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Building Homes or Extensions/Questions Answered by Expert Dan Griffin
| Subject | Date Asked |
| The studded wall being connected with the foundation wall | 2/8/2012 |
| Q: Is it better, when building a house, to put the studded wall flush with the foundation wall or ... A: Brandon, this is one that I've seen done both ways. If you let the OSB hang down past the bottom of ... | |
| elevated concrete deck | 1/23/2012 |
| Q: I have a project of building a 33" X 33" elevated concrete deck, 4" thick. 10" I Beam running north ... A: Steve, the 2 1/2" is typical. Yes, I would put fiber mesh in the mix. If you are planning to ... | |
| missing lally column | 1/22/2012 |
| Q: I recently bought a 1960 cape home and noticed that a lally column was removed from the basement. ... A: David, there are several manufacturers of these columns. Lally is a great one - you can't buy one ... | |
| removing brick bearing wall | 1/18/2012 |
| Q: Dan- I have a 115 yr old Victorian 2 and half story home, original structure 2 course brick (about ... A: Jeff, quite a challenge. I am not a structural engineer and this is one time that I really feel one ... | |
| elevated concrete deck | 1/17/2012 |
| Q: I have a project of building a 33" X 33" elevated concrete deck, 4" thick. 10" I Beam running north ... A: Steve, You indicate purlins on 4 inch centers. I suspect you mean 4 feet. You mention welded ... | |
| Advice for an apt over a garage? | 1/14/2012 |
| Q: I'm building a 2-car garage (24 x 24) and I'd like to turn the upper level into a studio apartment. ... A: Curt, having a room, often a bed room, over a garage is very common. There are usually not any ... | |
| Protecting concrete stair treads during construction | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: I'm currently working on a construction project where there are quite a few interior metal stairs ... A: Simon, a common problem during construction. If the pan stairs are open at the risers, you can use ... | |
| Best place for treadmill | 1/10/2012 |
| Q: I have read every answer you have given on this. I figure I am safe to place the treadmill on the ... A: Rose, you are well withing safe limits of floor loading. Put the treadmill where it works the best ... | |
| Installing receptacles in Hardiplank siding | 12/29/2011 |
| Q: I'm a "regular" builder for Habitat and would like to clean up the look our our exterior lights and ... A: Keith, you're getting a pretty clean install. I started to suggest a raised block (Azek comes to ... | |
| Installing receptacles in Hardiplank siding | 12/26/2011 |
| Q: I'm a "regular" builder for Habitat and would like to clean up the look our our exterior lights and ... A: Keith, it sounds as if someone has worked out a fairly good way to position the box to allow the ... | |
| Flooring & Wall decoration | 12/20/2011 |
| Q: Flooring & Wall decoration Hi, currently my jeweler shop construction is goin on, now the time for ... A: Kedar, I learned long ago NOT to have anything to do with colors. I have very strong opinions and I ... | |
| Creaking noise in ceiling when windy | 12/16/2011 |
| Q: We recently moved into a 2 story home and every time it is really windy outside I hear a noise that ... A: Sonia, I hate mystery noises. Sometimes just knowing what it is can make it all right, it is the ... | |
| adding a second floor | 12/2/2011 |
| Q: I live in Indiana and I am in the near future planning on adding a second floor to our cement slab ... A: Dolly, I can't imagine why anyone would have told you that it cannot be done. You will need to ... | |
| How safe is a floor? | 11/15/2011 |
| Q: I just bought a house (2,800 sf), built in 2001, in Fort Worth, TX. I have a massive library of ... A: Richard, you are quite right to be concerned. Code always used to require 40#/SF capacity, but ... | |
| Pot rack | 11/10/2011 |
| Q: Correcting the weight involved: I want to hang a 36" pot rack from my kitchen ceiling to hold about ... A: Ron, I think the 1/4" toggles will be adequate. As you say, finding joists would be ideal, but ... | |
| knocking down an exterior wall | 11/8/2011 |
| Q: I have a "lean-to" great room that was just built onto the side of my home. The great room is 6 ... A: Jordan, YOu will need to create a header that can carry the loads above the opening. This will ... | |
| master batth new | 11/7/2011 |
| Q: I want to add a master bath on to the master bedroom the bedroom is 13'6"x 26 I plan to go out to ... A: Jonelle, This sounds like a great project. The heated floors are a great idea for a ceramic floor. ... | |
| condo balcony | 10/29/2011 |
| Q: I live on the 2nd floor of a condominium that has an outdoor balcony. I would like to refinish the ... A: P, you make it kind of rough to answer unless I truly know what the balcony is. If the primary ... | |
| Basement beam | 10/20/2011 |
| Q: I recently purchased a wood framed ranch with a full below grade basement in the Syracuse, New York ... A: Ed, I'm sorry I am not a structural engineer. I am fairly sure that welding a side plate on each ... | |
| Machine foundation | 10/7/2011 |
| Q: Dan, I need to pour a 18" x 10' x 42' pad for a machine. Total weight of machine is 44,000 lbs. What ... A: Chris, I had two of these things to pour back when. They were designed by the Japanese company that ... | |
| Slow response | 10/4/2011 |
| Q: I am in the middle of purchasing a home. It is a new build. I have signed papers and have given them ... A: Andrew, I wish I had a really good answer to give you. Is this builder in the same city as you? I ... | |
| Home addition-basement addition | 10/4/2011 |
| Q: I'm considering an addition to the back of my Colonial Style home. On the main level the addition ... A: Lindsey, virtually anything is possible if you have enough money. The best approach in my opinion ... | |
| Underpinning | 10/3/2011 |
| Q: I'm planning a small (8' out, 14' wide) one storey addition to my kitchen with full basement. The ... A: Dave, It is possible and safe to dig out under an existing footing to create a bearing pad. This ... | |
| Stairs and Upstairs Floor | 9/16/2011 |
| Q: My husband and I are considering buying a 75 year old house that we have looked at. It seems to be ... A: Jo, if the slope was noticeable to you, it would make me want to discover why. There are many ... | |
| Angle iron | 9/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a garage door that is 18' wide with expansion joints running the entire way up each side. How ... A: Brady, I apologize but I do not feel qualified to size this. The height of brickwork is not ... | |
| Block and beam to pier and beam | 9/14/2011 |
| Q: We have a 1910 farmhouse that was moved to our land over ten years ago. It had a block and beam ... A: Nancy, I'm not sure I understand all your question and issues. I assume that the house is situated ... | |
| heating for walk in closet | 9/12/2011 |
| Q: We are an all electric household currently in the midst of a master bedroom remodel which includes a ... A: Melissa, there are two that I would consider. Electric grid under ceramic or other floor tile. ... | |
| Building Code: Venting | 9/5/2011 |
| Q: Can the venting in a condo development (i.e. bathroom venting, range hoods, HVAC) be interconnected ... A: Scott, it would be quite unusual to have common venting even on one unit. This is done on ... | |
| Raising a mobile home | 8/10/2011 |
| Q: I'm flirting with ways to add an apartment for my aging mother. We have a triple wide mobile home. ... A: Karil, this would be possible, but not the approach I would use. If there is any way to contemplate ... | |
| Hot tub support | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: I am building a free standing (next to an existing deck) support for a 7' x 7' hot tub, about ... A: Nick, you are talking about supporting over 100#/SF. This will require some serious framing. You ... | |
| Maple Steps | 8/5/2011 |
| Q: If I install a maple hardwood floor and have steps up to it should the steps be maple also or oak ... A: If it were mine, I would go with the maple. Maple and oak will never stain or look similar. If you ... | |
| Hardwood Floors | 8/2/2011 |
| Q: What comes first cabinets or hardwood flooring in a new kitchen ? A: To prevent height problems with the dishwasher, etc I like to set the cabinets on some type of rough ... | |
| Steel Lifting beam in garage | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: All wood, 24' wide x 30' long x 10' high garage in Arvada Colorado. Built garage in August of 2010, ... A: Kevid, I'm sorry but I don't have the credentials or expertise to size such a beam. a 4000# point ... | |
| Second Storey Deck | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: I want to put a second storey deck on the back of my house. When out house was build we had the ... A: Tara, the issues have to do with getting the deck fastened to the structure of the house without ... | |
| Framing | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: I want to move my windows out to be flush with a brick wall. Can I build a non load bearing wall on ... A: Buddy, is this full height brick veneer? I am at a loss as what you are trying to accomplish. ... | |
| Pergola Sway | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: I just completed a pergola over my existing patio. It has some unexpected sway that I am trying to ... A: David, if this had a roof on it, it would be quite rigid. The loose pergola design never creates a ... | |
| Sealing a tiled roof which has been pressure washed | 7/15/2011 |
| Q: This was originally a question I asked of Bill C, who is now on holiday. The concrete tiles on my ... A: Angus, the tile served well for 30 years, but it is always a good idea to keep concrete from ... | |
| Rafter Length | 7/10/2011 |
| Q: I am planning to build a carport attached to my shop. I plan on using 16' 2 x 6's, on 2' centers, ... A: Floyd, I think you are way past the limits for a 2x6, but let's take a look at : ... | |
| concrete pool patio | 6/27/2011 |
| Q: I just had an inground pool put in. I am having the concrete patio around the pool put in next. ... A: Diane, on concrete flat work that is only a nominal 4" thick rebar does little to add to the ... | |
| Beam Spans | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: I want to put a patio roof on the back of my home. If I want to span 16 feet between posts is this ... A: Bob, you're pushing the envelope with just 2 2x12's. The plywood would certainly help if glued ... | |
| insulation | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: I might be buying a bungalow in Rockaway,NY. It needs all new windows(5). The building has no ... A: john, Sorry, I get to thinking everyone can read my mind. CMU = Concret Masonry Units = cement ... | |
| Marble Flooring | 6/22/2011 |
| Q: I have been collecting beautiful samples of an amazing crema marfil ashlar patter with chisled edges ... A: Susan, are you working with a tile contractor? Here is a quotation from a marble supply site: * ... | |
| drivets | 6/20/2011 |
| Q: How do you repair a drivet wall with holes? A: Donald, it makes a difference how large the holes are. Dryvit is a brand name for EIFS. You will ... | |
| insulation | 6/19/2011 |
| Q: I might be buying a bungalow in Rockaway,NY. It needs all new windows(5). The building has no ... A: John, I think I would still spend the time and/or money on a good foundation. Anything you do the ... | |
| insulation | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: I might be buying a bungalow in Rockaway,NY. It needs all new windows(5). The building has no ... A: John, this sounds unusual - was this a summer shack or similar? There must be some form of ... | |
| renovation | 6/17/2011 |
| Q: Good day. Finish Floor Line (FFL) needs to elevate at 1.0 meter thereby the beam line has to be ... A: Eduard, the only accurate answer is to contact a structural engineer to verify the conditions and ... | |
| Concrete slab w/footer and stem | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: I am adding a room to a garage and pouring a slab with a footer and stem wall..How do I screed up ... A: Rich, you can pour against the stem, but I would prefer using expansion to give the slab a bit of ... | |
| Deck | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: We just bought a house on sloped land that is 3/4 th's complete. The entrance is at the street level ... A: Ally, this is a fairly small deck and should be well within the abilities of careful work on a DIY ... | |
| Spots on new concrete | 5/19/2011 |
| Q: Dan, Recently, we got a new concrete in the backyard. I's been a month, we have watered it as ... A: B, the initial set on concrete takes 28 days. If you were soaking or keeping water on the slab ... | |
| LVL for 24' span support sagging roof | 5/17/2011 |
| Q: What is the best procedure to fix a sagging roof (not on ridge line, but further down roof (6 to 9 ' ... A: gigi, I am sorry, but I cannot envision the issue. Is there any way to send me a picture? If my ... | |
| LVL for 24' span support sagging roof | 5/17/2011 |
| Q: What is the best procedure to fix a sagging roof (not on ridge line, but further down roof (6 to 9 ' ... A: GiGi, you don't tell how far this condition exists nor what the existing rafters are. We should ... | |
| Maximum load for an upstairs floor | 5/15/2011 |
| Q: Sorry to trouble you. I have an open, or double-sided, bookcase, 6'x 6'x 15",dividing a large room ... A: Stead, floor loading is very subject to the weights involved. I assume that you are telling me that ... | |
| Uneven floor extension | 5/15/2011 |
| Q: The orginal lounge floor of my property is wooden and where it meets the concrete extension the ... A: Adam, you don't tell how high the mounds/humps are. There would be two different directions to ... | |
| leaning wooden shed | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: Hey, I need the help of an expert as im pretty much at the end of my thoughts about my leaning shed. ... A: Mike, I hope you have a common manual come along. Create an anchorage down low inside on the right? ... | |
| Building basement room over gravel/vapor barrier | 4/30/2011 |
| Q: I want to build a 15x18 room under my house. I have a few concerns that I would like an experts ... A: Matthew, I don't really have any experience with a wood floor in a basement space, so I am ... | |
| Existing Structure/ Live and Dead Load Limits for OSHA | 4/14/2011 |
| Q: We requested consultation from OSHA and were required to place load limit signs on two existing ... A: Paul, I'm sorry. I wrote a lengthy answer to your dilemma, no idea where it disappeared in ... | |
| site assembly | 4/14/2011 |
| Q: can u explain the site assembly on construction side? and productivty cycle? ANSWER: Zeeshan, ... A: Zeeshan, I don't know how to answer this one. Everything on a construction site is site assembled. ... | |
| re: basement reno | 4/8/2011 |
| Q: I have a couple of questions about our basement. We would like to renovate the basement (which is ... A: Tracy, I would NOT finish a basement that had any signs of water infiltration. YOu need to spend ... | |
| masonry, stucco | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: I am involved in a prelim design of a 40x60 cement block building in Texas. The question is, can we ... A: Terry, this would be as common as apple pie. In fact, my dad lives in a retirement area in Florida ... | |
| room | 3/25/2011 |
| Q: I want to build a 3 room second floor to my one floor house. How much does it costs to hire a ... A: Henry, there is no way to answer your quiestion as there are far too many variables. Just for a ... | |
| How to frame an uneven wall | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: How do I frame a wall that is 72 inches tall at one end and 104 inches tall at the other end? A: John,there would be several choices. I'm not sure, but I am guessing you are adding a wall in an ... | |
| wood subfloor | 3/17/2011 |
| Q: Are there often differences in the final sub-floor for piling houses? We are building a house on ... A: Lisa, I can't think of any reason for the floor to be unlevel because of it being on pilings. I ... | |
| Waterseal | 3/10/2011 |
| Q: I have several gallons of Johnsons Water Seal and I need to cover existing picnic benches. They ... A: William, I suspect you have Thompson's Water Seal. Thompson's makes tinted sealers. Go here for ... | |
| trusses | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: can i use 2x8x20 at 16 inch centers 20 foot span with 1/2 inch plywood on top for roof of patio A: JOhn, here is an easy to use span table: ... | |
| expanding a concrete slab | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: I want to see about expanding a concrete garage slab without footings. I live in Minnesota. The ... A: Bill, if this is subject to inspection, probably not - I suspect it will require a full perimeter ... | |
| Rigid Foam Under Drywall? | 3/8/2011 |
| Q: I am remodeling a room, gutting the interior. The walls are 2x4 and the attic is shallow due to a ... A: The foam should work well. Creating a substantial vapor barrier on the inside works best in a ... | |
| Sistering Ceiling Joists | 3/8/2011 |
| Q: I have a lot of broken ceiling joists directly above a knee wall in the attic. The Ceiling joists ... A: Sonia, not quite sure I understand the dilemma. A knee wall implies that the joists (?) in question ... | |
| Roof slab in Typhoon... | 3/7/2011 |
| Q: Hey, hope you can help. I'm an expat living in the Philippines and I left my roof pour to the ... A: Rice, I really hate it when these things happen. I've gambled on weather a few times, but it sounds ... | |
| enlarging a slab foundation | 3/6/2011 |
| Q: I am thinking of purchasing a property in upstate New York with a single-wide mobile home on a slab ... A: Aaron, we need to get some common language between us. A foundation is a reinforced concrete ... | |
| 1700 lbs of tile on 2nd floor mstr bath | 3/6/2011 |
| Q: Remodeling mstr bath on 2nd floor of 2-story built 1975. Large shower,and new floor consists of 1700 ... A: Sam, the weight isn't bad. 1700/90SF is about 20 lbs/SF. The floor was probably designed for 40 ... | |
| shed into woodshop | 3/5/2011 |
| Q: I have a metal storage shed about 400 sf, all metal construction. The roof is metal battens, ... A: Walt, the rigid foam with OSB (probably 7/16) would help a bunch. It would be good to create a ... | |
| gap between siding wall and concrete | 3/1/2011 |
| Q: I have concrete attached to my house wall (siding).patio lengh is about 30 ft. The gap (space) ... A: David, I'm not sure I am following your question. here is my guess about what you have: You have a ... | |
| Lighting rods | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: Dan, We are designing our new home which will be at 4200' in an open mtn range in SE Arizona.Would ... A: Len, I don't know of anyone in my vicinity using lighting rods. I know they were quite popular in ... | |
| Our Septic Tank | 2/19/2011 |
| Q: I was researching some information on our mound system, built five years ago, since our pump just ... A: Cindy, Conventional septic systems do not use a pump. They gravity flow from the house to the ... | |
| subfloor foundation detail | 2/19/2011 |
| Q: using 2x10 floor joist ,so your subfloor is flush with the top of foundation wall ,is there a ... A: Malcolm, It would be normal to have "j" bolts coming out of the top of the stem wall. These bolts ... | |
| foundation or crawl space | 2/17/2011 |
| Q: we are looking modulars right now to put on a lot we own. We are trying to decide between a ... A: Barbara, I think we aren't using the same terms. A crawl space is created by installing a ... | |
| Heating | 2/13/2011 |
| Q: Dan I would think you have delt with or seen pole barn insulating,so maybe you can give me some ... A: Jerry, you could use either gyp board or Homosote. Gyp board will require tape and bed work to look ... | |
| Heating | 2/10/2011 |
| Q: Dan I would think you have delt with or seen pole barn insulating,so maybe you can give me some ... A: Jerry, I'm not sure what the white roll out material is. Many metal buildings use a fiberglass ... | |
| Basement Entry Stairs | 2/4/2011 |
| Q: I want to add a new, exterior entry to my full basement in an existing home. The entry will come in ... A: Samuel,yes there are several large steps involved with this one. Step one in my opinion is planning ... | |
| Building my own house | 2/3/2011 |
| Q: I am looking to build a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house in England, UK. I would like to know a rough ... A: Rossanna, I cannot answer your question. I am US based, so any UK information is beyon my ... | |
| wall cladding | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: i was told that pvc can be used as a fire proof wall cladding material but when i subjected it to ... A: temple, I do not know what you are attempting. All materials have a fire rating and a smoke/flame ... | |
| Add Load-Bearing Beam On Top of Retaining Wall for Patio Enclosure/Conservatory | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: Griffin, We have a 2 tier stone and mortar retaining wall that extends 23 feet from the house. 25 ... A: Terri, sounds like a great plan. I agree that the planter is NOT structural on its own. I assume ... | |
| Plumbing | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: Is there any problem with connecting a new toilet flange to a drain line with a sani-tee placed ... A: Robert, I am not a plumber. I will ask my plumber tomorrow for an answer. It seems to me I ... | |
| location of pendant lights and chandelier | 1/8/2011 |
| Q: I am building a home in Alberta and it's almost complete now. In the kitchen area builder has hung ... A: Hammad, I always hate it when customers are unhappy. This is a new home. There should be a ... | |
| attic conversion | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: Dan, I have a 2100 sqft home built in 2000. It's post tension slab, brick, hip and ridge roof. ... A: Dixon, There are many span tables available, they all require knowing what the lumber truly is as to ... | |
| Remodeling | 1/1/2011 |
| Q: We are in need of a 4th bedroom in our home and we are looking for the most econmical way to make ... A: Theresa, this will be difficult without being able to see the situation. It sounds like you are in ... | |
| putting a game table in a room upstairs | 12/26/2010 |
| Q: We want to make sure that is it safe to put a game table upstairs in one of the rooms .. we are ... A: Albert, you've really not given enough information. Lets assume for a moment that the table is 4' ... | |
| Remodel windows from CMU house | 12/21/2010 |
| Q: I bought an old single story house that made out of Concrete block cmu. I started to replaced the ... A: Bryan, the big chore is to have a plan as once you remove the old window, you must be prepared to ... | |
| building raised floor over concret slab | 12/17/2010 |
| Q: How can the moisture be controlled between the concrete floor and raised floor? The concern is mold ... A: Bernadette, I guess I would need more information to answer the question. Slabs on grade that will ... | |
| Slab over Basement | 12/16/2010 |
| Q: i want to build a small 500 sq ft cabin over a 2000 sq ft slab over basement. How do i estimate a ... A: Kathy, I'm confused. Sounds like an underground bunker with a little cabin on top. What are you ... | |
| frost inside basement wall | 12/15/2010 |
| Q: My builder told me they placed a frost footer on my basement foundation. I have superior walls as ... A: Hope, I wish I could be of more help. A frost footer means that the footing has been dug and ... | |
| building in cold weather | 12/13/2010 |
| Q: we just started building the addition to our house. Excavation is done now and covered with tarp, ... A: Elena, winter adds many complications to building. I don't know how deep they did dig, but usually ... | |
| sill plate | 12/7/2010 |
| Q: would it be ok to use two beads of caulk applied between the sill plate and the slab to stop air ... A: Kevin, this can be used. It is maybe cheaper and more normal to use the thin insulation stuff made ... | |
| brick staining | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: The brick company provided Sherwin Williams water based concrete stain to match the new bricks to ... A: Sarah, staining brick has been a reasonable solution for many years. I am not aware of the color ... | |
| pocket doors | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: I would like to replace the existing sliding glass patio doors with pocket french doors. The patio ... A: Stan, sliding hardware usually has control of the door bottoms at the pocket throat. This bracket ... | |
| pocket doors | 11/25/2010 |
| Q: I would like to replace the existing sliding glass patio doors with pocket french doors. The patio ... A: Stan, I'm not sure that we are both using the same words or I am not understanding your ... | |
| Concrete garage build over | 10/30/2010 |
| Q: I hope your available to answer my questions..I am a woman not familiar with construction terms so I ... A: Stacey, you will need to find a structural engineer who can see the situation to determine a ... | |
| flagstone installing | 10/30/2010 |
| Q: I am putting up a knee wall with flagstone againt OBS covered with felt paper. They speak of a metal ... A: jOEL, there are two different ways to secure your stone. One method would be to plaster the wall ... | |
| flagstone installing | 10/29/2010 |
| Q: I am putting up a knee wall with flagstone againt OBS covered with felt paper. They speak of a metal ... A: jOEL, the material you are seeking is called lath. You probably want stucco lath with spacers built ... | |
| moblehome | 10/28/2010 |
| Q: HOW TO SUPPORT A MOBILEHOME ON A HILL BUT IT'S ONLY THE BACKSIDE OF THE HOME A: Kristina, you've not given me enough information to answer the question. You should consult with a ... | |
| garage door alteration | 10/15/2010 |
| Q: Griffin, I have a pole house with parking spaces / storage underneath. I will close this area all ... A: Chris, this sounds like a hard one. No matter what you do, it will be a visible compromise. You've ... | |
| Concrete | 10/8/2010 |
| Q: I am building a sunroom and want to have a concrete (stained) floor. The sunroom is raised (6 Feet) ... A: Darrell, I'm not much of a believer in thin section concrete. It is crucial that the framing and ... | |
| Bathroom window | 10/6/2010 |
| Q: My bathroom has a double hung window in the shower area. What a pain! Anyways, we are looking to ... A: Tammy, I am not aware of any special requirement for the window. It might be considered as a ... | |
| 2x12 doubled for a porch | 9/29/2010 |
| Q: i had a contractor do a porch and roof just a few months ago . the building inspector approved the ... A: Dave, now is time for all the standard disclaimers about consulting and working with a structural ... | |
| Enlarge casement window in block wall | 9/25/2010 |
| Q: I am an artist and writer with no experience at all doing home improvements. I am attempting a ... A: Kathryn, windows and doors need headers to carry the loads that are above them. In wood framing ... | |
| cealing/upper floor remodel | 8/28/2010 |
| Q: I am in the process of replacing 2x4 joist with 2x8 joist.The room is 15ft wide X 22ft long.I am ... A: Glen, I am mildly uncomfortable with the lag bolt install to carry the entire load. It would be so ... | |
| Problems with wood floor in pier and beam house | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: Iown a fifty plus year old pier and beam home in Texas. This summer has been very wet and humid, I ... A: Jamie, you seem to have quite a problem. If the hardwood floor is humping up, this is a sign of ... | |
| limestone steps | 8/6/2010 |
| Q: I have limestone steps in front of my home. One step is badly cracked due to using an ice pick to ... A: I don't have much experience with color change in limestone. It is normally purchased at the same ... | |
| underlayment for travertine tile | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: I am doing my first tile project. I removed the old material down to the subfloor. I have read that ... A: John, using the floorstone between the subfloor layers is fine. I would either glue the top layer ... | |
| Deck Foundation if Future addition may be added | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: I live in Eastern Pennsylvania and will be adding a deck connected to the back of our house that is ... A: Chris, 4 seasons up in your area says mighty cold in the winter and really hot in the summer. You ... | |
| Deck Foundation if Future addition may be added | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: I live in Eastern Pennsylvania and will be adding a deck connected to the back of our house that is ... A: Chris, when you go to occupy the space in the future, code will require a full footing. An ... | |
| fire proof door | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: what fire proof rating metal door do I need for my attic door from my garage. the door is three by ... A: Robert, There is a code requirement for a one hour rating between a garage and living space. This ... | |
| ceramic tile weight load on floors | 7/20/2010 |
| Q: can you tell me a rule of thumb calculating if I'm putting to much tile in a room? A: ty, I'm not sure what you are asking. If you are asking about storing or stocking tile in a room: I ... | |
| ledger board attachment | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: I read the article that was posted in 2008 regarding attachment of ledger board to EIFS siding for a ... A: Carol, there have been many EIFS failures. EIFS is extremely water proof and moisture that is ... | |
| replacing fascia | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: I have to replace wood fascia at the gable on a two story building I would like to do it in vinyl so ... A: Claire, I am not aware of many people using plastic or vinyl cap trim. It is quite normal to use ... | |
| Interior Painting | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: What is the difference between oil-bound distemper & emulsion? Which one is better, cost-effective & ... A: Pradeep, you are using terms with which I am not familiar. I can only speak to what is available in ... | |
| ledger board attachment | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: I read the article that was posted in 2008 regarding attachment of ledger board to EIFS siding for a ... A: Carol, the answer stays exactly the same as far as attaching the ledger. The very best way to do ... | |
| ledger board attachment | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: I read the article that was posted in 2008 regarding attachment of ledger board to EIFS siding for a ... A: Carol, ledger board attachment for decks is a major concern. There have been some serious deck ... | |
| basement or pillars? | 7/3/2010 |
| Q: First let me say, thank you for devoting your time and efforts to this wonderful website. Now, I am ... A: Angie, I think you are planning a full basement under a mobile home. You will want to build the ... | |
| Concrete slab roof, 2-way design | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I'm building a root cellar and was looking for advice on design of a cast-in-place, steel reinforced ... A: Brian, I am NOT a structural engineer. I think the slab needs to be thicker. I would probably go ... | |
| Shed Flooring | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I'm building a outdoor shed on cement piers 6 inchs off the ground. I get some water run off that ... A: Bob, does the water stand under the building or does it run through? The best solution would be to ... | |
| garage extension | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: Is it possible to add 2 ft onto and existing garage? I recently purchased a new vehicle and not ... A: Tina, certainly a garage can be made bigger, it is just that some things cost more than some other ... | |
| placement of a flat/studio | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: We are having a 28x12 studio/flat built with a 6x12 bathroom inside one end. When done it will be ... A: Terry, there will be so many "well for a few bucks more, we could do this>>>>" type issues in any ... | |
| placement of a flat/studio | 6/10/2010 |
| Q: We are having a 28x12 studio/flat built with a 6x12 bathroom inside one end. When done it will be ... A: Terry, if this is truly a leach field, it should have a waterproof membrane that prevents any and ... | |
| Building on??? | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: I don't know if it would be smarter to build on to our house or just sell it and move. I like the ... A: Jenni, your best advice will come from a local realtor. If you overbuild the neighborhood in which ... | |
| Joint Compound on Plywood | 5/27/2010 |
| Q: Is there any difference using joint compound or wood filler between two pieces of plywood forming a ... A: Shelley, drywall comes in sheets much like plywood. It is made of gypsum covered with paper and is ... | |
| tension in a chainsaw chain | 5/25/2010 |
| Q: Can you tell me how to find out how much tension a chainsaw chain will take before breaking. That is ... A: Hendrick, I don't know where this one is headed. There are sure a lot of variables, Here's one ... | |
| Joint Compound on Plywood | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: Is there any difference using joint compound or wood filler between two pieces of plywood forming a ... A: Shelley , I already gave you the best answer that I can. What you are doing is NOT normal. It ... | |
| Fascia Board | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: I have some rot in my fascia boards. Some area are small and I might be able to repair with Durham's ... A: Danny, the best answer would be to take a piece of the existing fascia to the lumber yard. Fascia ... | |
| Joint Compound on Plywood | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: Is there any difference using joint compound or wood filler between two pieces of plywood forming a ... A: Shelley, I've not ever used it with joint compound to tape joints between plywood sheets. We shot ... | |
| room addition built on wood | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: We recently purchased an older home which has a 12X12 room which was added on by previous owner. We ... A: Lisa, I would need a lot more information to answer this well. Wood framed floors are quite ... | |
| writer needs help with structure disaster | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: I'm in the middle of writing a crime novel and got stuck. I read lots of stuff online on various ... A: Jack, I sent you a huge long second aswer. It doesn't show up, so I suppose you did not receive and ... | |
| writer needs help with structure disaster | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: I'm in the middle of writing a crime novel and got stuck. I read lots of stuff online on various ... A: Jack, I'm not laughing and I appreciate your desire to sound plausible. I would point out that ... | |
| Live & dead Load calculation | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I plan on building a garage this summer. The dimensions are 26 feet by 26 feet. It will be on a ... A: Rich, live load is the human/furniture/fish tank/vehicle load that will be imposed on the structure. ... | |
| Exhaust Vent | 4/29/2010 |
| Q: I have two baths equipped with exhaust vents going out a tile roof. I want to add a vent for my ... A: Glen, I'm not aware of any code restrictions that would prevent combining vent stacks. I do suggest ... | |
| raising foor on patio to meet inside of house floor. | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: My question is pretty much like Bud's, where as I have a cover cement patio (14 deepX18 wide)that I ... A: Deb, as a 60 plus year old, you don't want a step(s) down. The actual cost will be subject to ... | |
| raising foor on patio to meet inside of house floor. | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: My question is pretty much like Bud's, where as I have a cover cement patio (14 deepX18 wide)that I ... A: Deb, there are so many issues. If this is going to become part of the house it will require a ... | |
| Removing a cemented basketball pole | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: I've searched and I'm sorry if this isn't quite your area of expertise... My mother-in-law has a ... A: Cara, I assume you just want to get the pole down to ground level and not remove the concrete and ... | |
| concreat foundation | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: (my son wrote you but out of town?) We are having a temo sunroom built 27x14.9 feet/and foundation ... A: Terry, you can ask to see or have a copy of the ticket to show what was ordered. The truck usually ... | |
| concreat foundation | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: (my son wrote you but out of town?) We are having a temo sunroom built 27x14.9 feet/and foundation ... A: Terry, the joint pattern sounds great to me. Now the choices - you can have the joint tooled with a ... | |
| post & beam built on mobile home foundation | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: We want to build a small post and beam using the foundation (probably from 1950's) of a mobile home. ... A: Cat, I don't know if the foundation that you have now is adequate for new construction. the only ... | |
| sand coming into basement | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: Dan, I'm re-tiling my laundry room floor. My house is a split-entry built in 1972 in Ramsey, ... A: Joe, these things are miserable. The problem can be from so many different things. The sand is ... | |
| ceiling joist | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a 21 foot span in my addition and I was going to use 2x8 for the span im wanting to use the ... A: Wes, this is a great calculator that lets you change lumber type and grade, loads, and spans: ... | |
| Enclose and incorporate the patio in the kitchen | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: We are remodeling the kitchen and want to extend it to incorporate the existing covered patio. That ... A: Dana, this idea is probably NOT going to work out. You don't tell whether you are located where a ... | |
| girder lenght and load | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: I'm building a shed 18x18. Want to add 2nd floor to store more "junk". would use 3/4 T&G flooring. ... A: Kurt, I think you will like the 2x12 joists better to avoid the loss of height caused by the ... | |
| calculating live/dead load for bath | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a project for my unheated summer home in upstste NY, and I was wondering if it is feasible. I ... A: ron, a lath product would probably be better, they make a plastic lath. I'm going to suggest ... | |
| calculating live/dead load for bath | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a project for my unheated summer home in upstste NY, and I was wondering if it is feasible. I ... A: Ron, that's a lot of load. 126SF. Concrete needs to be 2" thick minimum, so 21 cubic feet of ... | |
| water flowing through hole in cement floor | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: I don't know if you can help w/ this. If you can't perhaps you could steer me in the right ... A: Steve, I think my prime concern would have to be where the hole/pipe was going. You might be able ... | |
| Reinforcement of columns | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: Respected Sir, I want to know that whether it is encouraged to tie up reinforcement of concrete ... A: Haider, I am not a structural engineer. I am not aware of any reasons for non continuous steel ... | |
| Tie in patio cover to existing roof | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: I want to build a patio cover that is 10'x24'. Struggling to determine if I should do a slant off ... A: Tim, let's solve the easy part first. To discover the existing pitch - I like to use a 4 foot ... | |
| walkout basement door | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: I have a question in my underground basement which i want changed into a walkout door. I know it ... A: therese, I don't know that any contractor could limit their scope of work to just this type work. ... | |
| suspended concrete slab | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: Our house was built in 1976 and has a two car garage. The house is built above one parking bay of ... A: Sam, sorry it's taken so long to answer. It sounds to me as if the stone covered patio portion is ... | |
| Concrete cracking | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I have a split level home with concrete stairs from my driveway to front door. This is a new home ... A: Johanna, there are several roots and causes of concrete cracking and uneven settlement. I suspect ... | |
| Roof joyce angles | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: I'm building a sun deck off the side of my cottage with the header lagged to the wall studs of the ... A: Scott, it is very hard to follow your question. A few basic terms a deck is usually something you ... | |
| concreat PSI | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: We are having a SUNROOM built from ground up off back of our house- will be aprox 390sf (15x26). ... A: Bob, concrete should never be more than 12: in any direction without a contraction or construction ... | |
| concreat PSI | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: We are having a SUNROOM built from ground up off back of our house- will be aprox 390sf (15x26). ... A: Bob, I would use 3000 or 3500 pound concrete. I would expect that the finisher does not want air ... | |
| Building Apartment Garage | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: We are considering building a 2-story apartment garage, and I didn't know what utilities could be ... A: Tim, all of these will require a professional's opinion that can see the existing systems. The ... | |
| microlam for garage door opening | 3/6/2010 |
| Q: i am extending my one car garage to a two car. im in suffolk county ny. what size microlam will be ... A: Each supplier/manufactureer has slightly different span capabilities for man made beams. Contact ... | |
| finding a contractor | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: I need a concrete contractor in the southern California (south LA county, north Orange county) area ... A: Nancy, contact the local concrete plant and ask for their outside salesman. He shoud be able to set ... | |
| False Gable Dormers | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: We are getting our roof replaced and at the same time, my wife wanted to get 2 false dormers ... A: Kelly, I imagine she has visions of several small gable dormers. You have a fairly low pitched ... | |
| floor joist | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: We are building a single story log home. The rim joists are 3(2x10x16). Floor joist spacing is 16 ... A: The only reasons I can think of for estra joists would be known concentrated loads or using a ... | |
| floor joist | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: We are building a single story log home. The rim joists are 3(2x10x16). Floor joist spacing is 16 ... A: Dan,This sounds a bit unusual unless he has a specific reason. A standard span table here: ... | |
| pergula | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: im building a 20x60 pergola, how far apart should i set the 6x6 post A: Shawn, too many variables. The horizontal beam on top of the posts will determine the spacing of ... | |
| Cinder block wall | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: We have a cinder block wall that separates our property from the neighbors property. For the last 20 ... A: Jeff, the answer is to get the wall dried out and coat the wall with something that keeps the water ... | |
| Recessed Lighting Clearance | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: Do you know if there are any clearance requirements for recessed lighting cans? We're rehabbing an ... A: Amy, sorry to take so long but I have been totally immersed in Singing Valentines - my favorite ... | |
| layouts | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: Good day. I would just really want to know how do you do the setting out of a building before you ... A: Mario, this is often set out on blueprint before starting. The major issues are height and ... | |
| floors | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: what wrong with a floor when the ceiling shakes down stairs when u walk up stairs . you can see the ... A: Niva, it sounds like your joists are inadequate for the loads imposed. This is a bit unusual, as ... | |
| Sealing concrete or mortar | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: I am told that by adding salt to your mortar mix you can make it waterproof. Is this true, and if so ... A: Howard, I would be very worried to advise doing anything like that. I have had masons add ... | |
| carport conversion | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: we want to convert our 2 car garage into a master bedroom suite and it measures 24 by 24 it has ... A: Brenda, this is totally subject to the finishes you select. I would think that $50/SF would be ... | |
| RECEPTICAL BOX REMOVAL | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: Dan Hi, I have been having trouble removing an Receptacle box, the box itself. There are no nails ... A: Ken, the box had to have been fastened to a stud to pass the original code. There are many ... | |
| Support beam | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I am re-supporting my garage that currently has a 2x4 beam as the main structural support. We know ... A: 324 SF 1500# about 5#/SF live load if uniformly distributed I suppose the load is concentrated in ... | |
| suspended slab construction | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: how can a suspended slab be constructed using baked clay hollow bricks with 3/4 inches metal rods? A: Wellington, I'm a bit lost. We use a product called CMU - concrete masonry units which are a light ... | |
| Support beam | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: I am re-supporting my garage that currently has a 2x4 beam as the main structural support. We know ... A: Nick, we need a lot more data to answer the question. Are we holding up the roof of the garage with ... | |
| Plywood wind rating | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: I'm trying to get a Non-profit to change building practices in Haiti to 3/4" plywood walls instead ... A: Alan, I guess intuitively we both feel 3/4 must be stronger than 7/16. I don't understand your ... | |
| Converting a deck from wood to concrete | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: We have a suspended deck which is built in between a exterior garage wall and the end of our house. ... A: Ken, if you want to clear span the entire distance the concrete will be about 7" thick and will need ... | |
| cinder block patio | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a patio about 7'x7' and 2' high. Two continuous sides are against house (balloon frame) and ... A: Barn, I'm sorry it's taken so long to get back to you. I would not put a stone and mortar exterior ... | |
| cinder block patio | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a patio about 7'x7' and 2' high. Two continuous sides are against house (balloon frame) and ... A: Barn, I'm not seeing the problem real well. Patios are outdoors. Most patios are slabs on grade, ... | |
| buckled doors | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a set of french doors going from my kitchen out to my deck.They have 2 /2x10's as a header ... A: Tammy, it sounds like a "raised panel" door. The panels are swelling larger than the reabbets in ... | |
| Fraud? | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: This may not be in your area of expertise, but I'll give it a try. We recently had a house built, ... A: Mike, I'm sure that the paint subcontractor used the wrong paing. Fraud is an awfully strong word ... | |
| Jobsite tools, repairs, accessories | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: In the industry, are construction workers expected to supply their own tools? If a tool breaks, who ... A: David, I suppose all these answers are something that you should work out with a potential employer ... | |
| Floor support | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: I am looking to purchase a home gym that I want to put on the top(third floor). The specs for the ... A: Patrick, it sounds as if you are in good shape to proceed. The rig is about 41 pounds/SF live load. ... | |
| masonary | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: we were going to stucco the side now they want to use bricks by putting an angle iron 36' wide to ... A: Tony, this is not unheard of since the newest CABO books for residential work. There are certainly ... | |
| 6 x 6 timbers | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I am building a pole barn of sorts and using 6 x 6 treated timbers for supports. I plan to firmly ... A: Grady, it is quite common to custom cut the tops after everything is set. As you say, it is a bit ... | |
| buckled doors | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a set of french doors going from my kitchen out to my deck.They have 2 /2x10's as a header ... A: Tammy, I'm confused. Is the header buckling or are the doors buckling? If it is the doors, what ... | |
| remove a stone wall for a wood burning stove | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I am looking to buy a house that has one wall built in stone just for a wood burning stove. I do ... A: Darla, two choices: Rip it out and repair. This may be a very thin stone finish that is applied to ... | |
| SEALING BASEMENT WALLS | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Griffin, My home is 5 years old and it was built in Southern Maryland with poured concrete ... A: Thomas, basements can be so problematic that I think I would take the "belt and suspenders" ... | |
| removing load baring wall | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: We plan on removing a load baring wall on first floor and will replace it with header and support ... A: Mary, if I am understanding yourYou are opening up a load bearing wall that will have one end that ... | |
| Loads on second floor | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: My wife wants to purchase a safe for our second floor. It's dimensions are 20" x 22.75" and weighs ... A: Ryan, this boils down to about 131 lb/SF. This is a substantial load and needs to be considered ... | |
| Drop Ceiling | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: Dan, I'm using Armstrong materials for a drop ceiling using 2' x 4' panels. The problem is the 4' ... A: Mike, it sounds like you off to a bad start. All drop ceilings are laid out to create even borders ... | |
| Water penetration in sunken room | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: Dan, I live in the Houston area. My home was built in 1973. The back porch and master bath (at ... A: Ann, it is possible to have nice dry rooms below grade. Think about a good basement, though many of ... | |
| Water penetration in sunken room | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: Dan, I live in the Houston area. My home was built in 1973. The back porch and master bath (at ... A: Ann, without seeing it I can't help much. What is the ground level outside this room? Is it at ... | |
| Can I build a home for around 100.00 a square foot | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: 00 a square foot. My brother is in construction and can help with many things. How do you find a ... A: Dawn, that sure is a loaded question. You don't tell where you are and I would only know my local ... | |
| crawl space moisture | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: We are getting ready to put plastic down in the crawl space of our new house (in W.V.), we are ... A: Pat, the bigger question is where did the water come from. I sounds like you maybe do not have good ... | |
| lag screw pattern | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: im going to build a deck on to my house. i have a ? regarding the ledger board i know i have to lag ... A: Steven, you need to stagger the lags. One high, next low, next high. If you runt eh lags down the ... | |
| new home framing | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are building a new home. We are in the framing phase and have noticed that many of ... A: Catherine, I'm sure you are referring to "finger joint" studs. Here is a fairly detailed ... | |
| Enlarging concrete slab porch | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: I currently have a screened porch on a concrete slab. We would like to enlarge it to make a family ... A: Kathy, yes, all things can be done. YOu are correct that you will need to develop a foundation in ... | |
| converting garage ceiling to living space | 12/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a 25x54 foot garage that the ceiling is used for storage and has 4 foot knee walls above the ... A: Corey, you've been doing some heavy thinking about this one. I don't think you have TJI joists ... | |
| acoustic ceilings | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: Our company recently uploaded the planswift estimating program. Although it is helpful in drywall ... A: Jeff, there many ways to get there. It really depends on how large the work is that you considering ... | |
| seal a well | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: How do you seal a water well that is not in use? What are the steps, what should be used to fill it ... A: Mike, I already told you how to abandon the steel cased well. YOu must have a well contractor in ... | |
| seal a well | 12/22/2009 |
| Q: How do you seal a water well that is not in use? What are the steps, what should be used to fill it ... A: Mike, I don't feel like I have enough information. If this is a steel cased well, you would weld a ... | |
| Fireplace Removal/Replace w/Steel Fireplace | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: I just read about a removal in your site but my problem is a little different. I have a modular ... A: Darren, I can't be very specific without being able to see it, but I can sure do some guessing. The ... | |
| Barn loft hay storage | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: My goal is to add a hay loft to the small (24'x24') barn I just built. It is supported by nine ... A: Doug,your hay is a live load, as any live load is the weight applied to the structure = it usually ... | |
| Barn loft hay storage | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: My goal is to add a hay loft to the small (24'x24') barn I just built. It is supported by nine ... A: Doug, a few thoughts. . . good alfalfa bales that I had to stack ran 80 to over a 100 pounds. I ... | |
| BASEMENT LOLLY COLLUMS | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: I AM LOOKING AT A HOUSE THAT HAS THE LOLLY COLUMNS ON TOP OF THE SLAB ? NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE I ... A: John, you are on the right track. Lally columns should have a footing under them. The footing ... | |
| Fitness Equipment | 11/27/2009 |
| Q: Dan, I installed a new fitness equipment that weighs a total of 230 Ibs in one of the bedrooms on ... A: Emad, think of it like having two good size fellas standing in the same spot you have put the gym. ... | |
| Size of beam required | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Griffin I have a 1500 sqft bungalow, and I want to renovate the basement. The problem is I have ... A: Chris, another case of "the difficult we do immediately, the impossible takes just a bit longer . ... | |
| Roof | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: What is the best way to attach two roof together one has a 6/12 pitch the other has a 4/12 pitch and ... A: Dennis, you will have several problems not keeping the same pitch on the two roof lines. The valley ... | |
| housebuilding questions | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: I'm sorry to bug you again, but I never got your first answer to my question, because I had mistyped ... A: This is a duplicate of my answer. I hope this one comes through. Annalisa, I'm glad you're ... | |
| eletrical surge | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: i live in a house built in 1990 in California with copper wiring,i have lived in this house for over ... A: Steven, this is normally a sign of a problem with the neutral bar in the panel. I would contact ... | |
| construction during freezing weather | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I have hired a company to build the shell of our new house (basement, garage, stick ... A: Annalisa, I'm glad you're thinking the entire process through. Buildings are built during the ... | |
| FIRE WALL-2 HR. | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: DAN, I NEED TO BUILD A TWO HR. FIRE WALL TO SEPERATE FLAMM. GAS FROM NON-FLAM. GAS. ASIDE FROM 10" ... A: Jim, there are many ways to comply with a two hour wall. I have the UL directory of tested ... | |
| basement under garage | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: I want to build a 2 car garage with attached shop in my backyard. The footprint will be around 20 x ... A: Core slab is a fairly common way to deal with garage floors. You would need to contact them for ... | |
| basement under garage | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: I want to build a 2 car garage with attached shop in my backyard. The footprint will be around 20 x ... A: Karl, a shop is a great asset. I do have to say that having one in a basement or an upstairs sure ... | |
| enclosing a 36" wide doorway in a slump block wall. | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: I would like some advise on how to go about enclosing a 36" doorway in a slump block wall. My wife ... A: Ben, I'm aftaid you're stuck this time. If the block wall continues through over the door, then ... | |
| window replacement on brick home | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: i have a 15 year old brick home that has aluminum windows..we live in south Texas...homes here are ... A: Steve, upgrading windows is all the rage. YOu can order custom replacement windows designed to be ... | |
| Clipped eave - see photo rafter tails | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: that is helpful. I've been looking for exactly that, but mostly find information with soffits. The ... A: Marie, yes nail into the rafter tails. If you can create some additional blocking between the ... | |
| Replacing fascia board- no soffit. Sealing attic | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: Griffin, I have removed the outside trim and old gutters around my brick home. (under rehab). The ... A: Marie, I prefer eave overhangs and soffits, it just seems to make roof venting easier and makes the ... | |
| Tearing Down a Brick wall | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: I would like to know if there is an easier way to tear down a brick wall? We are using a masonry ... A: Sherry, there is not a chemical to help. There are various electric chipping hammers that can be ... | |
| foundations | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: we are building a 18feet by 18feet by 10feet high cinder block room. I thought one foot deep and one ... A: Steve, a normal footing width for 8" cement block is 16" wide and 24" is not rare. Wetness has ... | |
| Roof Truss Extension | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: Location: Southeast - FL Roof Type: 1960 home Gable Roof, Howe Girder Truss ... A: CJ, if I am following what you are proposing, it sounds like the original truss is remaining the ... | |
| timber building | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: I am considering building a new home out of cross ties is this legal in the state of Arkansas as I ... A: David, I guess all of the above will work. I do suggest that you get one cross tie and experiment a ... | |
| material for front porch | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: Do you think that using old oak posts from an estate would work on a porch for a frame home? The ... A: Esther, I would not use red oak outdoors. White oak does better, but I would still not consider it ... | |
| timber building | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: I am considering building a new home out of cross ties is this legal in the state of Arkansas as I ... A: David, I can't imagine any reason that prevents using cross ties. I assume you are considering ... | |
| structure weight | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: I have built a ceiling in a new office and would like to know the weight capacity allowed to store ... A: Curtis, there are still a few variables. Let's look at the span table here: ... | |
| installing a header beam for a bump out | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: I'm demolishing a load baring kitchen wall that is 15 feet long. At the 9 foot mark is a 16 inch ... A: Jim, I think any solution will require technical information from a structural engineer that can see ... | |
| verifing footer | 10/23/2009 |
| Q: I have a concrete slab in that we would like to build a room addition on. What is the best way to ... A: Mark, can you not dig at one end or the other? This will NOT satisfy a good inspector, but will ... | |
| Live Load on Attic Joists | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: Sir, A friend of mine is remodeling an old home, in which he is rennovating an attic to make it ... A: Mark, the formulae for spans is readily available. I prefer using the organized span tables such ... | |
| Live Load on Attic Joists | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: Sir, A friend of mine is remodeling an old home, in which he is rennovating an attic to make it ... A: Mark, you already know the answer to this one, but let's look at a few other possibilities. ... | |
| Using Pine or Cedar T/G for roof sheeting on a patio cover? | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: I did not get my patio cover permitted however I did call my local building department and asked a ... A: Billy, I like your decision to use sheet goods on the roof. With adequate nailing the sheathing ... | |
| Using Pine or Cedar T/G for roof sheeting on a patio cover? | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: I am building an outside patio cover with exposed 2x12 rafters. Since we will be able to see the ... A: Billy, lean on your buddy that is a framer for plenty of advice. Will there be a local inspector ... | |
| Stair calculations | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: I an trying to figure out how to calculate the rise and runs of a stair where I have the angle and ... A: William, here are a few facts about stairs: There are several formulae for a comfortable stair 1. ... | |
| Concrete porch damage | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: Concrete was poured for a 10ftx23ft addition with a continous pour including a 6ftx21ft porch. ... A: Debbie, it always so frustrating when things like this happen. I do agree with your builder that ... | |
| Lolly Columns/Footers | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: I'm installing a Steel beam down stairs (basement) in my home that will be supported by 2 lolly ... A: Todd, you already know the correct answer. The proper thing to do is to cut and remove a section of ... | |
| price of my room add | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I actually have a contractor already and almost finish with his work. Its a room addition on top of ... A: If you had a written contract going in, it is not your fault that the electrical bid was low. Stay ... | |
| price of my room add | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I actually have a contractor already and almost finish with his work. Its a room addition on top of ... A: Alvin, you are obviously being stressed. I assume you have not paid this man in full and that you ... | |
| 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: Christine, this is a fairly straight forward job. I'm glad you did get the adjustable solid posts. ... | |
| building an extension | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: we have an existing gruond floor kitchen and lounge extension,but we want to extend up to the ... A: Steve, to add a second story on an existing footing will require knowing if the original footing was ... | |
| Using Pine or Cedar T/G for roof sheeting on a patio cover? | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: I am building an outside patio cover with exposed 2x12 rafters. Since we will be able to see the ... A: Billy, you got most of it. It is really hard to nail solid bridging in a continuous line and leaves ... | |
| water drainage | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I saw that this is one of your pet peeves. I'm a first time home owner. The front of the house ... A: Ann, none of us wants to live in a "concrete/asphalt jungle" so we want flowers and a touch of ... | |
| Using Pine or Cedar T/G for roof sheeting on a patio cover? | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I am building an outside patio cover with exposed 2x12 rafters. Since we will be able to see the ... A: Billy, this sounds like quite an undertaking. Have you honestly looked at stained wafer board? - it ... | |
| Cantilevered balcony | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: The second story of a home I am buying in California has a beautiful view of a small orchard ... A: Bob, I would discourage using cantilever. YOu are very limited on cantilever distance in structural ... | |
| bigguest span without having a jack post | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I am planning on lifting my house, it is 24ft x 28ft I currently have 3 jack post in the basement, I ... A: Luc, you will need to calculate all loads on the girder. The loads are subject to roof type and all ... | |
| water drainage | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I saw that this is one of your pet peeves. I'm a first time home owner. The front of the house ... A: Ann, I'm sorry it has taken so long to answer. I volunteer at the fair and work has been hectic. ... | |
| can I move AC unit beside gas meter | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: Getting a deck built. Thinking of moving top-vented AC unit about 8 ft over, right beside the old ... A: Frances, I've not met anyone with that name for many years, I had a good friend in grade school who ... | |
| Pouring footers in NY | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: My husband is pouring footers for a concrete slab that we will eventually turn into a garage. What ... A: Erin, I wish this was a simple question. Footings must hold up the weight imposed on them. The ... | |
| Roof leaks | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: actually there is no attic in my house but there is a mounty.the roof of the mounty gets drenched ... A: Annabellchris, I'm sorry I have absolutely no idea what a mounty is other than a member of RCMP. I ... | |
| Roof leakage | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: i have a brick and cement indian house whose roof starts leaking after 2-3 days of rain ?can u help ... A: Anabelll, roof leaks can be difficult to find. If yours only shows up after severqal days of rain, ... | |
| windows in cinder block | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: A: Eric, it will be relatively easy if it is a stack bond install. If the header was in place, perhaps ... | |
| Painting split-faced block foundation | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: I have a new construction split-faced block foundation that I would like to stain or paint to a ... A: Vicki, I would avoid paint as first choice. I assume you are not having any type of water problems ... | |
| footers & foundations | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: We are preparing to build a 2,500 sq.ft. church building. I need help in estimating total cost of ... A: Clinton, a 2500 SF building is quite small - many houses exceed this number, are you sure about your ... | |
| Completion Bid - Urgent!! | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I where invested with a developer (childhood friend) on a 6 unit, town home project ... A: Corrine, have you been working with a general contractor or builder on this project? You might be ... | |
| brick pillars | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: I plan on constructing a raised, screened porch that will attach to the back wall of my house. How ... A: Joan, there are many ways to support your proposed porch. One that is quite easy to work with are ... | |
| loadbearing wall???? | 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: Nick, this one sounds a bit unusual. Floor joists, ceiling joist, and roof rafters usually all span ... | |
| screening porch/ laying tile | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: We have an enclosed porch in the back of our house in Florida. My husband wants to lay the tile ... A: Cristi, this isn't fair; the situation just reeks of "see, I told you so" Here are a few things to ... | |
| pier and beam | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: We recently purchased a small ranch that included a house about 1 hour south of Dallas, Texas (mild ... A: bt, I would spend the money to install a vapor barrier on the ground. I would use something like ... | |
| Structural support concern | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: Have a question on a 7 year old home. The support beam in the basement is two 2 X 8's laid flat and ... A: Dave, I too, would be highly concerned. I'm guessing your floor joists are 16' and the beam is ... | |
| mobile homes | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: i own a 20 yr old mobile home and my brother gave me his old one. both are in good shape. his old ... A: Lou, this will require some strong planning. I'm not sure what your existing siding might be and I ... | |
| Basement wall breech during home construction | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: Mr. Dan Griffin, We have secured a builder/subdivision for our single detached traditional stick ... A: Paul, it sounds like this is a cement block wall. The cement block wall should have rebar both ... | |
| new 3 season porch | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: We would like to keep as much view as possible when building the 3 season porch. What options are ... A: The minute you want the view, you are talking glass. Next choice: closed up tight or open air. ... | |
| adding a breeeway to detached garage and house | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: Good evening sir, We are adding a breezeway (6x20) to a detached garage (slab foundation) and the ... A: Marcel, in any work like this, drainage and water issues take priority. YOu must have or create a ... | |
| installing 6 foot door | 8/22/2009 |
| Q: the wall has 1 small door and no windows. surface area is 50 x 25. we want to put in a 6 foot door ... A: Tim, block and brick walls are quite stable and you can knock holes in them with little chance of ... | |
| Brick ties | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: Either the brick ties on the front of my house have come loose or were never installed by the ... A: Dennis, you don't tell what the symptom is. If the brick is pulling away from the house you may ... | |
| mmasonary wall | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: how much footing is required for a 6' 8"w free standing block wall? A: lori, the size of footing is dependent on the soil bearing capacity where you are building and your ... | |
| carpentry/ roof | 8/14/2009 |
| Q: I am using 4/8 cedar beams to span 20' to cover an existing deck. The problem is that the customer ... A: William, you need to worry about sheer, rack, and uplift as well as snow and wind loads pushing ... | |
| Open rafter ceilings on | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I recently began building an enclosed porch/sunroom off of the side of my house. There was ... A: Mike, 1. Square cut the collar ties, they'll be fine. 10d nails will work, especially if you have ... | |
| add on | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: what do i use to tighten wood to blocks A: Bryan, are you asking how to fasten wood to cement block? The most simple answer is to use Tapcon ... | |
| what types of foundation are used in jaipur, rajasthan, india | 8/8/2009 |
| Q: what types of foundation are used to construct homes in jaipur(rajasthan) India? Give me full detail ... A: anil, I don't have any way to answer this one for you. It sounds like a homework problem that ... | |
| 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: Mike, the 2x6 are ok. YOu can hang sheetrock on the bottom of what you have. The problem is that ... | |
| concrete roof extension | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a house with a ground floor builtup area of 200 sq.yards. The first floor has 2 rooms over an ... A: Mohammed, I don't know if I understand your question fully. I think you are telling me that you ... | |
| Stone patio foundation | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I am building a large stone patio, with stairs leading up to a sliding door off the back of our ... A: Sheldon, this is a hard one to answer without seeing the situation. Clay soil has a high plastic ... | |
| loft in a cathedral ceiling | 8/3/2009 |
| Q: two outside walls 46 by 14 and two interior walls will be used to create a second floor/loft. There ... A: Robert, I would think that a ledger band fastened to the existing studs would be fine. I do think I ... | |
| Hardy plank repair | 8/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a friend who lives on a golf course and his hardy plank-cement board siding has a few dents ... A: Biff, I've not ever had dents in Hardie material. I have used caulk in holes and joints. I don't ... | |
| concret | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: I have some N type mortar and would like to use it to pour a slab. Will this N type work and how do ... A: Mike, I'm getting the impression you might not understand much about concrete. Here are a few ... | |
| concret | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: I have some N type mortar and would like to use it to pour a slab. Will this N type work and how do ... A: Mike, N type mortar is for laying bricks. It has lime and Portland blended for creating a mortar ... | |
| 18 foot clearspan | 7/27/2009 |
| Q: I am looking to remove a 13' load bearing wall that currently has a standard (36") cased opening on ... A: Flynn, I don't think the triple 2x8 is remotely large enough for that kind of span. I am pretty ... | |
| brick ledge | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: I am having a slab pored for a house and I wanted a brick ledge. The former forgot to add the extra ... A: Lylla, yes, a brick ledge can be added. It can be done with either steel, block, brick, or ... | |
| Load bearing industrial ceiling | 7/23/2009 |
| Q: I plan to construct a building inside a manufacturing facility. The building will measure 48' deep ... A: Doug, I cannot design this for you. I am not a structural engineer. Here are some guidelines: I ... | |
| covering a concrete patio | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I would like to cover and enclose a concrete patio that extends off the back of my house. The ... A: Angela, if this will be living space or if you are getting a building permit, you will be required ... | |
| 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: Jack, there would be several choices. I covered up something similar with Hardie cement panels. ... | |
| concrete window sills | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: I need to construct some concrete window sills that are 5 feet in length by 10 1/2 inches deep and ... A: Dave, I would use 1 part Portland, 3 parts sand, 5 parts full graded stone by volume. The sand ... | |
| Fixing prefab pergola to an existing slab | 6/25/2009 |
| Q: I WANT TO EXTEND MY EXISTING CAR PORCH SLAB BUT DO NOT WANT TO USE CONCRETE INSTEAD WANT TO GO FOR ... A: Neychelle, if you are talking about the "awnings" that jut straight out from the building, I think ... | |
| ledger board through stucco single story home | 6/24/2009 |
| Q: Do I just pre drill through the stucco siding to the framing and then drill the lag bolts into the ... A: Darrell, I think the best installation of any ledger to real or sythetic stucco would be to locate ... | |
| 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: Duke, you've certainly found some interesting issues. I question the skill level of some of the ... | |
| roof insulation | 6/23/2009 |
| Q: I need to improve my loft insulation as the electrician who recently fitted ceiling lights has ... A: Martin, this is often dealt with by making a drywall box to keep the insulation a safe distance from ... | |
| Fixing prefab pergola to an existing slab | 6/21/2009 |
| Q: I WANT TO EXTEND MY EXISTING CAR PORCH SLAB BUT DO NOT WANT TO USE CONCRETE INSTEAD WANT TO GO FOR ... A: Neychelle, I'm sorry but I think we have a problem with terminology. this is an example of what I ... | |
| footings | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: kind regards I am having a two story extention built but i have been told the area I live in, the ... A: Kez, I'm sorry I don't understand the problem. I'm sure it is simply a matter of different ... | |
| using existing concrete pad as base for new pad. | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: I currently have a 12 x 20 raised aggregate patio in excellent shape but do to the addition of top ... A: Rocky, I see no problem capping the existing patio. My normal reccomendation is to always add ... | |
| Useful life of exterior caulk | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: I am on the Board of a condo association in Minneapolis, MN We have nine (9) buildings with ... A: Victor, there is no simple answer. Caulk life is subject to quality of material, quality of ... | |
| CONCRETE PILINGS DRILLED BY AN OGRE IN SAND | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: WHAT WOULD YOU/ HOW WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS TO BE DONE. PRODECT IS LOCATED ON LONG ISLANDS ... A: Athena, Look in your yellow pages under foundations or pier drilling. Cased piers are used where ... | |
| Window wood frame structure Issue | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: Dan Griffin, I'm building a new house in Houston, TX area (Harris County). I have few questions ... A: Duke, I am not aware of any reason to prefer one over the other. I would think they can both work ... | |
| Garden pergola | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: Dan, I am building a garden pergola. The cross pieces will span 14 feet between end beams (I'm ... A: Paul, it sounds like you are just setting up joists with no decking. My dad did a similar thing in ... | |
| Building on the Beach - Costa Maya | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are getting ready to build in Mexico on our piece of paradise. Cinder Block is the ... A: Kim, I am not totally familiar with CMU (cement block) construction on stilts. Most coastal work I ... | |
| CONCREAT | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: IT HAS BEEN RAINING ALL NIGHT IT STOPED THIS MORING THE GROUND IS WET BUT NOT MUDY WILL THIS AFFECT ... A: Water is good for concrete. You do not want to pour directly into water if possible and pouring on ... | |
| moving a small concrete slab | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: This is somewhat similar to a previous question you answered -- I plan to pour a 5x6 foot, 4" ... A: William, several facts. If the rebar you use is 1/2 (#4) and it spans both directions, it will have ... | |
| slate cladding | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: I am a student of architecture , studying in india.I wanted to know about the use of slate as ... A: Poorva, I am not familiar with typical exterior finishes in India. There are different grades and ... | |
| Foundation Slicing | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a 200'x80' foundation witha metal building on the front 100'x80'. I need to put a trench at ... A: I would think it would be better to core bore through the footing to establish the drainage. If ... | |
| Mechanical issue | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a rooftop a/c unit for a 3000 s.f. medical office and I need to calculate the "mechanical ... A: Carlos, you don't explain why you are doing these calculations. Here are a few issues. A typical ... | |
| Construction & Liability | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: We are currently putting an 450 ft. addition onto our ranch home. This includes a full basement ... A: kellie, this is an issue for all contractors. A construction site is considered an "attractive ... | |
| black spots and rust spots on concrete driveway | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: My house is 12 yrs old I bought it just less than 2 yrs ago. The concrete driveway and sidewalk ... A: Lorraine, the black stuff looks like some version of mold. I suspect the area doesn't get much ... | |
| driveway resurfacing? | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: My house is 10 years old. One side of my driveway (the part connecting the garage) has sunk about ... A: Aaron, applying material on top is not the best long term solution to the problem. It is not ... | |
| grade of lumber for floor trusses | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: I am a homeowner who is currently undergoing a two story addition in Florida. My architectural ... A: Christy, you are calling them trusses. I suspect you mean joists as trusses would be made of ... | |
| Two story pourd concrete house | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I want to build a two story concrete structure. Back and sides placed into a hillside. Front exposed ... A: Greg, as with so many things, certainly it can be done - some things just cost a bit more. Which ... | |
| Running electricity across a field to a cabin | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: In a rural (no codes to meet) area, I want to run sufficient electricity (for three 20 amp circuits) ... A: Tom, the utility company may be a good source for direct burial wire. Many have gone to contracting ... | |
| patio cover | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: I want my joists from the house to extend 13ft. Whats the fall? I want the posts to be 9ft tall. A: Bruce, not enough information. The height at the high end is ?????? above finish floor. The ... | |
| Replace Ceiling in Double Wide Moble Home | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: The Ceiling in our Double Wide is a Cathedral Ceiling and Constructed Roofing, OSB, Insulation and ... A: Charlie, if the roof decking is not rotten and is simply bowed down I don't think you need to remove ... | |
| electrical | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: I have an ice cream truck with two freezers. I connected a three-headed extension cord to another ... A: Cheryl, here a few facts. Residential receptacles are selfom on their own circuit, they usually ... | |
| supporting/pinning brick veneer | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: Remodel of two single car garages into a double door plus entry required removal of brick veneer ... A: Usually the deductible and the loss of trust with the insurer would prevent making a claim. I would ... | |
| supporting/pinning brick veneer | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: Remodel of two single car garages into a double door plus entry required removal of brick veneer ... A: Jerry, these situations are never fun. I suspect there was not enough brick mass at each side to ... | |
| cement settling | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a concrete porch which has a slab extension of about 4' by 8' which is abiyt 4 inches thick ... A: g, the proper thing to do would be to remove and replace. If you just want to get some usability ... | |
| 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: Rashad, the course you are looking at is very much geared up for commercial construction. It is the ... | |
| Extending Concrete Porch | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: I currently have a screened-in porch which I would like to extend so it will be big enough to fit my ... A: Mike, I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. AS you have already noted, the amount ... | |
| Extending Concrete Porch | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: I currently have a screened-in porch which I would like to extend so it will be big enough to fit my ... A: Mike, it sounds like you are adding 2' of concrete one way and 1' the other. This is not the best ... | |
| heated slab floor | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: We recently added on an family room and had the cement poured, but I'm afraid not enough help ... A: Katherine, you have a real mess. Let's assume the tubing is tied down at the bottom of the slab and ... | |
| Drywall attachment to ceiling tile | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I am remodeling a school restroom and the plans call out for 5/8" gyp board to overlay existing ... A: Seth, you would need to verify the existing framing. Most 12 x 12 ceilings have wood furring ... | |
| Suspended Slab | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: Dan, I have currently got two demountable homes (12m long) opposite each other with a 6m breezeway ... A: Dan, is this space to be outdoors or enclosed? The least expensive way to deal with this slab would ... | |
| concrete pation | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: I would like to add a 10*10 concrete patio next to an existing one in my back yard. What is a rough ... A: Paul, you don't tell where you are. The best answer is to contact several local concrete men for a ... | |
| CUTTERS | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WHEN WATER FREEZES IN THE GUTTER AND BACKS UP AND COMES IN THE HOUSE IN THE ... A: Nancy, the standard term for this is an ice dam. The root problem is poor insulation in the attic ... | |
| door headers | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: Dan, I am remodeling and old 8x8 porch that allows entry into the home. there is no door header on ... A: Todd, headers are needed to carry loads over openings which are missing studs tht carry a uniformly ... | |
| external wall | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: WHEN THE EXTENSION IS BUILT,I WISH TO REMOVE THE WHOLE OF THE BACK AND SIDE WALL IN MY KITCHEN.WOULD ... A: Ronnie, slow up. If I read this right you are planning on removing two existing outside walls. ... | |
| Roof over a Deck | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a 12' x 24' deck and want to build a gable roof over it. What size lumber will I need for ... A: Mark, I'm having a bit of difficulty. I guess the deck is about 12' from the house to the outside ... | |
| Remodeling | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: This is a bit of an unusual question, I think. But, here goes... I have 2,600 sq. ft. all wood, ... A: Maureen, you are correct that the internal columns are structural and cannot just be taken out. It ... | |
| steel deck joists and beams | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: My dimensions are 14' x 16' with a 2' cantilever on the 14' side. Can you help me? A: Jake, there are far too many variables to give you a simple answer. I am not a structural engineer, ... | |
| building a wall with a doorframe and window | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: We are sectioning off our living room and need to build a wall. It needs to have an opening for a ... A: Marina, good framing and carpentry is a job that requires years of apprenticeship and experience. I ... | |
| drainage | 4/14/2009 |
| Q: When installing a French drain system, how far away from the house foundation do you begin the ... A: Steve, the distance away is not as important as the proper depth. The French drain should be lower ... | |
| Ladder | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: My question relates to 8' step ladders. Are there rules regarding the use of a step ladder on a ... A: Marty, this sounds like this issue may be headed for some type of legal interpretation. Every ... | |
| ROOF ATTACHMENT TO BRICK | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: I am covering a 10'x10' front porch and would like to know the best way to attach the header or ... A: Rich, the best answer I can give is that you should contact your local building inspector and review ... | |
| cement steps repair | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: I have the usual"builders" steps. Blocks covered with cement, that are now flaking, discolored and ... A: Rich, there are certainly many products that will work. As with all finishes, the most work is ... | |
| Mobile Home | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: Ok i have a single wide mobile home i am wonderin how much does it cost to turn it into a double ... A: Kevin, the double wide requires a very different footing and the structure has been designed to not ... | |
| ROOF ATTACHMENT TO BRICK | 4/10/2009 |
| Q: I am covering a 10'x10' front porch and would like to know the best way to attach the header or ... A: Brick veneer is NOT a structural element. Building codes wail not allow you to fasten to the ... | |
| concrete driveway surface deterioration | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: We had our driveway ripped out and repoured last spring. The process was stressful because we had a ... A: Annette, there are only a few things that will take a top off. Contractor working the concrete too ... | |
| re-enforcing | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: i hope you can help. i have been making (prouring, mixing, coloring, setting the molds,... ... A: Brett, all this load should be pushing down on the footing. It will not add a vertical load to the ... | |
| CMU block | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: For use in new residential construction inn California, I am trying to locate structural CMU block ... A: Bruce, if you can get the look you are after with Haener or similar and feel comfortable with the ... | |
| plans for awning | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: I would like to build a canvas awning frame on the back of my house. It will attach under the eve ... A: Ray, there are a number of outfits that make custom awnings. I am ot aware of any of them using ... | |
| wine cellar leaks | 4/6/2009 |
| Q: We have an unfinished wine cellar that is attached to our house (we bought it this way). We are ... A: Tracy, this has helped a bit. Where does the wine cellar leak? Does the pool equipment room leak? ... | |
| Painting a Drive way | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: Sir; I have a fairly steep drive way that will hold four cars. I am selling my house and the main ... A: Kevin, all I can give you is a personal reaction. I don't see painting the drive as solving ... | |
| Removed Paneling | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: I've just finished removing paneling from a bedroom -it went halfway up the wall - they (thankfully) ... A: Christine, if you can see any blemish before you paint it will be more noticeable after paint. I ... | |
| CMU block | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: For use in new residential construction inn California, I am trying to locate structural CMU block ... A: Bruce, look in your yellow pages for brick or masonry wholesale or manufacturer. If this doesn't ... | |
| cost of home addition | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: Griffin My question in in regard to the cost and estimate of an addition to a home. We purchased a ... A: Garry, an accurate labor and material bid takes a lot of time and research. It may not seem fair or ... | |
| 300 sq ft room addition | 4/3/2009 |
| Q: I've already completed framing and wanted to confirm whether the room has been framed correctly. My ... A: Lon, this existing slab needs to have a foundation. It will be absolutely necessary if you have a ... | |
| wine cellar leaks | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: We have an unfinished wine cellar that is attached to our house (we bought it this way). We are ... A: Traci, this one doesn't sound good. You have a pool higher than the floor of the basement? I'm ... | |
| Metallic Paint marker for drywall | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: I like to draw a border with a metallic pen on my painted wall in my living room. I am afraid to use ... A: Bettina, I'm not really sure what you are after. There are huge supplies of paint pens available, ... | |
| water pooling around my house | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a problem with water getting about03 inches deap in my backyard on both sides of my deck and ... A: Sandra, standing water is not good. YOu do not metion what type of foundation you have. A crawl ... | |
| Tile flange | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: I am completely upgrading our bathroom. I am going to be installing a new bathtub soon. The ... A: Jeff, tile and grout are not waterproof. Wonderboard is not waterproof. I am not familiar with a ... | |
| Peaked Roof Angles and Cuts | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: How do I figure the angles and cuts to make a peaked roofed? A: Josh, there are entire textbooks written to answer this question. I suspect you've not made much ... | |
| Aquarium Weight. | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: I am about to put a 70 Gallon Aquarium in my bedroom on the 1st floor in a standard detached ... A: Michael, after a bit of translating it looks as if you're putting 800 pounds on about a 12 sq. ft. ... | |
| 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: Doug, this will be my last response on this one. Cut the main at any one of the slots, preferrably ... | |
| Small house additions | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: My son and is wife just purchased their first home; a small rambler in a small souther Idaho town. ... A: Kirk, the old rule still applies. Don't overbuild your location. 1. If you plan to enclose living ... | |
| 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: Doug, I'm sorry they didn't set up the industry around your VERY rare, even-footed ceiling. You ... | |
| 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: Doug, you're off to a very bad start. You need 4' cross tees. You place one every 2'. You will ... | |
| Drilling/cutting second story concrete floor | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: Dan I want to install a washer/ dryer in a second story (top floor) apartment. As this apartment ... A: Carol, I'm impressed. You're right,the vinyl siding will probably be old and brittle. If there ... | |
| Drilling/cutting second story concrete floor | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: Dan I want to install a washer/ dryer in a second story (top floor) apartment. As this apartment ... A: Carol, are you planning to do the work yourself? There are seveal drills that will work on the ... | |
| office with storage on top | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: Dan, I need to build an office in my small warehouse. the dimensions of the entire warehouse are ... A: Roger, this can be a fairly straight forward project. The scary thing is for either of us to know ... | |
| 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: Jeff, I appreciate your taking the time to think the job through. Things will be easier if you can ... | |
| 2nd floor weight limit | 3/22/2009 |
| Q: I am currently turning an attic space into a home theater room. I was able to find some chairs from ... A: Greg, I think you are all right. I like to use this span calculator: ... | |
| 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: Doug, do your room layout before you start. I am assuming 2x4 panels. The easiest, most simple ... | |
| lintel replacement | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a warehouse made of cinder block which has glass block windows in it. The windows are ... A: Ken, is the structure tight to the lintel meaning that it is sagging also, or is the lintel failing ... | |
| lintel replacement | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a warehouse made of cinder block which has glass block windows in it. The windows are ... A: Ken, are the existing lintels made of steel? Usually CMU buildings use trough or hairpin blocks ... | |
| king sized waterbed on 2nd floor of old rowhome | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a king sized, hardside waterbed which weighs upwards of 2000 lbs including frame. It sits on ... A: Addison, if your numbers are correct you are placing about 67#/SF. Current code in a sleeping room ... | |
| Making a screened porch indoor space | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I have a screened in porch between the garage and inner house. We would like to turn ... A: Amanda, here are a few thoughts and considerations. YOu never tell where you are. If this will be ... | |
| Slab or Crawl Space | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: I'm in process of building a new home in south Louisiana. My wife wants a raised floor plan since ... A: Minh Le, that is a hard answer to give. The crawl space or basement will cost a bit more. The big ... | |
| Underground cold storage | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: I would like to build an underground cold storage 20' x 60' using 12" wide block for the walls ... A: Carlton, something sounds a bit fishy. A soil report usually indicates bearing capacity worded a ... | |
| concrete patio plus posts for the cover | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: We want to add a concrete patio (23ft by 12ft) to our backyard attached to the house and set the ... A: You will need to contact your local building department for your local frost depth. Houston is 18" ... | |
| concrete patio plus posts for the cover | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: We want to add a concrete patio (23ft by 12ft) to our backyard attached to the house and set the ... A: Cheryle, here is some advice. Through the years I have known so many people who want a patio. I ... | |
| Barn | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: I am planning on building a 36' x 48' x 10' or 12' barn and I am considering 2 options 1.) A pole ... A: Brian, I am not a structural engineer. YOur columns and beams sound strong enough, but you really ... | |
| Difference between Metal and PVC corner beads | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: The house i am constructing is in the finishing stages now and the contractor i hired proposed 2 ... A: Shawn, how many corners could you possibly have? I wouldn't tape an outside corner for love nor ... | |
| Vending Machine in House | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: I'm getting a full sized vending machine for my home and at full capacity it weighs 880 lbs. Will ... A: Dan, that is a substantial load to concentrate on a small area. I'm seeing abut 79#/SF, probably ... | |
| Block building in Florida | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to put together an average cost per square foot to build a concrete block building (8" x ... A: Dan, several comments. The building will require a footing to carry the loads. If the slab is just ... | |
| Difference between Metal and PVC corner beads | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: The house i am constructing is in the finishing stages now and the contractor i hired proposed 2 ... A: Shawn, my strong personal preference is for the plastic. A metal outside corner that is clinched on ... | |
| window | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: Approximately how much would it cost to put two, side-by-side widows in a concrete wall? A: Ashley, we need a bit more information. Really a concrete wall or cement block? How thick? What ... | |
| Extending window jambs | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: I have two related questions. One involves extending window jambs and the other is how to trim off ... A: Bill, I'm a bit lost on why the walls vary so much that you have uneven protrusion of jambs. This ... | |
| 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: desgnr, how sure are you that you are dealing with a load bearing wall? As a general rule if the ... | |
| building on a slab | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a concrete slab that was built on with 2x6 and insulated with foam no vapor barrier. i found ... A: Chris, I'm having some trouble grasping the problem. Concrete floor, 2x6 stud wall, water pipes ... | |
| garage | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: am buliding a garage which is 18ft wide by 32ft i want to put a room upstairs,would 9x2 at 16inch ... A: Rich, I'm sorry I am too ignorant to know that you were located in a metric part of the world. ... | |
| Adding a Loft Without Footing Support | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: I would like to add a 12 x 8 loft from our 2nd story over the living area, which currently opens up ... A: Eric, it makes a bit more sense now. The existing balcony joists are probably cantilevered over the ... | |
| garage | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: am buliding a garage which is 18ft wide by 32ft i want to put a room upstairs,would 9x2 at 16inch ... A: Rich, you're not even in the ball park. Go to this site to play around with joist possibilities: ... | |
| Addition to Precast Concrete Wall | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: Dan, I'm contemplating purchasing a home however I would need to add an addition for it to suit my ... A: Brad, the simple answer is yes. Yes, walls can be opened and moved - some cost more than others. ... | |
| Adding a Loft Without Footing Support | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: I would like to add a 12 x 8 loft from our 2nd story over the living area, which currently opens up ... A: Eric, your subject line is misleading. The outside walls you intend to tie to all have footings. ... | |
| new stucco on existing stucco | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: Since I'm putting new stucco on my home extension, my contractor has suggested I extend the new ... A: Perry, are we talking about EIFS or real portland based stucco? Has it ever been painted? If it is ... | |
| floor truss max weight | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: Dan, Glad to have finally found this site. I have a 2nd story master bath remodel. It is on wood ... A: Glen, I cannot. Normal code design load would have been either 30 or 40 pounds depending on which ... | |
| pole building | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: I have a large clear span pole building (212 x 72). At the front of the building I have a concrete ... A: Jenny, I assume you are talking about something similar to one of these Simpson models: ... | |
| ABS pipe to PVC Transition | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: Home Remodel of 30 year old house. I am re-attaching a new PVC vanity drain pipe to the original ABS ... A: David, the picture looks to me to have glue showing on the top of the joint which is where I had ... | |
| ABS pipe to PVC Transition | 3/1/2009 |
| Q: Home Remodel of 30 year old house. I am re-attaching a new PVC vanity drain pipe to the original ABS ... A: David, I assume you mean Oatey brand glue. I also assume you mean the can with the green label that ... | |
| concrete | 3/1/2009 |
| Q: how much time required to set concrete of ground beam? A: Aslam, the initial set is subject to temperature, humidity, and the water content of both the ... | |
| COVERED PATIO | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: I'M DESIGNING A COVERED PATIO. WANT STAND ALONE FLAT ROOF STYLE WITH DRYVIT FINISHED 12-18" ... A: Cindy, I assume you don't want intermediate posts in you patio so I would suggest looking into small ... | |
| BASEMENT EXTENTION | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: MY FINISH BASEMANT GOES FROM THE BACK WALL OF THE HOUSE TO A BRICK WALL RIGHT UNDERNEATH MY ENCLOSE ... A: Jose, I've looked at your drawing - it really isn't very readable. I think I am seeing a window ... | |
| BASEMENT EXTENTION | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: MY FINISH BASEMANT GOES FROM THE BACK WALL OF THE HOUSE TO A BRICK WALL RIGHT UNDERNEATH MY ENCLOSE ... A: Jose, I can't really understand just what you mean. When you enclosed the front porch, it should ... | |
| putting weight on ceiling joist | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to suspend something form the joist in my roof, I have access to the attack and the ... A: Raman, I'm sure you meant that the eeiling joists in the attic are 2x4. The really big deal here ... | |
| I - beam without supports | 2/22/2009 |
| Q: We are having a townhome built and plan in the next year and a half to finish the basement. The area ... A: Adele, this would be the ideal time to braoch this problem. I am not positive of the answer you ... | |
| Floor weight load on 7th floor of old brick factory building | 2/20/2009 |
| Q: I'm considering leasing a space on the 7th floor of an old brick factory building. I have some ... A: Michael, this looks like a neat place. If this place was an old warehouse, the load capacities ... | |
| Floor weight load on 7th floor of old brick factory building | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: I'm considering leasing a space on the 7th floor of an old brick factory building. I have some ... A: Michael, I have no way of knowing or calculating the bearing capacity of the floor. Contact the ... | |
| Alteration to change a carport into a living room | 2/19/2009 |
| Q: I wish to transform an existing carport which has dirt floor into a living room. I would like to ... A: Monique, if this will be inspected by code enforcement, there will need to be a continuous footing ... | |
| Garage Concrete Slab | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: I have a old garage that I am going to rebuild the concrete is in very poor quality in sharp and ... A: Henry, you know this answer before you asked the question. If you mean laying 2x4 or 2x6 flat on ... | |
| Bedroom floor weight limits and seam crack | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: we have a home built 1992. The upstairs bedroom was converted into a media room. The upstairs room ... A: Dave, I agree that it would seem to be a settlement issue if you have had some other shifting. ... | |
| Bedroom floor weight limits and seam crack | 2/10/2009 |
| Q: we have a home built 1992. The upstairs bedroom was converted into a media room. The upstairs room ... A: I'm sorry, my response disappeared, so this is a repeat. If your kitchen ceiling is 23 x 35, then ... | |
| Exterior |Door Install | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: Recently installed a Feather River fiberglass door that as I was told is "Out of square"... What is ... A: Michelle, I don't know what is wrong. If the door was hung out of square there would be a gap at ... | |
| determining cost basis of self built homes | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: Griffin, I helped my parents build a second home by a lake in Pennsylvania in the early 70's. My ... A: I think your best advice would come from a tax person. Construction costs usually split close to ... | |
| weight limits on 2nd story | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: I would like to buy an oak painting station for artwork that is rather large. The piece of furniture ... A: Nadine, it looks as if your object is about 3.5 x 8 or about 28 square feet. YOur home would have ... | |
| Add an extension ot my second floor | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: I am contiplating adding 6' to the back of the second story of my house, this would be approximately ... A: Charles, it sounds like a good project. I think you should seriously consider making the addition ... | |
| front porch | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: i have a front porch already but it is open to the elements and would like to have a frame fitted in ... A: Andrea, I'm a bit unclear but I think you want ot close in a front porch. If you mean to do it in ... | |
| How much weight can my second floor handle. | 1/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a piece of furniture that is 408 pounds and a television that is about 100 pounds will be ... A: Ashlie, you left out some important information. How large is the footprint of the cabinet? If it ... | |
| Mobile Home Siding | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a 12'x65' mobile home and would like to replace the aluminum siding with vinyl. My problem is ... A: Sheila, You never gave me enough information to compute square feet. Height in feet x width in ... | |
| foundation | 1/23/2009 |
| Q: What happens if water runs and stands under house (5 blocks high) 2 to 6 inches for 6 weeks before ... A: Marilyn, I am so sorry ou are having these frustrations. I don't quite agree with the term ... | |
| ceiling/roof | 1/22/2009 |
| Q: Recently, I decided to enlarge my freestanding garage. It will be approximately 26' x 24' with a ... A: Tom, the vaulted ceiling is out unless you make a major engineering change or go to trusses. You ... | |
| foundation | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: a house that was bought by us has 25 8 inch concrete footings that are placed every 10 feet with a 4 ... A: Samuel, There are portions of Texas that have major caliche depostits that sound like your ... | |
| foundation | 1/20/2009 |
| Q: a house that was bought by us has 25 8 inch concrete footings that are placed every 10 feet with a 4 ... A: Samuel, I don't understand your description of the foundation system. The answer depends on several ... | |
| Exterior 2x6 wall systems | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: I'm looking for info related to the functioning properties of a standard 2x6 exterior wall, how well ... A: David, this site has some good information: ... | |
| sidwalks | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: Need to install new side walk, It's very cold and live near train (rail carts) lots of traffic, so ... A: Victoria, there are so many rules about concrete. It would be best to wait until you had a forcast ... | |
| Exterior 2x6 wall systems | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: I'm looking for info related to the functioning properties of a standard 2x6 exterior wall, how well ... A: David, I can only assume you're asking if there are any advantages to the 2x6 walls. The prime gain ... | |
| framing | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: I am wondering if once a house has been stick built can a framer go in and change the structure of ... A: I'm a bit lost. "Stick built" implies a cut roof, not trusses. All things are possible, A cut roof ... | |
| building a fireplace in an existing chimney | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: Pat, we are renovating our kitchen and I would like to have a fireplace, (gas insert) built into the ... A: I am NOT Pat. Barbara, I guess all things are possible. There must have been a reason for the ... | |
| Leak in crawl space | 1/1/2009 |
| Q: Your question was Hi Dan, I am building an addition to my home. At the connection with the old ... A: If you actually get water holding in the joint and it is allowed to freeze, it can move the ... | |
| Leak in crawl space | 12/30/2008 |
| Q: Your question was Hi Dan, I am building an addition to my home. At the connection with the old ... A: Bert, it looks like a first class addition and the work I can see appears well executed. I assume ... | |
| Deck | 12/30/2008 |
| Q: My ledger board needs attached to the house. I have a cement block foundation. The rim joist inside ... A: Ron, you have me well confused. Cement block foundation. Rim joist sitting on top of CMU ... | |
| additions | 12/29/2008 |
| Q: I am going to be putting an addition on my mobile home and im not sure how to attach the roof I have ... A: Ryan, this needs to be well worked out before you begin. The issues are identical to working with ... | |
| moving a tub in a slab foundation | 12/28/2008 |
| Q: We live in MN and have a slab foundation. We are looking at remodeling a bathroom in our house. ... A: Steve, I'm not quite sure what you mean by a "floating" footing. I'll take a guess that you are ... | |
| attaching thin stone facade to garage | 12/27/2008 |
| Q: We are building a new garage detached from our home. It is of poured cement and will have a 3/4 ... A: Susan, I really shouldn't answer this question as exterior stucco done in a non-normal circumstance ... | |
| basement wall waterproofiing | 12/27/2008 |
| Q: Merry Christmas to you and your family. Here is my question Someone has brushed tar on the inside ... A: Gary, I'm a bit confused. You are going to dig all around the house and install drainage plane, ... | |
| repair of steps in front of our house | 12/25/2008 |
| Q: Recently, we had 4 steps replaced due to cracking. The area was dugged out and a concrete footing ... A: Robert there are very stringent codes about stairs. The rise of each step should be very close to ... | |
| concrete floors | 12/24/2008 |
| Q: I have a large fish tank in my first floor flat. Its 6x2x2 ft and weighs around 2000 pounds I have ... A: Mark, there are more than 2 ways to have a second floor concrete deck. Core decks, reinforced ... | |
| basement wall waterproofiing | 12/24/2008 |
| Q: Merry Christmas to you and your family. Here is my question Someone has brushed tar on the inside ... A: Garry, the interior tar treatment seem unusual. In some sense it is a vapor barrtier and gives you ... | |
| Basement Finishing Question | 12/23/2008 |
| Q: I am in the process of finishing my basement in the Northeast. Our watertable is a bit high. We have ... A: Al, I'm a belt and suspenders type of guy. If you really expect moisture trouble, I would use 1 ... | |
| concrete floors | 12/22/2008 |
| Q: I have a large fish tank in my first floor flat. Its 6x2x2 ft and weighs around 2000 pounds I have ... A: Mark, I appreciate your concern. We have to make a few assumptions. The concrete that was used was ... | |
| Adding a window | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: I would like to add a 4X6 window through a concrete block wall in my living room. What is the best ... A: Bill, you have a few choices. A pair of 3x3x1/4 angles cut into the block bearing 6" on each side. ... | |
| concrete driveway | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: I just bought a as is home that is five years old in Kansas city MO. I put down some ice melt just ... A: Herman, I bet the holes were there and perhaps you'd not noticed them. Salt does hurt concrete, but ... | |
| Drywall/ducting | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: I am currently finishing my basement and presently ran into an issue. Square ducting section that ... A: Gordon, I would not fasten drywall to the duct for sound, vibration, and other reasons. I will ... | |
| removing a load bearing wall | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: i currently have a wall between my living room and den. my house is 8" block construction. i want to ... A: Jeff, you are spanning a long way. the old seat of the pants rule for a header would be heighth in ... | |
| foundation standing water | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: We live in az and have a couple spots around foundation that when it rains the water will stand. I ... A: James, there is no way for the water to harm what you have if the stucco/EIFS is above the water by ... | |
| foundation standing water | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: We live in az and have a couple spots around foundation that when it rains the water will stand. I ... A: James, I started to ask if it ever rained in Arizona. I can't see the situation, so I don't know ... | |
| Porch column questions | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to decide who is responsible for problems with my Porch Columns. The core is 4x4 ... A: Robert, most treated lumber is southern yellow pine. YOu never state how tall the 4x4s are, but ... | |
| Stucco and Landscaping | 12/16/2008 |
| Q: I come across homes in the upper-midwest where the home has stucco applied right down to final grade ... A: Josh, you have the facts pretty well right. The stucco/ EIFS is often installed to cover the gap ... | |
| garage ceiling | 12/16/2008 |
| Q: I want to build a 32'x24' garage. I don't want to use trusses. What size ceiling joist should I ... A: Johnny, you either need to use trusses or you need a beam down the center of the garage. Here is a ... | |
| removing a load bearing wall | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: i currently have a wall between my living room and den. my house is 8" block construction. i want to ... A: Jeff, it sounds doable to me. I assume you have something in mind to get the LVL beam into the ... | |
| masonry angle iron | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: I'm installing a stone wall using a granite/mica stone, that ranges anywhere from 4" by 12" to 4" by ... A: Preston, the lintel iron will show. That is the normal and proper way to use a steel lintel. ... | |
| Raising building on slab foundation | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: Dan, Is it possible to raise a building on a slab foundation in order to meet new flood ... A: Robert, probably not. There is a chance that it was a post tension foundation that could be picked ... | |
| Gas Water Heater | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: I know someone who put a bag of fertilizer on top of their gas water heater and the heat from the ... A: John, I'm sorry that I do not have enough chemistry background to be able to answer this one. The ... | |
| sealer for concrete floor | 12/3/2008 |
| Q: We have recently renovated a barn into office space, and we poured a new concrete slab over radiant ... A: Sarah, I don't know if you are after something shiny or just something to harden/dust free/ and ... | |
| Dog Door Installation Through Integra Block Wall | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: I have a blandford home built with integra block post tension walls. This past weekend I installed a ... A: Carl, if you didn't encounter any of the reinforce rods and, especially, if you did not cut any of ... | |
| Concrete | 11/26/2008 |
| Q: I am a builder in Oregon starting a new residence with a footprint involving several 90 foot single ... A: Richard, we both know that a 90 foot run will crack, the question is where. The stem is probably ... | |
| 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: Simon, certainly it can be removed. The question becomes how much? If there is attic above, the ... | |
| floor weight carrying capacities | 11/24/2008 |
| Q: The 2nd floor rooms of my home are Yellow pine 2x10 on 12 inch centers. the span is 16 feet. When I ... A: Kris, I am out of town so don't have all my normal references. Your joists should carry 40 pounds ... | |
| Support Beam Footings | 11/24/2008 |
| Q: I own a 2-flat and needed a few vertical 6x6 support beams replaced due to a fire. There was also a ... A: Joseph, I assume your contractor decided that the existing bottom stump was sound. I think you ... | |
| insulating cement blocks | 11/21/2008 |
| Q: what would be the most cost effective way to insulate a cement block wall from the inside. A: Vincent, too many variables. What do you expect for a finished surface? Will there be elctica work ... | |
| civil engineering | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: I our six months old house I have noticed several hair line horizontal cracks in different walls. ... A: Mechanical engineers design weapon systems, etc. Civil engineers design targets!!!! Sama, I can't ... | |
| hot box | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: I want to ask first before I ask the question I have. Did you ever install outdoor hot box ... A: Bill, where are you? It hasn't gotten cold enough here for any of this to be an issue. If the box ... | |
| Load Bearing Wall | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: "I am going to be buying a house that has a wall completely dividing the living area a kitchen/den ... A: Dan, it doesn't sound like a load bearing wall if there is not a beam or wall under it in the ... | |
| hot box | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: I want to ask first before I ask the question I have. Did you ever install outdoor hot box ... A: Bill, we've not added heat to ours at this point. I built some insulated "dog houses" to cover ... | |
| New driveway problems | 11/15/2008 |
| Q: We moved into our new home in March of this year. We live in NC. The contractor pored the driveway ... A: Jan, here a few facts. Concrete from the same company with the same design mix and additives on ... | |
| Framing angles for a bump in | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: My existing entry door is a double french door with side lites. (an 8 ft opening) I want to remove ... A: If you have a 6" return to the door, you also have a 3 1/2" stud wall joining it at an angle so the ... | |
| Elastomeric paint and luxon xp | 11/12/2008 |
| Q: Which is better to waterproof a home? The paint contractor that I am about to hire said he will use ... A: Cindy, I assume your home is leaking if you are considering elastomeric paint. It is a bit ... | |
| Elastomeric paint and luxon xp | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: Which is better to waterproof a home? The paint contractor that I am about to hire said he will use ... A: I am not familiar with Luxon, thugh I saw one reference to it as an elastomeric paint. I have had ... | |
| adding on to home | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: We have a 28x36 house on a floating pad which was to suppose to turn into our garage but know we ... A: Katie, all things are possible if you throw enough money at them. It will be very expensive and ... | |
| door hinges | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: You sound like the man with the all around knowledge I'm looking for. My daughter just bought a ... A: Nancy, there are hinges called NRP hinges (non removeable pin). They have an Allen head set screw ... | |
| Framing angles for a bump in | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: My existing entry door is a double french door with side lites. (an 8 ft opening) I want to remove ... A: Bobbye, I think I see what you are planning, but not sure. Is this a slab house or wood floor ... | |
| Carpet to wood floor transition | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: The difference in height between my wood floor and carpeted area in about 1/2" Several years ago ... A: Your problem seems a bit unusual as carpet and pad is normally taller than a hard surface floor. ... | |
| Recycling CMU from non-loadbearing walls | 11/5/2008 |
| Q: I need to remove several walls that are NOT load bearing from a small building. Wood roof trusses ... A: Troy, to take down a cement block wall, start at the top. I've found that bumping the block with ... | |
| Porch Columns | 11/3/2008 |
| Q: Dan, I have a situation where I noticed that the porch columns holding the roof over my front porch ... A: Robert,you have an inte4eresting situation. 1. I don't think it is dangerous, but I can't see how ... | |
| Floor strength for an attic conversion | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: We have a 99 year old Craftsman in the SF Bay Area, and I'm fixing up the attic as a bedroom. We're ... A: Neil, I know that old undersized lumber has carried some huge loads for a long time. Many old ... | |
| Weight of concrete slab | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: I have a 8x8 slab 4 inch thick, that i need to move about 40 ft in the backyard. Would you know what ... A: Dry concrete will weigh about 155# per cubic foot. 8 x 8=64 square feet 64 x.3333=21.33 cubic feet ... | |
| roof | 10/25/2008 |
| Q: .i know someone who lives up north and just bought a house, evidently an older one. she wrote and ... A: James, it would be an unusual house that has no attic. Many times the access panel may be a simple ... | |
| Insulation under cedar | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: I have a very old house (1890) and am residing under the front porch. I removed the existing cedar ... A: Debbie, The very best R value will come with Poyisccanurate. This material can be purchased ... | |
| floor load ratings | 10/21/2008 |
| Q: What is the dead, live and concentrated load ratings for a raised floor constructed of 3/4" 5-ply ... A: Tim, this is a strange way to approach the question. I like the span calculator here: ... | |
| loft conversion | 10/20/2008 |
| Q: how does the roof support itself when fitting a wraparound dormer into a double hip roof A: Graham, I don't know what a double hip roof is. If I do understand what you are asking, you will ... | |
| Re and Re a suspended concrete slab | 10/17/2008 |
| Q: My builder has agreed to remove and replace the suspended L shape concrete slab in our house. ... A: I can't imagine anyone having poured a weight bearing suspended slab without reinforcement. I think ... | |
| Caulking where siding and brick meet | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: What type of caulking should be used for sealing gaps where siding and brick meet? Anything in ... A: Most caulk sold at the box stores should NOT be used. Caulk should never bond to more than two ... | |
| construction | 10/14/2008 |
| Q: 1.Would do you give me appropriate type of reinforcement bars need to construct ground zero L-shape ... A: Diriba, lots of questions and so many answers. 1. House footings for single story here require a ... | |
| Leaks in suspended concrete slab | 10/4/2008 |
| Q: We moved into a newly constructed home 9 months ago. Before occupancy we notice a growing crack in ... A: I have not used them, they are meant to try to avoid rebar when installing some types of equipment ... | |
| Leaks in suspended concrete slab | 10/3/2008 |
| Q: We moved into a newly constructed home 9 months ago. Before occupancy we notice a growing crack in ... A: Mary, I am having a hard time following the issues. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by a cold ... | |
| 1950's Suspended Concrete Floor | 9/30/2008 |
| Q: I'm considering the purchase of a mid-century home that has a suspended concrete floor. From the ... A: John, I am not familiar with this type of residential floor system. I have not ever heard any scare ... | |
| waterproof exterior stucco | 9/30/2008 |
| Q: Please tell me the best way and product to waterproof real exterior stucco that has been painted ... A: The best real stucco work is usually not painted. If yours has been painted, you probably need to ... | |
| Concrete in heavy rain | 9/26/2008 |
| Q: I have an outdoor sign to install. The sign is held by (2) 2"x2" squre steel posts. I must dig 3".0" ... A: Nat, sounds like you're going to get wet. Digging the post holes will be muddy and nasty. If you ... | |
| repairing water leakage in sheetrock ceiling | 9/25/2008 |
| Q: Can you put beadboard or wood directly onto a sheetrock kitchen ceiling that has had previous water ... A: Dora, I would not put a wood/flammable product on ceilings by choice. If the tape joints of the ... | |
| repairing water leakage in sheetrock ceiling | 9/25/2008 |
| Q: Can you put beadboard or wood directly onto a sheetrock kitchen ceiling that has had previous water ... A: Dora, I assme you are asking if there is anyhthing wrong with going over the top of drywall that ... | |
| finishing basement... | 9/23/2008 |
| Q: My NY home is a 4 yr old modular on a full concrete basement. The first year or two, I painted the ... A: Mike, finishing basements is problematic. I beleive in planning on when the basement leaks, not if. ... | |
| best wall to build flush with edge of 11' deep patio | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: Hi Dan, Project background: ================== 1) More than 15 years ago, right before 'finishing' ... A: Santiage, this is quite a letter. There is a difference between damp proofing and water proofing. ... | |
| Recipe for Mortar used in old builidings | 9/18/2008 |
| Q: I have a question regarding a special type of mortar. I have a project where we are renovating a ... A: Panos, the color of mortar is very subject to the sand that is used, what is more critical is the ... | |
| Concrete block construction and moisture | 9/18/2008 |
| Q: My children bought a 5 year old home that is made out concrete block and a little face brick on the ... A: Michele, water is getting into the exterior block somewhere, This could be rain, potable water, or ... | |
| Converting a Front Porch to Formal Entry | 9/16/2008 |
| Q: I would like to enclose my front porch and convert it into a formal entry with a seating bench and ... A: Eric, this looks doable. Check with your local building department about the need to get a permit. ... | |
| water seeping | 9/15/2008 |
| Q: Brick home slab floor and water seeping in after rains and wetting carpet.Is there a ... A: You can excavate to the joint between the footing and the exterior finish material. I assume it is ... | |
| Adding a mud room | 9/14/2008 |
| Q: I want to attach a mud room with full walls to my existing entrance from my attached garage. The ... A: NOrm, is the attached garage condiioned? YOu are adding interior conditioned space to the house. ... | |
| water seeping | 9/12/2008 |
| Q: Brick home slab floor and water seeping in after rains and wetting carpet.Is there a ... A: Bill, almost can't happen unless you have flower beds or other dirt higher than finish floor. ... | |
| Quantity estimation?? | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: Hoping that you are fine. Can you please tell me some rules of thumb to estimate the quantity of ... A: Makhzumi, concrete is a mixture of cement, stone, and sand. Concrete is measured and estimated ... | |
| how to re-seal a concrete driveway | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: Our driveway was sealed with a stained sealer approximately 1 year ago. The sealer is already ... A: There sure is a bunch of different chemistry in concrete stains and sealers. It is best, just as in ... | |
| Install 6 foot exterior french door in brick wall | 9/10/2008 |
| Q: We have an exterior brick veneer wall(whole brick with wood frame support inside wall) with 8 foot, ... A: Lee, The lintel needs to bear a minimum of 3" on each side of the opening. Slipping the lintel ... | |
| drywall | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: My house has an addition. Where the addition meets the original house there is a wood beam. They ... A: Melissa, I don't quite understand what you mean. It sounds like you have some very heavy joint ... | |
| Install 6 foot exterior french door in brick wall | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: We have an exterior brick veneer wall(whole brick with wood frame support inside wall) with 8 foot, ... A: Lee, is this a load bearing wall - are the rafters pushing on this wall? One story or two? I'll do ... | |
| Patio | 9/4/2008 |
| Q: I am looking to hire someone out to build a patio for me in my front yard. I already have the ... A: George, good paver work requires establishing very well compacted select granular fill that is ... | |
| 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: JZ, yes you can nail drywall directly to the bottom of the floor joists. The long dimension of the ... | |
| Patio | 9/3/2008 |
| Q: I am looking to hire someone out to build a patio for me in my front yard. I already have the ... A: George, it is not the intent of this forum to try to price work in your locale. I have no idea ... | |
| concrete | 9/2/2008 |
| Q: Had a new home built between Sept. 2007 and Feb. 2008. the driveway, basement, and garage were ... A: Jason, I assume we are talking about conventional grey Portland cement work, not stained or ... | |
| Fibre concrete floor | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: Griffin We have a case when in the basement the fibre concrete garage floor finish (5 inches thick) ... A: Ross, you want the columns separated from the slab with a full construction or isolation joint. It ... | |
| load bearing walls | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: Does a 24x52 double wide mobile home have a load bearing wall in it. Since each section is only 12 ... A: Elizabeth, I'm sorry I am not very familiar with trailer construction. I assume each 1/2 is self ... | |
| removing support post | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: I have a two story building. On the first floor there are like 8 post that run from the front to the ... A: javier, all things are possible, but sometimes not practical. YOu have posts/columns about 12' ... | |
| Bathtub Weight | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: Griffin - We just remodeled a bathroom on the second floor supported by 2x8's with a 1/2" plywood ... A: Kevin, I used 40# per square foot as a typical residential required minimum load. The big issues ... | |
| Bathtub Weight | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: Griffin - We just remodeled a bathroom on the second floor supported by 2x8's with a 1/2" plywood ... A: The 1/4" cement board helped provide an even and tile compatible substrate, it really didn't add any ... | |
| Bathtub Weight | 8/24/2008 |
| Q: Griffin - We just remodeled a bathroom on the second floor supported by 2x8's with a 1/2" plywood ... A: I will be surprised if the tile job does not fail. Ceramic tile demands limiting deflection to ... | |
| footing casting | 8/23/2008 |
| Q: Question about partial casting of footing. Sir , I want to know about old & new casting bond in ... A: ahsanul, I really don't feel qualified to answer your question. It is standard practice to use ... | |
| installing a ceilingq | 8/22/2008 |
| Q: I am curious if the roof system I mentioned in my prior note needs to be beefed up. You stated that ... A: Brian, there must be something more that is keeping these walls together. I can't see what would ... | |
| DECK NEEDS TO BE LOWERED TO MEET Code | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: WE are in Oregon and have a 9x12 40-inc tall DECK THQT DOES NOT MEET CODE AS THE CEMENT bLOCK ... A: Without seeing the deck, I can only offer some ideas. 9x12 is really not very large and probably ... | |
| Cutting a brick/cement block wall | 8/20/2008 |
| Q: We want to add two windows and a door to a building we are renovating. The outside is brick and the ... A: Bary, you will need to create a lintel for each opening. I don't have my book handy, but the 48 ... | |
| adding a ceiling | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: I live in Southern Florida and have a 22 x 22 garage that was converted to a family room. The ... A: Brian, if I am understanding correctly the outside walls are being held together by only one ... | |
| steel stud fastened to concrete | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: How dry must concrete be in order to receive ramset/hilti pins for attaching 2" and 4" steel studs ... A: Patrick, go for it. As soon as the Ardex is dry to the touch you are ready to go. If you are even ... | |
| ROOF JOIST | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: I will not know the technical terms but I hope that you can understand what I mean. We are having a ... A: I think I would have let the material lap a bit more than 2 feet and/or have used a dryline or other ... | |
| hanging shelving on metal studs | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: I'm trying to put up shelving on a wall that has metal studs under 1/2" sheet rock, wood and metal ... A: The best answer would be to have wood backers installed in the studs before drywall where ... | |
| Garage Header Replacement | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: I am (along with many others) going to repalce the header above my 16' attached garage. The original ... A: Denny, whereabouts? Edmond, Yukon, Moore, OKC? I live in OKC and work for PUtnam City School ... | |
| Garage Header Replacement | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: I am (along with many others) going to repalce the header above my 16' attached garage. The original ... A: Denny, it is sad that so many builders used inadequate headers across garage openings. A good ... | |
| Truss construction | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: Can I span 18 feet with 2 by 6 truss laminated with 1/2 inch plywood, same for top of truss (rafter ... A: Curtis, are you asking me if you can have a simple triangle with no intermediate truss bracing? ... | |
| bigger opening in cinder block | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: I have a garage door that is 8 ft wide X 7ft high. I would like to open this up to 9ft X 7ft to ... A: Frank, the existing masonry is filled with steel and concrete to be able to span the distance. It ... | |
| ledger boards on brick building | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: I need to replace a walk up deck on a three story brick building. How would the ledger boards be ... A: Gregory, there is no way for me to answer your quetion unless I know if this is truly a brick ... | |
| install steel beam | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: flr.and give opng.everyone wants.house has full bsmt.my thot was to build temp wall in bsmt.one on ... A: Court, you are correct. YOu will need to provide sufficiaent shoring to carry all loads prior to ... | |
| brick veeneer and the use of angle iron | 8/2/2008 |
| Q: Dan: I am completing a rehab of a 40 x 95 commercial bldg. I want to cover the existing exterior of ... A: John, it may not be all the way to normal, but it is certainly done. Sizing the iron and ... | |
| adding footings to concrete slab porch | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: I want to enclose my front porch which has an existing roof and is a large concrete slab. The ... A: Enclosed habitable space requires a footing. I doubt your existing porch is 5 to 12" thick all the ... | |
| california drain | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: have you ever heard the term california drain if so what is it? A: Mark, you got me. I do not know the name California drain. There are many things in the trades that ... | |
| figuring sq footage for remodeling job | 7/31/2008 |
| Q: How do you figure the sq footage of 20ft wide x 29 long with an 8ft ceiling and 7/12 pitch roof with ... A: Lenton there are lots of differcent kinds of square feet. Lenton, there is only one way to compute ... | |
| CMU Foundation | 7/31/2008 |
| Q: The code doesn't specify reinforcement for CMU foundation wall if the wall height is less than 6 ft, ... A: Mariamagrama, I am curious about your name, it begs some explanation. Structural design is not ... | |
| 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: Brian, you have many decisions to make. You can fasten drywall directly to the wall, but this will ... | |
| cracks on bricks | 7/28/2008 |
| Q: Dan Our house was built in 2005. Recently I noticed that there are stair-step cracks on our ... A: Baiyu, the footing is settling. This situation in not wonderful, but it also not unusual. Your ... | |
| extending slab | 7/28/2008 |
| Q: I am looking for advice on extending an existing shed slab. We currently have a storage shed ... A: John, there is no reason to abandon what you have. You mention foundation which would be unusual on ... | |
| Footer back fill | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: I am converting an attached garage into living space. I have dug 2 holes for footers (3 and 1/2 ... A: Chris, your garage should already have a continuous footing around the perimeter. Your inspector ... | |
| earth-rammmed | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: I live in high desert that gets a very rainy long season. I am thinking of building with ... A: Janis, I do not have any direct experience with any of the "alternative" materials. There are many ... | |
| Constructing a loft | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: I have an open loft space that is approximately 25' x 40' with about 15' ceilings. I would like to ... A: Isobel, the biggest issue is sizing the new floor joists. Code requires a minimum of 30 PSF live ... | |
| Shed Floor Load Rating | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: Dan: Hello. I built a raised floor storage building 12' x 10' I built the floor with #2 southern ... A: Lester, I like to use this span table: ... | |
| Roof tie in of 16x24 porch addition | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: We have added on to the side of our existing covered back porch. We had a 6" concrete slab 16x24 ... A: Craig, how was the first porch roof done? If it has worked, I would duplicate it. I am a bit lost, ... | |
| Rain Damage in new construction | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: we are in dire need of an answer to our question. We recently moved into a condo on the 3rd floor of ... A: Sae, I would be confident in telling you that you have mold and water infiltration problems that ... | |
| Steep driveway | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: We bought a new condo several months ago. The driveway extremely steep going down into the garage. ... A: Laura, I am sorry you are having this problem. I think you are long past the consult an attorney ... | |
| Tile Floor | 7/19/2008 |
| Q: How to cut in a air vent on a Ceramic floor A: Bob, you sure didn't waste anything extra on details. I guess you have an existing ceramic tile ... | |
| interior floor | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: adding a 16 X 20 room. plan to tile floor using 2X6, 16'ctr. should i/can i put down cememt board ... A: Durock comes in 4x8 sheets and I would use 1/2", set in thinset with screws. Hardie makes 3x5 AND ... | |
| Firewalls and steel studs | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: My partner and I are building several firewalls in an office, we are having trouble determining what ... A: Taryn, I'm sorry, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. I guess you mean a fire ... | |
| Basement Window | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I am going to cut a hole in the basement foundation wall of my house for an egress window. Four ... A: Wood will work, but it will be harder to waterproof the bearing points to prevent water and rot. ... | |
| cmu wall and plumbing | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: I am a designer who typicall works on residential and commercail finishouts. Most all of my projects ... A: I asume you are talking about foam filling the CMU. There are contracors in that business that can ... | |
| addition over patio | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: we have an exsisting concrete slab covered patio. we would like to enclose the patio completly and ... A: Alisa, anywhere near Dinosaur National? I wish I had better news. Code demands a footing around ... | |
| interior floor | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: adding a 16 X 20 room. plan to tile floor using 2X6, 16'ctr. should i/can i put down cememt board ... A: Duane, a bit more information. a 2x6 can only span about 9 feet based on load, deflection limits, ... | |
| Therma image camera can't find source of leak | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: We're stumped. We have a 2nd floor casement window which leaks with a driving rain. Last week we had ... A: Marie, you've got me stumped. It sounds as if you have attempted most of the choices. I assume ... | |
| Foundation on existing foundation | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: Currently, I have two 25m2 bungalows (both with concrete cisterns as their foundation) on two levels ... A: Theron, it sounds doable. Your code people will probably require a strucural engineer's stamp to ... | |
| stilts | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: We're building our house on a slope using stilts. It gives us a better view and takes advantage of ... A: Rob, I would think you would need more than simple bearing pads to carry a house on stilts. I'm ... | |
| Crack in brick | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: I own a single story house that is about 10 years old and i have recently noticed a crack in the ... A: Jerry, the cause is settling or movement in the footing. I will bet you have ads on TV for ... | |
| Concrete Slab | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: The top layer of a concrete floor in the building I am working in has began to disitagrate. This is ... A: Chris, there is no simple solution. Water makes concrete get stronger, so I doubt that is the ... | |
| Foundation on existing foundation | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: Currently, I have two 25m2 bungalows (both with concrete cisterns as their foundation) on two levels ... A: Theron, I don't recognize your reference to cisterns. I consider a cistern an underground tank, ... | |
| finish trim | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: sir, I am presently building my home and am at the point that I am ready to paint the interior. My ... A: Mark, I have no way to answer your question. I'm doing some guessing here that you are the painter. ... | |
| cement pier for heavy duty basketball system | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: The pro hoops company indicates it is imperative that the concrete pier be at least a 2' x 2' square ... A: I disagree with your fella. Remember that you want to hold the top of the concrete lower than ... | |
| Adding a second floor addition | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: We are presently looking at a small ranch house (about 1000 square feet) and would like to add a ... A: Marc, you are going to get a much better answer through a local builder who is familiar with at ... | |
| cement pier for heavy duty basketball system | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: The pro hoops company indicates it is imperative that the concrete pier be at least a 2' x 2' square ... A: I had a friend contract to install one of these for a local doctor for his kids. We both were ... | |
| concrete patio question | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: I have a question regarding a concrete patio I want to build. I have some knowledge of concrete work ... A: Think carefully before you slick trowel the patio. Exterior concrete normally has a broom finish or ... | |
| walkout basement | 7/10/2008 |
| Q: I am building a walkout basement. First off, can I build my footings on compacted gravel or is ... A: Brent, I don't feel I am the right person to advise you on deep frost heave issues. Frost heave is ... | |
| walkout basement | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: I am building a walkout basement. First off, can I build my footings on compacted gravel or is ... A: Footings are normally installed on undisturbed soil. Piles are a term for driven concrete, steel, ... | |
| How can I level my 12' x 24' shed | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: I have a 12'x 24' shed in my yard that was built on site on a bed of stone. It is way off level, ... A: Peggy, you could consider cutting access points in the floor to work each stringer. Perhaps you ... | |
| wood deck on second story | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: I have a second story wood deck (14 x 13). it is attached on two sides to a brick wall. the other ... A: Helen,if the joists are on 16" centers, they should be good for 40 lbs per SF live load and 10 dead ... | |
| How can I level my 12' x 24' shed | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: I have a 12'x 24' shed in my yard that was built on site on a bed of stone. It is way off level, ... A: The building must be empty or very close to it before you manipulate it. They are relatively light ... | |
| moisture problem | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: I am a contractor in SW Iowa and am in the process of remodeling a commerical concrete block ... A: Gary, you have a problem. The best discussion of vapor barrier location I have found is here: ... | |
| Header / Patio door | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: We want to replace a window by a patio door. We have removed some bricks above (and put a steel ... A: The double plate has little or no value at this time. It was there to transfer vertical loads where ... | |
| wood deck on second story | 7/7/2008 |
| Q: I have a second story wood deck (14 x 13). it is attached on two sides to a brick wall. the other ... A: Helen, I can't answer your question with the information given. What is the walking surface made ... | |
| General Contractor Costing Guides | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: I am going to be my own general contractor for building a house and want to manage my own costing, ... A: Any costing and estimaing books can only serve as a point of begining. The data contained must be ... | |
| General Contractor Costing Guides | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: I am going to be my own general contractor for building a house and want to manage my own costing, ... A: R S Means is an excellent estimating source. It is very difficult to arrive at good unit pricing ... | |
| header beam for garage door | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: I am converting my carport into a garage and will be using a 20' wide by 7' high steel door (ceiling ... A: Harold, there is no substitute for a continuous header for the size opening you create. ... | |
| Concrete driveway | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: What is a reasonable timeframe for a concrete driveway to last in Michigan? I live in a condo ... A: Michigan, the land of ice and snow? A standard retort among contractors is that I guarantee my ... | |
| suspended concrete slab | 7/1/2008 |
| Q: I have a 10'x 16' suspended concrete slab for a covered porch, with a 8" concrete wall suporting all ... A: Mike, not enough information. What loading? How are you forming or carrying the slab? I am not a ... | |
| Tenant space | 6/29/2008 |
| 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: Carlos, do you own the entire structure or just one tenant space? Is this a cement block building ... | |
| 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: Carlos, it sounds like someone who did not know much about commercial construction tried to use a ... | |
| brick home remodel | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: I would like to add a single room addition to me existing brick home (single brick thickness on 2x4 ... A: Daren, these can be handled in two ways. The existing brick work can be toothed back removing the ... | |
| Driveway in loamy soil | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: Hey Dan My situation is I need to put in a 36" culvert in a ditch that is always running between ... A: Kim, see if you can divert or dam the water long enough to get the culvert installed. If you have a ... | |
| Suspended concrete deck | 6/20/2008 |
| Q: I am a small builder/remodeler in Nebraska and need some help on the design of a self-supporting ... A: Jon. I really think you are way under on concrete dimension. YOu never indicate what the suspended ... | |
| beam construction | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: What are the relative trade-off's, max span, performance and price for three types of beams: 2x12 ... A: I started to answer this assuming it was an ineterior load bearing wall because you said the roof ... | |
| Help With Roof Extension | 6/8/2008 |
| Q: I have posted my question with photos on the Internet, here is the link. ... A: I think the best solution would be to continue the gable out to the new porch face. I don't see ... | |
| extentions | 6/5/2008 |
| Q: do you need a permit when enclosing a carport A: The question really needs to be answered by your local AHJ - authority having jurisdiction. Call ... | |
| lolly columns | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I are buying a house (new construction) and when we had the home inspected, the ... A: Lally columns carry overhead loads and reduce the span of bearing members. The loads involved must ... | |
| Constructing camp addition to trailer | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: 30' trailer on graded lot w/ slope behind and in front. I would like to add large common room and ... A: It is a bit unclear to me what you are planning. A common room tied into the structure of the ... | |
| heat extraction | 6/1/2008 |
| Q: I live in Yorkshire England. we have a small conservatory type building extended on the side of our ... A: James, when you described the room, I was sure it was what we call a green house designed to grow ... | |
| Interior door swings shut | 6/1/2008 |
| Q: I have an interior door leading from my kitchen area into the utility room that swings shut and will ... A: David, I sure don't want this to sound too simple. Remove the pin from the top hinge. Catch it in ... | |
| Concrete wall on top of concrete | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: My property slopes toward my house. Whenever it rains my carport (attached to the house) collects a ... A: John, the best approach would be to cut the slab back. Dig down to frost depth in your area. Form ... | |
| How to screed concrete in corner | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: I want to pour a concrete slab that will be in the corner of an entrance way. The problem is that ... A: Roger, there are lots of choices. Are you pouring up against an existing concrete stem wall or ... | |
| fitch plate | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: I am finishing a basement and have a typical column (2-2x4s nailed with short 2x4's) holding up an ... A: You mean a FLITCH plate or flitch beam. This a piece of steel plate sandwiched between girder or ... | |
| masonry and angle iron | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: I know that angle irons support bricks over doorways and windows, but I want to use the angle iron ... A: Charles, I was nodding my head yes all the way until you said that the angle iron was to be bolted ... | |
| Heavy rain during slab pour | 5/29/2008 |
| Q: I was in the middle of pouring a 3,250 sqft 5in thk slab this morning when it started raining. My ... A: You and your builder should contact your local ready mix supplier. Ask to have there technical ... | |
| cracks in concrete floor | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: Poured a 6" floor on saturday morning (10am) .Vibrated it. Returned at 6pm and there was a 2mm ... A: It sounds like standard shrinkage cracking. You didn't talk about rebar. If the steel was hot it ... | |
| Heavy rain during slab pour | 5/27/2008 |
| Q: I was in the middle of pouring a 3,250 sqft 5in thk slab this morning when it started raining. My ... A: Roy, this is sounding like someone gambling and losing on the weather. The concrete will actually ... | |
| damp concrete at seams and where it meets the floor | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: New construction, roof has been installed, walk out basement we had a little rain went to the ... A: Megan, there is no simple easy answer to your question. Basements can be made waterproof, though ... | |
| Concrete | 5/24/2008 |
| Q: Dan: My house and surrounding concrete is 14 years old. The township says I need to replace two ... A: Jim, I'm curious where you live that requires replacing cracked concrete in a sidewalk. If the ... | |
| crown molding | 5/23/2008 |
| Q: Greeting from warm and wet La. Have added 22x32 den/sun room with 1/2 cathedral ceiling. How to ... A: Bill, hope you enjoy your new sun room. You have a couple of choices. I like using a plinth type ... | |
| lean to roof | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: hell...Iam building a lean to off my barn. Its going to span out 16 feet. Iam wondereing what size ... A: Sean, if you are using trusses, let the truss company work out the engineering. They will probably ... | |
| 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: Loris, I'm sure trying to figure out why you want to create this "curb". There is virtually no way ... | |
| siding and slab foundation | 5/20/2008 |
| Q: Purchased a weekend lake house built in mid 70s. Was placed on a slab foundation. Problem is the ... A: Shawn, I feel for you. I can't tell you how many times I've said how much I wished they'd gotten ... | |
| Lattice Patio cover | 5/18/2008 |
| Q: Dan - I'm plannig to install an aluminum (alumawod) patio cover - I have a U shaped patio with three ... A: Saul, that's a nice system. I enjoyed looking at their site. I looked very briefly at their ... | |
| uncaulking | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: I have to correct a big mistake. I caulked doors and baseboard with a silicon based caulking. It ... A: Gabe, I don't use silicone on anything important. It may be a great product. but I can show you ... | |
| building a house | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: i want to build a 28x48' house, I'm doing the whole thing myself, i wanted to know if you had any ... A: Chet, I think you need to do a little more research. Slab floors can be done over basements but ... | |
| residential structure repair | 5/12/2008 |
| Q: I am looking at a home for sale that has a disclosure showing that the home had structural damage ... A: It would make some difference what the structural repair was and who/how it was performed. Many ... | |
| Attachin Patio Cover | 5/11/2008 |
| Q: Dan, I'm trying to attach a Patio cover to my house on my back yard, I have metal framing above the ... A: I am a bit lost about the metal framing, Alphonso. Is your house real stucco (portland cement mix ... | |
| Built in patio | 5/10/2008 |
| Q: I just bought a new house. The upstairs has a good sun deck and the lower level has a nice patio. ... A: Water tight flat decks are problematic when designed from the beginning. Converting an open wood ... | |
| "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: Kevin, it sure can be moss. Grass and weeds will grow through and on top of ashphalt in a very ... | |
| 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: Brian, my opinion only - your setting the front face back for looks and hanging a shed on the side ... | |
| floor | 5/6/2008 |
| Q: I have a cabin (60+ yrs old) built on concrete piers. The existing floor is 2 x 6 joists 16 oc with ... A: Scribed 2x is a very common solution to floor flattening in old buildings. 2x6 make floor joists ... | |
| weight limit | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: What is the maximum weight limit per square foot of a 14x14 room using 2x12 yellow pine joist on 16" ... A: I like to use the calculator at the American Wood Council site: ... | |
| driveway repair | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: We have had a third car driveway just installed. My question is that the city will only allow a two ... A: Jeff, I am a bit surprised that your AHJ will allow gravel fill, but I assume you have checked this ... | |
| concreter slab/foundation | 5/1/2008 |
| Q: i want to make a daylight basement and i want to do it the cheapest way out, i wanted to know if i ... A: Debbie, The normal process would be to create a footing sized to carry the structural load with the ... | |
| Game room floor joists | 4/30/2008 |
| Q: Dan, I am remodeling a home built in the late 1940's. The home is constructed out of long leaf ... A: 4 big fellas @ 200# - 800. Pool table @ 800 - total load about 1600 at mid span. Pool table about ... | |
| 50's Rambler: Add 2nd level vs Converting Garage | 4/28/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I are interested in adding more living space and also "opening up" our rambler to get ... A: John, basement or subgrade garages can work well as long as you can deal with water issues. You ... | |
| Concrete block below grade | 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: The grouted cores are for strength, not water. The outside of the below grade block work should be ... | |
| civil engineering | 4/23/2008 |
| Q: Sir.when designing a four storeys building with expansion joint due to the length of the ... A: Oyong, this is sounding a bit like a homework question. I think the larger issue is the bearing ... | |
| Porch Columns | 4/23/2008 |
| Q: Dan, I have four 4x4 columns on my front porch, two on each side. I would like to fix them up ... A: Lee, there are many ways to work with your columns. You can wrap them with wood, though I would ... | |
| attic ladders | 4/22/2008 |
| Q: one of the springs on a pull down attic ladder has come off . I can put it back in place but it ... A: The best solution is to replace the pull down stair. If you want to try to repair, look carefully ... | |
| proper construction of chimney | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: I have a boilermate furnace. It uses a stovepipe vented to an outside chimney (approx 6 feet away ... A: Lauren, I am not the best source for information on this issue. There is a great deal of ... | |
| house add on foundation | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: ok i plan to add on my small house and i am going to do it my self because of the cost, and i am ... A: Quotation: If you are planning on working with CMU, I would think for your own sanity and use that a ... | |
| house add on foundation | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: ok i plan to add on my small house and i am going to do it my self because of the cost, and i am ... A: You have me a bit lost. Basement, crawl space, or slab? Many homes built before 1900 did not have ... | |
| Footings | 4/18/2008 |
| Q: I am building an ICF house with a walkout basement on lot that will require much fill trucked in, so ... A: This is really a question for a soils engineer. Organics and clay are not great load bearing soils. ... | |
| building a shed | 4/18/2008 |
| Q: I am building a shed 16 by 16 with a gable roof. I put two 2x6x16 together for the main support. I ... A: YOu have not completed the magic triangle. The primary load on a rafter is vertical, but there is ... | |
| 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: I don't have my code books at home. I am not sure what the code required minimum live load is for ... | |
| hollow cmu's for ledger support? | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: I am building a small triangular corner deck that needs support along the walls, the long leg of the ... A: I use ITW Redhead C6 http://www.itwredhead.com/ , a 2 part that requires a special gun and mixing ... | |
| add on 40*20.shell comm | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: please give me some advice as i cant afford to messup ,thanks,ken A: Ken, the relationship between a contractor and client needs to be based on trust. A written ... | |
| framework/electrical | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: is it possible to run 6/3 wiring from service panel thru across attic and down inside exterior wall ... A: I'm not quite sure what you are asking. There is a reqirement that requires metal protection of ... | |
| dirt is 4 bricks high on one end of my home. | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a brick house that was built in 1961. I moved in last summer. This spring I have seen a lot ... A: Caren, an unusual spelling to me I might add, we need to decide a few more things first. We need to ... | |
| After Addition attached wall makes noises | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: 3 years ago we had a small addition added on to our 1968 single story ranch home in Northern CALIF., ... A: Roxy, that has to be a disturbing sound. I agree that it sure sounds related to thermal ... | |
| building a gravel driveway | 4/10/2008 |
| Q: I wish to build a driveway in an area where the water table is quite high. It is the only location ... A: Start with a layer of geotextile cloth. Follow that with coarse stone, 3" if you can work it. Keep ... | |
| home building | 4/10/2008 |
| Q: is it ok if i built a concrete building 30 ft high 3 floor each floor is 10 ft with a foundation of ... A: I think you are asking if a footing 6" thick by 16" wide will hold up a 3 story concrete building. ... | |
| sump pumps | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: When my sump pump shuts off, it makes a knocking sound (2 or 3 knocks) I just replaced the check ... A: YOu have checked that the noise is check valve related I'm sure, but I don't understand the multiple ... | |
| Room addition | 4/4/2008 |
| Q: I live in central Massachusetts. I would like to enclose my existing 18 by 20 deck which is about 6 ... A: The piers are probably strong enough to handle the load, but the correct answer needs to know the ... | |
| damaged TJI bottom flange | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: During water damage sheetrock tear-out, the workers cut part way into the bottom flanges of some ... A: Dave, I really sympathize with your dilemma. It would sure seem to me that you should be able to ... | |
| driveway replacement | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: should the contract to install a concrete driveway include a start and or completion date? A: I don't know if you are speaking as a contractor or as a home owner, though the issues are similar. ... | |
| basement supports | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: im redoing my basement and want to open the entry up a bit...so i was wanting to move a support "I" ... A: I'm not clear from your description if you are talking about moving the beam or the column. If you ... | |
| Building/attaching covered patio onto home | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: I saw your other answer regarding attaching a covered patio to a stucco exterior home and my ... A: Michael, it sounds like you have the project well in hand. If the patio had been added originally ... | |
| Removing a fireplace | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: I have a stone fireplace with stone storage/seating that extends from the hearth along a wall. This ... A: Kayla, this will be a chore. Neither you or I know what size stone or how good of mortar he used, ... | |
| Raised Ranch Block Wall, Vapor Barrier? | 3/30/2008 |
| Q: I live in North New Jersey with approx 7500 heating degree days, and I am in need of your expertise. ... A: Zig, if all you had was some light surface mold on the bottom outside, I think I would just close ... | |
| Raised Ranch Block Wall, Vapor Barrier? | 3/30/2008 |
| Q: I live in North New Jersey with approx 7500 heating degree days, and I am in need of your expertise. ... A: Zig, I certainly share your frustrations on vapor barrier location theory. The fact that you have ... | |
| Concrete Steps | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: I am pouring a slab in front of my house. I also need 2 steps from the front door. Can you pour both ... A: Melissa, not impossible but sure adds a degree of difficulty. YOu did not indicate any sizes. The ... | |
| suspended concrete patio | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: I am planning on putting in a suspended concrete patio in the back of my house. It will be roughly ... A: Jason, I don't think you want the slab tied to the house, but rather, an independent slab designed ... | |
| Generator slab on a grade | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: I have to put a 2000lb generator on a 10 ft by 5 foot slab. The ground has a 1 foot grade along the ... A: I appreciate your concern for bearing capacity and for drainage. Too often people can ignore these ... | |
| Anchoring A Ledger Board To A Stucco Wall.. | 3/25/2008 |
| Q: I have a 8 foot dead area between my fence and my house that is quite useless. I want to build a ... A: The very best? Cut and remove existing stucco, install appropriate flashing, nail or bolt on ledger ... | |
| slab | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: I'm am pouring a slab on grade foundation in western NC for my single story detached garage (20x30). ... A: It sounds as if you are planning a level slab inside the garage. It also sounds like you are ... | |
| 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: Bonnie, I assume an existing concrete porch. YOu don't tell how high off the ground or where you ... | |
| Replacing Existing Windows | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: How would I go about replacing windows where the brick on the outside of the house overlays the ... A: You need to talk to a window supplier about replacement type windows. YOu need to do an ... | |
| adding onto an existing basement | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: My wife & I are considering adding on to our house, and I though it would be nice to add onto the ... A: It is wise to be concerned about water, water tables, water tight issues. They can all be overcome ... | |
| studio addition | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: I am interested in adding a studio, 400-500 sq ft, with pier and beam foundation and a flat poured ... A: I agree that the estimated cost to complete sounds light to me. Pier and grade beam and poured ... | |
| rusting lally column | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: Dan, Just read your response on lally column replacement about removing the old at where it meets ... A: Carlos, sure it would be the very best to reperform. That installation had so much water, it had ... | |
| studio addition | 3/18/2008 |
| Q: I am interested in adding a studio, 400-500 sq ft, with pier and beam foundation and a flat poured ... A: Rebecca, Please explain what does not add up. The most expensive rooms to remodel or create in any ... | |
| New hipped roof over existing patio slab | 3/18/2008 |
| Q: I am in the process of talking with carpenters about adding a new hipped roof to the back of my ... A: The eave overhang has no bearing on slab size or anything else. The overhang should match existing, ... | |
| wood I beam | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: Can I use wood I beams instead of laminated beams to span my garage front to back? 2x10 or 2x12 ... A: Larry, you are creating a structural bearing member called a beam or girder. This beam can be ... | |
| building without a permit | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: Somebody I know has begun an addition without a permit. It is an approx 900 sq foot addition and ... A: Jared, I don't have any experience with refusal to attempt to comply. They will usually make you ... | |
| moving a concrete planter | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can answer my question. We want to expand our patio to the north but there is a ... A: Kimman, you are correct that this forum doesn't facilitate pictures. There are a number of free ... | |
| moving a concrete planter | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can answer my question. We want to expand our patio to the north but there is a ... A: Have you dug out the planter to see all of the inside? If it is a stone planter on the outside with ... | |
| fitch plate | 3/12/2008 |
| Q: I have a garage door header that is sagging about 3/4". It's a 15 Ft span. The header is made of two ... A: This is truly a structural engineer question. This company makes and sells flitch beam girders and ... | |
| pre-fabricated fireplace | 3/11/2008 |
| Q: We have a pre-fabricated fireplace we want to remove. It's ugly and take up too much space. My ... A: Removing the fireplace is probably the easy part. I assume you plan on removing the wall surround ... | |
| celling joist span | 3/10/2008 |
| Q: I'm building a 24x48 foot garage and need to know what size 2x I need to span 24ft I'm in ... A: The dead load of materials is 10# per square foot, and I think the code will require an additional ... | |
| NEW CONSTRUCTION BASEMENT BLOCK WALL WATER PROOFING | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO WATER PROOF THE EXTERIOR BASEMENT BLOCK WALLS (NEW CONSTRUCTION)? A: Most basement walls are damp proofed. It is more expensive and complicated to water proof a wall. ... | |
| baseboard transition from carpet to hardwood flooring | 3/1/2008 |
| Q: I am wondering how I transition the drop in elevation from carpet to hardwood flooring with ... A: You've not indicated whether this base is existing on either material, or if this is all new work. ... | |
| Raising a garage | 2/29/2008 |
| Q: I have a 20'x22' detached garage. Purchased a new truck that won't fit in door. The door is 6' now ... A: A typical residential garage door is a nominal 7 feet. Even I would bang my head on a 6 foot ... | |
| How much weight can second floor room support | 2/27/2008 |
| Q: We are putting in an arcade room in an upstairs bonus room in our house. There will be six games ... A: Leanne, You did a marvelous job detailing the conditions except for how far the existing joists are ... | |
| Concrete floors | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: I will pouring concrete floors for the main and upper floors of my house. There will radiant tubing ... A: David, I don't feel qualified to answer your question. I have used light weight on 2nd floor wood ... | |
| basements | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: I'm remodeling my basement The question I have is do I need a vapor barrier on my walls. I just ... A: Does the insulation have some kind of face? foil, paper, plastic all count: as opposed to being spun ... | |
| Garage slab | 2/24/2008 |
| Q: I'm going to build in part of my garage and make a guest bedroom. One end of the slab is about 2" ... A: Ken, Either method will work, it depends more on where you are most comfortable. 3/4" subfloor will ... | |
| basements | 2/24/2008 |
| Q: I'm remodeling my basement The question I have is do I need a vapor barrier on my walls. I just ... A: The conventional wisdom still puts the vapor barrier on the warm side of the wall. If you used ... | |
| Adding covered porch to house with vinyl siding | 2/24/2008 |
| Q: When you add a covered porch to the front of your house that has vinyl siding, do you have to remove ... A: You must remove the vinyl siding to allow adequate structural connection. The flashing and roofing ... | |
| add a basement | 2/23/2008 |
| Q: i would love to the a cost to add a basement to a pre exsiting modular/mobile home. i would rather ... A: Kathy, I am so concerned that this answer will sound rude or gruff, that is not my intention. I do ... | |
| hardwood flooring | 2/22/2008 |
| Q: When useing cleats on 3- Quarter hardwood how much pressure should I have my pneumatic floor nailer ... A: I do not understand your reference to cleats. I suspect your gun will need about 90 PSI if it is ... | |
| popping noises and noisy floors | 2/21/2008 |
| Q: I live in the Pacific NW. A 3 level house with a Truss Roof. 1. When I bought my house, I had 3 ... A: I am doing some guessing here. I suspect the rim joist is doubled up to function as a header. The ... | |
| 20 min. fire rated doors | 2/12/2008 |
| Q: Dan, I am taking a Fire Codes & Inspections class at a local community college and the following ... A: Rich, codes come from so many directions and have so many implications it is amazing we ever get a ... | |
| closed in porch conversion to bedroom | 2/10/2008 |
| Q: I have a closed in back porch,it sets approximately 4 ft off the ground and is closed in by vinyl ... A: This is sounding a bit like a cart before the horse type project. The best answer would be to ... | |
| academic purpose | 2/8/2008 |
| Q: sir i want to know about the method for estimating earthwork for mounds and what is this dead man ... A: Pagya, This forum is not here to answer your homework questions. It sounds like you are taking a ... | |
| academic purpose | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: sir i want to know about the method for estimating earthwork for mounds and what is this dead man ... A: All earthwork amounts to cubic measurement of earth to be moved or changed. Because of complex ... | |
| Basement under backyard? | 2/3/2008 |
| Q: Can a home owner build a extension of their basement under their backyard? I am about to add on to ... A: Robert, Sure, you can have a larger basement within the boundaries and setbacks in your ... | |
| 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: yes. There are gypsum based floor levelers and cement based floor levelers, either can be quite ... | |
| 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: Bob, Yes, I would level the floor. It can be hard enough to get the tongues and grooves together ... | |
| Adding on to older home | 2/1/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I are attempting to add on to the old farmhouse in NE Oklahoma. The plumbing for the ... A: Kyle, We're almost neighbors, I'm in OKC. The copper water lines are underneath the concrete slab, ... | |
| 2nd story addition | 2/1/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I are running out of room in a house that we gutted and remodeled 2 years ago. We ... A: I do not believe in square foot pricing. It just does not work out in the real world. You have ... | |
| Full deminsion yellow pine floor joists | 1/31/2008 |
| Q: Getting ready to help daughter develope attic of 80 year old timber frame house. Current 1st floor ... A: Jason, I wish I could tell you something different, but your intuition is really good. Here is a ... | |
| 2nd story on half of my house | 1/27/2008 |
| Q: I built a new house in 05, had to put it on about 17 12" blocks high cause of flood zone. I need a ... A: Shawn, If these are truly trusses, you need to do the sistering with the floor joists before you ... | |
| Bloodwood flooring | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: I have bloodwood flooring to install. I was told to drill every hole in the tongues before I nailed ... A: I almost said that I cannot help you, but I went ahead and looked up bloodwood. I found this: ... | |
| Ramset | 1/25/2008 |
| Q: I am about to buy a basic Ramset gun... I'm looking at the inexpensive one on Amazon for about 25 ... A: Pins and loads run between 50 cents and a dollar a round, depending on how many you buy. Tapcons ... | |
| Ramset | 1/24/2008 |
| Q: I am about to buy a basic Ramset gun... I'm looking at the inexpensive one on Amazon for about 25 ... A: Paul, I have no experience with the hammer actuated PATs (powder actuated tools). PATs are great ... | |
| Load Bearing Beam | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: I am looking at having a portion of my attic converted into a storage area. There is a load bearing ... A: Kelly, I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand your description. I don't think I have ever seen a 2 ... | |
| ceramic tile | 1/22/2008 |
| Q: I am currently building my third home and this time I am putting in a ceramic tiled shower I built ... A: We have done the last several school jobs with epoxy grout. I have not used it personally. The ... | |
| patio roof | 1/20/2008 |
| Q: thank you A: You are probably fine. Did you have the thing engineered or inspected? The forces at the brick ... | |
| floor joice | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: what size floor joice is needed to support 100psi? span is 20 feet. what would the spacing be? ... A: Here is one of many span calculators available for free on the internet. I suggest this one because ... | |
| floor joice | 1/18/2008 |
| Q: what size floor joice is needed to support 100psi? span is 20 feet. what would the spacing be? ... A: White pine will NOT work, its maximum span for 100# loading on 12" centers is just over 10 feet. I ... | |
| new sub floor | 1/17/2008 |
| Q: I want to build a new sub floor over the existing cement floor in a cottage< ineed to raise the ... A: Raising a floor 7" sounds unusual in an existing structure as it will violate doors, place window ... | |
| floor joice | 1/17/2008 |
| Q: what size floor joice is needed to support 100psi? span is 20 feet. what would the spacing be? A: Brian, I need to clear a number of assumptions. Those things are called joists. I'm sure you mean ... | |
| basement floor | 1/15/2008 |
| Q: My house was built in 1949. Half of the basement floor is concrete and half is brick. The bricks ... A: A concrete floor needs to be about 4" thick. When the floor is finished, I suspect you want to have ... | |
| moving concrete steps back into place | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: We have concrete steps in front of our house. We had to move them about a foot away from the house ... A: I assume you don't want to just pour a new set. It is possible to use a truck to push the steps ... | |
| Brick steps - help? | 1/13/2008 |
| Q: I wish I could send you a photo but will try to give you a good description. We are having added ... A: I knew there must be something more to the story. Another stair related code issue is that all ... | |
| Brick steps - help? | 1/13/2008 |
| Q: I wish I could send you a photo but will try to give you a good description. We are having added ... A: I can't imagine a contractor offering to rip it out for no cost. A standard tread/riser pattern is ... | |
| Hardwood | 1/12/2008 |
| Q: How level does the subfloor have to be to install a solid hardwood floor? I have a 4 ft level when I ... A: Bob, You have really not given me enough information to help you with this at all. Concrete floor? ... | |
| Mounting holes in metal Flashing | 1/12/2008 |
| Q: I live in an old apartment building in NYC. I'm trying to mount blinds onto the windows but can't ... A: Well, I think the simple solution would be to install the curtain some other way or some other ... | |
| LVL and I beams or manufactured truss-which is cheaper? | 1/12/2008 |
| Q: Have a large span vaulted ceiling in a great room of a 1 sty 1500 sq ft home new construction with ... A: I don't feel competent to answer your question. Do you have a builder? It would seem that you are ... | |
| Hardwood | 1/11/2008 |
| Q: If you leave a gap around the edge of a room for expansion when laying hardwood how does it expand ... A: Wood moves. The movement is caused by humidity and wood's nature of absorbing that moisture and ... | |
| Supporting a ceiling when removing a load bearing wall | 1/11/2008 |
| Q: I want to remove a load bearing wall and want to convert the roof into a truss system. The new room ... A: Karl, I think I am following what you mean. YOu want to remove a load bearing wall. You want to ... | |
| Lally Columns - basement support posts | 1/11/2008 |
| Q: Looking for a cover that looks like a log home log to cover basement support posts. Have any ideas ... A: At first I thought about those styrofoam fake ceiling beams that were all the rage 20 years ago. I ... | |
| elevation of crawl space | 1/10/2008 |
| Q: my home was built with a very deep crawl space. I need to fill the crawl space up to 2.3 ft in ... A: This is a labor intensive project to perform. In addition to the fill you might consider a visqueen ... | |
| Removing the Concrete Masonry Units during Demolition | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: I have recently started a remodeling project on a bathroom in my house. The bathroom currently has ... A: There are structural reasons to not take down a section of block wall. Before attempting this idea, ... | |
| Attic Conversion to Living Space | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: I want to convert my attic into usable living space. My attic have 2 X 8 ceiling joist for the ... A: I assume you have a center bearing wall under this attic. This wall would need to divide the house ... | |
| corner bead rusting under stucco (stocco cracking ) | 1/7/2008 |
| Q: If it was your home & you planned on living there for 25 + years,Would you traet rust chemicilly & ... A: I assume this is exterior work because you use the term stucco. The original beads should have been ... | |
| crack through wall | 1/6/2008 |
| Q: Our bedroom wall has a fairly big crack starting from the edge of roof level running close to half ... A: I guess I should ask how big the crack is. Are you seeing daylight? Let's assume they are hairline ... | |
| crack through wall | 1/5/2008 |
| Q: Our bedroom wall has a fairly big crack starting from the edge of roof level running close to half ... A: I do not expect you to be a building expert, but the question is almost impossible to answer without ... | |
| Floor joist sagging | 1/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1 story ranch home that the floor is sagging. The joists are 2x8 @ 16" on center and 12' ... A: I think I would use a double 2x6, but I do think a 4x4 would work. The loads are quite minimal and ... | |
| Raising a rough cut frame garage | 1/3/2008 |
| Q: I am in need of help in figuring how to safely raise a 2 car garage in the mountains. I want to pour ... A: Leigh, You have quite a project. It would probably help quite a bit to know how big this thing is ... | |
| Attaching patio cover ledger through stucco and into studs | 1/3/2008 |
| Q: Hey Dan! Thank you for volunteering to answer questions for us, the rookie home improvement people! ... A: I am very sorry, I misread your original question. I assumed for whatever reason that you were ... | |
| Attaching patio cover ledger through stucco and into studs | 1/3/2008 |
| Q: Hey Dan! Thank you for volunteering to answer questions for us, the rookie home improvement people! ... A: I understand your question and you do make sense, but, boy, do you have some major issues staring at ... | |
| enclosing under a deck | 1/3/2008 |
| Q: I just wrote you and upon re-reading, I think it may not be clear that I only planned to pour ... A: kaCe, Your original question went through just fine. I answered your original question to the best ... | |
| Installing a Dryer Vent | 1/3/2008 |
| Q: Seems simple enough huh? I am installing a 4" rigid dryer vent pipe through a 2"x6" wall. From the ... A: If this wall is load bearing in any sense I would not consider the situation viable. Find an ... | |
| adding a footing to an existing slab | 1/2/2008 |
| Q: I have read some info here, but want to run this by someone, like yourself. I want to add some ... A: I think you are telling me that you have a patio under a waterproof deck and you want to build ... | |
| Add a Pocket door in a bearing wall | 1/2/2008 |
| Q: I want to add an interior 48" pocket slider between a dining room and a living room. what is the ... A: You will need to brace the overhead load on each side of the bearing wall. Is there a second floor, ... | |
| Door Header | 1/2/2008 |
| Q: We have an existing car port and we enclosed it to create additional masterbedroom. We wanted an ... A: You lost me a bit. The bottom bearing point of the existing car port trusses is 80" above finish ... | |
| adding a basement | 1/1/2008 |
| Q: I was thinking about buying a modular home which has been set on permanent foundation piers. The ... A: You sure are not the first person to ask the question. I have already answered it on this forum ... | |
| framing/insulation | 12/31/2007 |
| Q: Getting ready to frame by basement. Current code requires that I leave 3 feet between the ... A: If I were the inspector or the electrician, I don't think I would want to lean over a half wall and ... | |
| framing/insulation | 12/31/2007 |
| Q: Getting ready to frame by basement. Current code requires that I leave 3 feet between the ... A: You will need to do a bit of double checking with your AHJ, but I think you can build the new wall ... | |
| constructing a home theater | 12/29/2007 |
| Q: I am building a home theater in a basement ... want to build a platform to raise the floor in half ... A: Raising the floor on a 2x framework would be quite normal. It is a good idea to use treated lumber. ... | |
| hardwood floors | 12/29/2007 |
| Q: I have half inch particle board and half inch plywood on my floors. The particle on top then plywood ... A: I don't honestly know. I do know we did exactly that back in the late 60's on some new ... | |
| lein extension | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: I am a sub contractor who does masonary work and i have a house that i'm waiting to get paid on. I ... A: File the lien, it is your only protection. It is not very much protection as it only comes into ... | |
| commercial kitchen at home | 12/28/2007 |
| Q: i am thinking of building a commercial kitchen at home for my baking bussines. can you give me an ... A: Many cities and neighborhoods have covenants and restrictions on home based businesses. YOu should ... | |
| cladding | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: I have to analyze a commercial building for a project and have chosen a car showroom. As I expected ... A: All that exterior glass is usually called a curtain wall. The structure of the building is held up ... | |
| Using Steel beams for support | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: I'm in the process of having a new home designed for my wife and I. We love the out doors so the ... A: The top of the steel columns should have lumber shoes installed. Here is an example: look at the ... | |
| Nail size | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: What size nails do I use to put trim around windows and doors? I have a air gun? A: Nails should always be 3 times the thickness of the board you are nailing on. If your trim board is ... | |
| bricks | 12/24/2007 |
| Q: I have a brink wall inside my home (built in the 1960s) there are couple of cracked places in the ... A: The problem with any masonry repair is making it look like or blend with the original. Brick layers ... | |
| counter tops | 12/24/2007 |
| Q: I have formica counter tops in my kitchen - approx 3 feet on either side of my sink and a 6x2 feet ... A: You will still get the most bang for your buck with a plastic laminate top, IMHO. Other things to ... | |
| fireplace | 12/24/2007 |
| Q: we have a older home and inside our living room is a fireplace mantel, It is a non working unit that ... A: You can certainly remove the fireplace front and mantel, no matter what. If the chimney is being ... | |
| engineering load bearing | 12/23/2007 |
| Q: i have a triple header in my living room all the other ceiling beams are tied into it the span is ... A: I answered this once, but it obviously waslost. Your 8 foot ceilings make false beams too low. I ... | |
| engineering load bearing | 12/22/2007 |
| Q: i have a triple header in my living room all the other ceiling beams are tied into it the span is ... A: You lost me. I would call what you term a header a support beam. The ceiling is being carried by ... | |
| pergolas /front steps | 12/21/2007 |
| Q: I want to have a pergola put onto the front entrance of my cape for better curb appeal. I want ... A: I really shouldn't give you any answer. There is no way for me really grasp what you are doing, ... | |
| Machine shop floor construction | 12/19/2007 |
| Q: We have a machine of 20 ton(20000kg)rested on 10 pads. the dia of pad = 185mm. i want that what ... A: The machine will create about 208 pounds per SF, if the concrete is 1' thick it will add another ... | |
| New Construction | 12/17/2007 |
| Q: We live in Iowa and have started the process of building a new house. The septic, and poured ... A: The ice and the cold of themselves don't hurt. I assume the concrete was poured long enough ago to ... | |
| Machine shop floor construction | 12/17/2007 |
| Q: We have a machine of 20 ton(20000kg)rested on 10 pads. the dia of pad = 185mm. i want that what ... A: Mr. Ghani, I do a bit better in American dimensions, but can translate fairly well. There are ... | |
| Brick versus stucco | 12/16/2007 |
| Q: We are planning to build a new house in Central Texas and have conflicting opinions abut whether to ... A: We need to define stucco. There is "real" stucco which is a 1/2 to 3/4 inch layer of cement based ... | |
| Slab | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: We are planning an addition onto a pre-existing slab house. The house is c-shape and we would like ... A: All quite doable. A good plumber may tie the sanitary system into the existing if there is enough ... | |
| Concrete Porch construction-before or after | 12/12/2007 |
| Q: I am planning on building a 1960 sf home in Central Texas on flat land. Soem builders have told me ... A: I can see no reason to pour a porch slab with a house slab, It would violate most of what I know for ... | |
| Concrete foundation for addition | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: I am in West Texas and am converting a carport to an office: approx 24' x 27'. I am getting ... A: Lubbock? Cement is one of several ingredients in concrete. I'm sure your question is about ... | |
| dumb | 12/8/2007 |
| Q: ..it's a very small question about a very small subject, but no one seems to be an expert ... A: I have a pressure treated wood stair and deck on my shop that stays in the shade. I throw deicing ... | |
| Enclosing a breezeway -- building the exterior wall | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: I have a ranch home on a crawl space, the garage is seperated from the home by a 6' wide breezeway. ... A: As a kid, we had a breezeway going to the garage. My dad decided the wind howled trough too hard ... | |
| frost on concrete blocks in a heated garage | 12/4/2007 |
| Q: Dan - I built a garage this summer (2007).. its has two brow of blocks then 8 foot walls on top. I ... A: I wish I had good answers for you. In order to have frost on the interior you need two things: ... | |
| concrete cracks in brand new garage | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: We recently built a garage not connected to our house in northern arkansas. concrete was poured in ... A: Concrete gets hard and cracks - it's an old saying/joke, but it as true as blue skies and green ... | |
| Be your own contractor | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: Mr. Griffin, I need to build an addition in my house. This is going to be a simple four wall room. ... A: Alfredo, This depends a great deal on your local market conditions. General contractors work on a ... | |
| New Home | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: I am building a new home and have the pad sites set. they are even with the road and the foundation ... A: Not enough information. Which way will the rain water go? If the drainage is toward the road I ... | |
| concrete piers | 11/27/2007 |
| Q: I am building a 16 x 24 cottage on granite in a Northern climate (Canada). There is between one foot ... A: Concrete made with regular Portland cement will set under water just fine. You are making a ... | |
| foundation | 11/26/2007 |
| Q: I purchased a home that was never finished or occupied, as the owner ran out of money. It sat in ... A: Totally out of my league. I know you must disclose some issues. I think I would have dug out the ... | |
| lally column replacement | 11/24/2007 |
| Q: I have 3 lally columns in my basement on the load bearing wall. The end of the run at both ends ... A: Paul, I answered this question last week, but it still shows up. I hope you did receive the answer ... | |
| Floor Joist Strength | 11/20/2007 |
| Q: I recently upgraded the size of my fish tank from 75 to 110 gallons. The overall width is 4'. The ... A: Matt, I suspect you are running parallel with the joists. If you were on the wall where the tank ... | |
| Opening up a wall | 11/18/2007 |
| Q: I own a 1950's era raised home. The VERY small kitchen is off the front living room. There is an ... A: The number one issue is whether or not it is load bearing. Peak up in your attic. If you have ... | |
| Nut on a bolt | 11/17/2007 |
| Q: Griffin, I am trying to replace a faucet in my kitchen sink. The faucet is held in place with a ... A: Sure you can cut the nut if you can get to it. A Dremel tool with the miniature cut off wheels come ... | |
| Nut on a bolt | 11/16/2007 |
| Q: Griffin, I am trying to replace a faucet in my kitchen sink. The faucet is held in place with a ... A: John, It really has nothing to do with being a proprietary nut size. You need a basin wrench. ... | |
| supporting an opening in brick wall | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: i have a solid brick wall (load bearing?) with a window (45"wide). I want to knock out the window ... A: What vintage is your home? I seriously doubt that it is solid brick or load bearing. Almost ... | |
| ceiling | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: house was built in 1958 i am in the process of moving in an noticed in the kitchen an living room ... A: There are several answers. If everything is basically sound, gouge out the crack. An old fashioned ... | |
| Flashing and Existing Brick Veneer | 11/15/2007 |
| Q: How can I add thru-wall flashing to an existing brick veneer wall for a new roof connection? How do ... A: YOur roofer should have a good source for custom flashing. If you are doing this yourself, contact a ... | |
| ceiling | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: house was built in 1958 i am in the process of moving in an noticed in the kitchen an living ... A: A 1958 home might well have a plaster ceiling rather than drywall. Someone had to be up in the ... | |
| Upper Stairs Bonus Room Creaks when it is windy | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: Our up stairs bonus room's exterior ceiling/wall creaks when the wind blows. We are concerned that ... A: This is one of those things that is very difficut to diagnose. It may be something very simple, ... | |
| Rafter shadow lines on ceilings | 11/13/2007 |
| Q: I have seen this phenomenon a few times. However no one has been able to give me a reasonable ... A: YOu can certainly paint the ceiling. If you don't change anything they will return. Additional ... | |
| building shower from scratch | 11/10/2007 |
| Q: for shower walls torn down to the studs what is the best way to build back up for tile. just ... A: None of the above. I think you should re-perform the shower pan if you have torn the rest of the ... | |
| Floor joist strength | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: My son wants to install a heavy punching bag in the basement of my home which was built in 1985. He ... A: A few drilled holes about 1/2" diameter shouldn't hurt anything. 100 lbs as a concentrated load is ... | |
| Re-building chimney | 11/9/2007 |
| Q: After demolishing an old chimney I am now re-building the chimney for an open fireplace. At what ... A: I am not the best answer here. There is a great deal of science in designing efficient fire ... | |
| exterior steps | 11/8/2007 |
| Q: I recently replaced 36" exterior concrete porch steps with 48" precast steps. The new steps are ... A: Tou are correct that the gap could be hazardous. Code allows you to extend hand rails 4" toward a ... | |
| concrete subfloor | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: Our house is in central texas. It's a single story built on-grade, over a concrete slab. The ... A: I assume you are going back with ceramic again. Cement board should be set in thin set. I would ... | |
| concrete subfloor | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: Our house is in central texas. It's a single story built on-grade, over a concrete slab. The ... A: You indicated that it is quite a distance, but never said how much. This makes an answer ... | |
| wallboard prices | 11/1/2007 |
| Q: Which site/resource can I use to track gypsum wallboard prices? A: You did not tell me what you are doing or pricing. If you are trying to work a price for 50 sheets ... | |
| The best wood for a log cabin | 11/1/2007 |
| Q: I would like to build a poison free log cabin on the island of Madeira, Portugal. High air humidity, ... A: This is very much outside my area or expertise. I don't know what you categorize as poison. The ... | |
| how should i... | 10/30/2007 |
| Q: i have one of those metal carports that you buy for a couple hundred bucks and is already together. ... A: I'm not sure exactly what you have. I'm guessing it has 3 to 5 main ribs pinned to the ground or a ... | |
| pier & beam to slab | 10/30/2007 |
| Q: I am adding on to an old house built in 1906. I just had the house leveled (which was actually very ... A: Your title mentions pier and grade beam. This would be unusual for a house, especially in 1906. I ... | |
| Laying Block | 10/28/2007 |
| Q: We are making an addition - we have finished laying the block and want to know how long it has to ... A: It makes a little bit of difference what you are using to coat the block. If you are applying a ... | |
| steel I beam | 10/10/2007 |
| Q: I already have asked this question just want a second opinion. i am building a reckroom and want to ... A: You have no problem drilling holes for nut and bolt. There are a few other choices: PAT (powder ... | |
| stucco | 10/6/2007 |
| Q: I had my house stuccoed and its been a week and I can rub it and it powders off somewhat, the person ... A: There are two toatally different products that get called stucco, so let's clear that up first. ... | |
| new building panels | 10/4/2007 |
| Q: Have you used the new building panels called AzTex...or A tec.....saw a boat that used it and ... A: I assume you are talking about Azek PVC trim material. I have used it as trim boards, but not ever ... | |
| Garage/Shop Addition | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: I am planning on building an addition onto one side of my two-story 24'x 36' garage/shop. The ... A: The fact that you have 3,000# soil helps a great deal. Remember that a typical footing has a more ... | |
| Garage/Shop Addition | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: I am planning on building an addition onto one side of my two-story 24'x 36' garage/shop. The ... A: Samuel, The answer to this question has to do with the bearing capacity of the soil where the ... | |
| New Construction | 9/25/2007 |
| Q: Building a home with what I thought was a reputable company and have encountered several problems ... A: You surely have a written contract with this company. The actual lumber grade used may well ot ... | |
| patio addition | 9/25/2007 |
| Q: i want to build a half wall from cinder blocks and the top half of screen now do i go ... A: I assume you have a footing designed into this patio. I assume you are thinking about a 8x8x16 CMU ... | |
| basements and modular mobile homes. | 9/22/2007 |
| Q: I am looking at properties that have modular or prefab homes on blocks because they are the least ... A: Most basements are made using poured concrete. In order to pour the concrete an oversized hole must ... | |
| Joice span and size verses weight load | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: I want to prep my garage for a future loft, what size of floor joice do i need to span 30ft without ... A: You are not going to make it with any dimension lumber product. You will need to look at TJI ... | |
| winter building | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: our builder has told us that there is no problem building in winter nor is there extra costs. They ... A: Just an opinion. When do freezing temperatures hit Calgary? If the builder is going to absorb the ... | |
| basements and modular mobile homes. | 9/17/2007 |
| Q: I am looking at properties that have modular or prefab homes on blocks because they are the least ... A: It would probably be cheaper to move the house, pour the basement, and reset the house. It is ... | |
| wood frame or block | 9/12/2007 |
| Q: We are going to build a house and we live in Oak Hill, FL. Close to the river. My question is: Would ... A: This is really a question for your local builder. My dad is in the Ocala area and all the homes I ... | |
Building Homes or Extensions
Answers by Expert:
Dan Griffin
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer almost all questions related to the total construction process. My expertise is in commercial construction, though I can field most any residential question. I have hands on experience in concrete, heavy equipment, masonry, all phases of carpentry, interior finishes, and I am fairly strong in mechanical and electrical.
Experience
I have over 20 years experience as a commercial carpenter and commercial construction superintendent. I have another 20 years experience in facility management for a major school district.
Organizations
My favorite hobby for he past 12 years has been singing bass in a The OkChorale men's barbershop chorus and the Mature Moments quartet.
Education/Credentials
I hold a Bachelor's degree in English and Math. I have completed many continuing education hours in the building trades. I hold a Master Carpenter card from the AGC, Associated General Contractors.
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