Concrete

Hot Weather Considerations

Like other chemical reactions, hydration of cement depends on temperature and time, as well as the presence of moisture. As concrete hardens, it becomes stronger, resists damage, and increases in durability. Hydration of cement stops when concrete dries. This means concrete must be kept from drying for as long as possible to reach its greatest [...]

1 comment Read the full article by Building a House →

Frame Punch Checklist

Construction Inspection

Check plans for correct elevation (roof lines, bay and box windows, entry configuration, covered porches, etc) All first floor wall bottomplates of interior and exterior walls are pressure treated lumber Porch columns sitting on pressure treated lumber of elevated brace designed to prevent water from penetrating No untreated lumber in contact with concrete Bottom plate [...]

0 comments Read the full article by Building a House →

Door Weatherstripping Checklist

Construction Inspection

Weatherstripping Checklist Door jamb installed and not cut short – installed jamb to jamb. No gaps on sides more than 1/8″. 1/8″ gaps commercial caulked Waterproofing + adhesive agent installed under the threshold to prevent water leakage. Proper concrete screws secured to slab with liquid nail under threshold Ensure that the door meets the threshold [...]

0 comments Read the full article by Building a House →

Tips for Hanging Drywall

Drywall

Drywall Hanging Tips, Checklist, and Overview – Flange tubs installed prior to sheetrock. Check for damage and review with contractor to confirm it is in good shape prior to his work beginning. It is very common for tubs to be chipped and damaged during either the sheetrock or tile stage of finishing out the bathtub [...]

1 comment Read the full article by Building a House →

Concrete Slab Estimating

Construction Estimating

Concrete POLY FORMULA – Total slab area + total beam lengths x 3 = total poly square footage. Concrete for 10″ x 24″ beams is calculated to cover 32 sq. ft. of slab area at 4″ deep. Flatwork, driveways, and sidewalks are estimated to cover 75 sq. ft. per cubic yard. One roll of wire [...]

3 comments Read the full article by Building a House →

Foundation Forms

Foundation

You are ready for the foundation make-up at the completion of the foundation plumbing and once you have verified all of the plumbing locations. Often times, depending on the city requirements, you will also need the foundation rough inspection completed prior to moving forward with the foundation make-up. This phase of construction consist of the [...]

7 comments Read the full article by Building a House →

Post Tension Foundation Cable Installation Checklist

Foundation

Checklist for Post Tension Cable Installation 1. Check the number and position of post tension cables to ensure the installation is per the foundation plan. 2. Check for plastic chairs at each pt cable intersection, and where the pt cable would touch the poly or form boards. (Chairs are to be installed approximately 24″ on [...]

2 comments Read the full article by Building a House →

Post Tension Foundation

Foundation

The decision as to if a post tension (later refered to as “pt”) foundation is required for your particular construction project is a decision that should be made by the engineer responsible for the foundation plans. At no point should you decide against post tension cables as a cost saving mechanism. You need to move [...]

0 comments Read the full article by Building a House →

Foundation Grade Checklist

Foundation

As I have mentioned in numerous other posts, the foundation is one of the most important aspects of building your own home. Not only is the foundation expensive, it is also the backbone of your house. A poor foundation can result in a poor quality life for your home. The foundation is going to be [...]

0 comments Read the full article by Building a House →

Foundation Grade

Foundation

FOUNDATION GRADE When you are building a house, the foundation grade is going to be a very important aspect of your construction process. After completion of the slab, it is a best practice to perform the first of two grades on the property. The purpose of this grade is to establish drainage and prevent water [...]

0 comments Read the full article by Building a House →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →