Whether it’s interior flooring or an outdoor concrete deck, concrete surfaces experience wear-and-tear and often need repairs and maintenance. One available solution to surface-repair is to add new concrete on top of the old one, but should you? You can add new concrete to an …
What Should a Floor Plan Include?
Floor plans are one of the most referenced diagrams in a set of architectural drawings. They are the starting point for understanding the design intent of a home or other building structure. Various types of plans are often included in a drawing set, but for …
Here’s How You Can Hide Wires in an Exposed Ceiling
You’re thinking of building a house with an exposed ceiling or maybe you already live in one. Either way, you realized the wires on the ceiling aren’t exactly pretty or safe to look at. So, you’re trying to learn how to hide the wires in …
Is Hemlock a Good Building Material?
Planning a building project presents you with many options and decisions to make. Lumber and materials are just one thing to consider. That said, you may be considering using hemlock wood for your next home project, but should you? Hemlock is a good building material …
Should Drywall Seams Be Staggered? What You Should Know
When hanging drywall, the goal is to minimize the number of seams as much as possible. This means you have to work with large drywall panels. The idea is that fewer seams equal less potential problems, but does staggering the joints add strength to the …
Steel vs. Timber Frame: Which Should You Choose?
Building a home or structure requires that you make several decisions. Although personal preference is a crucial factor when choosing your frame, you need to consider which one is better for your specific building project. When choosing which is better between steel and timber frames, …
Is Pine a Good Building Material?
When it comes to building something out of wood, the type of material will dramatically alter your result. However, there are so many types of materials that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by choices. Oak is immortal, but there’s cherry, spruce, and tons of other …
Steel vs. Aluminum Siding: Which Is Better?
Both steel and aluminum are popular siding materials in home construction. After your roof installation, the next and most important thing is your siding. It protects your home’s building envelope and provides curb appeal, but between steel and aluminum, which is better? Aluminum is relatively …