Homeowner Forum / Construction / August 2006

I've put some U.V. film on my southern (shaded) side of the house because of
glare from a metal colourbond fence some metres from the window.  I was
wondering, if I put it on the northern windows (which I rely on for
supplementary heating during winter) will it also block the ...

My son recently told me that he was planning on taking a Home
inspection course, his amount of construction amounts to a couple of
months working for a roofing contracter setting shingles on the roof.
Is it really that easy to get to be a home inspector??

I'm trying to determine 'exactly' what PERC testing (guess it stands for
perculation) is and how it effects building (I live in Los Angeles).
Can any one tell me a bit about what the test determines and how those
determinations effect building permits. Many thanks.

I have a wood framed detached garage that I would like to insulate.  I
only plan on heating it a few times a year when I have a project to do
or something I have to fix in winter (I live in upstate NY) with a
portable heater.  The garage is wrapped on the outside with Tyvek over

I want to lay a garage base at the bottom of my garden, for my motorbikes.
It is 25 metres from the road side so delivery of pre-mixed concrete will be
a problem, or expensive, or both.
I can mix the concrete myself using a cheap to hire mixer but I need some

I've leveled the previously bottom stair cement slab (20" x 48" x 20"
deep).
I now need to pour a new 7 3/4" high "bottom" stair in front of the
leveled slab, above.

We are just finishing the inside of our home and I see wasps flying into the
peak of our home between the brick and the facia.
The wasp nest is not visible from the outside.  The attic is blown with
insulation and I have not been up there yet.

In my basement:
How do you construct a coal bin for about 3 tons of coal?
Would 5'x10' and 4' high be largre enough?
How would you construct the "door/trap" from where i

I hope this question isn't too far off  topic.  If it is I would
appreciate suggestions of what other groups might be able to help.
I have a retirement cabin in Tennessee, which will be occupied full
time as soon as all the pension/ssa paperwork is complete.  I'm trying

Anyone out there have experience with estimating the cost of new
electrical for a SIP house in comparison to traditional stick
construction?  Has anyone done electrical on a SIP house who can give
any input on problems you ran into or hidden costs?  How long did it

Have obtained 2 bids for an approx 3400 sq ft driveway
Both bids specify 4" of 4000# concrete, finished and sealed, with sawed
control joints.  One bid specifies 6x6 6 ga. wire reinforcement, the
other specifies 3/8" rebar 3' on center.  Would one be preferable to

Ok, my 10,000lb reactions per point load on the garage dormer trusses
are known to require a 3-1/2 cubed footing of concrete to support the
load.  So, I have the tough job of cutting into the garage floor,
digging a big hole around and under the existing perimeter foundation

I have a small house where there is a small slope from the back
corners of the house to the street in front of the house.  Prior to my
ownership, the gutters were not properly installed and there were some
depressions at the foundation of the house that attracted water.  (The

I am building a cedar deck which will be about a foot and a half off
the ground (hard to work underneath).  I have been debating using
hidden deck fasteners instead of screws and wondering if anyone had
suggestions.    I have been looking at the Tiger Claws and thinking

Can anyone here help??
I need a link or information that will guide me in installing sheetrock on
the ceiling of a room I have enclosed.  The problem is that there is already
plywood on the ceiling and I don't plan on removing it.   This was a carport