A rough opening too small for the window or door to fit presents a problem with a limited number of options to fix. Explore them and choose the best way. The options are: replace the window or door with one that will fit, remove the jack studs and make them smaller, or rebuild the opening. …
Author Archives: David King
Jacking up a Floor and Leveling it | DIY Instructions
Jacking up a floor and leveling it is easy with these simple instructions. Make repairs to settling piers and weak joists to fix swagging floors and roof lines. The only tools required is a bottle jack, string, straight claw hammer, circular saw, and a light source. You will need some bagged concrete, concrete blocks, lumber, …
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Moisture Control for the Crawl Space 2012 Building Codes
Controlling moisture in the crawl space underneath a house is important to prevent structural damage caused by rot and the development of dangerous molds. Proper planning on new home construction or careful analysis on existing homes will prove invaluable. Moisture in Crawl Spaces Moisture makes its way into crawl spaces primarily by two means. During heavy rains …
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Jack Rafter Calculator | Works with different Pitches
This jack rafter calculator works in any situation every time. Simply use the drop down to enter the pitch of the main roof, the pitch of the complimentary roof, and the length of the long rafter to get reliable results. For any questions, see the directions at the bottom. What are Jack Rafters? Jack rafters …
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Pressure Treated Mudsill Constrution
The pressure treated mudsill is the beginning of the framing process. This is where the wood meets the concrete. It is usually separated by a vapor barrier and bound tightly with anchor bolts. Before the Mudsill can be Installed First things first when it comes to starting the framing process. Check the dimensions of the …
Means of Egress | Windows – Doors – Halls – Stairs
Means of Egress Means of egress is basically an escape route from a dwelling in the event of a fire or other catastrophe according to most building codes. These general guidelines are based in the 2012 IRC. Door Egress There should be a clear path from everywhere in the dwelling to a door without going …
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Stair Calculator with Landings for 7 3/4″ Max Risers
Use this automatic stair calculator for applications requiring the risers to be 7 3/4″ maximum. Use the number boxes to enter a value for the vertical rise. The results returned are the number of steps along with the risers and the angle of the stringer. Includes a landing section for finding the individual step height …
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Online Rafter Length Calculator
Calculate the length of common rafters with this free and easy online tool by entering a dimension for the roof width, selecting a pitch for the roof, and the thickness of the ridge. The results are organized in an easy to read form. They include : The length of the rafter. The rise of the …
Floor Joists Span Chart for 2012 IRC
The floor Joist span chart and building code requirements are based on data from the 2012 International Residential Code using number 2 lumber. Types of Floor Joists Joists for use in residential framing applications fall into two different categories; tree sawed and engineered. This page focuses on the tree sawed variety. Kiln dried number 2 Pine is the …
Girders and Beams in House Construction
Learn how to build girders in new house construction according to the 2012 International Building Codes. Find out how to position them exactly, straighten them to perfection, and fasten their plies permanently. Flush Beam or Drop Girder? Drop girders are positioned in such a fashion so that the floor joist sit directly on top of …