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BUILDING DEFECTS & REPAIR
Bouncy, Sagging Floors, Repairing
Buckling Asphalt Shingles
Carpenter Ants, Identifying & Treating
Cracks in Slabs, Causes & Cures
Decks, Restoring Cracked and Weathered
Efflorescence & Spalling, Preventing
Garage Floor Leak, Cure For
Magnesium Oxide Wallboard Failures
Mold on Walls & Ceilings, How to Prevent
Notching & Boring Joists
Radon Reduction Techniques
Rot Repair, Getting Bids For
Termite and Water Damage, Repairing
Treated Wood, Decay Of
Underground Water Leaks
Vertical Siding, Rot Along Bottom
Water Stains on Ceiling, How to Find Leak
Window Flashing Tape, Black Stains From
Woodpecker Damage, Preventing
BUYING LAND
Building Lot Questions: Who to Ask?
Buried Debris and Foundation Damage
Buy Land-House Package or Hire Custom Builder?
Buying in a Seller’s Market
Earnest Money Refunds?
Filled Land, Building On
Poor Soils, Building On
Steep-Site Building Costs
Unbuildable Lots, Building On
Unbuildable Lots, Tax Assessment
Wet Sites, Building On
CONTRACTS
Allowances – What’s Fair?
Change Orders: How to Avoid Overcharges
Contract Seems Vague on Many Details
Cost-Plus vs. Fixed-Price Contracts
Cost-Plus Contracts: Are Supervision Costs Billable?
Cost-Plus Contracts for New Homes
Cost-Plus Contracts: How Much Markup?
Cost-Plus vs. Fixed-Price Contracts
Design-Build Contracts on a Tight Budget
Is a Signed Proposal A Legal Contract?
Contract Seems Vague on Many Details
When Is An Estimate a Binding Contract?
Specifications, Where to Get
DECKS
Brick Veneer, Attaching Deck To
Ceramic Tile Over Wood Decks
Composite Trim For Decks & Porches
Deck Railings, Code-Compliant
Deck Guardrails vs. Handrails
Helical Piers for Decks
Patios & Decks for Coastal Homes
Post Bases, What Type is Best?
Restoring Cracked and Weathered Decks
Stainless-Steel vs. Galvanized Hangers
Under-Deck Drainage Systems
Mahogany Decking, How Durable?
Rooftop Decks, Leak-Proof Details
Treated Wood, How Long Will It Last?
DESIGN
Beach Houses, Durable Details
Design-Build on a Tight Budget
Designing A Home in Another State
Finding the Right Designer for your Project
Specifications, Where to Get
Who Pays for Architect’s Mistakes?
Who Pays If Plans Don’t Meet Code?
Who Owns an Architect’s Plans and CAD Files?
Windows: Casement Vs. Double-Hung
ENERGY CONSERVATION
Attic Air Sealing & Insulation
Basement Insulation, Foam Between Studs
Basement Insulation, Interior vs. Exterior
Basement Insulation, Protecting On Exterior
Basement Vapor Barriers
Cathedral Ceilings, Combining Spray Foam & Fiber Insulation
Cathedral Ceilings, Hot-Humid Climates
Cathedral Ceilings, Insulating with Spray Foam
Cathedral Ceilings, Insulating with Foam Board
Cathedral Ceilings, Preventing Condensation
Cathedral Ceilings, Unvented, How to Seal
Chimneys, Air-Sealing Around
Condensate from High-Efficiency Furnaces, Filters For
Dense-Pack Cellulose vs. Exterior Foam
Foam Sheathing: Min. Thickness, Vapor Barriers, Housewrap
Foundation Insulation, Shallow Footings
Heat Pumps in Cold Climates
Low-E Storm Windows & Films
Radiant Slab Insulation
Radon Risks and Mitigation
ZIP Sheathing Vs. Plywood & Housewrap
ESTIMATING & BIDDING
Allowances – What’s Fair?
Change Orders: How to Avoid Overcharging
Comparing Bids: Is Low Bid the Best?
Cost-Plus vs. Fixed-Price Bids
Design-Build on a Tight Budget
Estimate Seems Vague on Details
Extra Charges, Should I Pay Them?
Getting Bids for Rot Repair
How Do I Learn To Estimate?
How Much Markup for General Conditions?
Modular Housing Costs vs. Site-Built
Owner-Supplied Labor for Part of a Job
Should I Pay for an Estimate?
Refund if Job Costs Less Than Bid?
When Is An Estimate a Binding Contract?
EXTERIORS
Cleaning & Staining Redwood Siding
Chimney Caps, Best Materials & Details
Vertical Siding, Cupping Causes & Cures
Vertical Siding, Rot Along Bottom
Vertical Siding, Cupping Causes & Cures
Water Leakage Above Windows
Window Flashing, Leakproof
Window Flashing, With Felt Paper
Window Flashing Tape, Black Stains
Windows: Casement Vs. Double-Hung
Wood Siding Installation
Woodpecker Damage, Preventing
FOUNDATIONS & SITEWORK
Basement Flooding: Drying and Repair
Basement Insulation, Foam Between Studs
Basement Insulation, Interior vs. Exterior
Basement Insulation, Protecting On Exterior
Basement Leakage, Existing Homes
Basement Leakage, Diagnosing
Basement Leakage, New Homes
Buried Agricultural Waste, Building On
Buried Debris, Erosion, and Foundation Damage
Buried Rubble, Building On
Cracks in Slabs, Causes & Cure
Cracks in Foundation Walls, Diagonal
Crawlspaces: Vented vs. Unvented
Efflorescence & Spalling, Preventing
Expansive Clay Soils and Foundation Damage
Filled Land, Building On
Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations
Garage Foundation Leak, Cure For
Patios for Coastal Homes
Poor Soils, Building On
Poor Soils, Who Pays Extra Costs?
Soil Washed Away Under Foundation
Steep-Site Building Costs
Vapor Barrier In Basments
Walk-Out Basements, How Much Slope?
Water Leaks Under A Slab
Wet Sites, Building On
INTERIORS
Hardwood Floors, Acclimating Moisture Content
Hardwood Floors, Prefinished vs. Unfinished?
Magnesium Oxide Wallboard Problems
Squeaky Floors, Fixing
KITCHEN & BATH
Ceramic Tile, Drilling
Ceramic Tile Subflooing
Ceramic Tile, Colorants vs. Re-Grouting
Ceramic Tile, Mastic vs. Thinset Mortar
PEX vs. Copper Plumbing
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Builder’s Risk Insurance, Who Should Buy?
Building Permit: Who Should Apply?
Buy a Land-House Package or Hire My Own Builder?
Change Orders, How to Minimize
Code Compliance In Remodeling Projects
Hiring a Construction Manager
Mechanic’s Lien, How to Fight
Resolving Disputes Over Specs, Change Orders, and Cost Overruns
The Final Check and Punch List
Warranties and New-Home Defects
ROOFING
Best Roofing for Pacific Northwest
Buckling Asphalt Shingles
Low-Slope Roofing Options
Metal vs. Plastic Roofing for Carport
Rooftop Decks, Leak-Proof Details
Tile Roofs: Repair or Replace
Tile Roofs: Reuse or Replace When Reroofing?
Tile Roof Underlayment Options
Tile Roof Underlayment: Peel-and-Stick vs. Hot Mop in Florida
Two-Ply Roofing Underlayment
SEPTIC SYSTEMS
Alternative Septic Systems Allowable?
Aerobic Treatment Systems
Can You Replace Failed Drain Field in Same Location?
Chamber Septic System Failure
How Much Slope For Septic Line?
Inspecting a Septic System
Lifespan of Septic System’
Minimum Lot Size For Septic System?
Perc Test Cost?
Perc Test: Best Time of Year?
Perc Test: Who Can Perform?
Retesting a Site That Failed to Perc?
Sand Filter for Existing Septic System?
Testing an Existing Septic System
Testing for a New Septic System
Wet Sites, Septic Systems For
STRUCTURE & FRAMING
Loadbearing Walls, Removing
Notching & Boring Joists
Soundproofing a Wall
ZIP Sheathing Vs. Plywood & Housewrap
WELLS & WATER SYSTEMS
Acidic Water Treatment
Hard Water Treatment
Testing an Existing Well
Testing for a New Well
Water Softeners Effect on Drinking Water
Well Clearances to Septic Systems, Buildings & Contaminants
Ask a question and we’ll get you an answer as soon possible.
Larry says
Where to Get Plumbing Plans for Stock Home Design
I purchased home plans from a home design company. My city wants plans submitted to include a plumbing lines diagram. My purchased plans include electrical diagrams including electrical lines but no diagram for plumbing lines, only fixture locations. I have contacted plumbers to see if they would render drawings for my water lines through out my house and none are willing to or showed interest to do so. Where or how can I get the water line drawings from plumbing fixtures to water main .Do I need to go to an architect ?