Architecture

If you’re like millions of other office or store workers, you look up to see an acoustic tile ceiling. And like millions of others, you may be looking up at a ratty, dirty, stained acoustic tile...

Tired of that really smelly enamel you last used on the lawn furniture? Wish there was a better environmental solution to those leftover paint cans in your garage? Let this architect show you why...

A cupola is a traditionally small, usually round structure built on top of a larger dome or roof. In some cases, a cupola makes up the entire rooftop of a tower or spire. Cupolas can also resemble...

There are ways to reduce your energy bills, through smart and basic house improvements. What are 'energy' bills? What is meant by energy bills for houseowners, are bills resulting from having...

A perhaps little known, but widely used, construction product in the U.S. is the insulated concrete form (ICF). An ICF is a single-piece concrete form and insulating unit that is used to contain...

We’ve all heard how important it is to use double-glazed or even triple-glazed windows in our homes and offices to reduce energy demand and improve interior comfort. But how many of us have...

Want to put new siding on your house or other building. Cedar is a good choice. Cedar lap siding is ery long lasting but needs upkeep. This should help you get the job done.

The green sustainability movement cherishes what is natural, durable and sustainable. And what could be more natural, durable and sustainable than the very stone that comprises much of our Earth’s...

A laundry chute can be a handy means of transporting your clothing from an upper floor of your home to a lower floor. With the proper tools and knowledge, you can easily construct a laundry chute...

Want to change the siding on your house. Cement board is a good choice. With a little help it is not that hard to put on.

Cutting angles on a miter saw is called "mitering" the board or piece trim. When you miter a board, the total angle measurement that two boards placed together will create is divided evenly...

Believe it or not, only Burma, Liberia, and the United States have not officially adopted the Metric System unit of measurement! Since the 1960s the International System of Units...

Building a new home, getting new windows or roof, how about a deck. There is alot of ways you can save money on your project.

Both cement and wood foundation proponents claim their product is the best. In reality, each type of foundation has its strengths and weaknesses.

A balustrade is an architectural feature that has been used for centuries in homes and buildings and as a decorative addition to porches, balconies and stairways.

Finishing drywall is a much dreaded, dust-producing project. Sandpaper, rolls of plastic sheeting, tape and drop cloths strike fear in the cleanup crew. The only way to stop dust when finishing...

An architectural ruler, more commonly called an architect scale, is a device used to draw and study blueprints. In order for blueprints to be practical in size, they usually have to be drawn "to...

Steel pipes are among the most common materials found in various industrial, automotive and construction frameworks. This is due to their properties of great strength, sturdiness and flexibility,...

Many changes and additions need to be made to a home for someone who is handicapped, especially when he is in a wheelchair. This includes all aspects of life in the home, from entrances to floors...

Most freight elevators use the exact same control system as passenger elevators. The elevator rides up and down in a vertical track. It is attached to a winch, powered by an electric motor. The...

Though our modern homes are swaying from the adopted English design, these time-honored homes can still be seen throughout the nation. From a one-room log cabin high in Appalachia to grand...

Automobiles have not only changed how we travel, but how our homes look. As cars became more and more common at the turn of the 20th century, people needed a shelter in which to park and care for...

For the greater part of history, architectural plans were drawn by hand. Modern technology drastically reduced the time needed to copy such documents with reprographics (mechanical copying), and...

A geodesic dome house can be built more quickly and less expensively than a conventional house, and it makes an appealing and unique living structure. An extremely simple house can be built by...

The architect scale is a vital tool for any drafter, and possibly the most important. Like most hand tools, this can be intimidating to anyone who has not used it before, but this is a tool that...

The term "cubic feet" seem to be a complicated subject for some people who would think it is too technical for them. It is simply measuring a box on 3 sides: length, width and height! ...

There are dozens of different types of commercial buildings worldwide, ranging from basic laundromats and pubs to opulent hotels and majestic commercial banks. Commercial buildings usually...

Their ability to stand among ruins and hold massive structures all the while mesmerize with their ornate beauty could be why people come from all over the world to visit famous columned...

Bamboo makes an excellent building material. Furniture and buildings constructed of bamboo have an exotic look. The plant is also one of the fastest growing in the world, making it an abundant...

Base moulding is like icing on a cake. It enhances a room and makes it look finished. Do-it-yourself carpenters can take on a DIY base moulding project in a few hours with great results. Before...

Building a staircase can difficult or hard. One of the easiest staircases to build is a basic wooden staircase. A wooden staircase only uses three types of wood, and a sturdy one can be put up...

Stickley furniture--made in the workshops of Gustav Stickley--is prized as the best representation of the American Arts and Crafts period of furniture making. Depending on its style and condition,...

According to Wayne Drake in his book, "Crown Molding & Trim, Install it Like a Pro," the most common mistake when installing crown moulding is nailing the moulding too low or too high on the...

I've been building a tiny house from mostly scrap wood and shipping pallets. The idea is that when it's done it will cost nothing. All expenses will be offset by selling free stuff I find on...

You will learn how to read architectural pl;ans and interpret dimensions.

Perhaps you recognize the name of Frank Lloyd Wright, one of America’s greatest architects of the past. Or maybe you’ve heard of that other Frank — Frank Gehry, one of today’s hottest architects....

You may find yourself with the need to determine the size of your home, whether for planning an addition or for planning a more efficient use of your available floor space. Home sizes are stated...

One of the benefits of cutting crown molding on a compound miter saw is that you can lay the molding flat on the saw when you cut it. In contrast, if you were using a basic miter saw you would...

Designing your own home floor plan can be both satisfying and cost-efficient. Without the expertise of an architect, you can produce a set of professional floor plans suitable for development into...

Plywood comes in five grades: A, B, C, C plugged, and D. The grade refers to the appearance and strength of the plywood. The higher the grade, the stronger the wood. Plywood with more...

Most homebuilders choose a roof design for residential construction from these six popular styles: gable, hip, gambrel, mansard, flat and shed. Mixing roof styles on a single house is common, and...

Streams are channels of flowing water that are smaller in size than rivers. These ecosystems include various communities of plant and animal species.

For many homes with sloped roofs, the roof is a visible and dominant feature. When it is time to replace the shingles, you want to choose the best color that goes with your house. Before making...

We all have an impact on our environment. Our energy consumption, pollution, and garbage that we make all impacts the world we live in. Many of us would love to be more green, and keep our impact...

Wood is heat treated to meet ISPM (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures) regulations and to kill wood pests. However, while there are benefits to heat treating wood materials, there...

Curb appeal is important to many homeowners, and porches are an important feature because they frame your home. Fortunately, there are many types of porches, so you can choose just the look you need.

A pilaster is an architectural element that looks like half of a column, or a column built into a wall that projects slightly from the facade or front of a building.

Have you ever wondered how to figure how much concrete is needed for, lets say, a small deck patio? Well, if you know your math conversions, it can be rather simple. If you don't know your...

A brick mailbox has the ability to make any home look more elegant. This project doesn't require any special masonry skills, but it does require attention to detail and a little planning ahead to...

As evident in the Great Pyramid of Giza, brick and stone facings can withstand the weathering of time and the elements. Today there are many types of brick facings that can add appeal to a...