The construction tag has no wiki summary.
2
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1answer
24 views
Is High Friction Aggregate a type of stone or treatment applied to a stone?
I am doing some research about decorative stones and came across high friction aggregate. I am a bit confused and here are my two questions:
Is High Friction Aggregate a separate type of stone OR ...
0
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2answers
89 views
What is the best way to build a simple desk capable of supporting several hundred lbs.?
I'm in the middle of designing a desk that will have to support several hundred lbs., but I'm unsure of what would be the simplest method of bracing to carry a significant amount of weight. All my ...
4
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1answer
151 views
How can I build a brick mailbox?
I'm planning to build a wall block mailbox with the wall blocks that are 3.75" X 7.5" X 11.25". I've worked out the plans that allow for a particular mailbox to fit nicely in a space. However, it ...
4
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1answer
128 views
What can I do about this gap between the sill/exterior board and the subfloor?
I just discovered that my sill plate and joist setup is different than others I've seen (and I was a Realtor, so I've seen a lot of sills).
As you can see from the picture, there's a gap between ...
3
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1answer
217 views
Is this old basement floor concrete, grout, or something else?
What is the likely construction/material of the basement floor shown below?
It's not very flat, and the surface appears sandy. It's almost as if some kind of skim-coat was applied to the dirt floor. ...
0
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2answers
369 views
What type of wall construction is shown in these pictures?
These photos were taken through a small hole in the wall of a house. They are of the inside of the cavity. The hole they were taken through is at a height of about 60cm from the internal ground floor ...
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2answers
172 views
How do I take apart a wooden retaining wall?
I have a retaining wall, sorta. It acts as a divider between homes rather than retain anything. Built the same way as one, with 6x6 boards, spikes, all that jazz. No deadmen, of course.
I need to ...
5
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2answers
530 views
Is it normal to find cracks in new concrete?
I'm having a house built and they just completed pouring the slab for the foundation a few days ago. When I inspected it today I noticed several narrow (but sometimes long; one or two do them appear ...
2
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1answer
152 views
How can I protect a house foundation from weather conditions?
I started building a house and had to divert my money into another situation which was urgent. It might take some time to retrieve the money so the building is on hold.
Only the house foundation is ...
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0answers
89 views
Could someone help me to understand this answer in a easier understandable way for a non-native english speaker please? [closed]
What is the meaning:
Floor was built over a larger area and then covered over.
Landing or base of the stairs was moved, possibly during early construction.
Floor or landing was intentionally ...
4
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1answer
191 views
Is there any way I can reclaim this space and still safely support the front steps?
In my garage I have a nearly useless room that's 6'x10' but has this ... strange shelf of sorts in there. When I went to bust up the drywall to see whats behind it I found out it's been there since ...
0
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1answer
617 views
Best solution for file folders of custom wooden desk drawer?
A few months ago, I bought a wooden desk. I want to put file folders in one of the drawers. I bought this file folder frame set (the kind you build) for file folders from Office Depot, but they ...
3
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3answers
1k views
Natural ways to keep the ceiling cool during summer
I live in the single floor independent house in South India with the ceiling exposed to sun. In summer it gets really hot.
I am not an expert but was wondering if there is a traditional/natural way ...
11
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3answers
3k views
Is there an ideal height for a workbench?
Is there a universal standard height that people try to go for when building workbenches? Should DIY tabletops be tailor made to the height of the user and how does the ideal height of the tabletop ...
4
votes
1answer
320 views
How can I drill through rim joist/sheathing for a dryer vent?
I want to vent dryer through the rim joist of this home but it looks like this home has some sort of stone sheathing underneath the cedar shake. I can only see it from the basement. I can't really ...
4
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3answers
1k views
How can I calculate the load capacity of a platform?
I'm planning to build a very basic bed frame, but I'm not sure what size lumber to use.
I was thinking of building the entire thing from 2x4s (legs would be 4x4), but I'm not sure if this will be ...
1
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2answers
719 views
What is the expense and difficulty of moving an exterior kitchen wall?
I'm considering a kitchen remodel, that is in the front-right corner of a house, and surrounded by a covered deck on both sides. The deck extends out 8ft in the front and 9ft on the right.
I'd like ...
5
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3answers
111 views
Where can I find plans for building a chicken coop?
I was hoping to build a chicken coupe for 3-4 chickens. Does anyone know where I can find some plans (preferably free) for building a decent chicken coop? It doesn't have to be the Taj Mahal, but I ...
12
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2answers
437 views
What should I keep in mind when building my house myself?
I inherited a piece of land and want to build a house on it. Nothing fancy: one floor, 2-3 rooms.
Since I don't really have the money :D to build it "in one go", I'm going to build it over a longer ...
1
vote
2answers
157 views
Simple construction for trunk-or-treat [closed]
I'm sorry this is slightly off-topic, but I was hoping this might be a fun brainstorm for some folks who are more construction-minded than I am.
Our church is taking part in a "Trunk-or-Treat", where ...
3
votes
1answer
628 views
Can someone review this garage loft design for structure and stability?
I'd like to build a loft above a 12'x16' portion of my garage. My plan is to lag screw ledger boards to the studs and attach 2x10 joists to the ledgers using joist hangers. Additional supports will be ...
5
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3answers
303 views
Resource for ballparking current home construction costs?
We're about to move several states away and have begun the house hunting process. We're moving to a region that, like most in the US, has seen housing costs tank, though it is a small enclave of ...
3
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1answer
273 views
My deck dies in a funny pattern — does that mean this board is upside-down?
My deck looks like this after it rains.
One board and parts of others are damp for a long time after everything else has dried. What could cause this and is it hard to fix?
My only guess is ...
3
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3answers
183 views
Are hydraulics stronger against compression or tension?
I would like to use a pair of hydraulic pistons to raise and lower a surface that will hold about 150 lbs, and be capable of remaining in either fully extended or fully contracted modes for long ...
4
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2answers
5k views
How do I properly jack up one side of my house?
As I write this, I have a slight lean as I walk on my floor in some parts of my house, and it's even worse on the upper floor. In some parts upstairs, it feels almost like you have to grab something. ...
3
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1answer
977 views
How do I install concrete blocks to support deck stairs?
I just had a deck constructed and it failed inspection, partly because of missing concrete blocks where the steps meet the ground (see also my related question Deck handrail bracket). How would I go ...
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2answers
632 views
Deck handrail bracket
I just had a deck built and it failed inspection, partly because of the lack of a graspbable handrail (see also my related question Concrete blocks supporting deck stairs) . The current rail is a ...
7
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2answers
4k views
Is there a good way to lay out a right angle?
Today we set up batter boards and put out marking strings to prepare for constructing a round deck.
We wanted 2 strings that marked the center lines, crossing each other at 90 degrees. We set up ...
4
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1answer
1k views
How high should I make my yurt platform?
I am building the floor/platform for a 30' yurt. It's basically a deck.
30' diameter circle
pre-cast concrete pier blocks
4" x 6" pressure treated joists, 4' o.c.
1 1/8" tongue-and-groove plywood ...
3
votes
1answer
796 views
How do I build a deck that is easy to take apart?
I spent the day taking apart the platform for a yurt. It was a real pain, and I want to make it easier to take apart next time.
Old deck construction details:
Decking was 1 1/8" tongue-and-groove ...
3
votes
1answer
401 views
What is the proper way to frame in a room?
I'm looking to frame in this room (photo 2) to utilize the space for a 1st floor bathroom / 1st floor laundry room / storage.
I think I have the process down having seen my uncles and brothers houses ...
3
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3answers
3k views
Why do my new door hinges prevent my door from shutting completely?
I have installed some new standard 3" door hinges with a small corner radius on a 32" door. The doors are sold core oak doors. The hinges appear to look fine and fit perfectly flush in the existing ...
5
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1answer
425 views
How do I identify support beams?
I'd like to remodel a couple rooms in our home, but am unsure how to identify support beams when the time comes. Are there any easily-identifiable things I should look for to keep my house from ...
4
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1answer
4k views
What are the advantages and disadvantages to timber framing vs. platform framing?
Within in the next 10-years, my wife and I would like to replace the old modular home on our property with a new house. I've been having some discussions with a friend of mine who is a huge fan of ...
4
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4answers
2k views
Where can I find garage building plans?
If I wanted to build a detached garage/workshop, where can I find complete, detailed plans? I'd like to be able to estimate building cost from a materials list.
I'm not certain what style I'd want, ...
3
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2answers
438 views
Fast, easy and simple construction of a log store
We've just bought a whopping great log burner, and so our thoughts have turned to keeping it fed over the winter. I've plenty of ash trees, some beech, and an old sycamore that over the last couple of ...
