| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| concrete slab thickness | 9/4/2008 | Brian McElroy |
Q: I am canstucting a concrete slab to to provide a base for a Generator (weight 1373 kg). I plan to us ...
A: That should be fine. If it is a Propane or Natural Gas fired unit, make sure you leave at least 6 ...
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| drop ceilings | 9/3/2008 | Lee Kilcup |
Q: i have someone that wants me to bid a job. i am use to working by the hour. anytime i bid something ...
A: You may be able to make more money by bidding the work. I would carefully track my productivity ...
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| Billing after the job is completed | 9/3/2008 | Jim Lyon |
Q: We hired a contractor to do a new roof, siding, all new windows and to demolish our old front porch ...
A: These kinds of problems can be very upsetting and are easily avoided if the contractor takes the ...
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| method to dig and break rocks with excavator | 9/1/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: I'm looking for some method to dig and break rocks with excavator.Do you have some knowledge of this ...
A: Depending on the size of the excacvator, there are attachments that will either break rocks directly ...
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| excavating and backfilling | 8/30/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: I am contemplating putting an addition onto my home using a cargo shipping container (20'X8'X8.5'). ...
A: Most wet sand-silt-gravel mixes will weigh in the neighborhood of 135 pcf if compacted and 125 pcf ...
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| Pay basis for remodeling employees | 8/29/2008 | Lee Kilcup |
Q: I run a small remodeling business with 8 field employees and would like to find a way to tie ...
A: We provide our employees yearly bonus that equals about 25% of my profits. Since we started doing ...
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| Vibration Monitoring | 8/28/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: I am an Environmental Officer working for construction company and responsible for vibration ...
A: I can see why you are confused about the vibration specification. From what you sent it looks like ...
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| Travertine on pool deck | 8/27/2008 | Joe Turner |
Q: We are considering installing 2" travertine in sand over a concrete pool deck. This is in NJ. Is ...
A: The only problem is the freeze/thaw cycle where you live (I am assuming northern NJ). If water gets ...
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| Retaining wall | 8/24/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: My house is on a slope and was built 40 years ago. We moved in 10 years ago, and the concrete ...
A: I don't know that I have ever heard of a wooden retaining wall. I am familiar with soldier pile ...
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| slab pitch | 8/21/2008 | Michael Hughes |
Q: Our porch slab is not allowing rainwater to drain away from the house; the water congregates into a ...
A: Sorry it took so long to answer this question it apparently did not hit my e-mail box. The pictures ...
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| Rock Removal | 8/20/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: I have a 12' x 4' rock sticking up about 2' above the ground exactly where I want to put a shed. How ...
A: Breaking rock always involves the input of energy sufficient to overcome whatever bonds are holding ...
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| foundation on piles | 8/13/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: just came across this board, thanks a lot for sharing your expertise on here! Your background ...
A: The pile estimate was from Means' Heavy Construction 2008. Residential construction may be slightly ...
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| foundation on piles | 8/12/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: just came across this board, thanks a lot for sharing your expertise on here! Your background ...
A: I understand your quandary. You have a price point and want to know if the site improvements will ...
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| Forming a subsidiary abroad of an existin developer | 8/12/2008 | Lee Kilcup |
Q: I am in the process of looking at setting up an operation abroad for a large developer. I have been ...
A: I am a contractor and not an developer so I do not have as much insight into this type of question. ...
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| basement under garage | 8/11/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: Planning to build a log 34 x 36 3 bay garage with 2nd floor. Foundation planned to be cement slab. ...
A: It depends in part on the basement foundation but yes, in general, you can park autos on a suspended ...
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| findng studs on outside house shingles | 8/10/2008 | Michael Hughes |
Q: we want to mount a backboard/hoop onto the wall of our house above the garage. We are trying to ...
A: Cary, Try locating the studs on the inside. You can then measure the thickness of your outside wall ...
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| constrction of | 8/10/2008 | Lee Kilcup |
Q: Wanted to know about the role of civil engg in construction of express way on the basis of ...
A: I build buildings not roads but have a general idea of what civil engineers do; They would design ...
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| Leaking Door | 8/8/2008 | Jim Lyon |
Q: Jim, I have a problem with my back door leaking. I noticed the problem when my hardwood floors began ...
A: I am assuming your door is a swing type door vs a sliding door. To answer your question about ...
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| Hiring a General Contractor | 8/8/2008 | Lee Kilcup |
Q: My wife and I are in the process of opening a patio style take-out restaurant (southern cooking). ...
A: You are probably better off hiring an owners rep unless you have lots of time and at least a little ...
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| Drawing Elevation | 8/6/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: How do you determine the difference in elevations from a drawings and then convert that number to ...
A: Depends on what the elevation units are to begin with. If the elevations are already in feet, it's ...
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| moisture meter reading before drywall | 8/6/2008 | Joe Turner |
Q: We are building our own home. We are getting ready to install the drywall. The lumber inside our ...
A: Depending on where your new home is located, you are just fine with an 8 or a ten. Much modern ...
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| Underground blasting within 25' of my home! | 8/5/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: As part of an upgrade to it's sewer system, the city of Baltimore will be tunneling beneath the ...
A: You should have blasting seismographs placed at your home, and monitored in accordance with the ...
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| Environmental Concerns - New Construction | 8/4/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: The adjoining property has been sold to a builder, and they are planning to build seven large homes, ...
A: Spread foundations are dug out. If the homes have suspended floors they may partially be founded on ...
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| expansion joints | 8/1/2008 | Lee Kilcup |
Q: We are going to bid caulking some expansion joints for a new Walgreens. Was wondering about what to ...
A: I am not a caulking contractor so I don't know exactly how much to charge. The way that we approach ...
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| PA Sales and Use Tax | 7/31/2008 | Lee Kilcup |
Q: What is the pa dept of revenue definition of Construction Contract and Construction Contractor?
A: From their website: A construction contractor is required to pay Sales or Use Tax on all taxable ...
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| Drilling into Rock - Massachusetts | 7/28/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: I have dug out holes for footings for a deck. I have hit ledge on almost every hole after digging ...
A: 20 minutes and 1/4 inch, huh? You should be doing better than that. Did it toast the bit? It ...
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| water well | 7/26/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: I purchased this newly constructed home in March of 2004. Everything was checked and certified, ...
A: You're welcome. I would be curious to know what they find. If the well is 175 ft and the static ...
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| water well | 7/25/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: I purchased this newly constructed home in March of 2004. Everything was checked and certified, ...
A: The water table would not drop in 2 days especially if the aquifer was prolific to start with, ...
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| french drain | 7/25/2008 | Michael Hughes |
Q: Michael, i have had several contractors come in and give a wide array of estimates and opinions. Im ...
A: Drew, I of course can not see your problem so it is difficult to assess the issue completely. I ...
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| water well | 7/25/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: I purchased this newly constructed home in March of 2004. Everything was checked and certified, ...
A: Sorry to hear about this. Being out of water is a pain. First of all, you might as well contact ...
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| Chimney on siding | 7/22/2008 | Michael Hughes |
Q: siding we discovered that one of our chimneys was built over the existing siding. The chimney is ...
A: Jessica, The correct procedure would be to remove the chimney. It is not apparent how much rot there ...
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| pre-cast walls | 7/22/2008 | Brian McElroy |
Q: I am using a pre-cast, pre-insulated wall system for a house i am building in chicago. what i would ...
A: You might look into Weaver Precast. They supply my walls, and I know they are big in Pa and some ...
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| pre-cast walls | 7/22/2008 | Brian McElroy |
Q: I am using a pre-cast, pre-insulated wall system for a house i am building in chicago. what i would ...
A: Precasts are great. That is all I build. Who is your manufacturer? I would love info. I have people ...
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| Cracks in tile | 7/22/2008 | Brian McElroy |
Q: I recently bought a 15 year old house near Dallas, Texas. Within the last month cracks have ...
A: There could be several reasons. It is probably due to soil movement under the foundation. it is ...
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| sump pit | 7/21/2008 | Joe Turner |
Q: We own a home built in 2004 and just now got water in the finished basement. After having a city ...
A: If the buildeerr was the general contractor, the builder is responsible. The trades such as plumbing ...
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| wet walls after rain | 7/21/2008 | Joe Turner |
Q: we are in dire need of an answer to our question. We recently moved into a condo on the 3rd floor of ...
A: It is likely that your windows were installed incorrectly. A variety of mistakes might have been ...
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| Home building costs | 7/21/2008 | Brian McElroy |
Q: I am thinking about building a 2000 sqft block of precast concrete home. How do I decide which and ...
A: I only build precast homes in Florida. You have to compare each system seperately in terms of ...
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| Basement wall bulging | 7/19/2008 | Robert Cummings, P.E. |
Q: Good morning Mr. Cummings. I have a home that was built in 1969. At the front of the house, the ...
A: You didn't conclude with a question but I bet you wanted to know if all this sounds reasonable, and ...
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| Temporary Construction Power | 7/19/2008 | David Coil/C. R. Construction |
Q: How do I set up temporary construction power? What is the best manufacturer of temporary service ...
A: OK...now some more tid bit info. In general...tonage for your HVAC...400 to 450 sq ft per ton. 5 ...
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| Offset slab cracks and moisture seepage | 7/18/2008 | Joe Turner |
Q: House built in central FL ( dry area, and concrete block) and finished in June 2006. Had lots of ...
A: I usually begin consults such as this with: Based on the information that you provided. There are ...
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