CONSTRUCTION Housing 1 6.02

Starting Out Building standards are set by: State Agency Federal Agency Local Agency

The Foundation The foundation is the underlying base and support of a home. It consists of the footing (a continuous concrete base that supports the foundation walls below ground level. (p259) Foundation walls are made from poured concrete or concrete block. The foundation has to be waterproofed. Waterproofing material (black plastic) is applied on the outer face of the foundation.

There are three types of foundation constructions: Basement Crawl Space : 18”-24” between the foundation and ground Slab : poured concrete @ 4” thick. Usually found in warmer climates, parts of the plumbing and heating systems are often put in place before the concrete is poured

The Frame The Frame is the skeleton of the housing structure. It supports the wall and roof materials. If not properly constructed, the roof may sag or collapse.

The Floor Frame The first piece of floor frame attached to the foundation is the sill plate. The floor frame consists of girders, (major support beams that support the floor joists) joists, (floor joists are nailed to header joists at max. intervals of 20”.) and sub-flooring: rough flooring made from plywood

The Wall Frame The wall frame is built on top of the floor frame. It supports the ceiling, upper floors, and roof. The frame consists of vertical studs (vertical wall framing members) placed every 16-24” apart. Can be wood, steel or any other manufactured product

WALLS Header: small built up beams that carry the load of the structure above the doors and windows Studs are attached at the top & bottom to horizontal members called PLATES. Single sole plate: supports the wall at bottom Double top plate: supports the ceiling joist and roof

The Ceiling Frame When beginning to frame the roof the series of beams that would be constructed first is the ceiling joists (horizontal beams that act as floor joists for second and attic floors). On most roofs the rafters (parallel beams that support the weight of the roof) hang past the edge of the exterior wall to provide the overhang, which prevents water from running down the walls.

Ridge: horizontal line at which 2 slopes of the roof meet, usually the highest point of the house Roof truss/truss rafters: group of members forming a rigid triangular framework for the roof, often assembled at a factory delivered to site, & attached directly to double top plate

Finishing the Exterior Rough board called sheathing is applied to the outside of the wall framing and roof. Sheathing is either oriented strand board (OSB board) or plywood. After sheathing is up builders usually wrap the home with heavy waterproof material. This creates a protective envelope that keeps out water and moisture.

Finishing the Exterior Cont.. Brick, wood, stucco, stone, and siding are used to finish the exterior of a house. Wood is commonly used for siding material but is ranked as high maintenance. Aluminum siding is better because is helps lower heating/cooling costs, is durable & resists weather and corrosion. Dents and conducts electricity.

Vinyl siding is brittle and can crack or break under extreme weather conditions. Requires little maintenance and is durable. Fiberglass looks like wood shingles and comes in a variety of natural wood colors, requires no painting

The Roof The roof protects the home’s interior from the weather. Light colored roofs are popular in hot climates because they keep the home cool. By reflecting sunlight, lighter roof colors can reduce heat reduction 20-50%.

Roofing materials. Shingles- are thin pieces of material laid in overlapping rows that cover the roof. Asphalt shingles are the most widely used roofing material because of their fire-resistant qualities and low cost.

Roofing materials Slate/Tile: used in areas of USA with hot sun and little snow/rain. Made of heavy material and requires proper roof design to support the extra weight, expensive but will last the lifetime of the home. Metal: Aluminum & tin-plated steel in sheet form. Cooper may also be used on the entire roof or as accent. Price will depend on quality.

The Chimney A chimney has two parts: 1) FLUE- vertical shaft through which smoke and hot gases are carried to open air. 2) CAP- the top of the chimney Flashing (consists of strips of sheet metal that is placed around the chimney and other roof openings to prevent moisture from leaking through the roof openings.

Insulation The purpose of insulation is to reduce the passage of heat through the walls and roof. The effectiveness of insulation depends on its R value. The R value of insulation is a measure of the capacity to resist winter heat loss and summer heat gain. The higher the R value the better the insulation.

Forms of Insulation The basic types include: Flexible - comes in blanket form made of fiber glass Loose fill – can be poured, blown in, or packed. The most effective insulation for floors. Foam- pumped through a tube and expands after application to fill in the cracks and crevices.

Windows Sash- frame work that surrounds the glass Muntins- the strips that hold individual small pieces of glass within the sash. Frame- surrounds and holds the sashes. *Refer to (p 271)

Wiring Wiring should be checked every 5 years to reduce concern about electrical fire. Current building codes require that wall receptacles, or outlets, include a ground wire/ground fault (an electrical conductor that is connected to the earth). The ground wire provides protection in case there is an abnormal flow of electric current. Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) are receptacles that guard against electrical shock. A panel box also called a service entrance or fuse box, is a device that controls the distribution of the electricity to the home wiring system.

Heating and Cooling Systems HVAC- Heating, Ventilation, Air Condition Air conditioners cool and circulate air and they also remove excess moisture from the air. There are 2 main types: Room A/C - enclosed in a cabinet that fits into a window or wall. Central A/C- located outside the home, that with the help of the furnace blower and ducts, supplies cool air to reach the rooms. Types of Portable heating and cooling Fan Plug in heater

Heating and Cooling Systems Cont… Heating Systems Forced air system -air is warmed by a furnace, then propelled by a blower through ducts to registers in each room. Provides the fastest method of raising room temperature. Radiant heat system- heating elements- either hot water piping or electric wiring- are hidden in the floor, ceiling, or baseboards. Heat radiates from elements. Heat pump- uses an electric refrigeration unit to heat and cool a living space. The refrigeration unit contains a compressor, circulating fluid (refrigerant), and two heat exchangers. It operates by removing heat form air or water. In cold weather, heat is removed form outside air and pumped into the house. In warm weather heat is removed from the air inside the house and is pumped outside.

Resources Housing Decisions, pages 196-211 Housing and Interiors, pages 215-239 www.lowes.com www.homedepot.com www.hometime.com www.thisoldhouse.com www.architecture.about.com www.oldhouseweb.com Copyright ©2007, ABCD, All rights reserved.