The vast majority of foundations throughout the U.S. are constructed using poured concrete or concrete masonry. While these materials are excellent choices for foundations, they tend to shift, resulting in a dreaded foundation crack. You should worry about a foundation crack when it appears as …
Can You Use Old Concrete As Fill for New Concrete?
Many DIY home builders ask the question: can I use old concrete as fill for new concrete? The answer is YES! If you have a large pile of leftover material from your last project, recycling it into your next one is both cost-effective and environmentally …
How To Fix Air Bubbles in Drywall Mud
Applying drywall mud is a skill that takes time and practice to develop. Sometimes, as a result of improper application or external factors that are no fault of your own, your drywall mud may begin to bubble and swell. Bubbles in your drywall mud are …
What Do Dotted Lines Mean on a Floor Plan?
When reviewing floor plans you may have come across portions of the drawing that are shown with dotted or dashed lines. After seeing them, you may wonder what they represent and why they are illustrated differently from other lines on the architectural or engineering plan. …
Can You Pour New Concrete Over Old Concrete?
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 Makes a Good Floor Plan?
A quality floor plan is an important part of a complete set of drawings. It is typically the starting point for any home design or renovation project. For this reason, it’s crucial for it to have a well articulated layout and graphic consistency so it …
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 …
Properties of Form in Architecture
Form is a term used extensively in the field of architecture. It is the physical quality that shapes the structures we see around us. Form, in combination with texture, light, materials, color and shade is what gives a building or space its unique character. The …