37
votes
Accepted
Could a layman build a house from plans?
I used to have a teacher that said
Anyone can do anything given enough time and instruction.
That being said every trade has a learning curve to acquire the skills and required tools to ...
- 20.6k
22
votes
Accepted
What is the purpose of these small unaligned studs for building a precut chest of drawers?
These are clips that prevent the thin material that is slid into the groove from coming out and provides more support for the panel and to prevent racking.
The thin plastic goes in the groove behind ...
- 9,886
10
votes
Accepted
Bridging one deck joist over a formal pond
I think I'd use a length of aluminum box tubing as a joist. You can hang it on the concrete using segments of aluminum angle as joist hangers. You can then screw the decking directly to the tubing.
- 149k
9
votes
Could a layman build a house from plans?
yes - you can do it!
Do not listen to the naysayers, this will be an experience of a lifetime for you! I recommend that all millennials endure the trials and travails of a home build. I trust that ...
- 36.7k
9
votes
Accepted
What do you call a property with two separate buildings on it?
It's "a property with two buildings on it".
You are right that a duplex is typically considered a single building partitioned into two living spaces, often multifamily.
I don't know of any ...
- 2,436
9
votes
Load bearing wall removed from house that I bought now it’s sagging
Was it sagging when you bought the house?
You need to document everything you do because you might have a case against the people you bought it from.
You need to have this checked out by a structural ...
- 86.2k
8
votes
Could a layman build a house from plans?
If your question were Is an intelligent layman likely to successfully build a habitable house from plans by himself?, I think the answer is 99.5% no. As far as building a "house from plans", yes, but ...
- 12.4k
8
votes
Bridging one deck joist over a formal pond
You could support each deck board individually by taking advantage of the strongest shape in construction, the triangle.
- 16.9k
7
votes
Could a layman build a house from plans?
By the way, trades are doable, even the scary ones. For instance I'm ace with electrical, but mortally afraid of drywall work. I can probably get over that.
Electrical has a lot of complexity, but ...
6
votes
Does sheathing overlap in corners and what happens to 8' walls?
Sheathing layout is determined by stud layout (and vice versa*), and it's unlikely that a framer lays out studs with an extra ½" in mind. Sheathing usually starts at the end of a wall, or it ...
- 149k
5
votes
Could a layman build a house from plans?
I have twice gone down to mexico to build a basic frame of a house in 3 days. There was about 20 of us working on it. first day was leveling the ground and pouring concrete. Second was building the ...
- 51
5
votes
Accepted
Is stacking material under an I-Beam to make it level structurally sound and passing code?
These are metal shims - very very common.
You install ibeam and either right after install or after joists are installed you want to level everything out. You will need to shim at least one side. ...
- 50.4k
5
votes
Ridge Beam Crack?
If the crack is in a part of the roof that has rafters on either side, it will not matter as long as the rafters on the other side are directly opposite of the ones in the picture. Since the picture ...
- 37.4k
5
votes
Fixing very old, very undersized ceiling joists
You have several challenges when adding many thousands of lbs. of weight to a roof system like that (which almost certainly wasn't designed with that use in mind):
The ceiling joists aren't up to the ...
- 149k
5
votes
Renovate or Rebuild?
This is simple math except for some unanswered questions here. Why spend 700K on reno when you can tear down and build new for 450K and get exactly what you want? ( New is going to hold valve longer ...
- 42.8k
4
votes
Could a layman build a house from plans?
Yes, you can do it.
You could do all of it (given time and money), but take good note of the idea of subbing out the hard/specialty things (my personal list would include foundations, hvac, plumbing,...
- 23.3k
4
votes
Is framing with screws legal?
Just found this.
The SDWS Framing screw is designed and load-rated for replacing 16d, 10d and 8d nails in framing applications. The SDWS Framing screw is 0.160" in diameter and superior to nails in ...
- 41
4
votes
Accepted
How to locate a line parallel to adjacent building for a new building
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- 149k
4
votes
DIY Murphy Bunk Bed
Since you are cantilevering off the wall, the verticals must be exemplary. This is a very significant structural side load. I would consider Unistrut, and it must be tied to studs proper, never to ...
4
votes
How to replace beam with supporting wall
I wouldn’t remove the posts. The posts have footings that support the loads from the beam.
If you remove the posts and build a wall, you’ll need to install a footing under the new wall.
I’d just build ...
- 23.5k
4
votes
How will a hybrid water heater perform in less than optimal conditions?
For your “with ducting”, it should not be an issue at all, since you have met the full requirements with ducting.
For your “Without ducting”, in general you have met the condition, as the 300 cf room ...
- 2,782
4
votes
Accepted
How to change name tag on old Kompakt intercom
If there's some sort of centralized maintenance person/company responsible for taking care of common areas, I'd suggest contacting them as they probably know how, and may (eventually?) get around to ...
- 48k
4
votes
Accepted
Do p2 resperatiors provied any protection against asbestos? will I be ok?
I am freaking out about this
Because you're not an oncologist.
If you were, you'd wear a dust mask for comfort and not worry about it LOL.
Everybody treats asbestos like it's cyanide or something. ...
4
votes
Accepted
In what instance can a bedroom not have a proper egress window
Depending precisely where in Vermont, there might not be a building code official to actually inspect it, so it might only come to official attention after it kills someone.
The cities (and ski-area-...
- 226k
4
votes
What would be a code compliant fix this double top plate?
Your strategy is sound, but I'd make life easy on yourself and cut back a bit more. By taking more of the top plate out you create access to the double plate.
This sketch shows one possibility. The 32&...
- 149k
3
votes
How to learn house construction?
I hate physics, but structural engineering is all about physics.
The concept of “designing” structural walls, roofs, foundations, etc. is really the intersection of material’s substance and the ...
- 23.5k
3
votes
Running EMT conduit through soffit into attic
OK, I am assuming you are running 15A or 20A circuits for the bathroom and it can be run in 1/2" conduit.
First you are right to abandon the idea to bend EMT through the soffit and into the attic. ...
3
votes
Could a layman build a house from plans?
People certainly do this in the UK - and bear in mind that the standard construction method in the UK is not wood-frame, but walls built with bricks and mortar. Of course there is a tradeoff here - UK ...
- 884
3
votes
DIY Murphy Bunk Bed
Many designs have legs at both exterior corners, but your design uses stays, the stays should reach more than half way across the
platform, else they and the hinge will be seeing magnified loads. the ...
- 24.7k
3
votes
How can I build a permanent shelter in very remote area?
Corrugatesd (or other profile) "iron" (ie. sheet steel) skin, over 2x4 frame cross-braced with metal strap.
You want one or two courses of blocking to give an attachment point for the sheets....
- 24.7k
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