Fundamentals Of Residential 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.

Modern Residential Construction Practices provides easy-to-read, comprehensive and highly illustrated coverage of residential building construction practices that conform to industry standards in the United States and Canada. Each chapter provides complete descriptions, real-world practices, realistic examples, three-dimensional (3D) illustrations, and related tests and problems. Chapters cover practices related to every construction phase including: planning, funding, permitting, codes, inspections, site planning, excavation, foundations and flatwork, floors, walls, roofs, finish work and cabinetry; heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC); electrical, and plumbing. The book is organized in a format that is consistent with the process used to take residential construction projects from preliminary concept through all phases of residential building construction. An ideal textbook for secondary and college level construction programs, the book is packed with useful features such as problems that challenge students to identify materials and practices, along with research and document information about construction materials and practices, useful summaries, key notes, a detailed glossary, and online materials for both students and educators.

Residential Construction Management will provide construction managers a concise and practical guide to managing residential construction projects. One of the fundamental reasons residential contractors fail to prosper is that they are poor managers. By presenting project management tools in their appropriate context of the project lifecycle—initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing, readers will more clearly understand the iterative nature of construction management, which is a key to successfully managing a construction project. You can't afford to be without this indispensible working tool and its step-by-step instructions, project management templates, and real-world case studies. Residential Construction Management provides construction managers a concise and practical guide to managing residential construction projects. One of the fundamental reasons residential contractors fail to prosper is that they are poor managers. By presenting project management tools in their appropriate context of the project lifecycle — initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing — you will more clearly understand the true nature of construction management, which is a key to successfully managing a construction project. You can't afford to be without this indispensible working tool and its step-by-step instructions, project management templates, and real world case studies.Key Features ¦ Walks you through the entire project management lifecycle resulting in a better understanding of the iterative processes of construction management ¦ Offers the information and real world tools needed to successfully apply to a planned or current project ¦ Shows how various knowledge areas and project management tools interact when doing a project providing you with the knowledge to create your own project plan ¦ Offers a downloadable building specification form, change order authorization form, construction schedule, sample budget, construction flowchart, a guide to working with bankers for spec home loans, and much more — available from the Web Added Value™ Download Resource Center at www.jrosspub.com

Down and dirty – a complete step-by-step guide to making, installing and living with beautiful, all-natural earthen floors Poor heat and moisture management are the enemies of durable, comfortable, and efficient housing, and good building design and construction starts with a solid understanding of good building science. Essential Building Science provides a highly visual and accessible introduction to the fundamentals of building science for residential construction. Part one covers the rationale behind high-performance design and the fundamentals of building physics, including thermal dynamics, moisture transfer, and hygro-thermal dynamics such as vapor drive and condensation. Part two teaches the vital critical thinking skills needed to consider buildings as whole systems and to develop thermal and moisture control strategies regardless of the specifics of the design. Case studies and examples from across North American climatic zones illuminate real-life problems and offer builders, designers, and DIYers the insights and tools required for creating better new buildings and dramatically improving old ones. Good science plus critical thinking equals high performance buildings.

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.

The audience for this book in the United States alone is well over half a million: construction managers (389,000), architects (113,000), engineers (228,000), and urban planners (32,000)