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| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| SCC | 2/3/2012 | Stephen Hayes |
| Q: is Self Compacting Concrete good? Or any bad effects with it? ref: ... A: The information you have included with your question has quite a long list of additional references ... | ||
| SCC | 2/3/2012 | Roger Zona |
| Q: is Self Compacting Concrete good? Or any bad effects with it? ref: ... A: Please excuse my delay in responding. I was on a short holiday to South Carolina and there was no ... | ||
| Use of modular building for a garage | 1/30/2012 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I have a 24x40 double wide modular building(classroom) built in 1992 to BOCA standards. It has a ... A: Having living in Michigan nearly half of my life, I know what you mean about it being cold! You ... | ||
| Use of modular building for a garage | 1/29/2012 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I have a 24x40 double wide modular building(classroom) built in 1992 to BOCA standards. It has a ... A: The building you described sounds very substantial and well built. It was built knowing that it ... | ||
| Construction project information | 1/28/2012 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I'm writing a mystery novel in which workers at a construction site find a buried body. So I have a ... A: Yes, a backhoe would be the wrong machine. A backhoe is used for digging trenches or excavating ... | ||
| Construction project information | 1/28/2012 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I'm writing a mystery novel in which workers at a construction site find a buried body. So I have a ... A: Congratulations. I hope your pending novel is a best seller. To begin a project: The site is ... | ||
| Definition of crawlspace or basement? | 1/12/2012 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I've got a building built in the 1930s. I believe a class "b" construction definition. It has an ... A: Hey Danny, Codes vary from place to place, state to state, etc. and therefore I can't reference a ... | ||
| storage loft in garage | 1/5/2012 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I'd like to build a storage loft in garage. Lots of wasted space above. The size would be 10' x ... A: A 2"x 6" member is limited in the amount of live load that it can support. If you have the space, I ... | ||
| Rate for waste of steel reinforcement | 12/22/2011 | jonewall |
| Q: Jonewall: First I would like to thank you in advance for replying my message. Second, I work in a ... A: Darine THE OWNER '' client is buying the steel '' we are installing it YOU HAVE A LABOR ... | ||
| Rate for waste of steel reinforcement | 12/21/2011 | jonewall |
| Q: Jonewall: First I would like to thank you in advance for replying my message. Second, I work in a ... A: DARINE ''if there is a rule or law mentioned in Fidic or any other international document, '' I ... | ||
| storage loft in garage | 12/20/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I'd like to build a storage loft in garage. Lots of wasted space above. The size would be 10' x ... A: I apologize for the delay in responding. What with the holidays and visiting family, I was very ... | ||
| Weight limit for Mezzanine | 11/30/2011 | Stephen Hayes |
| Q: I have a mezzanine that is 15 ft high with Metal girders as the flooring and wood slats, with 1/2 in ... A: Sorry, but I have no knowledge of structural engineering, so I am unable to answer your question. I ... | ||
| coating over vct gym floor | 11/22/2011 | Stephen Hayes |
| Q: Here's the scenario: An elementary school basketball gym has an existing VCT floor applied over ... A: My suggestion would be to obtain the name of the EXACT manufacturer of the VCT, 'google' their name ... | ||
| floor psf support under load | 11/2/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: i live on a third level of a rental apartment complex in scottsdale az. i built a small music ... A: From your description, I suspect you are somewhat in an "over-kill" mode. I own a warehouse complex ... | ||
| floojoist | 10/16/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I own a ranch home and recently noticed that a few of the floor joists are grade 3 lumber. the ... A: I assume you are reading a stamp on the joist. The species of wood may be graded differently. The ... | ||
| floor joist | 10/16/2011 | Stephen Hayes |
| Q: I own a rancher and recently discovered that a few of the floor joists are number three grade ... A: Sorry, I can't answer your question. I am an expert in floor coverings (carpet, vinly, hardwood, ... | ||
| Commissioning a Project | 10/13/2011 | jonewall |
| Q: My construction company has just won a tender to build four schools for the State Government. As ... A: Mike ''What areas should I consider when making my recommendations for the short list?'' 1 ... | ||
| notice to owner | 10/11/2011 | Dominic J. Maltese, Jr. |
| Q: I am a general contractor. I hired a contractor to build a screen room for one of my clients. He ... A: Do you or the owner have a notraized sworn statement from the sub. listing his suppliers and that he ... | ||
| engineering | 10/7/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: 1-Hovv many meters a ceramic labour should do a day ? 2-hovv many meter a painter should do a day ? ... A: The question you asked has many many variables that will change the answer. For example, plaster is ... | ||
| strongest building | 10/3/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: Hi, I'm in Gr.8 and I'm going to have a science fair. So, I decided to do it on architecture. I ... A: I'm reminded of my days in high school and I entered a science fair and received a blue ribbon for ... | ||
| concrete calculations, how to figure out ADA spec. for flatwork | 9/27/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I want to figure out the right procedure on concrete flatwork for commercial construction. I believe ... A: Yes, the 5 ft. wide sidewalk would slope 1-1/4". The 20 ft ramp would rise 20" and the 57 ft run ... | ||
| concrete calculations, how to figure out ADA spec. for flatwork | 9/16/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I want to figure out the right procedure on concrete flatwork for commercial construction. I believe ... A: The 2% slope can be from the crown or center of a sidewalk or a slope from one side to the other. ... | ||
| ceiling load engineering | 9/14/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: Roger, I want to build a 32x60' dance floor with living quarters above. I am guessing I'll need to ... A: Typically, the loading on a floor system is broken down into 3 classifications. These are Top-live, ... | ||
| disastermanagement | 8/21/2011 | Stephen Hayes |
| Q: which material is used in strongest buildings? which metal is used in it so it not fall in ... A: Sorry I can't answer your question, since I am an expert in floor coverings -carpet, hardwood, ... | ||
| supporting new reinforced floor slabs from old stone walls | 8/4/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I'm trying to research the best method and design for replacing the floors in old stonewalled houses ... A: You didn't say how old the houses are but, by your description, I assume they may be pre-WWII or ... | ||
| ceramic tiles had lifted | 6/25/2011 | Stephen Hayes |
| Q: Location: South Florida House was built in 1998. On April 2011 two ceramic tiles in the middle of ... A: To resolve your problem, after 13 years, would be very difficult, even if you paid for your own ... | ||
| ceramic tiles had lifted | 6/24/2011 | Stephen Hayes |
| Q: Location: South Florida House was built in 1998. On April 2011 two ceramic tiles in the middle of ... A: From your description, it sounds like a foundation problem, so I would not believe the insurance ... | ||
| ceramic tiles had lifted | 6/24/2011 | Stephen Hayes |
| Q: Location: South Florida House was built in 1998. On April 2011 two ceramic tiles in the middle of ... A: There could be several reasons why that happened. Since I can't see your installation, I could only ... | ||
| Epoxy Coating for Exterior Concrete Surface | 6/10/2011 | Stephen Hayes |
| Q: We have an upper, exterior, flat, concrete surface which also serves as the roof for a lower ... A: Unfortunately, I can't answer it. My expertise is all types of floor coverings such as carpet, ... | ||
| How to Calculate load bearing capacity for warehouse floor | 6/6/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: Please suggest how to calculate load bearing capacity for a warehouse floor, the warehouse is having ... A: It depends on the structural system used to construct the building. Is the ground floor on grade or ... | ||
| constuction company | 5/20/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: please i need your advice on issues surrounding setting up a construction company my uncle who is an ... A: You are in an envious position - sounds like you have the funding necessary to create a start-up ... | ||
| load limit for concrete/rebar floor | 5/15/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I live overseas and I'm having difficulty finding an answer to this question. At what types of ... A: Since you don't know the exact specifications and capacity of the floor system, I would really ... | ||
| load limit for concrete/rebar floor | 5/13/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I live overseas and I'm having difficulty finding an answer to this question. At what types of ... A: The weight of the floor slab is carried by walls that extend down to a foundation. I think it would ... | ||
| load limit for concrete/rebar floor | 5/13/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: I live overseas and I'm having difficulty finding an answer to this question. At what types of ... A: Hey Mark, You are doing the right thing - being assured that the floor will support your aquarium. ... | ||
| Swimming pool supply | 4/27/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: What is the normal pactise of waterproofing a swimming pool water storage tank? I am working on a ... A: That information helps. There are two ways the pipes could be inserted into the tank: 1st, the ... | ||
| Swimming pool supply | 4/26/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: What is the normal pactise of waterproofing a swimming pool water storage tank? I am working on a ... A: I understand your question but I don't have enough information. For example, what is the storage ... | ||
| assmbl site | 4/13/2011 | Roger Zona |
| Q: can u explain the site assembly on construction side? and productivty cycle? A: I assume you are referring to the equipment and tools kept on a project site. As I previously ... | ||
| assmbl | 4/13/2011 | Stephen Hayes |
| Q: can u explain the site assembly on construction side? and productivty cycle? A: Sorry, I can't answer your question. I am an expert in floor covering (carpet, rugs, ceramic, ... | ||
| role of cm | 4/13/2011 | jonewall |
| Q: can u explain me role of computer applicationin improving productivty of construction project in ... A: zeeshan THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER'S ROLE is to manage a project thru the stages of developing a ... | ||
| cm applications | 4/13/2011 | Emilian TRAISTA |
| Q: u plz help out me the role of computer applicationin improving productivty of construction project ... A: Zeeshan You are perfectly right, the computer may improve your productivity in all the domains you ... | ||
Answers by Expert:
Top Expert on this page
I am experienced in all types of construction: residential, industrial and commercial; single family, multi-family, mid-rise and high rise buildings (16 story office building) as well as remodeling, additions and tenant improvements. I can field most any question that relates to general construction. I have consulted with infrastructure (utility) contractors also and have a good general knowledge of underground utility construction for subdivisions and commercial projects.
After college, I began my career in the construction industry. I chose to become an apprentice Architect and 4 yrs later I opened my own architectural design firm. Six years later I moved to Florida to buy & develop land and build. I became a State of Florida Certified General Contractor and operated my business for 45 years. I built all types of residential and commercial buildings including warehouses, shopping centers, high rise apartments and office buildings and developed sites for other contractors. I retired and became a consultant to the construction industry. I maintain my license and continuing education requirements, operate a small construction company and write a weekly newspaper column for the Palm Beach Post (a Cox publication) with the byline "Ask The Contractor". I am the "technical editor" for a publisher of books that relate to home maintenance.
Organizations
Previously - NAHA
Currently - FLCA (Florida Licensed Contractors Assoc.)
Publications
Palm Beach Post newspaper - weekly Q & A column
Happy Herald monthly real estate publication - monthly column
Education/Credentials
Michigan State University
University of Detroit
BS in Engineering
Past/Present Clients
I built a home in Palm Beach for a member of the Pulitzer Family.
I was responsible for the completion of a twin hi-rise condominium project for G.E. Credit.
I was a partner in the successful development of a P.U.D. (Planned Urban Development) subdivision.
I represented the largest home builder from France (Bati Service, S.A.) in the development of a subdivision and the design and construction of the homes.

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