Can I Tyvek before dry-in?
Framing lumber and structural sheathing (plywood/OSB) are highly resistant to the effects of weather. (It sits outdoors in the lumber yard for mont...
COMMUNITY FORUM
Recent Posts
over 9 years by MD-Bob
4
answers569
Views
Attic Insulation
Treat the attice as a regular floor in the house. No insulation below and insulate above. Make sure that the insulation above "breathes" or else ou...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
2
answers146
Views
vinyl siding
No. Eighty percent of the heat loss in a house occurs thru the roof. Insulating in this case is overkill.
over 9 years by MD-Bob
3
answers397
Views
Need a driveway and Carport
In all probability you will need a building permit and plot plan showing the garage in relationship to lot lines to secure local government approva...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
2
answers515
Views
Foam or OSB Under Brick?
The brick will provide no lateral support or resistance to racking. Foam sheathing requires lateral and corner bracing. Properly installed in accor...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
2
answers831
Views
load bearing walls
You can probably remove the interior wall If your rafters are pre-fabricated roof trusses which normally only bear on the outside walls and require...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
5
answers828
Views
build a ground level deck over my septic tank?
Septic tamks need to be pumped out periodically.You need to provide an access hatch acces for the "honey dipper".
over 9 years by MD-Bob
2
answers810
Views
Cabinets - New vs. Refinished
I've just went thru a similar analysis. I concluded that repairing and refacing cheapo builder cabinets and topping them with corian is a bad inves...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
2
answers827
Views
Terra cotta tiles
Interesting you should ask. I am dealing with a similar problem. My reearch suggest that the mix you suggest is the "old timers" way of enhancing t...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
1
answers281
Views
Need Upstairs Flooring Advice
In the bath use Hardibacker screwed to the joists Tape the joints with a fiberglass drywall mesh and flash patch them with the thinset mortar. In ...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
3
answers55
Views
hardi-backer seams?
The purpose of the tape and the mortar is to form a continuous membrane thereby preventing moisture from entering the substrate. Its easy...use fib...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
6
answers262
Views
Floor Loading
In a newly constructed house the dead loading requirements on the second floor should be about 80-100# psf. That would suggest the weight being dis...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
3
answers892
Views
Foating solid hardwood floor
Interesting you should ask. I live in a townhome community with poured in place above grade concrete floors. The installation of 3/4" plank hardwoo...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
17
answers712
Views
neat tool to check home prices prior to bid
Value is determined in the marketplace...willing buyer-willing seller. There can be variations of 25% on a street by street-house by house basis. T...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
4
answers47
Views
Pools - Help or Hurt ?
If you have an expensive home where where, say 25%, of similar priced homes in you area have pools it will not detract from value. It may not, howe...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
13
answers799
Views
Historic Preservation of Real Estate
Historic Preservation Programs are usually administered on a local or state level. In many cases progams are available resulting in significant fin...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
2
answers782
Views
Is an inspection needed on a new home? Murray
I have been a homebuilder for 15 years. A reputable homebuilder should never object to an inspection by a "qualified inspector" during normal busin...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
8
answers129
Views
sewage odor
Four possibilitoes. The vent stack inside the walls exiting the roof thru the attic is disconnected or blocked; A fan is drawing the vent gasses in...
over 9 years by MD-Bob
2
answers709
Views
