Complete Article Index


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Complete Article Index

We cover a lot of different topics on this site - this article index gives you a pretty good idea of the subjects we cover.

The following is a complete list of articles - presented with the most recent at the top.

Displaying Matches 1 thru 20 of 20 Found.

Displaying Matches 1 thru 20 of 20 Found

Using Template files for a customized home plan.
Customize a house plan before or after you buy the paper plans. Here are step by step instructions on how to download and modify floorplans and then print and paste these scaled changes into the paper plans. . . . More...

Soil Maps tell what you will be digging in for foundations and gardens.
This on-line soil database will allow you learn much about the soil of any location in the US and give you an idea of how to size footings and what type of foundation would be best for a cabin or home . . . More...

Thinking like Water
Understanding flashings and rain screens. How to keep a house dry and rot free. . . . More...

Stair Tutorial
Here is a quick overview of stair design with suggestions for using the 3DHA program (BH&G Home Designer similar) . . . More...

The Greatest Nail ever made?
New advancements in nail technology allow a standard 2000 sf house to have almost double the strength and rigidity needed to stand up to earthquake and wind forces - all for about $15 extra in nail costs! . . . More...

How to determine joist and rafter sizes
Here is an easy-to-use on-line calculator that will size floor and deck joists and roof rafters for most standard conditions. Use this to determine how to frame up your preliminary design. . . . More...

How to Grab Plans from Magazines & Books
Using simple drawing tools and a copy machine you can scale up a small magazine plan to usable size. In addition you can turn a real estate map into your site plan, and cut and paste plan elements from different sources into your own custom floor plan. . . . More...

Working with the Building Inspector
Tips for getting your building permit. How to understand, work with and even have FUN with your government agencies. HINT: it's not as painful as dental work. . . . More...

When to use an Engineer
Using the span tables, rules of thumb, and help available from this site you can do much of the structural workup for your own building projects. So when do you need to talk to an engineer and how do . . . More...