ceiling joists	2/5/2008
Q: built 1963- 2X4 ceiling joists span 24' from exterior wall to exterior wall on 24" centers. !/2" ... A: right idea wrong approach. The problem with long spans like 25' is that the lumber spanning that ...
drywall - flashing - mesh	2/5/2008
Q: we live in a rather new apartment building and it has a lot of walls made with densglass gold. ... A: normal stucco over framing construction requires that the wall be sheathed. In your case it sounds ...
exposed dirt crawlspace	2/4/2008
Q: The previous homeowner dug out a crawlspace in our home. I believe he planned to finish this part of ... A: it sounds pretty basic. First you will have to pour a concrete slab with a thickened edge where ...
Foundation Best Practices?	2/4/2008
Q: Bruce, I am designing a home that I plan on building on a vacant lot I own. I am a structural ... A: one thing you didn't mention was slab on grade construction. Is there some reason you want a wood ...
Load path for second floor addition	2/4/2008
Q: I have a 1926 house in Oregon built into a very steep slope. The basement has been blasted out of ... A: it's hard to quantitatively say that you can or cannot support more weight on the existing terra ...
adding brick ledge	2/4/2008
Q: in north kansas adding brick over sideing to match a new brick addition. how deep would ... A: if you have a frost line then you probably should follow that for your footing depth. This doesn't ...
drywall - flashing - mesh	2/4/2008
Q: we live in a rather new apartment building and it has a lot of walls made with densglass gold. ... A: Pasta? I have never heard of pasta being used in construction so I am not sure what you are talking ...
adding brick ledge	2/3/2008
Q: in north kansas adding brick over sideing to match a new brick addition. how deep would ... A: I would go eight inches wide on the footing and tie into the basement concrete at least 8" below ...
Hardwood Floor	2/2/2008
Q: I plan on installing a solid hardwood floor in a room 10 by 10. When I put a 7 ft straight edge on ... A: an eighth inch in seven feet is negligible. It probably won't make a difference. Yes you can fill ...
enclosing an existing screen porch	2/1/2008
Q: I have a 8x10 screen porch with an existing roof and concrete floor. Under the floor is part of the ... A: the only resource that I can think of is you and me. Do a simple drawing of each wall. Width and ...
Vaulted Ceiling	1/31/2008
Q: I would like to put a vaulted in my livingroom to enhance the look of a fireplace I'm going to ... A: if your carrying beam at the ridge is supported properly on each end then the walls really don't ...
New home construction	1/31/2008
Q: We're building in the Austin, TX area. I am wondering if "upgrading" from the standard rafter ... A: I have never built a house with 16" rafter spacing or concrete over 3000 psi unless the concrete was ...
Vaulted Ceiling	1/31/2008
Q: I would like to put a vaulted in my livingroom to enhance the look of a fireplace I'm going to ... A: I don't see why you can't use 2x8 rafters for such a short span, it's only ten feet from the ridge. ...
Measuring sidewalk	1/30/2008
Q: Putting a brick sidewalk around two edges of a rectangular rose garden that measures 16ft by 8ft. ... A: okay. You are going put a sidewalk along one sixteen foot side and one eight foot side. That is 24 ...
WALL FRAMING	1/30/2008
Q: Using a 2x4 floor plate & 2-2x4 top plates what is the cut stud length? What is a good type and ... A: generally speaking when you frame a standard wall you want it to be eight feet tall to match plywood ...
Load-bearing wall	1/30/2008
Q: I live in a two story, 4,000 sq. ft. modular house in New York, built in 2007. I'd like to open up ... A: chances are that you can do what you want without columns. A twenty five foot span would require a ...
Addition to U-shaped ranch	1/29/2008
Q: I'd like to add a 24x39ft great room addition by filling in the 14x39 ft "U opening" of my hip roof ... A: Of course you can roof this addition gracefully. One way would be to do a gradually sloping shed ...
Build an addition...	1/29/2008
Q: We are planning on tearing down our existing kitchen and attached garage, which is about 725 sq. ... A: boy that's a loaded question! It depends on a lot of factors, local prices, local labor costs, local ...
House noise and settling	1/28/2008
Q: I live in Athens Georgia. I bought a two-story house about four years ago. Since then, I have ... A: Georgia clay can be tricky to build on. As the weather gets wet the clay swells up. When the ...
laser level	1/28/2008
Q: I too have a laser level question. I am a very beginner DIYer. I have an attic I want to convert ... A: it kind of depends on the type of laser you have. If it shoots out a red line that can easily be ...