Construction Tips and Tricks

Featured at JuanTheBuilder.com are some tips and tricks put together to help the building contractor or the home owner performing a do it your self project:

• Concrete slabs: It is not possible to entirely prevent cracks in concrete, but good jointing practice will help reduce the number and the location of them. The types of joints required in concrete include control joints, construction joints and building expansion joints. With this in mind find the best option and place some joints in your concrete.
   
• Wood framing: One of the biggest problems with wood framing is wood decay and termite. To protect and prevent wood decay and termite use naturally durable or preservative treated (pressure treated) lumber on areas where the use of wood is required such as girders, sleepers, mud sills, posts, columns and retaining wall framing members.
   
• Insulation: When installing insulation is a must that you understand the requirements of the area to be worked on. Walls and ceiling are usually similar. The maximum R-value of the insulation is dictated by the thickness of the framing member. 2x4 go with insulation R 16. 2x6 go with insulation rated R 19. Do not squeeze the insulation you will loose the R value of it, allow it to expand to its fullest to obtain the total R value. Fasten it to prevent the misplacement of it.
   
• Cabinetry: When installing the cabinets make sure to locate and properly mark the studs location, this will ensure that once you are ready to fasten the cabinet you are in fact tying it to a framing member. The fasteners most commonly used are #8 and #10 screws, with the recommended head types varying by cabinet manufacturer. Cabinets are generally attached with a minimum of 4 screws long enough to penetrate the cabinet, drywall and the framing member at least ¾”. Cabinets longer than 42” wide should have 6 fasteners.
   
• Help: If you determine the project to be slightly more technical and/or bigger than anticipated get help. Contact us. It will make more financial sense in the long run.