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Building Homes or Extensions/Questions Answered by Expert Ted Barnhill (Principal, Design45 LLC)
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Foam Insulation | 5/10/2011 |
| Q: I have a house built in 1978 with a 1.25 in 12 pitch roof with soffit venting at the peak. The ... A: Walt, According to current code, you can remove the venting and go to what is known as a "hot" ... | |
| Roof/Deck Rebuild | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: I have a house that was built with a post on pad foundation, with a large deck. The house was later ... A: Jim, I would suggest that you try to achieve some slope to your roof - at least 1/8" per foot - to ... | |
| Sill pan | 4/30/2011 |
| Q: We have built a new house in Alexandria VA. The construction company has not installed any sill pans ... A: Bob, I'm sorry to hear about your leaks, and the unwillingness of your contractor to make it right. ... | |
| Drywall in a cabin | 3/11/2011 |
| Q: Can you tell me if it ok to use 1/2" drywall in a "summer" use cabin. There will be normal R20 ... A: Andrew, Denshield is a more expensive product with an extra waterproofing coating. Also, it does ... | |
| Drywall in a cabin | 3/8/2011 |
| Q: Can you tell me if it ok to use 1/2" drywall in a "summer" use cabin. There will be normal R20 ... A: Andrew, You are correct that in a space that experiences wide swings in temperature and humidity, ... | |
| how much weight will the floor bear? | 3/7/2011 |
| Q: We would like to put bookcases loaded with books against two non-weight bearing walls in an upstairs ... A: Terry, Table 503.2.1(1) of the International Residential Code gives the maximum load of a standard ... | |
| Beam size needed to remove a load bearing wall | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: I plan to make a number of changes to open up the small 840 sq ft stick built house which we have ... A: Bill, 1. Your basement beam is probably not adequate to support the two new point loads coming down ... | |
| foundations | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: is it ok to use a pillar construction on a 10x10 extention on a home in sw ontario, if it is well ... A: Lance, Yes, this is one appropriate way to build, even in cold climates, if on proper footings. ... | |
| house skirting | 2/12/2011 |
| Q: I would like to know where is the skirting of a house located? What does it look like? I've been ... A: Elsa, Skirting is a term normally used in the context of mobile homes or other structures without ... | |
| Removing Load bearing wall | 2/10/2011 |
| Q: I have a Split Foyer built in 1963. Hip roof with rafters. I would like to completely remove the ... A: Rich, Yes, that is a load-bearing wall. If the attic floor has had no load on it (no storage), ... | |
| 3 season to 4 season cabin process | 1/30/2011 |
| Q: I have a cabin in western (Luck) Wisconsin. it is 24 by 40 on 6x6 piers. Ther front is about 3 feet ... A: John, For the longevity of your structure you do need to have adequate footings, but these need not ... | |
| Master bath design | 1/8/2011 |
| Q: I am designing a master bath with limited space. I'm planning to install a whirlpool bath which will ... A: Robert, If this is a design for yourself or a particular client, I would try to design for the ... | |
| Definition of S I B | 12/13/2010 |
| Q: my son is apprenticing as a carpenter and he is trying to find out the definition of SIB and where ... A: Mary-Jo, You are probably referring to SIP, which stands for structural insulated panel. Also ... | |
| black mold | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: I need help, I have black mold growing on underside of osb flooring at rim joist area. This is a ... A: John, You are doing the right thing by addressing this mold issue immediately, and properly. I ... | |
| roof | 11/7/2010 |
| Q: my garage is going to be about 60'L x 31'w, should i use truss or rafters? roof will have some snow ... A: Robert, I would use trusses in your situation - they simplify the design and construction process, ... | |
| insulating a walkout basement | 10/2/2010 |
| Q: I am building a home in northern Wisconsin which has a north-facing walkout basement. This wall is ... A: Charles, There are many ways of insulating and finishing basement walls, depending on your needs. ... | |
| Extending a Rowhome & converting to apts | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I own a 2-story rowhome in Washington DC with a finished basement and a large deck ... A: Justine, To determine the feasibility of extending your rowhome, I would first look into zoning and ... | |
| garage | 8/14/2010 |
| Q: My father and I are building an attahced garage onto the side of my house. The dimensions are 27' ... A: Landon, Why not use a "room-in-attic" or "storage" roof truss? These will provide the storage ... | |
| Would 2 2x12 ridge beam work in my case ? | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: This is a ridge of a new higher pitched (6/12) roof that is built over old 2/12 one. Old ridge is ... A: Alex, That sounds like a very unique attic! If you are leaving an adequate ridge beam in your ... | |
| Would 2 2x12 ridge beam work in my case ? | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: This is a ridge of a new higher pitched (6/12) roof that is built over old 2/12 one. Old ridge is ... A: Alex, With the limited information that you have provided, I wouldn't see any problem with your ... | |
| cottage foundation | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: We have a 1950's cottage in Ontario that is on piers. We are adding an addition with a poured ... A: Kate, If your existing pier footings are below the frost line, you should have no problems with ... | |
| spray foam | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: I am going to install closed spray foam in new construction and cannot get an answer as to the ... A: Todd, If I understand your issue correctly, you would like to install both fiberglass batts and ... | |
| PERGOLA | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: THINKING OF BUILDING A PERGOLA IN MY BACK YARD. I HAVE A 10X10 PATIO, BUT WANT THE PERGOLA TO BE ... A: Erik, The longest lasting solution is to have your posts above grade, on metal connectors (post ... | |
| Garage plan/deck over garage area | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: A question from neighboring Wisconsin about a garage plan I am working on. The garage will be two ... A: John, Yes, thanks for Favre; as a non-native Minnesotan I can watch him without mixed feelings. ... | |
| insulating a garage in MN & Vapor Barrier | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I live in Minnesota. I have an attached three stall garage that is completely sheet rocked. I ... A: Ted, I would recommend that you provide a vapor retarder in your ceiling and wall assemblies when ... | |
| coastal home construction | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: I am a writer and the ending of the story I'm working on happens inside a high-end northwest ... A: Charlotte, I love Oregon, having lived there for a few years in my twenties. The coast is stunning ... | |
| insulating bump out cavity | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: I live in a 20 year old middle unit town home in MD. It is a 2 level + basement where the rear of ... A: Giles, It sounds as if you are describing a cantilevered floor beneath your bay window. This is a ... | |
| steep staircase | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: Our home was built in approx. 1950. The stairs are crazy steep. The tread on them is approx. 6in. I ... A: Lynn, The type of steep stair you describe was commonly used for attic access in homes of your era. ... | |
| Spray foam or house wrap | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: We are going to build a new, single story (with basement) home in northern Indiana. It will be out ... A: Mark, I'm glad to see that you are taking the time to research appropriate technologies for your new ... | |
| Strip Foundation | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I want to self build a concrete house. How long after the concrete strip foundation is cast can they ... A: Bolaji, In practice, it is common to begin laying block 3-7 days after the footing pour. At this ... | |
| framing | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: 1x3 Strapping is typically used here in the northeast on ceiling joists, trusses, etc as support for ... A: Rick, While each builder will have their own norms and preferences, mine would be to omit the ... | |
| Expansion | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: We live on a busy street in a small, beautifully crafted dutch colonial in central CT. We are ... A: Ellen, Happy Holidays, and thanks for your questions. You have hit on the two big questions when ... | |
| creaking wall when wind blows | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: Many thanks for taking the time to read my question regarding the above. I have a nine year old ... A: Debs, That sounds very unpleasant! Your noise could be many things. My hope is that it is not a ... | |
| siding | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I live 1 1/2 hours north of New York City. A contractor did a renovation of my home. He removed the ... A: Sue, I'm sorry to hear of your trouble with your siding contractor. In these times of climbing ... | |
| Addition Questions | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: Ted, thanks in advance. I volunteer on this site also. After two years unable to sell a small ... A: Pat, I would suggest that you budget about $200 per finished square foot for your project. It is ... | |
| Addition Questions | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: Ted, thanks in advance. I volunteer on this site also. After two years unable to sell a small ... A: There are many ways to approach such a project, and each client and project has unique needs. You ... | |
| sonotube based addition | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: I am planning to add an L-shaped addition to my rectangular 21'x25' 1911 house which stands on a ... A: Linda, Your decision of which foundation to use will have several important ramifications for your ... | |
| Knee wall insulation | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: I have been searching the internet for properly insulating a knee wall in an ventilated attic. Half ... A: Michael, Many foam boards are flammable, and thus are required by code to be covered with drywall or ... | |
| Removing Stone from Fireplace | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: We purchased new home with real stone fireplace. I believe the stone is placed over a cinder block ... A: Ross, Stone comes in a seemingly infinite array of choices, from full field stones to thin veneer in ... | |
| building codes | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: My question is how do you get the building codes for putting and addition on to a house. I know how ... A: Mike, You should contact your local building official for the current codes in effect in your area. ... | |
| cinderblock house in alabama | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: Is it legal to build a house in the state of Alabama out of cinder blocks? A: Loretta, Yes, cinder blocks, or concrete masonry units (CMUs) are a standard material for ... | |
| partitioning a garage | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: I need to frame a section of my garage to make a room for a furnace. This is a 40 year old garage ... A: David, 1. + 2. If you have roof trusses, they may move over the seasons. This is especially true ... | |
| foundations | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I am adding an addition onto a garage/barn (has space above garage for living) that only has a slab ... A: Rick, The best long-term solution is to provide frost footings for both the barn and addition. An ... | |
| making open bar area in load bearing wal | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: I am making a open area 8'x4' in an existing load bearing wall. Can I use aluminum beams to add ... A: Amy, The wall shown in your picture doesn't appear to be a load-bearing wall. It seems to have a ... | |
| ceiling joist | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: i recently purchased an old home that has 6.5 ft ceiling on second floor. i have rafters not ... A: Ty, In older homes, attic and roof framing tends to work as a system, with individual elements ... | |
| Structural support for converting patio to sunroom | 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: Kate, Your newly-built home, if built to code, would have been engineered for a dead load of 10-20 ... | |
| I Beams and H Beams | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: What is the difference between an I Beam and an H Beam? How can I tell the difference? I have 3 ... A: Joe, There is no difference between I-beams and H-beams. Both are informal terms for wide-flange ... | |
| Extending roof line of cape cod | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: We live in Wisconsin. We have just bought a cape code built in the 50s. It has cedar shake siding ... A: Juan & Kathy, While in principle I agree that having roof overhangs is a good thing for your house, ... | |
| post footer for concrete patio | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: I'm going to pour a concrete 17X19 patio (4" thick) and would like to be able to add a roof at some ... A: Dave, You are correct that the slab may move during freeze/thaw cycles, while your column footings ... | |
| drawbacks to vinyl siding? | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: We've had storm chasers in the neighborhood, trying to convince us to file an insurance claim to ... A: Lori, The best I can say for vinyl siding is that it is inexpensive. Like all other types of ... | |
| additions | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: My manufactured house is a little over 4 years old, and it's on a basement. My new husband and I ... A: Amy, You can certainly add an addition on to your existing manufactured home. However, to ... | |
| Addition Construction | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I am building an addition to my home. I have two questions: first, what is the building policy ... A: Ron, Living space can be built over garages; however, there must be a fire separation of 5/8" ... | |
| additon to our home | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: If we add a closed in porch or room onto our home,exactly what inspections will need to be done; ... A: Cindy, Good question. Ordinarily, the inspections should pertain to the project at hand; old work ... | |
| live load | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: I want to replace my existing bathtub with a Jacuzzi whirlpool that requires my floor be able to ... A: Marjorie, According to the International Residential Code, maximum spans for #2 douglas fir joists, ... | |
| building homes | 4/20/2009 |
| Q: What are the pros & cons of building an 1800 sq.ft. ranch-style house on soil containing some sand? A: Joe, Sand content is no problem; in fact, sand is generally better than silt or clay for building, ... | |
| Corner Beads | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: I am a supplier of corner beads,groove joints and other plastering aids now in the Philippines.I ... A: Shawn, Metal and/or plastic corner beads are, as you mentioned, standard for plaster and stucco ... | |
| radiant heating and air circulation | 3/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1200 sqaue foot home, and it is approx 35 years old. The house is heated by baseboard ... A: Camille, I recommend you look into Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) and Energy Recovery Ventilators ... | |
| main bearing wall | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: we have a bungalow and on the main level there is only one main wall running in the same direction ... A: Patti, The opening that you are describing isn't large, and can be framed fairly easily, and almost ... | |
| Load bearing wall or not | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: I am planing for a major kitchen re-do. I am thinking to remove 2 walls on the first floor. It ... A: Danny, From your description, I would guess that these are not bearing walls. However, they may be ... | |
| Flooring for basement | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: We live in the northeast and in the process of finishing the basement. Our watertable is a bit high ... A: Al, The best way to avoid mold is to allow any moisture that appears on your floor to dry out ... | |
| Cantilevered floor joist | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: I want to turn an existing bay window in Michigan into usable floor space with the same footprint. ... A: Rick, There is plenty of room within the depth of your floor joists for adequate insulation. It ... | |
| New construction costs | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: I live in Iowa and am looking into building a new home on an acreage. I was wondering what a ... A: Dave, Costs will vary greatly depending on the factors that you mention. You will probably get ... | |
| Cantilevered floor joist | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: I want to turn an existing bay window in Michigan into usable floor space with the same footprint. ... A: Rick, There is a table in the International Residential Code which shows allowable cantilever spans ... | |
| Load Bearing supports | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: I had my house built in 1995. It is a 2 story with a lower level walkout(basicall 3 floors). There ... A: Wade, The model building codes (IRC, for example) provide some span and member sizing guidelines ... | |
| Do I Need A Vapor Barrier | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: City says I need to have a vapor barrier below the concrete to be permitted. I live in sunny So. ... A: Dan, I do agree that there should be other ways to minimize the movement of moisture and soil ... | |
| hip roof load | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: Barnhill, I am currently remodeling a 50's era cottage. It originally had a rectangular footprint ... A: Landon, Your beam loading will depend on your roof load, and also on your framing geometry, ... | |
| Roof truss | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: I am doing a drawing section for a house addition 21' -6" wide by 19'-6" long. The architect said ... A: Emely, There are many options for roof decking/sheathing, from the industry standard 1/2" (nominal) ... | |
| Beam size and material | 2/11/2009 |
| Q: I want to build a beam out of 2x10 or 2x12 spruce or fir. This beam needs to span 40 feet with 2 ... A: Chris, According to the 2006 IRC, the maximum span for a built-up 4-2x12 beam (of #2 Spruce Pine ... | |
| walls | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: thanks sheila A: Sheila, Alas, "the best" and "expensive" often go together! You haven't told me where you are ... | |
| Addition/Remodel | 1/28/2009 |
| Q: We are in the beginning stages of planning an addition/remodel to our 1930's 2bdrm 1ba double ... A: Samantha, You are describing an ambitious project, and I'm glad that you will be working with an ... | |
| structure compromised | 1/23/2009 |
| Q: I just had a renovation of my bath and kitchen, my contractor finally came in to install my range ... A: Steve, Yes, by all means ask your contractor for an explanation! From your description, you may ... | |
| heat & cost effectiveness | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: Barnhill, Quick question-- We have a new home, two floors, two thermostats, forced air heating. In ... A: Chris, I hate to get in between the two of you, but I do feel strongly about saving energy, so here ... | |
| Vapor Barrier for Ceiling of Garage | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: We are building a house in MN and spent the weekend insulating the garage. Everything was going ... A: Denise, Either of your ideas would work fine. However, I would recommend that you just put up a ... | |
| replacing a post with a beam connector bracket ? | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: My living room and dinning room was hold up by 2 large beam connecting in the middle with a 4x4 ... A: Tak, Generally speaking, what you are describing is not possible. Even if you could have a ... | |
| Installing replacement windows when cold | 12/16/2008 |
| Q: Some replacement windows we ordered have arrived and the contractor wants to install them soon. We ... A: Gregory, You are correct to ask the question, as many common exterior sealants will fail if applied ... | |
| roofing/attic | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: We recently had additional insulation put in our attic space. The attic is about 42'X30" in size and ... A: Brad, You're welcome. I agree that the frost is appearing now because the attic is colder; you ... | |
| roofing/attic | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: We recently had additional insulation put in our attic space. The attic is about 42'X30" in size and ... A: Brad, Frost on the roofing nails is evidence of moisture in your attic, a problem that you will ... | |
| Bathroom Remodeling | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: We are remodeling two upstairs bedrooms into a master suite. My question is about the tub's load on ... A: Joe, Your joists are larger than they need to be for your span, and the modest tub that you ... | |
| Insulating/warming concrete floors | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: .i have a 23x16 family room that was built over the garage and the floor is a concrete slab..the ... A: Michael, There are several solutions to your chilly floor problem, depending on your budget. The ... | |
| sound proofing | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: I am renovating a 100 year old house into 3 suites. What is the best way to sound proof between ... A: Linda, There are many wall and floor constructions that are "STC rated" for various levels of noise ... | |
| Garage Wall Baseplate and Studs Rotten | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: I noticed some drywall in the corner of my garage wet. So I started pealing it back and discovered ... A: Cory, Sorry to hear about your problem. As you have discovered, untreated wood doesn't last very ... | |
| Building Home in Wet Climate | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: Do you know a particular construction technique that is especially good for wet climate like the ... A: Edward, Sounds like an exciting project. I once lived in Oregon, and enjoyed the lush greenery and ... | |
| Porch Columns | 11/3/2008 |
| Q: Ted, I have a situation where I noticed that the porch columns holding the roof over my front porch ... A: Robert, 1. You may indeed have a dangerous situation. This principally depends on whether you are ... | |
| wainscoting | 11/3/2008 |
| Q: We would like to install wainscoting in our double entry which has two stairs. At what height would ... A: Elizabeth, My suggestion would depend on your space, and the effect you are hoping to achieve. 42" ... | |
| insulation | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: I live in Fargo, ND so the climate is much like MN. We have a house that was built in 1890 and needs ... A: Yes, you should insulate the house and provide a good drainage plane behind your siding. Tyvek is a ... | |
| insulation | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: I live in Fargo, ND so the climate is much like MN. We have a house that was built in 1890 and needs ... A: Amy, That is ridiculous! I can't believe that there is anyone in the building trades in Fargo who ... | |
| Ceiling insulation | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: Ted, I am building a 28 x 40 gambrel barn style cabin (house) in West Central Wisconsin. The ... A: Gary, There is no problem whatsoever with using two layers of batt insulation as you describe, as ... | |
| New home building | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: We would like to have a new home built in a remote mountain ranch area in AZ. Would you recommend ... A: Len, You have a beautiful piece of land; I recommend that you build in a way that complements the ... | |
| Simple house in Bhutan | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: Sorry to bother you with this, but hoping you could help with your expert advice. I'm an American ... A: Jamie, Your broad description of the wall assembly sounds pretty good, but there are many places ... | |
| Simple house in Bhutan | 10/20/2008 |
| Q: Sorry to bother you with this, but hoping you could help with your expert advice. I'm an American ... A: Jamie, We designers always get excited about new (to us) techniques, especially traditional ... | |
| interior transoms | 10/13/2008 |
| Q: we are in the process of building a new home. The ceilings are all 10' high, so we are adding ... A: Elizabeth- If the transoms are fixed (not operable), my preference would be to locate the glazing ... | |
| sunken patio w/wo basement | 10/11/2008 |
| Q: I have recently moved into a home that has a sunken patio with a walk out basement. The current ... A: Ed, There are three usual solutions: 1. Run a drainage pipe to "daylight". That is, if you have ... | |
| Wall support versus Windows together | 9/18/2008 |
| Q: We are adding on a rectangular room on to our existing house as a family room. I found a couple of ... A: Kristen, With modern framing techniques, very large open spans are possible -- in fact, with the ... | |
| Finishing out Hardiboard in a Bathroom | 9/17/2008 |
| Q: What is the best way to finish hardiboard walls in a bath? Our contractor installed it and now has ... A: Shirley, I'm sorry to hear about your disappearing contractor. Generally, hardiboard is installed ... | |
| Basement painting | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: I am struggling with picking the right colors to paint our basement. I would like to paint the ... A: Leslie, Painting a ceiling black is a very aggressive design move! It will certainly make the ... | |
| home extention | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: A friend would like to build a home extension at the back of her house to extend the kitchen and ... A: Janine, A full basement is not necessary; other options include piers (open below), crawlspace, or ... | |
| T-111 for interior walls | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: I happened to see the previous question to you regarding use of T-111 for interior walls. We have a ... A: Tina, If you aren't especially chemically-sensitive, you will likely be fine. The offgassing is ... | |
| Insulation | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: Before I purchased my home, the previous owner had closed in the car port. The area was divided ... A: David, Ideally, your walls will: 1. Be built air-tight. This is often not achieved; leaks around ... | |
| Insulation | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: Before I purchased my home, the previous owner had closed in the car port. The area was divided ... A: David, A layer of foam board on the interior of your walls will help your energy efficiency and ... | |
| 2nd floor kneewall | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: We are building a 2 story garage, with a bonus room above. It will be 24'wide, with a 8/12 pitch. ... A: Kim, That's a lot of snow load - even more than we design for here in Minnesota! There are ... | |
| header size for pavilion | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: We are building a pavilion off of or pool area. The slab is 16 X 24 with 4 6 x 6 posts spanning the ... A: Tammy- The required size of your header depends on the snow load in your area, the type of roofing ... | |
| Building a new bathroom | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: I am in the process of building a new home and would like to know if it is possible to build a ... A: Susan, Yes, adding finished spaces over garages is increasingly common in modern construction, ... | |
| truss | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: i have a room over my garage it is a 8-12 pitch i would like to make it bigger and was going to put ... A: John, No, you cannot modify the truss geometry in any way. They, unlike other framing methods, are ... | |
| House wrap & Acrylic stucco | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: I am building a new home in Regina, Sk Canada.My builder has used Typar housewrap on the exterior ... A: Kevin, Let me be blunt. Most would agree that acrylic stucco does not solve moisture infiltration ... | |
| lean-to extention | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: I am in need of efficiently creating closet space in a small back "bedroom" and cannot sacrifice ... A: Keith, What you are proposing is called a "cantilevered" addition, meaning that it overhangs your ... | |
| Extension with 35 feet load bearing span | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: I would like to extend my kitchen which is about 35 feet long on the exterior wall size. I want to ... A: Steen, You have an extraordinarily unique kitchen - 35 feet long and 7'-8" high! 35 feet is a ... | |
| A new window opening in an existing brink wall | 7/5/2008 |
| Q: We would like to add two new windows in our master bedroom on a wall where there are currently no ... A: Lisa- Your mason will be able to insert a steel lintel to carry the bricks over your window by ... | |
| Adding a sunken patio and entrance | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: I am wanting to add a sunken patio and entrance to a garden level basement. The entrance will be a ... A: Steve, Here is a link to a basic primer on shallow frost-protected foundations: ... | |
| Adding a sunken patio and entrance | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: I am wanting to add a sunken patio and entrance to a garden level basement. The entrance will be a ... A: Steve, Yes, you will need to be careful that you don't modify grade such that your frost depth goes ... | |
| insulating concrete block home | 6/29/2008 |
| Q: I recently bought a small, 850 sq. ft.,concrete block home for my son. It is 60 years old with a ... A: Linda, Most would agree that a spray foam insulation is your best choice for performance - it will ... | |
| addition to brick ranch house | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: House is in Berthoud Colorado area (between Boulder and Ft. Collins). It is a brick ranch over a ... A: Barb, A good rule-of-thumb to start with is about $200 per square foot. This will allow finishes ... | |
| Home addition | 6/7/2008 |
| Q: Our family lives in a 2 story house with finished basement near Calgary, Alberta in Canada. The main ... A: Shailesh, Your proposed project is significant - it does have the potential to dramatically affect ... | |
| Pergola Construction | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: Ted, I'm adding a pergola to my existing deck. It is 12' x 14' with the rafters (2x4's) spanning ... A: Tom, I don't know a definitive reference for no-load spans. In my experience, 12' is getting ... | |
| Pergola Construction | 6/4/2008 |
| Q: Ted, I'm adding a pergola to my existing deck. It is 12' x 14' with the rafters (2x4's) spanning ... A: Tom, A pergola such as yours will have little "live load" on it - at most some vegetation. If you ... | |
| soundproofing an inside staircase | 5/25/2008 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. I live in a second floor apartment of what used to be a single family cape ... A: Robin, It is hard to solve problems without spending money! The simple, low-cost ideas that come ... | |
| composite deck stairway over concrete | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: Mr Barnhill: I am writing to you in particular because I am a fellow Minnesotan. The entryway to ... A: Your idea is doable, if unorthodox. Use treated lumber for your substructure - this includes the ... | |
| Calculate floor load? | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: I have a new home and there is an area on a second floor that I would like to build a bar. I know ... A: Dean, The 40 psf live load means that your floor can safely carry 40 pounds per square foot, evenly ... | |
| blueprints | 4/30/2008 |
| Q: We bought a Deltec home almost 2 years ago, and would like to remove a wall between two rooms and ... A: Cheryl- If you have the home's original plans, the loadbearing walls can be easily identified. ... | |
| Convert piers to foundation. | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: I am interested in converting a cottage built in 1940 to a year round residence. The cottage is ... A: Johan, Obviously it is crucial to know the local frost depth as well as the depth of your existing ... | |
| Convert piers to foundation. | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: I am interested in converting a cottage built in 1940 to a year round residence. The cottage is ... A: Johan, The answer would depend on your needs and goals. Would you like a basement for storage, ... | |
| porch design | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: I've built a 24x16 cabin and I am wondering what porch design would best suit this cottage. The ... A: Shawn- Congratulations on your new cabin. As for your porch design, my answer would depend on ... | |
| basement supports | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: im redoing my basement and want to open one end up a bit....my house is 40' long with a I beam down ... A: Tracy, You may have the flexibility to make the move that you suggest, but you can't know until you ... | |
| basement is colder this year | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: I moved in the current house two years ago. Last winter, the basement was pretty warm, at about 60, ... A: Lin- That is a significant change over just one year. I would look at any changes that you made ... | |
| Depth of footings | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: We purchased an older home in North Dakota that had two newer additions attached on opposite sides ... A: Heidi- Wow! You have a serious frost-heave problem. In addition to the drywall cracking that you ... | |
| TJI damaged | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: During water damage sheetrock tear-out, the workers cut into the bottom flanges of some I-joists in ... A: Dave, Your TJIs are, as you know seriously compromised. It is a regrettably situation and will ... | |
| building in tempersures of 50 below | 3/14/2008 |
| Q: please bear with me on this lol im building a small cabin ab 16 x 28 using old railroad ties for ... A: Patrick, I applaud your creative building style, and ability to find reuse opportunities. Your ... | |
| Single Wythe Architectural block walls in residential construction? | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: Ted, I am about to add a modern 2 storey with basement addition onto my home. Smooth and split face ... A: Paul, You are an innovator! While you have brought a lot of workable concepts together in your ... | |
| Finish untreated cedar shake exterior | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: It has taken me 3 years to build my new home in upstate New York. The exterior of the house is all ... A: Len, Unfortunately, your options at this point are stain or paint. The most authoritative source ... | |
| Stairway Landing | 3/5/2008 |
| Q: I'm building an L-shaped interior stairway and wand to add a closet under the landing. I can't find ... A: Todd, The 2006 IRC (International Residential Code, in effect in many locations) allows joists down ... | |
| buiding an addition to townhome with only access through house | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: I live in a townhome (built in 1860)in a downtown area of an upstate New York city. I would like to ... A: Eileen, You have a very unusual situation! I am curious why you couldn't have contractors use the ... | |
| Patio door & windows | 3/2/2008 |
| Q: Our home is approximately 11 years old and ready for a new sliding glass patio door. I have been ... A: Nicole, I am partial to Marvin. They make a durable, energy-efficient product in a range of ... | |
| settling home | 2/23/2008 |
| Q: Ted our home is about 20 years old. every winter one part of our bathroom ceiling separates from the ... A: Wayne, The fact that your crack is seasonal is a good clue to its source. I wouldn't call it ... | |
| Need to cover an entrance | 2/17/2008 |
| Q: my house is of what I have seen called a cross gabled design. You approach the house directly ... A: Christine, I believe I understand your dilemna. It is generally good design to "announce" the ... | |
| cross brace | 2/16/2008 |
| Q: I took the ceiling tiles down in my living room. I want to replace it with drywall. There is no ... A: Dave, The 2006 IRC does not requires midspan cross-bracing for your situation. You are required to ... | |
| converting garage to living space | 2/11/2008 |
| Q: my garage is a slab on grade and i want to convert a part of it to 'interior' heated space for a ... A: Julia- This depends on your climate and the depth/extent of frost in your area. If you are in a ... | |
| Siding options for Minnesota lake cabin | 2/9/2008 |
| Q: We are building at cabin (28'x38')north of Park Rapids, MN. It will be seasonal but built and ... A: Vicki, Siding can be a complicated decision, due to the often-conflicting requirements of cost, ... | |
| Fiber-cement siding in area of standing snow | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: Our condo HOA is considering replacement of cedar siding w/Hardiplank or other brand of fiber-cement ... A: Lisa, Fiber-cement siding has proven to be a very durable product in a variety of climates. I ... | |
| floating wall behind fireplace in basement | 1/30/2008 |
| Q: I reside in Denver, and am remodeling my basement. By best practices I am implementing a floating ... A: Jeff, I would suggest that you let the top plate float instead. Such floor-mounted detached ... | |
| Remove wall under 24' prefab roof | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: I have prefab roof truss in an A frame roof. The ceiling or bottom of the truss are 2x4's The prefab ... A: John, Most residential roof trusses are clear span, meaning that all of the load is on the outside ... | |
| Support for Existing Tile Floor | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: I want to add some support to my kitchen floor which was tiled approx. 4 months ago. When someone ... A: John, Now that I understand your crawlspace situation better, I would propose that you build a ... | |
| Insulating interior block wall | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: I'm building a home in Florida and I'm stuck with deciding best & efficient way to insulate the ... A: Luis- The Icynene website provides the following dealer local to you: Art Foam Insulation 6400 N ... | |
| Support for Existing Tile Floor | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: I want to add some support to my kitchen floor which was tiled approx. 4 months ago. When someone ... A: John- Thanks for the well-formed question. I agree that you have cause for concern about grout and ... | |
| Insulating interior block wall | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: I'm building a home in Florida and I'm stuck with deciding best & efficient way to insulate the ... A: Luis- Both open and closed cell foam can be professionally sprayed and field cut to the face of ... | |
| french doors | 1/11/2008 |
| Q: I am replacing a sliding glass door with french doors that lead to our deck. I recently heard on a ... A: Eric, you may be referring to International Residential Code (IRC) R311.4.3, which requires certain ... | |
| T-111 for interior walls in a three season camp | 1/6/2008 |
| Q: We have a three season "camp" in Pennsylvania with seasonal issues of temperature ... A: Debi- T-1-11 is a generic name for exterior grade sheathing/finish material with vertical grooves ... | |
| floor joists | 1/5/2008 |
| Q: we baught a wartime home a few years ago and before we bought it we had a home inspection done. My ... A: Robert, Has the home sagged since you have owned it? Your joists and beams sound roughly OK (but a ... | |
| Sagging Steel I-Beam -- How to Fix It | 1/4/2008 |
| Q: First, Happy New Year and I hope you start sending us a bit warmer weather than you've been sending ... A: Jerry, Finding a good structural engineer will require calling through the phone book, or asking ... | |
| Interior Wall for 3 season Cabin | 1/3/2008 |
| Q: I have a cabin in Minnesota and want to refinish the ceiling and walls of the bath and utility ... A: John, It is true that seasonal cabins experience more structural movement due to extremes in ... | |
| Sagging Steel I-Beam -- How to Fix It | 1/3/2008 |
| Q: First, Happy New Year and I hope you start sending us a bit warmer weather than you've been sending ... A: Jerry, Happy New Year to you. We're warming up fast right now - looks like we will get a respite ... | |
| Sweating Ceilings | 1/2/2008 |
| Q: We bought this house last April. It was supposed to be rehabbed & looked good...like a rotten cake ... A: Joyce, Sorry to hear about your moisture problems. What kind of attic insulation did you add? ... | |
| air pockets in concrete | 12/30/2007 |
| Q: My mother recently employed a builder to dig out her lounge floor and lay a concrete one to a depth ... A: Peter, Without seeing your floor it's hard to tell how bad it is. All concrete can experience ... | |
| concrete slab footings | 12/30/2007 |
| Q: I am trying to define the footing itself ---Is the concrete slab and the sand or gravel under the ... A: Bob, the sand or gravel is not part of the footing, but the slab may be. In some southern ... | |
| concrete works | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: Season Greetings! Mr.Barnhill, What is the correct way to join a new addition footer to an ... A: Orpha, In most cases footings should be continuous. When building an addition, this is ordinarily ... | |
| Extension to a 1926 Tudor home | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: I have quite a vague question. I'm thinking of purchasing a lovely old tudor house which is quite ... A: Selena, The cost to build is at least as high (in $/square foot) as the cost to buy. If you are ... | |
| Drywall over ceiling tiles? | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: I live in Pittsburgh, PA and I own a circa-1920 home. The first floor of the house has acoustic tile ... A: Lauren, You are correct that some older ceiling tiles, along with many other building products, ... | |
| Building an extension in the winter | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: I would like to have an extension built (18' x 7') in Dec-Jan in Montreal, Quebec (hardiness zone 5; ... A: Year-round construction is possible in your climate, but there are drawbacks. Any concrete work ... | |
| Log home addition | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: We have a single story log home on crawlspace concrete foundation and want to add a 2nd story. ... A: John, That sounds like an ambitious project for a "non-builder". To take it on safely, I recommend ... | |
| Ceiling Moisture | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: I have a new home one story ranch built in 2006. In the winter I notice moisture up in the corners ... A: Rod, Glad to hear that you have an expert looking at it. It does sound like a problem of ... | |
| Ceiling Moisture | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: I have a new home one story ranch built in 2006. In the winter I notice moisture up in the corners ... A: Rod, Moisture in homes is a complicated issue, and has resulted in many changes in accepted ... | |
| Addition | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: I am having an addition added to my house. The existing exterior load bearing wall of the house will ... A: Terry, The details you provided in your follow-up don't put me at ease about the structural ... | |
| Addition | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: I am having an addition added to my house. The existing exterior load bearing wall of the house will ... A: Terry, It depend on the size of your new truss, and its supporting columns in the new or existing ... | |
| foundation for extension | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I'm planning an 18' x 18' extension to the kitchen of our old farmhouse here in Eastern Canada. Can ... A: Tony, You can use piers, a vented crawlspace, or a heated crawlspace. Current building science ... | |
| addition | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: We are thinking about adding a family room to the side of our existing house. A room 14' wide x 22' ... A: Phil, You will need a set of permit drawings to obtain your building permit. The extent of these, ... | |
| French door in (supporting) concrete basement wall | 11/25/2007 |
| Q: I would like to put french 60'' opening french doors in my basement but I am not sure how I can be ... A: Geoff, Thanks for the diagram. You have a couple of options, but before proceeding I recommend ... | |
| Space | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: First off, let me tell you that I know very little about framing. I am going to frame my basement ... A: Robert, Yes, there are code required clearances. The 2006 International Building Code is in effect ... | |
| split entry home | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: I have a split entry home which has been remodeled, however the entry really bothers me. The ... A: Evelyn, Split entry homes are efficient in some ways, but I agree that entering on a stair landing ... | |
| stair landing clearance door | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: We are installing a new interior staircase. As planned, the stairs would terminate at a door ... A: Dody, The IBC requires 36" width at all points above the handrail. Most US codes adopt this code ... | |
| stair landing clearance door | 11/11/2007 |
| Q: We are installing a new interior staircase. As planned, the stairs would terminate at a door ... A: The International Residential Code (2006), the most commonly-used code in the US, states: "A floor ... | |
| Foundation for cabin on MN/Canada border | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: We are planning to build a 16x20 cabin in northern MN (Gunflint Trail area). The area has a lot of ... A: Teresa, You are building is a beautiful area - my family spends time each summer on the Gunflint ... | |
| Home Addition | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: We are looking into adding onto the backup of our two story concrete block (vinyl sided) home. The ... A: Jack, Wood frame construction and concrete block are routinely used together, and can be joined ... | |
| Bathroom in unheated cabin | 10/28/2007 |
| Q: we're planning on improving a very small bathroom at a guest cabin in northern Wisconsin, enlarging ... A: Charlie, Wood paneling is a common choice in unheated cabins because it can expand and contract ... | |
| slab vrs foundation with footing | 10/27/2007 |
| Q: My buddy wants his old detached garage torn down and a 2 car garage built in its place. He also ... A: Mike, The reason his current slab needs to be replaced is probably that it was built without ... | |
| walk in closet addition | 10/21/2007 |
| Q: Ted I'm looking to add a wlakin closet to my master on a pre-existing slab outside. there's a shed ... A: First, you need to insure that your slab has footings to frost. Otherwise, you may have soil ... | |
| Extension - Who to start with | 10/19/2007 |
| Q: I am planning to add on to my house and I'm not sure if I need to contact a "designer", an ... A: Jason, There are many ways to go about it, depending on your needs and budget. Not only is your ... | |
| building a free-standing deck | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: I am working on a 8' X 6' deck that will be free-standing, but I am worried that it will wobble or ... A: You have a legitimate concern. A frame such as the deck you are describing will certainly ... | |
| structure | 9/28/2007 |
| Q: how to invert a beam (header) on a load bearing wall? The header is 8 ft and we want to open to 12 ... A: What you are describing is beyond most do-it-yourselfers. You'll need to properly size and install ... | |
| old drywall | 9/21/2007 |
| Q: I just bought my first home witch was built in 1923 I am trying to redecorate but ran in to some ... A: You are talking about plaster walls and ceilings. They are great at deadening sound and are, of ... | |
| Driveway and garage | 9/20/2007 |
| Q: I live in Baltimore Maryland. I want to add an attached garage to my home. The first floor of my ... A: You have some creative contractors to choose from! I would be very wary of structural schemes by ... | |
| Tankless Water Heaters | 9/11/2007 |
| Q: I am interested in installing a whole-house electric tankless water heater (such as a Stiebel Eltron ... A: I love tankless water heaters, though of course freeze protection varies by the unit. Some are even ... | |
| retro post & beam | 9/7/2007 |
| Q: I am retro post & beaming our home to give us an upstairs bedroom. My post & beams are 8x8, I am ... A: I would generally suggest running your structural scheme by an engineer before proceeding. Not only ... | |
| insulating crawl space w/ cinder block foundation | 9/6/2007 |
| Q: My vacation house in Northern NH has a crawl space about 4 feet high with a dirt floor. The ... A: Before filling the holes, be sure that you have fully prevented soil gases from entering the ... | |
| Working with (auguring through) aggregate | 8/20/2007 |
| Q: I am going to build a deck to my new modular home. One spot requires me to drop a Sono Tube to a ... A: That is a lot of aggregate. What is it for? If it is backfill adjacent to a foundation, why not ... | |
| addition to a mobile home | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: I live in a 16x80 trailer and I am wanting to add a room to the back. the room I would like would be ... A: There are many variables to consider. Will there be plumbing? What type of foundation, finishes, ... | |
| basement painting | 8/18/2007 |
| Q: I was going to paint my basement and try to clean it up. I currently have insulation in the ... A: Painting your basement ceiling white is a totally acceptable thing to do. It is common to use a ... | |
| mounting to plaster ceiling | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: I am needing to mount a ceiling curtain track to use as a room divider in my kids' room that they ... A: You can use a stud-finder, probably on "deep" setting, to try and locate joists. If they are ... | |
| renovation dilemma | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: We purchased a 150 cape cod with a .35 acre lot and were looking to build an addition recently it ... A: It sounds like you are approaching this reasonably, asking multiple experts for opinions and bids. ... | |
| removing wall | 7/30/2007 |
| Q: I have a wall that I would like to remove between my kitchen and what I am going to make my formal ... A: This is a big job for a do-it-yourselfer. A properly sized header or beam will need to be ... | |
| Home Addition | 7/29/2007 |
| Q: I would like to add an addition to my home but my options are limited, due to space to road in front ... A: The existing walls and foundation must be adequate to support the increased loads from a second ... | |
| lifting garage on two side to redo blockwork | 7/28/2007 |
| Q: I have an attached garage 24'x30' built with common trusses. My outside wall had concrete poured ... A: Temporary shoring is case-by-case, depending on many factors. Generally, trusses are designed to ... | |
| Supporting a post between two floor joists | 7/27/2007 |
| Q: Mr Barnhill, I'm planning on replacing part of a load bearing wall with a pass-through opening ... A: Your proposed solution sounds like an improvement over the existing (probably inadequate) structure. ... | |
| Supporting a post between two floor joists | 7/27/2007 |
| Q: Mr Barnhill, I'm planning on replacing part of a load bearing wall with a pass-through opening ... A: Is the wall really load-bearing? A load-bearing wall should rest on a beam, foundation or another ... | |
| Installing a window | 7/26/2007 |
| Q: Ted, I am installing a window in a block wall. I noticed that you recommended 6"x6"x3/16" metal for ... A: It depends on several factors. Here is a reference to get you started doing the calculation: ... | |
| building a cabin | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: I,M PLANING TO BUILD AT TOK ALASKA,IT'S COLD THERE. WAT I HAVE TO LOOK AT IS THE WEATHER FACTOR . IM ... A: I don't quite understand your question, but some comments: - It sounds as if you are not putting ... | |
| CONCRETE | 7/16/2007 |
| Q: My home in baltimore, md had concrete stairs put outside the front door (4 steps)last year. Is there ... A: Concrete often forms hairline cracks over time as it cures. This is normal, and once the concrete ... | |
| Removing a Jalousie Window | 7/2/2007 |
| Q: I have a Jalousie window in a steel frame. The exterior wall is Block w/stucco. And the wall has ... A: That's an "I'd have to see it" type question. Are you hoping to replace it with another window? ... | |
| Sound reducing panel | 6/16/2007 |
| Q: Our neighbors air conditioner is right outside our bedroom window. It runs all day whether it is hot ... A: That sounds like a frustrating problem. I'm not an acoustician, but I have some experience here. ... | |
| how to tell a load-bearing wall | 6/6/2007 |
| Q: I have a split-level home, and would like to remove the interior wall between the kitchen and dining ... A: From your description, I gather that you are able to go into the attic and see the entire ceiling ... | |
| House Building Project | 5/30/2007 |
| Q: How much would it cost to sheetrock a garage that is 23' x 22' and has a 10' ceiling?I have to ... A: You should get a few bids. In my area the cost is $40 and up per board of sheetrock, including ... | |
| Removal of a telepost. | 5/29/2007 |
| Q: I have an open concept home, but in the unfinished basement there is a support telepost that goes ... A: It may be possible to "sister" another beam to your existing beam to accommodate the loads in your ... | |
Building Homes or Extensions
Answers by Expert:
Ted Barnhill (Principal, Design45 LLC)
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions about architectural design, how to work with a designer, and best construction practices for most trades. I specialize in cold-climate design (I'm in Minnesota), older home renovation, and energy-efficient/sustainable design.
Experience
As a Principal of Design45, I design and detail new homes and remodels. I am formally trained in architecture, but have also been a contractor and have experience with many trades. I strive to provide beautiful, durable, and efficient homes for clients and communities of all types and budgets.
Education/Credentials
Undergraduate work at Princeton University (Mathematics), Master's work at the University of Minnesota (Architecture)
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