Carpentry

Introduction to House Framing

Framing refers to the process of building the structure of the house. Once the foundation is established carpenters begin to build the frame of the house with nominal sized 2x lumber and plywood material.

The methods used for building the frame of the house vary by region, the materials being used and builders experience. All builders will have a different way of getting the work done but the inspection process will make sure that general standards are adhered …

Steel and Wood Beams

  Steel and Wood beams are used throughout homes and commercial buildings to provide proper distribution of floor and wall loads. There are a few different types of beam designs and various materials that can be used but the most important factor is matching the structural rating of the beam to the loads being supported. For this reason under most conditions Beams will need to be specified by an Architect or Structural Engineer.

Mid-span Beams are the most common type used …

HowTo – Staining Your Deck

With proper maintenance your deck can last years longer so taking a half a day to paint it should not be looked at as a nasty chore but a protection of your investment.

Penetration into the wood is the main difference between Paints and Stains.

Paints can be thought of as a thick outer shell that will fail once it is chipped off. Stain will enter into the wood and continue to protect the wood …

Planning your Deck Project

Every good project starts with a good plan and although Decks are a pretty simple project you will probably need to submit plans to your Building Official to get a permit for construction.

For specifications of how detailed your plans need to be you should call your local permit office and ask them what they will need from you.

Most areas will require:

• A Plot Plan of your homes lot showing the location and …

Lumber Manufacturers

Elk Building Products (composite lumber) www.elkcorp.com

Georgia Pacific  www.GP.com

Louisiana-Pacific  www.lpcorp.com

TimberTech (composite lumber) www.timbertech.com

Weyerhaeuser  www.weyerhaeuser.com