Library builder

One of the most important skills a carpenter learns over the years is train­ing and trusting his or her eye. And one of the best ways to develop this capability is to cut square by eye. Instead of using a square to mark a 90- degree cutoff line on a board, simply make a quick […]

Your joist layout may include openings (called headouts) for a stairway or to provide clearance for plumbing or vents. Your plans should show these openings, but it’s always a good idea (and it could save a lot of time and effort) to check with the plumber. A common mistake is leaving insufficient room between Roll […]

Driving a couple of nails through the side of one 2x into the edge or face of another creates a strong connection. This is a good way to join two 2xs at a right angle. But sometimes this isn’t possible, either because the board is too thick or because its face is not exposed. That’s […]

Unless you are building on a slab, you’ll prob­ably need to provide midspan support for the floor joists. Without additional support some­where between the sills, the joists can be over­spanned, resulting in a finished floor that sags or feels bouncy. A friend once took me through Use sill seal to block drafts and insects. Installed […]

Anchor bolts sometimes come out of the foundation at odd angles. You can straighten bent bolts with a length of pipe, as shown in the photo at left. Then set long, straight, pressure-treated sill boards in place for mark­ing and drilling. You can use a square and a tape measure to lay out the bolt […]

Depending on what you find after measuring the foundation, you may need to adjust the sill’s position using some of the techniques explained in the sidebar on p. 55. The sill plates are often bolted flush to the outside of the foundation, but there are variations you may want to consider (see the illustration on […]

Foundation insulation isn’t used in mild cli­mates. But in areas with frigid winter months, it can improve interior comfort and save on heating costs. Even though it’s not required by code in many areas, it’s definitely worth install­ing wherever prolonged freezing temperatures are expected. You can install insulation on the inside or outside of a […]

The foundation is ready for the floor framing work to begin. But the job site isn’t. Backfilling against the walls restores at least some of the site’s original contour, making it safer and easier to move around. If you’re building a house with a full basement, the backfilling process is usu­ally delayed until after the […]

It’s common practice to pour any pads required in the plans at the same time the footings are poured. In a crawl-space foundation that includes a post-and-girder framework, poured concrete pads provide a base for concrete piers and wood posts (see the illustration on p. 48). A common size for these pads is 16 in. […]

Foundation types vary by region. When deciding which type of foundation to use, consider the cost, climate, and local preferences. The three major foundation types are discussed here. Concrete Slab Slab foundations are popular throughout southern sections of the country and in regions where winter temperatures are mild. A concrete slab is more than a […]