Best Practices Guide To Residential Construction

The most comprehensive guide to material selection & installation It takes a wise choice of building materials and details to create durable, attractive, and affordable custom homes and remodeling projects. Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction provides up-to-date, field-tested recommendations that help professionals balance cost and performance when designing and building residential projects. Steven Bliss, former editorial director of The Journal of Light Construction and founding editor of Progressive Builder, draws on his extensive knowledge as a practicing builder, designer, and construction editor to help building professionals select the right materials for every job and install them with confidence. This one-stop resource covers the real-world challenges of material selection and installation so designers, contractors, and building owners can make informed decisions for all major building components. Useful to architects, designers, and specifiers--as well as contractors, builders, and developers--Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction features: * More than 200 photos and illustrations of critical residential construction details * Installation tips and cautions that help prevent costly product failures * Descriptions of the latest composites and synthetics that are changing the way we build * Easy-to-use charts for making quick product comparisons * An authoritative guide to indoor air quality and healthy house construction

The leading guide to professional home construction—now updated and revised! Fundamentals of Residential Construction, Third Edition features the most up-to-date explanations of today's residential construction systems. From foundation to roof and exterior finishes to interior details, this new edition thoroughly addresses the latest developments in materials and methods of house construction, including energy efficiency, framing, and roofing. Abundantly illustrated with more than 1,250 drawings and photographs, including new photorealistic illustrations that bring the text to life, this Third Edition provides authoritative coverage on wood light-frame construction, industrialized systems of construction, insulating concrete forms, light-gauge steel frame, panelized construction, and a new chapter on multifamily construction. Topics covered include: Plumbing Building codes Heating and cooling Financing Wiring Roofing Thermal insulation Environmental concerns Foundations Finish sitework Rough sitework Wood and light-gauge steel framing Engineered materials Exterior and interior finishes Organized in a logical, easy-to-follow format, Fundamentals of Residential Construction, Third Edition is the one-stop source for building professionals to gain a working knowledge of codes, management procedures, material, and all home building concerns.

Provides technical information on foundations, framing, roofing, and exteriors to residential builders and remodelers.

The leading guide to professional home construction, updated and expanded Fundamentals of Residential Construction is the definitive guide to single family and multifamily home building that details every step of the construction process. From siting and foundations to finishing details, this book provides a complete walk-through of professional home construction. Over 1,200 drawings and photographs animate the textbook, while interactive supplementary online resources help facilitate an understanding of the material. This fourth edition accommodates the latest developments in materials and methods, including new coverage of sustainable building and energy efficiency, multifamily construction, prefabricated building components, and CAD/BIM planning tools in residential construction. Authoritative coverage of wood light-frame construction, building systems, industrialized fabrication, insulating concrete forms, light-gauge steel and masonry construction, multi-family buildings, and more provides a solid foundation in residential construction methods, tools, and processes. Building a home requires a deeply integrated understanding of materials, structures, codes, and management procedures. Because the process involves such a broad array of considerations and challenges, construction professionals must regularly draw on a clear body of knowledge to keep a project running smoothly. This book helps you lay the groundwork of expertise required to successfully complete a residential project. • Learn the advantages and disadvantages of common materials and systems • Understand site preparation, foundations, and framing • Delve into the details of roofing, finishing, and energy efficiency • Understand heating/cooling, plumbing, and electrical options • Examine the latest codes, costs, and management best practices Designing and constructing a home presents a unique project dynamic; people's homes are their sanctuaries, where they make the memories of a lifetime. They must be designed to be lived in, not simply "used." Lifetime costs play a major role in decision-making, materials must be carefully chosen and sourced, and spaces must be structured to be efficient yet enjoyable. Fundamentals of Residential Construction shows you how to bring it all together to turn a project into a family's cherished home.

In the climate-controlled buildings of today, moisture problemsaffect not only the useable life expectancy of the structure, butthe comfort and health of the occupants. This reference is thefirst to apply up-to-date moisture control and treatment techniquesin a problem/solution format. Opening with an introductoryexplanation of the nature and causes of mold, mildew, andcondensation, the book gives specific advice on heated, cooled, andcombination environments, plus a short course in the dynamics ofmoisture movement within buildings. Other invaluable coverageincludes: * clear, detailed recommended practices for all United Statesclimates * practices for cooling as well as heating climates (often, heatingclimate solutions are applied in cooling climates, where problemsand solutions are completely different) * an overall, systematic view of moisture problems--including howmechanical systems and occupant lifestyles can create and alsoresolve moisture problems * actual case studies of buildings with moisture problems thatillustrate the principles and practices presented in the book This detailed, no-nonsense exploration of moisture cause andeffect--as well as its protection and remediation--will expandreaders' knowledge on this crucial subject. Moisture ControlHandbook will be welcomed by building contractors, architects,mechanical engineers, building science researchers, buildingproduct manufacturers, homeowners, and small commercial buildingowners.

Avoid pitfalls with these expert tips & techniques for diagnosing and preventing the most common residential building defects. More than 50 experts in the field describe their proven techniques for preventing building problems.

A must-have reference to more than 100 common residential conditions—from accessibility issues to working with zinc Practical information that the architect, engineer, contractor and homeowner can access quickly, with over 230 supporting tables photos and details Identifies frequently used reference standards, acceptable practices, and other relevant resources Quick, reliable answers to your most common on-site questions When you're in the field, you never know what you'll come across. Graphic Standards Field Guide to Residential Construction gives you fast access to the information you need when you're on-site and under pressure. Presented in a highly visual and easily portable format, Graphic Standards Field Guide to Residential Construction is organized by CSI's MasterFormat and is coordinated with the 2009 International Residential Code, as well as current sustainable practices. It addresses issues pertaining to residential construction by covering every aspect of the process, such as the use of materials, structural concerns, finishes, thermal and moisture protection, accessible design applications, and more. Graphic Standards Field Guide to Residential Construction extends beyond the studio, with: Quick access to essential information wherever you are Graphic Standards-quality details accompanied by photographs and tables Illustrations that help you troubleshoot problems, along with on-the-spot solutions Compact format that's easy to reference and carry along Graphic Standards Field Guide to Residential Construction is a handy companion that offers the essential tools that time-crunched professionals can turn to in an instant when dealing with clients, or when handling the many complex demands surrounding construction management.