| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| 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: ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
|
