Archive for May 2013
Building a Basement: Do it Right the First Time
Building a basement the right way will give you a strong, stable house and provide you with additional living space at a bargain price. Every house needs a foundation. In order to be strong, that foundation must be built on solid soil and it must extend below the frost line. Freezing water is amazingly powerful.…
Read MoreThe Residential Building Code Helps You Build a Safe and Solid House
A Residential Building Code is an Ordinance. It is a law. Most states, cities, and other jurisdictions adopt a building code that consists of a set of rules and regulations that address the design and construction of a house, addition, or other one or two-family dwellings. Sometimes I’m asked, “Do I have to comply with…
Read MoreLearn How to Calculate Square Footage in a House Plan
It is critically important to know how to calculate square footage when you are designing your new house or addition. What parts of the house count in the calculation and what parts do not. The most commonly used formula for calculating square footage, and the one used by real estate appraisers, is to include only…
Read More