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    Cost To Install Fiber Cement Siding: Per Square Foot, By Type And More Forbes Home – Forbes - January 22, 2024 by Mr HomeBuilder

    The main cost factors to consider when budgeting for a fiber cement siding project are the type of siding you choose and the square footage youll need to cover.

    Fiber cement siding typically costs between $5 and $15 per square foot to install, which includes materials and labor. But costs can be higher depending on the type of siding you choose and whether there are any hard-to-reach areas or obstacles that the contractor will need to spend extra time navigating.

    There are three main types of fiber cement siding. The type you choose will affect your final costs.

    Planks

    Fiber cement planks are long, narrow strips that look similar to traditional wooden planks, but theyre more durable and weather-resistant. You can install them in vertical or horizontal configurations depending on the look youre going for. These planks usually cost between $4 and $6 per square foot, not including labor.

    Shingles

    Fiber cement shingles are designed to look like wooden shingles. They feature relatively small individual pieces that are often used to cover smaller areas or create decorative patterns. Fiber cement shingles cost between $2 and $6 per square foot not including labor.

    Panels

    Fiber cement panels are large flat sheets that give homes a sleek, minimalist look thanks to their smooth, uniform appearance. You can expect to pay between $3 and $15 per square foot for these panels not including labor.

    In some cases, your location can affect the cost to install fiber cement siding. Generally, it costs more to install siding in areas with higher costs of living, such as large cities. The availability of materials in your area can also affect your costs.

    Link:
    Cost To Install Fiber Cement Siding: Per Square Foot, By Type And More Forbes Home - Forbes

    City of Auburn building permits: Oct. 14, 2023 – The Citizen - October 16, 2023 by Mr HomeBuilder

    The AuburnCode Enforcement Office issued the following permits from Sept. 11 to Sept. 17:

    Connor Fence Co. Inc. install 111 feet of chain link fence for owner Michael Gambuzza at 37 Grover St., $8,725.

    Connor Fence Co. Inc. install 20 feet of vinyl fence for owner Nancy Phillips at 87 N. Division St., $2,388.

    Connor Fence Co. Inc. install 28 feet of vinyl fence for owner Mark Querns at 71 N. Fulton St., $2,968.

    Connor Fence Co. Inc. install 114 feet of vinyl fence for owner William Ashby at 110 N. Marvine Ave., $6,788.

    Connor Fence Co. Inc. install 181 feet of vinyl fence for owner Wm. and Patricia Rankin at 30 Prospect St., $15,930.

    Connor Fence Co. Inc. install 175 feet of wood fence for owner Bonnie Lee Bent at 97 Lansing St., $9,200.

    Connor Fence Co. Inc. install 253 feet of vinyl fence for owner Michael and Marie Didio at 6 Clymer St., $14,150.

    Connor Fence Co. Inc. install 89 feet of wood fence for owner Emily Parisi at 205-207 Perrine Ave., $4,700.

    Monserrate Rooker install above ground pool at 27 Holley St., $0.

    Connor Fence Co. Inc. install 101 feet of vinyl fence for owner John Eric Minnick at 19 Swift St., $6,460.

    Connor Fence Co. Inc. install 245 feet of wood fence for owner Douglas Hillman at 60 Burt Ave., $13,600.

    Connor Fence Co. Inc. install 110 feet of chain link fence for owner James Alberry at 26 Westwood Drive, $3,594.

    Erin Katzker install shed at 127 Mary St., $2,200.

    BAPA 149 Grant Ave. RE LLC complete commercial remodel of Dunkin Donuts interior and exterior at 149 Grant Ave., $95,000.

    Renovations Unlimited replace siding and soffit and back porch for owner Jason Teeter at 30-34 S. Lewis St., $31,000.

    LS Roofing LLC install metal roof for owner Stephen Bersani at 21 Charles St., $19,900.

    Erie Home tear off and replace roof for owner Allen Lathrop at 38 S. Lewis St., 18,046.

    Woodford Bros Inc. repair existing garage for owner Michael Gambuzza at 37 Grover St., $36,278.

    Trevor Bechtel Bechtel Realty LLC replace side concrete ramp with composite porch and stairs at 197 Genesee St., $7,000.

    Helmer Construction partially tear off and replace roof for owner Robert Quigley at 21 Logan St., $1,500.

    Dana Botindari tear off and replace roof for owner Jill OHearn at 120 Mary St., $10,000.

    James Main replace existing back porch at 64 Lansing St., $1,400.

    James Desocio install siding at 123 Pulsifer Drive, $5,000.

    Jeanne Kuhfta install 96 feet of vinyl fence at 99 Swift St., $2,000.

    Diana Brown install new front porch at 84 Capitol St., $1,200.

    All In Roofing & Construction LLC tear off and replace roof for owner Margaret Symonds at 29 Boston Ave., $18,000.

    Tuff Shed Inc. install shed for owner Lynn Oristian at 22 Orchard St., $2,125.

    Lakeside Roofing tear off and replace roof for owner Robert Elser at 81 Prospect St., $17,000.

    Realty@Mark Indelicato LLC remodel apartment kitchen at 23 Columbus St., $2,900.

    LS Roofing LLC install metal roof for owner MOCCA Properties LLC at 95 Washington St., $18,900.

    LS Roofing LLC install metal roof for owner Rachel Bailey at 13 Aurelius Ave., $15,900.

    William A. and Patricia Delanoy install shed at 23 Capitol St., $3,600.

    Kenneth Adams re-shingle one layer of roof at 138 Clymer St., $10,000.

    Visit the records page of auburnpub.com to see The Citizen's latest police blotter, restaurant inspections, property transfers and building permits.

    Some upgrades increase your homes value without having to spend too much money or needing a full renovation. PennyGems Johana Restrepo has more.

    Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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    City of Auburn building permits: Oct. 14, 2023 - The Citizen

    Kona Villa is the Peak of Chic in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – Interior Design - October 16, 2023 by Mr HomeBuilder

    In 2011, a tsunami destroyed the beloved Hawaiian resort Kona Village. For five decades, the Big Island hideaway was known for its paradisal location on Kahuwai Bay and a relaxed, convivial vibe; families returned year after year. Frequent collaborators Greg Warner, cofounder/partner at Walker Warner Architects, and Nicole Hollis, creative director and principal of the eponymous interior design studio, had the formidable task of formulating the next iteration of the property: Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort.

    We felt we had a responsibility to honor the memories of the old Kona Village, but also look at it with a new vision for future guests, Hollis recalls. That meant keeping the summer-camplike environment but rethinking the architecture to better reflect the islands heritage and meet modern sustainability standards. The original resort had a Polynesian theme, but Warner sought to nod to the Hawaiian village that preceded it. He and his team looked at old photographs, talked to descendants of the inhabitants, and came up with a concept based on thatched-roof shelters called hale. When you come to Kona Village, its not about the architecture, Warner says. You see right through the architecture to understand the place.

    His firm selected traditional-looking materials that are durable and sustainable. For the thatch, the architects replaced native pele grass with recycled plastic; aged red cedar siding evokes coconut-tree wood. On the interiors, Douglas fir walls and ceilingstreated to resemble driftwoodcan withstand humidity. The wood looks like it has been in the sun and scrubbed by ocean breezes, Warner notes.

    The design of the 150 guest structures depends on where they sit on the site. Yellow and blue tones define those by the ocean; the north village, built over lava flow, has a red-and-black palette. Furnishings include oak beds inspired by the shape of a boat, rugs with Hawaiian motifs, and dark concrete bathtubs that echo the rugged volcanic landscape outside. Hollis notes that furniture and finishes were chosen to evoke the feel of an upscale residence on the island, on which many she and Warner have collaborated.

    Over 200 artworks across the 80-acre propertynearly all by Hawaiiansevoke the islands history and culture. An installation of three pea, or canoe sails, by Kaili Chun, hangs from the vaulted ceiling of the main restaurant. Multiple pieces by Roen Hufford introduce guests to the ancient Hawaiian art of kapa (dried bark cloth). Outside the spa, two cast-bronze sculptures by John Koga sit atop a field of lava, referencing a molten flow and making a powerful connection with the landscape.

    sutherland furniture: armchairs (reception), chair (king suite).

    lgs studio: lamps (reception, living area).

    atra: banquettes (restaurant), drink tables (living area).

    kamuela hardwoods: mahogany table (restaurant).

    suzanne wang: sconces.

    fong brothers co.: armchairs.

    saniharto through bridge collective: tables.

    espasso: woven chairs (restaurant), chaise lounges (pool areas).

    paola lenti through dzine: ottomans (living area, spa pool).

    blaxsand: coffee table (living area), side table (outdoor living room).

    itz furniture: chair, ottoman (treatment room).

    dumais made: desk lamp.

    palecek through the ferlin group: mirror (king suite).

    uniqwa: lounge chair (outdoor living room).

    luteca: ottoman.

    native trails: tub (bathroom).

    waterworks: Tub fittings.

    de santana stone: side tables.

    sika design: chairs (guest room).

    flitterman collection: rugs, wallhangings.

    delawie: architect of record.

    vita: landscape architect, lighting designer.

    ruzika: lighting designer.

    c2c designs: custom furniture workshop.

    nordic pcl construction: general contractor.

    More:
    Kona Villa is the Peak of Chic in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii - Interior Design

    Purity Of Flight Is Overrated – AVweb - October 16, 2023 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Last week, a friend texted me with a question: He had found a nice restored Cub, but like so many J-3s, it didnt have an electrical system. It had a C-85 upgrade with the accessory case that cant be converted to electric start. So hand propping would be the only option.

    What do you think of the balance between purity and safety with something like that? he wanted to know. After giving this some thought for, oh, maybe 14 nanoseconds, I told him theres really no balance here. To hell with propping. Now I happen to own a non-electrical system Cub so I have to prop it; no choice. But this has nothing to do with tradition or aeronautical purity and everything to do with the fact that Im just a cheap bastard. It could be converted to electric start and Id do that if I had a spare 12 grand or whatever it costs. But I could never see the cost/value because even if I could crank the old girl with a battery, I still cant go very far in it. It doesnt make the airplane much more practical.

    Propping, I have found after having done a lot of it, is something between an acquired taste and a 50-50 chance of having an ambulance summoned to the hangar alley. Yeah, sure, it can be done safely, but theres always risk of it going south when you least expect it. I went all Steven Spielberg on it and made a movie about it once. Ive never found any particular Zen in swinging a prop by hand, revealing, perhaps, that Im just an unromantic lughead with no feel for the spiritual aspects of flight. Pulling a few blades doesnt help me get my head in the game for the magic thats about to ensue. Its just a chore, a physical prelude. While being a cheap screw is one argument for having no electrical system, there actually is a better one. For the owner or organization restoring and/or flying a museum piece, it makes sense to keep modernity at bay so the progress doesnt intrude on the dream preserved in amber.

    The best compromise Ive seen in the service of this goal was in the Collings Foundations B-24. Entering the flight deck, which is quite expansive, the panel looks like straight-up 1943. But one of the instrument sub-panels is cleverly removable, revealing a Garmin 530 hiding behind it. By now, they may have upgraded that, but I thought the solution was a nice bow to history without eroding safety. Ive been in a few Mustang cockpits that have a version of this approach. One I saw had a large glass display of some kind center panel. It was jarring and defeated the point of flying the thing to airshows so people could see what World War II fighters looked like.

    We have this argument all the time in the world of motorcycles, mostly related to ABS. For almost 20 years, ABS has been required for new cars and it has certainly paid off in fewer accidents, especially when wet roads are involved. Yet some crusty ridersand a few new ones, toodont want the option. I can stop shorter without it, goes the argument.

    Perversely, this is true in the laboratory attempt on a clean, dry road where you know whats coming. But when a deer hurtles out of the brush and your plan turns to crap, ABS is the difference between stopping and low siding into a ditch. But not having it does maintain the purity of hand-eye-hydraulics without some pesky relief valve bollexing up the fun. Perhaps theres something satisfying about a crash unencumbered by the vulgar intrusion of anything related to, you know, progress.

    Purity came around again this week when I was interviewing Noah Forden and Brenda Cowlishaw for this weeks video on the Gordon Bennett balloon race. Some of the balloonists chose not to equip with ADS-B, mostly for the expense and power drain because we are, after all, talking about battery-operated systems that have to last for 60 to 80 hours. But what about the purity thing, I asked. Sure, some of the older guys, Noah said. They want to slip through the dark unnoticed so their competitors wont see what tricks theyre up to. But I tell ya what, if I was flying a balloon through the dark of night for three or four days, Id want it to be the electronic equivalent of a Christmas tree, purity be damned.

    But gas ballooning is the sport of kings compared to owning a ratty old Cub with no electrical system. So much as I might like my own hydrogen balloon, equipping it with ADS-B is a choice I wont have to make.

    The rest is here:
    Purity Of Flight Is Overrated - AVweb

    Historical homes you can own in the Corvallis area – Corvallis Gazette-Times - October 16, 2023 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Welcome to 285 West I Street! This charming 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house is now available for sale. Situated on a large .23 acre lot, this property offers plenty of space and potential. Built in 1900, this two-story house retains its original character while boasting several modern updates. The kitchen has been recently updated with a butcher block counter, gas range, and stainless steel appliances, making it a chef's dream. The updated windows and metal roof, installed in 2018, ensure both energy efficiency and durability. Inside, you'll find original wide plank fir floors that were refinished in 2012, adding warmth and charm to the living spaces. The installation of PEX plumbing in 2020 provides peace of mind for future maintenance.In addition to the main house, there is a spacious 26x56 two-story shop on the property. Complete with two bathrooms, this versatile space offers endless possibilities for hobbies, storage, or even a home office.Convenience is key with an attached single car garage, providing sheltered parking for your vehicle.Located in a desirable neighborhood, this property offers both tranquility and accessibility. With its close proximity to schools, parks, and shopping centers, everything you need is just a short distance away.Don't miss out on the opportunity to make this house your home. Schedule a showing today and envision the possibilities that await you at 285 West I Street!

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    Historical homes you can own in the Corvallis area - Corvallis Gazette-Times

    How to Install Vinyl Siding (DIY) | Family Handyman - July 1, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Home House & Components Parts of House Siding

    Get professional-looking, watertight results with these residing techniques.

    Don't be intimated by vinyl siding. We'll show you how to install it and make repairs. You can save a lot of money by handling a vinyl siding project yourself. And you'll still get professional looking results. In this article, we'll show you everything you need to know to remove and install vinyl siding so it's watertight and looks great.

    By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine

    You might also like: TBD

    Youll need specialty tools, like this zip tool, to work with installing vinyl siding.

    Dont let the fact that you have vinyl siding installation deter you from that repair or remodeling project. If you want to shift a window, replace a door or even put on an addition, you can remove, alter and reinstall vinyl siding much more easily than any other type of siding. In this article, were going to demonstrate how to rework the siding around a new set of windows.

    Well show you how to remove it, and learn tips for installing vinyl siding new parts. Well also show you how to cut vinyl siding, fit it and nail it back up. Most important, well show you how to make the installation watertight.

    While well cover the basics, we wont cover every detail you might run into with your own project. Most manufacturers offer complete instructions; ask for them wherever vinyl siding is sold.

    Working with vinyl doesnt require special skills, but you do have to understand the system. The only special tool youll need for reworking areas is an unlocking tool, often called a zip tool. (Youll need a snap-lock punch if you intend to cover new areas.) Youll probably need new vinyl siding trim pieces. We bought two types-J-channel to go around the new, larger windows (Photo 9), and undersill trim (see When to Install Undersill Trim.). You may also need additional siding.

    Vinyl siding installation is designed to hang loosely on the sheathing so that it can expand and contract with temperature changes. To prevent the relatively thin panels from buckling, observe these fitting and nailing rules.

    Youll need a zip tool to remove siding.

    Slide the zip tool under the butt edge of the siding, hook the locking edge and pull down. Then slide the tool horizontally along the lock to release it. Lift the unlocked siding to expose the nailing hem of the siding piece below. Draw a line on the wall along the top of each siding course before you pull the nails.

    The zip tool slides under the siding to unlock it

    Drive a flat bar between the nailheads and siding and carefully pull the nails. Then slide the piece down to unlock and remove it. Number each piece and set it aside. Remove siding until you expose enough wall to replace the window.

    The beauty of vinyl is that you can remove a piece anywhere on the wall. Locate the piece you want to remove and unlock the one above it with the zip tool (Photo 1 inset). It might be tricky hooking the zip tool onto the locking edge if your siding is tight. Try starting at an end or look for a loose spot. Sometimes you can unzip it just with your fingers. If youre having difficulty with a particular lock, try moving up a course. New vinyl siding is quite flexible, especially in warm weather, but older siding becomes more brittle with age, so work carefully.

    It should be easy to slide a flat bar behind the nailheads since theyre not driven tight (Photo 2). Dont slide the flat bar behind the siding itself. Youll risk breaking it. You may have to bow each length of vinyl to release its ends from the trim moldings, and you may have to slide short pieces up or down past the window to release them from the J-channel.

    Level and tack the new window in place then cut a piece of aluminum flashing to width so it extends from the new window to overlap the nailing hem of the siding below. Slide the top edge under the window fin, then nail off the fin with roofing nails.

    Slide 5-in. wide vinyl siding flashing under the windows nailing fin. Make sure it laps over the bottom flashing at least 2 in. and extends 2 in. above the windows top. Nail off the window.

    Slit the building paper about 2 in. above the window and slide 5-in. wide flashing behind it. Lap it over the side flashing and window nailing fin. Drive roofing nails at each corner to secure it.

    Building paper is an important part of the walls waterproofing. Its a barrier to any water that may work its way behind the siding, so be sure upper pieces lap over lower ones. Tape any tears or holes with housewrap tape (available at home centers).

    Flashing is critical for a watertight window or door. Aluminum works best with vinyl. Buy a 10-in.wide roll of aluminum (at home centers), and cut it into 5-in.wide strips for the top and sides of the window. The width of the bottom flashing will vary. It must go under the window nailing fin and lap over the nailing hem of the vinyl siding (Photo 3). This will direct water to the front of the siding.

    When youre done flashing the window, stand back and imagine water running down the wall. Start above the window and visually check that all building papers and flashing lap over the piece below it so water cant run behind.

    Cut a section of new J-channel 2 in. longer than the width of the window. Mark out a notch 1 in. in from each end and deeply score the inner cutting line with a utility knife.

    Make the last two cuts with snips. Bend the tab back and forth to snap it off (see Photo 8).

    Position the J-channel under the window. Cut and position an undersill trim if necessary (see When to Use Undersill Trim.). Drive roofing nails every 8 to 10 in. through the middle of the slots. Dont drive them tight. The vinyl siding trim pieces should slide back and forth slightly.

    Cut the side J-channel 2 in. longer than the height of the window. Make the miter cut on the bottom with shears. Cut a 1-in. notch on the top end as you did on the bottom J-channel. Lap the side over the bottom as shown. Drive roofing nails every 8 to 10 in. to secure it.

    Cut 45-degree miters in the side J-channel

    Cut the top J-channel 2 in. longer than the window width. Cut and bend the profile shown (see detail) on both ends. Lap it over the sides as shown and nail it into place.

    Cut and notch J-channel to fit over the top of the window.

    You have to wrap the window with vinyl J-channel to divert water and to cover the ends of the siding (Photo 9).Youll probably have to buy new strips for this. Start with the bottom piece and work up to the top (Photos 6 10). Make sure the pieces overlap to keep out water.

    Mitered corners give a clean and finished appearance. Be extra careful to fit the top channel correctly over the side pieces (Photo 10) because a lot of water can run over these joints.

    Because the siding is beveled, the cut edge under a window may end up about 1/2 in. out from the wall. If it falls 1/4 in. or less away, add the undersill trim to lock it in place (shown). If it falls more than 1/4 in. away, skip the undersill trim and simply rely on the J-channel.

    If youre working over foam sheathing, place a piece of plywood between the foam and flat bar to avoid crushing the foam.

    Position the siding to be notched below the window. Mark it on each side of the window, allowing an extra 1/4-in. gap on each side for expansion. Measure from the locking tab of the siding below to the undersill trim to determine the depth of the notch.

    Cut through the nailing hem with shears, then score deeply along the rip line with a utility knife. Bend back the piece to snap off the notch.

    Position the notched piece under the window, sliding it into the undersill trim and pushing the butt edge against the locking tab in the lower siding course to snap it in place. Make sure the top edge is on the layout line, then drive roofing nails at each stud.

    Drive nails so that the exposed shank equals the thickness of two layers of siding (1/16 in. to 1/8 in.). Dont drive nails all the way in.

    Measure and notch the top piece over the window. If necessary, put a butt joint above the window to make it easier to install these final pieces. Lock the piece to the one below it, then nail it into place.

    Finally, pull the last loose piece down and over the lock with the zip tool. Using your hand, push or pound the piece to lock it back into place. Work the piece into the lock down its length.

    Maneuvering long pieces of vinyl into place can be tricky. Push one end of longer pieces into the trim, then bow the siding slightly and guide the other end into the trim.

    Then slide it up and snap the butt into the locking edge of the piece below. Feed the shorter pieces alongside the window into the channel at the top of the window, and slide them down into position. Installing the piece above the window (Photo 15) was especially tricky because it was also the last piece (it would have been easier to remove one more course above).

    We had to cut the piece and put a joint directly above the window. Then we cut a long length of extra siding to complete the row. Be sure to overlap butt joints 1 in. This method wouldnt work if you had to splice in new vinyl, because the colors wouldnt match.

    Remove a piece of siding and identify it. Take it to a siding retailer or distributor. Theyll identify the brand and style and should be able to direct you to the right source. Unfortunately, vinyl siding fades with age, so an exact color match may be impossible.

    Be sure to save and reuse all the siding you remove. Thevinyl siding trim pieces arent as critical. If you have to add new siding, position it in an obscure spot, like the base of a wall or behind the garage. In fact, you may want to re-side an entire wall with new vinyl.

    Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you startyoull save time and frustration.

    Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Heres a list.

    Originally Published: May 06, 2019

    Read more from the original source:
    How to Install Vinyl Siding (DIY) | Family Handyman

    Ask the Builder: Lost building secrets that prevent wood rot – Citrus County Chronicle - July 1, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Hours before I began to write this column, I was backing my car into a parking spot at church. Just ahead of me was an older garage on the church campus that was being remodeled. New vinyl siding is being installed, and my guess is all of the trim is going to be wrapped in pre-painted aluminum coil stock.

    New trim boards had been installed around the garage door because the remodeler had enlarged the opening. I was aghast to see he had placed the bare cedar trim boards in direct contact with the asphalt paving and the soil at the building corner. In his defense, this garage had been built too low to the ground decades ago.

    I think the original builder has just poured a concrete slab just an inch above the ground around the garage. Such a sad mistake (as Queen Cersei says to Lord Stark in "A Game of Thrones").

    Get more from the Citrus County Chronicle

    My sweet wife had walked ahead to get out of the blazing sun as I stopped and took photographs and looked closely at what was going on. As I turned and walked across the macadam driveway, my tiny gray cells started to fire off, asking all sorts of rhetorical questions:

    My mind then drifted to how lucky I was to grow up in Cincinnati, surrounded by older homes built by builders and carpenters who treated their trade as a vocation, not a job. They passed down to apprentices decades of building experience and what they knew about how to prevent wood rot.

    One building technique you'll often see in older homes, and I'm referring to ones built it the late 1800s and early 1900s, is the top of the foundation was often two or more feet above the ground. This kept the wood siding well out of the splash zone of falling rain.

    This technique also saved money on excavation, as the basement holes didn't have to be as deep. Tall foundations like this also had room for operating windows to be incorporated into the foundation, allowing ventilation and light into the basement spaces.

    By the time I was at the church door, I was relating all of this to the current building code. I then thought about the great writing of J.R.R. Tolkien in his "Lord of the Rings" book series. He wrote, "And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. And for two and a half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge."

    So much accumulated building knowledge is taking the path of the ring. The current building code allows wood siding to be extremely close to the grade around homes. I constantly do phone consultations with people that have water streaming into their homes because the top of the foundation is far too close to the ground. When this happens, it can be hard to achieve great sloping positive drainage away from a foundation.

    I thought about some landscapers and clueless homeowners who pile mulch up in planting beds, creating dams that allow water to leak into homes.

    I pondered why grade schools and high schools don't teach home improvement and the basic science of what is going on inside and outside your home. Can you imagine the magic of doing a year-long experiment in grade school where children just take untreated pieces of lumber and lay them on the ground for months? In the spring they examine them and note how they've started to rot.

    If you feel the same way I do about all of this, it's time for you to get active. Once a month you need to attend your school board meetings and speak about this void in the curriculum. Give real-life examples of why boys and girls all need to be taught how things work in and around homes. This knowledge is invaluable.

    It's unacceptable that all of this cumulative knowledge might shift from history, to legend, to myth. This is why every word I've ever written is stored on my AsktheBuilder.com website. It's there for you and for all those unborn in the future so what I know does not pass out of all knowledge.

    Subscribe to Tim's free newsletter at AsktheBuilder.com. Tim now does livestreaming video at 4 p.m. Monday thru Friday at youtube.com/askthebuilder.

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    Ask the Builder: Lost building secrets that prevent wood rot - Citrus County Chronicle

    Homes that can withstand hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters – Bankrate.com - July 1, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    In a sobering trend for homeowners, natural disasters are getting costlier, stronger and more frequent. Eight of the nine costliest wildfires on record have blazed since 2017, the Insurance Information Institute says. In Hurricane Alley, five of the six most devastating hurricanes to hit the U.S. have made landfall in the past decade. And three of the six nastiest tornado outbreaks on record have occurred since 2019.

    Why is the toll from wildfires, storms and other catastrophes rising? Disaster experts point to a combination of changing weather patterns warmer waters in the tropics mean more intense storms, while drier conditions in fire country feed wildfires and to development patterns that bring more people than ever to live in disaster-prone areas.

    In California and other parts of the West, soaring home values have pushed more people to seek out affordability by living in fire country. Historically, these areas were prone to burn, but more people are living there, says Robert Hartwig, director of the Center for Risk and Uncertainty Management at the University of South Carolina.

    The trend is similar in hurricane-prone areas. Florida and other coastal states have seen continued population growth for decades. That simply means more people in harms way, Hartwig says.

    Indeed, more than a quarter of Americans live in three states California, Texas and Florida that are nearly synonymous with natural-disaster risk. Here are some of the most catastrophic events that can strike a home, plus strategies for protecting your property.

    Unfortunately, devastating wildfires have grown common in recent years. The worst was Northern Californias Camp Fire in 2018. That inferno killed 85 people, destroyed 14,000 homes and caused insured losses estimated at more than $10 billion.The map of fire-prone areas overlaps with many of the nations hottest housing markets: California, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho and Nevada all have experienced sharp increases in home prices in recent years. The housing affordability squeeze has boosted demand for properties in new suburbs and exurbs. Increasingly, those developments are in fire-prone canyons.

    California officials have responded to the risk of fires by making building codes stricter. The new rules require such features as double-paned or multi-paned windows with tempered glass, metal screens over vents and fire-rated roofs. During the Camp Fire, 51 percent of houses built to the tougher standards remained standing. Only 18 percent of homes not built to the new fire code survived, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

    Homeowners in fire country should be sure to have ample space between their homes and clear any vegetation in their yards, Hartwig says. That sort of maintenance makes it harder for a wildfire to reach the house. Meanwhile, insurers have begun to avoid wood-shingle homes, and new houses are being built with more metal and less wood.

    For older homes not built with fire safety in mind, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes offers this list of upgrades:

    Tornadoes are especially terrifying for homeowners because they can materialize so suddenly, and destroy so thoroughly, packing winds in excess of 100 or even 200 miles per hour. The most powerful storms can have gusts as high as 318 mph, according to the Fujita Scale, which measures the intensity of tornadoes on a scale of EF0 to EF5.

    In 2021, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recorded 1,376 tornadoes in the United States that claimed 103 lives, up from 1,082 storms and 76 deaths in 2020.

    Tornadoes can happen just about anywhere, and almost without notice wide swaths of the Midwest, Southeast and Mountain West have been hit by damaging twisters. Insured losses from tornadoes in the U.S. average about $17 billion each year, nearly equal to the losses incurred by hurricanes, the Insurance Information Institute reports.

    Its practically impossible to build a home that can withstand an EF-4 or EF-5 tornado, Hartwig says. Youre talking about winds approaching 200 mph and a tremendous amount of flying debris. Its more about protecting your life and your family at that point.

    The risk that any given house will be leveled is low enough that homeowners in Tornado Alley typically dont harden their homes with impact-resistant windows and roof tie-downs. But one thing you can do to protect yourself is build a safe room in the house. These structures are bunkers built of concrete or steel and located away from windows and exterior walls. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes estimates the cost at $3,000 to $9,500.

    Unlike tornadoes, hurricanes give homeowners plenty of advance warning. Property owners in coastal areas of Florida, Texas, Louisiana and the Carolinas know theyre at risk, and the storms themselves typically form days before hitting land.

    Property insurers, building officials and homeowners were put on alert three decades ago when Hurricane Andrew struck near Miami. Andrews $16 billion in damage ($30.8 billion in 2021 dollars) made it the costliest storm ever to hit the U.S. Andrew ushered in a new era of costly storms six major hurricanes since 1992 have eclipsed its toll, according to the Insurance Information Institute, most notably the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.In the days and weeks after Andrew, photos of wrecked, shoddily built suburban homes spurred local and state officials to harden building codes. These days, new homes in Florida are built with a variety of hurricane-resistant features the shells are concrete block rather than wood, windows are either impact-resistant or protected by storm shutters, garage doors are heavily reinforced, roof lines are designed to be aerodynamic.

    Over the past 30 years, Florida has made enormous strides, Hartwig says. More recent homes built to more stringent standards do indeed withstand hurricane winds better than older homes.

    Meanwhile, soaring premiums for windstorm insurance in Florida all but force owners of older homes to make upgrades. Homeowners can earn discounts on their windstorm policies by installing shutters or hurricane-rated windows, by adding roof tie-downs and by upgrading to garage doors and sliding-glass doors that meet the high standards of Floridas building code.

    The U.S. has been spared a major earthquake since 1994, when the Northridge Earthquake caused $44 billion in property damage in Southern California. But severe earthquakes have continued to devastate other parts of the world, serving as a reminder that this risk remains very real.

    The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes and the Insurance Information Institute suggest these improvements to homes near fault lines:

    Flooding is tricky: If your house is in a flood zone, theres not much you can do to harden it. In many beach communities, homes are built on stilts to raise the living areas out of harms way in case of storm surges.

    But there is something homeowners should do: buy flood insurance. Private insurers long ago stopped insuring against rising waters, outsourcing that responsibility to the federal government. The National Flood Insurance Program is the only provider of flood policies.

    Yet many homeowners are unaware of this reality, realizing only after a flood that they arent insured. The biggest mistake people make is not purchasing a flood policy, Hartwig says.

    If your property is in a high-risk flood zone and you have a mortgage, the lender will compel you to buy coverage. If youre in a lower-risk area, flood insurance is optional, but definitely worth considering.

    Thunderstorms might sound like small potatoes compared to the disasters listed above. But lightning strikes are no joke. Homeowners insurers paid out $1.3 billion for lightning damage in 2021, per the Insurance Information Institute.

    The costliest damage comes from fires caused by lighting. However, homeowners can also suffer losses from power surges caused by lightning. New homes are equipped with a type of surge protection known as a ground fault circuit interruptor, or GFCI. If your house has an older electrical system, its worth hiring an electrician to add one.

    It can be installed relatively inexpensively, Hartwig says. You should have a surge protector to protect your electronics. Thats become even more important as more people are working from home, and have even more electronics.

    Natural disasters like wildfires, hurricanes, and earthquakes can be devastating for homeowners, and climate change is making them ever more destructive. But there are ways to protect yourself, and your real estate investment including specific insurance policies and home upgrades that make a home better able to weather the storm.

    Read this article:
    Homes that can withstand hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters - Bankrate.com

    ‘American Framing’ challenges the wood-frame construction traditions by exposing it – STIRworld - July 1, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    American Framing, an exhibition now on view until July 30 at Wrightwood 659 in Chicago, is on a missiontwo, to be preciseit concisely tells the history of softwood construction in the United States and through its original installation triggers our imagination for how this ubiquitous building system that rarely deviates from reliable building industry standards could be diversified and reinvented by architects and homeowners. In late June, while visiting the city, I had a chance to attend this beautifully assembled provocative show.

    Right upon entering this Tadao Ando-designed private gallery in Lincoln Park, which since 2018 consistently has been staging the most photogenic exhibitions focused on architecture and socially engaged art, visitors are greeted by a full-scale exposed wood-frame structure made up of standard studs and beams. The frame, a trapezoid in its plan, takes much of the perimeter of the gallerys soaring three-story atrium formed between a gorgeous amber-colour brick window wall on one side and an object-like exposed concrete stair on the other. The frame is topped by an inverted gable roof that either did not fit in its traditionally upright position under the buildings own roof or intentionally was turned upside down to try something extraordinarily novel.

    What looks like an unfinished single-room house can be entered through a wide portal. A few pairs of Shaker-inspired chairs designed by Chicago-based design collective Norman Kelley and made from2 x 4 (5 cm x 10 cm) wood studs with varying degrees of finish and assembly are congregated in corners and provide a welcoming repose for visitors and a chance to calmly inspect the frame from within. Lit from every direction, it appears to be airy and graceful, even though it is unpretentiously rough in how its parts are nailed together. Look up and you may think you are looking down on what could be a typical American house right before being covered by amundane asphalt shingles roof. And when you look down at it from the top of the stair it may seem as if you are looking up to the ceiling from the inside. This ambiguous playfulness encourages us to think not merely about what meets the eye but what a typical house potentially could be if we were not as conservative when it comes to building a family house.

    The exhibition continues on the third floor, adjacent to the top of the stair, and is sandwiched between other simultaneously held exhibitions on the floors directly below and above. The third-floor gallery features several structural scale models of historical wood-framed buildingsa round barn, a church, a suburban house, and a tiny doghouseall reproduced by students at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Architecture (UIC), benches designed by local architect Ania Jaworska, and a series of photographs by visual artist Daniel Shea and photographer Chris Strong. These process-depicting photos illustrate various wooded scenes in North America; they document the techniques, contexts, and labour that typically goes into fabricating the wood framing.

    This open-plan gallery, distinguished by an elegant stair in the back that leads to the top floor, is now enclosed and framed by a straight open-stud wall that brings here the aesthetics from the structure in the atrium. The see-through wall contextualises the material on display and, in a way, brings closer the refined gallery space and the construction industry matters that are questioned here. Some images are attached directly to the studs. Being visible from both sides they are turned into curious artifacts. Many other photographs that hang on white walls are uniquely framed and can also be viewed as three-dimensional objects; one has a corner that splits open, another has a corner missing, and yet another one has its bottom edge peeling down. These provocatively artistic frames send a messageexpect the unexpected and although all building components in the show are standard, they can be put together in a myriad of distinctive and artistic ways.

    A few annotations throughout the gallery provide a bare minimum of factual information about the wood-frame construction that originated in the early 19th century and is still widely used today. In fact, this method of wood-house building technique represents more than 90 per cent of all single-family house construction in the United States. An abundance of southern pine and Douglas fir forests and simplicity and speed of construction make it possible to assemble wood framing easily, quickly, and economically, particularly because its construction relies on unskilled labour and the most readily available building components in the country2 x 4 (5 cm x 10 cm) and 2 x 6 (5 cm x 15 cm) wooden studs.

    Yet, however, ingenious, egalitarian, and so emblematic of one-to-three-story America, this building technique is quite banal as it typically falls into a very limited and predictable range of formal expressions and is entirely covered by tiresome vinyl siding that comes in a selection of colours thats just as dull. By removing all these layers of finishes, the shows curatorsarchitects Paul Andersen and Paul Preissnerfocus our attention on the hidden beauty and the potential of this overlooked but very flexible and potentially handsome building system, if only more creativity was applied. It is necessary to mention that both curators head their own practicesAndersen in Denver and Preissner in Chicagoand they teach at the already mentioned UIC, which cooperated with Wrightwood 659 on putting together this show.

    The exhibition in Chicago was originally made possible by The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the US Department of State, and the University of Illinois Chicago for presentation at the US Pavilion at the last years 17th Venice Architecture Biennalewhere it was curated and designed by the same team. Having visited that exhibition as well I would add that it was among my favourite national pavilion presentations, both for its bold visual impact and the ambitious goal of the curators to revitalise Americas huge home-building industry. The wood frame there transformed the building by obscuring it entirely from its familiar neoclassical faade and the exhibition itself declared its intention to transform the most common building practice in the curators home country. This was the premise for both shows. In Venice, however, the result was more refined, both in its striking design and execution. The curators installation was built as a building addition that could be climbed extensively, reaching different levels and enabling visitors to see the original pavilion and territory around it in entirely new ways.

    In contrast, the Chicago iteration is about the object itself and interacting with it purely visually. Still, it succeeds in making quite an impression due to the gallerys own layered design. It is a building within a buildinga newly constructed interior placed within the shell of a historical building. This means that the new frame is inserted within two other buildings; all three are wonderfully intertwined. Both in Venice and Chicago, the temporary interventions radically transformed their mother buildingsin Venice from the outside and in Chicago from within. It may be suggested that the curators used these two historical buildings as metaphors, meaning that what they really intended to challenge was the wood-frame building industry itself. And they have done it from two different endsby transforming these buildings and by exposing the structures that they used in the process.

    However, what remains unexplored in both exhibitions is the analysis of relevant precedents of engaging with standard wood frames by architects. We are not presented with any such interventions other than by the curators themselves. Yet, it is an array of examples from different times and regions that could provide a meaningful cross-section for potential directions in terms of challenging the expected geometry of forms, the solidity of walls and roofs, or, for example, mixing wood with other materials. It is by comparing and contrasting these unorthodox case studies, either subtle or cutting-edge, that the building industry can be truly reinvented. That challenge is the curators homework for all practicing architects, which is to work creatively around all standards, whatever they may be.

    Read the original here:
    'American Framing' challenges the wood-frame construction traditions by exposing it - STIRworld

    Dom Construction Highlights the Benefits of Hiring Professional Siding Contractors – Digital Journal - January 25, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Dom Construction is a specialty contractor firm specializing in siding installation. In a recent update, the agency shared the benefits of hiring professional siding contractors.

    SeaTac, WA In a website post, Dom Construction has shared the benefits of hiring professionalSeaTac sidingcontractors.

    Contractors help save time on remodeling projects because they use a team to complete the job quickly. Further, they already have all the tools needed to install your siding and the professional training to utilize them effectively. Experienced contractors know the best time of day to install the siding and what to do in cases of inclement weather.

    Siding SeaTacprofessionals will install the siding correctly without issues. Customers will need to know how to clean and maintain the homes siding after finishing the work. The better the owner takes care of the siding, the longer it will last. Most siding lasts 20 years or more with proper care.

    When a client consults experts, they benefit from their knowledge and expertise. Professionals can answer customers questions and help them decide the right type of siding to install. Of course, it can be difficult to make the right choices, especially with the many choices and a limited budget. The professionalsiding contractor in SeaTacalso advises on the legal and license matters that the local authority requires adherence to.

    About Dom Construction

    DOM Construction is a Seattle-based specialty contractor firm focusing on siding installation. The agency is dedicated to using the finest products and artisans. They bring over 25 years of experience to every job and custom design. The team provides siding for new construction or remodeling in commercial and residential applications. And the biggest assurance is that they will deliver quality work on time.

    Media ContactCompany Name: Dom ConstructionContact Person: Larry BauschEmail: Send EmailPhone: (206) 870-0329Address:19600 Des Moines Memorial Dr City: SeaTacState: WACountry: United StatesWebsite: https://domconstruction.com/

    See more here:
    Dom Construction Highlights the Benefits of Hiring Professional Siding Contractors - Digital Journal

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