Blog Archives

Schneider House

Posted by on 12/ 11/ 15

 

The house abounds with tile, often used to case windows and doors. South and Central American objects collected over the years socialize in odd nooks and crannies. A hand-wrought snake handrail slithers up the wall to the left of the stairs.

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could see the light shifting throughout the day, the saturated colors softening and glowing.

All in all: It’s one of the happiest houses you can imagine. Said one guest, "It’s so sensuous. The textures, the colors, the fireplace shape—it’s all so unexpected. It beckons you to explore every nook and cranny.” See the kitchen on p. 323 and the main bath on p. 377.

image76image77image78"Подпись:Shared thoughts: Marty, on the renovation: "We didn’t rush. We just did things as we could afford them. And in the end, if you take more time, it just doesn’t matter...

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DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR DESIGN

Posted by on 12/ 11/ 15

Design is a process of continuing revision that doesn’t stop until you have finished architectural drawings, if then. The closer you get to a design that works, the more information you need. Once you have a floor plan that satisfies most of your program requirements, double-check the assump­tions underlying your design. Then revisit your local planning department with your proposed floor plan superimposed on your lot and with ele­vations or a model. Make sure you ask detailed questions about anything that seems unclear.

Remember, the more specific information you bring to the planner, the better feedback you’ll
get. You can save yourself a lot of backtracking if you confirm that officials will allow you to do the renovations as designed and that you can afford to continue...

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Baghouse Fines from Asphalt Plants

Posted by on 12/ 11/ 15

In some countries a substantial amount of research has been dedicated to baghouse fines, considering them as potential material for use in mixtures. Their use has an economical aspect since the high efficiency of dust collectors in up-to-date asphalt plants collects considerable amounts of dust that are then available for use essentially free of charge. Using some of the dust from dust removal is an everyday practice in many countries. It has been applied to SMA, along with other types of fillers.

The results of studies on the practicality of using baghouse fines are quite diver­gent. One might conclude that the appropriateness of their use cannot be gener­alized. Properties of extracted dusts may differ widely, depending on their origin (i. e., source rock type)...

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Hydrated Lime

Posted by on 12/ 11/ 15

Many accessible publications (Iwahski, 2003; Judycki and Jaskula, 1999, Little and Epps, 2001) on the use of hydrated lime as an additive to asphalt mixtures have pointed out its positive effect. Apart from a substantial increase in water and frost resistance arising from an improvement in the binder adhesion to the aggregate, an increase in resistance to permanent deformation may also be noticed.

Hydrated lime is distinguished by its strong mixture-stiffening properties at high temperatures. It should be kept in mind that, according to Rigden, voids in hydrated lime can be very large. In connection with that, one should not exceed the standard con­tent of lime in an asphalt mixture, usually accepted as 1.0-1.5% of the aggregate mass...

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HOW MANY GALLONS?

Posted by on 12/ 11/ 15

How many gallons does that tank hold? Do you know how to determine the capacity of a tank? Well if you don’t, you’re about to see an easy way to find out. Before you can start to do your math, you have to know if you will be working with measurements in inches or in feet. You also have to know that the tank diameter is known as D and the tank height is H. We are looking for the tank capacity in gallons, which we will identify in our formula with the letter G.

When the measurements for a tank are expressed in inches, you will use a factor of 0.0034 in your formula. Tanks that are measured in terms of feet require a factor of 7.5. For our example, we are going to measure our tank in inches. This particular tank is 18 inches in diameter and 60 inches in height...

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Community Relations

Posted by on 12/ 11/ 15

Bridges are public structures. Lead poisoning caused by lead-based paint has come to the forefront of public awareness. Any inconvenience to the public due to bridge mainte­nance calls attention to the structure and ongoing operations. If not handled well, lead – based paint removal from bridges can become a volatile community issue. Some states have passed regulations requiring public notice. The highway agency should be prepared to provide complete, accurate, and current documentation on the safety procedures that are implemented to protect the public health and the environment.

Gaining regulatory agreement with the removal and containment methods will also be valu­able in reducing public concern...

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Chisels

Posted by on 11/ 11/ 15

Another shaping tool that comes in handy is a chisel. A chisel is often used to cut notches in wood (such as for a lockset) or to shave a bit off a joint to ensure a perfect fit.

Подпись: The Surform works well to trim a piece of drywall that doesn't quite fit. Chisels come in various sizes. Most car­penters can get by with a set of chisels ranging in size from 1A in. to 1 in.

Подпись: Chisels are used to cut notches in wood or to shave wood off a joint to make a perfect fit. A standard set can have sizes ranging from lA in. (right) to ІУ2 in. (left).

Using a chisel As with a handplane, sharpness is essential when working with a chisel. A dull blade is dangerous and makes it difficult to achieve a smooth, clean cut. To keep the chisel sharp, don’t use it as a screwdriver or as a pry bar.

A chisel has a straight side and a beveled side. When cutting, keep the beveled side facedown into the cut. Point the blade of the chisel away from your body to help prevent injury in case of a slip.

To protect the chisel handle, many car­penters use a mallet ...

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From Preliminary Designs to Working Drawings

Posted by on 11/ 11/ 15

Подпись: Confusion Is Costly: A Primer for Owner-Builders There are many ways you could save renovation money by doing jobs yourself: obtaining permits, ordering materials, hiring and scheduling subcontractors, demolishing walls, hauling rubble, and completing finish work. But such work isn't for everyone. And because homeowner skills and experience vary, there are no easy rules for deciding what to attempt yourself. Yet there are times when even scarce money is well spent for a skilled professional, and there are times when regulations require it. Hire a pro whenever these situations apply: ► You're confused and don't know how or where to start a renovation task. ► You lack the technical skills to do a job—in which case, learning by working with a pro makes sense. ► You're rushed for time and can probably earn more elsewhere (to pay for the work) than you could save by doing it yourself. ► Tasks require special or hard-to-find tools. ► The job is inherently dangerous: For example, an amateur should not install an electric service panel. ► Building codes, bank agreements, insurance policies, or other legally binding documents require that work be done by a licensed professional. Last, poorly organized projects and confusing drawings can idle workers, costing you big-time. If you're not well organized, patient, and willing to field phone calls at all hours, hire a GC who is. Likewise, if you're not construction savvy and a capable draftsperson, hire a pro to generate final working drawings. It's far cheaper to resolve construction issues on paper, especially if a project is complicated. The easiest way to envision change is to draw it. For this, tape tracing paper over the floor plans you drew earlier and start rearranging rooms. Because you drew your floor plans to scale, your overlay drawings will likely be reasonably accu­rate. If you’re unsure about the dimensions of a room, a fixture, or a piece of furniture, measure again. Also measure the space you’ll need to open and pass through doors, pull chairs away from a

Evolving Rynerson Floor Plans

 

Enlarged covered porch

 

Large kitchen open to backyard

 

Hall for improved circulation

 

Enlarged living room open to front yard

 

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FLOOR PLAN: BEFORE FLOOR PLAN: AFTER

The original floor plan presented a pleasant face to the After weighing a number of floor plans, t...

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Containment Considerations

Posted by on 11/ 11/ 15

Design of proper containment requires the participation of specialists in structural engi­neering, coatings, ventilation, and exhaust. The following considerations should be

addressed in the development of a containment system:

• The environmental media (air, water, soil) that are vulnerable and the containment methods that will provide the best protection

• Durability

• Compatibility with the selected removal method, and potential for interference with the productive removal of the paint, mill scale, and rust and the application of a new coat of paint

• Ease of construction, disassembly, and moving from one area of the structure to another

• Local climate conditions

• Continued usability of the structure and proximity of nearby structures and people

• Cost-effectiveness

• C...

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Chronic Illness from Repeated Low-Level Pesticide Exposure

Posted by on 11/ 11/ 15

E. Merriam is a 59-year-old woman who com­plained of frequent flu-ІІке symptoms after begin­ning employment at a new location. Symptoms seemed to recur every month and were especially severe over the winter. Conventional medications were of no benefit. After two years of watching her health decline, she discovered that the building in which she worked was being treated prophy – lactically one weekend a month with a pesticide that contained an organophosphate called Durs – ban. Associating her flu-ІІке symptoms with the monthly pesticide applications, she felt she could no longer continue to jeopardize her health and left her job. Three years later, she finally regained her health but she remains sensitive to petro­chemicals.

Discussion

In December 2001, the EPA partially banned...

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