Figuring out what was wrong with my framing was a huge and daunting task, and it was obvious that big mistakes had been made literally from the day the lumber hit the foundation. Wood will pull moisture out of concrete … Read More
Despite setbacks with the framing job, I’m trying to push ahead with other aspects of the project. One of the biggest upcoming steps is choosing the siding for the house. Siding is attached over the structural sheathing and forms the … Read More
This is not a post I wanted to write, but I said I’d be open about mistakes and this one was a big one. Well, a lot of big ones. I knew I didn’t have the knowledge to frame a … Read More
Mavrik just e-mailed these photos of my windows packaged for shipping. I spent a ton of time researching and pricing out windows from various suppliers in both North America and Europe. In the end I decided to buy my glass … Read More
Metal straps, holdowns, and twist straps designed to help the house resist seismic and wind forces. There’s a ton of hardware in this thing: one framer told me I have as much metal as a typical new 6,000-square foot Anchorage … Read More
Even if you’re not doing the framing yourself, it’s helpful to know some basic terminology (if only so you’re not confused by all the references to “jack studs” and “cripples” on your job site). Basic window framing is a pretty … Read More
Headed up to the house today to shovel snow that blew through the window openings. I was really happy to see just about every room in the house full of warm natural light. As noted in my May 18, 2019 … Read More
Frost and ice forming on a window in the place I’m currently renting. Yes, it’s a double-pane. And yes, that’s the inside of the window. Last week, the ice got so thick it started creeping down the windowpane onto the … Read More
I drove up to the site today to find that temps had risen enough for the framers to get back to work. They’d set up a propane heater in the shipping container to keep the pneumatic compressors and tools warm, … Read More
