Design concrete footings for residential houses according to the 2018 IRC even if its on solid rock. Footing Basics The footing transmits the loads from above to the soil. So when an aggregate such as gravel , and the soil…
Roof trusses are fabricated from individual framing members so they behave as a single object. They are typically engineered, but can also be home built. Home built versions can work great for shops and barns or anything else that must…
From the very beginning of my framing career I was fascinated by roof framing. It was obvious to me, even at such an early age, that this was not easy thing. It was clear to me right off the bat…
Concrete Foundation Forms 2 x 4’s and 3/4″ forming plywood works best. The form will be lightweight and strong. If they will be reused, then use treated lumber. The 2 x 4’s should be No.2 kiln dried pine simply because…
Prepare the Wood for Finishing Finishing wood begins with preparation. All wood should be clean, dry, and free from any protrusions such as nail heads. Any fasteners such as nails or trim screws need to be properly set and filled…
Shear Bracing a Wall Wooden stud walls have to be properly shear braced with structural construction panels in accordance with the local code such as the International Residential Code. The basic rule of thumb is to have a minimum of…
The rough opening for a door is directly relational to its size. For prehung single doors, the formula is simple, just add 2″ for the width and 2 1/2″ for the height. Rough Openings for Doors The reason why the…
This bridge design is for driveways that must go over a creek. Its simple design features concrete foundations, steel girders, and a wooden floor. Planning for a driveway with a bridge over a creek Sometimes there is no option except…
Directly compare three types of shingles against two types of metal roofing for pricing, speed, reliability,and durability. Learn the advantages and disadvantages for both applications. Also explore other factors such as how steep the roof is, and whether or not…
Use this simple lay out technique to accurately space the 1 1/2″ spindles on handrails on a deck. The building code states that a 4″ sphere cannot pass through at any point. A common mistake when installing spindles is to…