Follow the Fine Homebuilding Podcast on your favorite app. Subscribe now and don’t miss an episode: Help us make better episodes and enter for a chance to win an FHB […] The post Podcast 297: Short Doors, Basement Insulation, and Wood Foundations appeared first on Fine Homebuilding. via Blogger Podcast 297: Short Doors, Basement Insulation, and Wood Foundations
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Fine Homebuilding Podcast: Special Edition with Zip System and The Fortified Homes program11/5/2020 Follow the Fine Homebuilding Podcast on your favorite app. Subscribe now and don’t miss an episode: Patrick, Fred, and Matt talk about building disaster resilient homes, how modern building materials […] The post Fine Homebuilding Podcast: Special Edition with Zip System and The Fortified Homes program appeared first on Fine Homebuilding. via Blogger Fine Homebuilding Podcast: Special Edition with Zip System and The Fortified Homes program We’re back on site at the 2020 Fine Homebuilding House to talk with Elizabeth DiSalvo of Trillium Architects and Albert Jensen-Moulten from BPC Green Builders about the progress on the […] The post Double-Stud Walls and Insulated Window Bucks appeared first on Fine Homebuilding. via Blogger Double-Stud Walls and Insulated Window Bucks Yesterday, there was a light dusting of snow on the ground here in central New Hampshire. We'll have a handful of mild days before Thanksgiving, but it's now time to work indoors. I feel the best way to help save you both time and money is to refresh old columns. Each Wednesday for the next few months, I'm going to share with you the columns I've remodeled. What am I doing to each one? I'm adding:
Believe me, it's in your best interest to CLICK or TAP the headlines below and give each one a cursory glance. That way if you have the problem in the future, your tiny gray cells might whisper to you that help can be found at AsktheBuilder.com! Outdoor Kitchen Countertops - What's the BEST Material? Toilet Sizes - Did You Know About 10 and 14? Deck Pier Footings - OMG You BETTER LOOK At This! DANGER - Pressure Washer DAMAGE - CRAZY PHOTOS! Replace a Front Door - You've GOT THIS Sunroom Ceiling Ideas - Go TALL and Think WOOD House Building Photos and Videos - OLD PHOTO HERE! That's enough for you to munch on for a few days. I'll be here Sunday with a regular newsletter. I've already started to work on it. Tim Carter The post November 3, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter appeared first on Ask the Builder. via Blogger November 3, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter Yesterday, there was a light dusting of snow on the ground here in central New Hampshire. We'll have a handful of mild days before Thanksgiving, but it's now time to work indoors. I feel the best way to help save you both time and money is to refresh old columns. Each Wednesday for the next few months, I'm going to share with you the columns I've remodeled. What am I doing to each one? I'm adding:
Believe me, it's in your best interest to CLICK or TAP the headlines below and give each one a cursory glance. That way if you have the problem in the future, your tiny gray cells might whisper to you that help can be found at AsktheBuilder.com! Outdoor Kitchen Countertops - What's the BEST Material? Toilet Sizes - Did You Know About 10 and 14? Deck Pier Footings - OMG You BETTER LOOK At This! DANGER - Pressure Washer DAMAGE - CRAZY PHOTOS! Replace a Front Door - You've GOT THIS Sunroom Ceiling Ideas - Go TALL and Think WOOD House Building Photos and Videos - OLD PHOTO HERE! That's enough for you to munch on for a few days. I'll be here Sunday with a regular newsletter. I've already started to work on it. Tim Carter The post November 3, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter appeared first on Ask the Builder. via Blogger November 3, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter Follow the Fine Homebuilding Podcast on your favorite app. Subscribe now and don’t miss an episode: The Fine Homebuilding podcast is recording a second weekly podcast focusing on the issues […] The post Podcast 296: PRO TALK With Kyle Stumpenhorst appeared first on Fine Homebuilding. via Blogger Podcast 296: PRO TALK With Kyle Stumpenhorst ![]() Move a Support Post | Some support columns are easy to move. Others are so hard it makes your brain hurt to think all that needs to be done. Copyright 2020 Tim Carter QUESTION: Yo, Tim. I have this load-bearing post right in front of my laundry room door. What can a person do to remove or relocate it to a more convenient location? Is this something that a reasonably handy homeowner with a decent array of tools can do by himself? Can you share all that’s involved? Do you have a clue how this column ended up in such an inconvenient location? Is there a way to have fewer support columns in basements and crawlspaces? Andrew Van W., Spokane, WA I sure hope you’re able to see the photo (above) that Andrew sent to me. Oh my! It’s a great example of how not to think ahead. Not knowing all the facts, I speculate the architect or draftsperson had no idea that the basement might be finished at a later date. Related Links: Support Post and Beam Construction Tips If Andrew could jump into a time machine, I’m quite sure he would have tried to put the staircase so the side of the one stringer was just an inch away from the side of the column, or he would have had the structural engineer come up with a different support plan so the column would have been out of the way. It’s even possible to have no support columns at all. Watch this video! How Do You Install a Support Post?Let’s discuss how these posts or columns are installed in a typical home and then you’ll start to appreciate what’s involved in moving one. First and foremost, there should be a footing pad at least 2-feet by 2-feet by 8 inches thick under the post or column. This distributes the weight bearing down on the post over a greater area. ![]() The red arrows point to two of the five support post/column footings. Without this footing, the column could poke into the soil like you might put a toothpick into a juicy watermelon ball or piece of cheese. You don’t want support columns sinking into the soil for goodness sake. Should a Support Post be Bolted to the Footing?Many structural engineers require the support post to be bolted to this footing. You can imagine how hard it would be to remove these bolts if the base of the support column is surrounded by poured concrete. Yes, I know you can cut off the column at the floor level, but this might not be possible. The top of the support column should also be bolted to the beam that rests on top of the post. These bolts are somewhat easier to deal with and removing them is rarely a challenge. What is the Biggest Issue Moving a Support Post?The biggest issue is the overall structural design. Assuming the support beam was designed by a structural engineer or an architect with enough experience to know the correct beam size and column spacing, support posts and columns are in precise pre-determined locations. You can’t just remove a column and move it several feet one way or another hoping everything is going to work out. What About Concentrated Loads?It’s possible there’s an enormous concentrated load directly above the support column. I had this in the last home I built for my family. I had an interior bearing wall next to my family room that had a header support post that carried the weight of a second-story exterior wall, part of the attic floor, half the weight of a first-floor roof, and a major portion of the main house roof. I can’t begin to think of how many tons of weight are concentrated on this one post! DIY Support Post RelocationThe truthful answer is, “Yes, a reasonably handy homeowner with a decent array of tools can’t do this job by himself.” I say this knowing there are some very clever, determined, and resourceful homeowners out there. You may be one. I temper my answer with this caveat, though. The first thing you must do is hire a residential structural engineer. Have this professional visit your home, survey the job, and develop a small written plan for you to follow. Be sure the plan contains the mission-critical steps of how to temporarily re-support the beam while you do the work. CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local structural engineers. How Can I Have Fewer Support Posts?All of the misery and expense you’re about to suffer through could have been avoided when the house was built. You actually could have had no support columns or fewer of them. The common steel beam that is often installed in homes and crawlspaces is an 8 x 17 I-beam. This means it’s 8 inches tall and it weighs 17 pounds per lineal foot. In most homes, this beam requires support about every 8 feet. ![]() Residential steel beam - There are quite a few in a home I built in Amberley Village, Ohio. The beams are 10 inches tall and weigh 31 pounds per linear foot. You can span up to 14 feet with these! © 2018 Tim Carter Do Steel Beams Come in Different Sizes?Understand that steel i-beams come in many sizes just like shoes, pants, and shirts. A beam weighing more pounds per foot might have allowed for greater column spacing. A taller and heavier beam like the ones I put in my last house would have allowed you to span 14 feet. I installed 10 x 31 I-beams in my last house. Amazing wooden floor trusses could have been used in the house. These require no support beams beneath them. They just span all the way across the depth of the house. These are in my daughter’s new home. Here are her floor trusses: Not only do you not need beams under them, but the HVAC man, the plumber, and the electrician are going to be jumping for joy!The trusses make their jobs go faster and you save money in the long run. Column 1378 The post Move a Support Post appeared first on Ask the Builder. via Blogger Move a Support Post You subscribed at a great time! This is where I welcome all new subscribers. Thanks for your trust. This issue is chock full of amazing product links. Be sure to CLICK or TAP each photo you see! You, though, might be a subscriber who’s received countless issues. Did you know that I save them all, just like my miniature 6-inch by 6-inch travel chess set from when I was a teenager? So, if you need to see any past newsletter CLICK or TAP HERE. CLICK or TAP HERE to see more crazy photos of my cherished wood-inlay travel chess set. Wait until you see the underside. These make great affordable Christmas gifts. Two Seasons in OneCheck out this photo I shot two days ago. Mother Nature teased us here in central New Hampshire with our first measurable snow of the season. CLICK or TAP HERE to see a high-resolution photo and to be able to comment on her handiwork. Richard P. AndersonThis issue of the newsletter is dedicated to my best friend in Cincinnati, OH - Richard P. Anderson. Unfortunately, he’s not going to be able to read this. I should have done this a month, or two, or three ago. CLICK or TAP HERE to discover more about Richard. You better have a Kleenex or two handy. “Tim, Are You Okay?”Not a week goes by that I don’t get an email like the one I got from Joe overnight. Here’s what he sent:
I'm always touched by these emails because you care about me. Thanks so much for that. I’ve been sending out a newsletter regularly - sometimes more than one a week - for years. Why did Joe, and possibly you, stop getting them? The reasons are many. If you want to make sure my newsletter ends up in your Inbox each week, please do the following:
The first three things will communicate to your incoming invisible email postmaster that I’m a friend, not SPAM, that you like what is in the email because you OPEN IT, and you REALLY like the email newsletter because you CLICK LINKS in it. It’s that simple. Just do those three things each week and you’ll be set. Epoxy Garage CoatingsAre you thinking of investing in one of those attractive epoxy coatings for your garage floor? Like this: CLICK or TAP HERE to see what can go wrong and what the alternatives are. Fires and Fried ChickenI love fried chicken. I know I could eat it twice a week. How would you like the aroma of fried chicken drifting up your schnozzle as you enjoy a nice fire in your home? CLICK or TAP HERE - I guarantee you’ll LAUGH! This is a GREAT Christmas gift idea. My Daughter’s New StairsA little over two years ago, my daughter and son-in-law started to build their dream home on Mt. Desert Island, Maine. They finally moved in at the end of July. There’s a tale to tell about the saga, but not today. I want you to watch a video and take a look at their amazing modern and sleek staircase. I suggested they use LJ Smith stair parts and fortunately they listened to Dad! For you to fully appreciate what the stairs look like now, I want you to look at a BEFORE photo of the stairs leading to the second floor: CLICK or TAP HERE to see the DRAMATIC after photo and to watch a video I recorded about how you can have eye-popping stairs, railings, newel posts, balusters, and volutes in your home! All from LJ Smith! Amazing Magic Fire StarterSpeaking of fires, I want to share a SAFE new product that can create a roaring fire like the one below in about three minutes or less. You MUST READ the funny story about how I tricked my youngest daughter and two of her friends using it a week ago. My new moniker with them is Wizard Dad! CLICK or TAP HERE to read the short story about my magic skills. You'll then understand why I'm a life member of the NH Guild of Wizardry and Enchantment. Check out this fire I started using this NEW PRODUCT. Minutes before there was NO FLAME. I used NO MATCHES! AvariceDo you know who Tommy Thompson is? You can discover a very important life lesson if you read a book about him and what he did thirty-five years ago. CLICK or TAP HERE and I absolutely guarantee you’ll be blown away. That’s enough for a Sunday. I hope you tell that person you love how you feel about them. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Tim Carter Do It Right, Not Over! P.S. Are you going to remodel your kitchen? What are the TOP TEN MISTAKES you’ll make? CLICK or TAP HERE to avoid some of those mistakes. The post November 1, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter appeared first on Ask the Builder. via Blogger November 1, 2020 AsktheBuilder Newsletter Whether you’re putting together a holiday shopping list, or just looking for some top-notch tools for your own kit, you’re bound to find some good ideas here. This is a […] The post 2020 Fine Homebuilding Gift Guide appeared first on Fine Homebuilding. via Blogger 2020 Fine Homebuilding Gift Guide ![]() Plumbing Plans Consulting | You'll need a master plumber to draw a riser diagram like this. CLICK or TAP HERE and I'll do it for you. Plumbing Plans Consulting - Ask a Master Plumber Like MeDo you need some help with your isometric plumbing plans? It's best to ask a seasoned master plumber. I've been a master plumber since age 29 and can answer just about any question. If I don't know the answer I know where to find it. Can You Explain Riser Diagrams?Yes, I can not only explain riser diagrams, but I can also draw them for you. I draw mine in color so they're easier to understand. Are Vent Pipes Necessary?Yes, vent pipes are necessary in all plumbing systems. They provide the pathway for air to enter the system. Air is needed each time you put water down a drain. The post Plumbing Plans Consulting appeared first on Ask the Builder. via Blogger Plumbing Plans Consulting |