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Squash Blocks & Blocking Panels WOOD I-JOIST CONNECTIONS Blocking & Backer Blocks Four-by-two wood floor trusses are made up of small members (usually 2x4s) that are connected so that they act like a single large member. The parallel top and bottom chords and the webs are made of lumber held together at the intersections with […]

T he floor is the part of the building with which we have most contact. We walk on the floor and, on occasion, dance, wrestle, or lie on it. We can easily tell if the floor is not level, if it is bouncy or squeaky, and this tells us something about the overall quality of […]

Drainage is essential in protecting a basement from groundwater, but waterproofing the basement wall from the outside is also vital. In selecting a water­proofing material, consider the method of application, the elasticity, and the cost. Below are common water­proofing and drainage materials. Bituminous coatings—Tar or asphalt can be rolled, sprayed, troweled, or brushed on a […]

The sizes of building elements indicated in the draw­ings in this section are for the purposes of illustrating principles and reminding the designer and the builder to consider their use carefully. These drawings should therefore be used only for reference. HORiZONTAL REBAR SHOULD BE CONTiNUOUS iN A BOND BEAM AT THE TOP COURSE, OR AT […]

Each foundation system has many variations, and it is important to select the one best suited to the climate, the soil type, the site, and the building program. With all foundations, you should investigate the local soil type. Soil types, along with their bearing capacities, are often described in local soil profiles based on informa­tion […]

A foundation system has two functions. First, it supports the building structurally by keeping it level, minimizing settling, preventing uplift from the forces of frost or expansive soils and resisting horizontal forces such as winds and earthquakes. Second, a foundation system keeps the wooden parts of the building above the ground and away from the […]

My intention in writing and now in twice revising this book has been to assist designers and builders who are attempting to make beautiful buildings that endure. With the drawings, I have tried to describe the relationship among the parts of every common connection. Alternative approaches to popular details have been included as well. I […]

Although the details in this book have been selected partly on the basis of their widespread use, the primary focus is on durability. I believe that wood-frame buildings can and should be built to last for 200 years or more. To accomplish this, a building must be built on a solid foundation; it must be […]

To provide a detailed reference, the scope of the book had to be limited. I decided to focus on the parts of a building that contribute most significantly to its lon­gevity. Virtually all the drawings, therefore, describe details relating to the structural shell or to the outer protective layers of the building. Plumbing, electrical, and […]

L ight wood-frame construction originated in this country over 150 years ago and quickly evolved into the predominant construction system for houses and other small-scale buildings. Today, over 90% of all new buildings in North America are made using some version of this method. Remodeling projects follow the same track. There are many reasons why […]