Home Building

A patio bar is a nice addition to any patio space, whether you entertain guests for cocktails or have simple, casual barbecues. A patio bar is even useful for providing an outdoor surface for...

Adding a basement to a new home can create space for rooms or a drive-under garage. A basement adds value to virtually any home. However, issues with an extremely steep or rock-filled lot can make...

Though never easy, pouring a concrete basement provides one of the strongest basement options known to the construction industry. Although installing a concrete basement requires much framing and...

The main construction material used for building a house--besides wood--is concrete blocks. If you want to build a house and you don't want to use wood, then you can use concrete block as an...

Not a bricklayer, neither am I. That's why I made my foundation wall out of stacked cinderblocks, or CMU's (concrete masonry units) covered with surface bonding cement.

Concrete is a versatile building material that can be formed into just about any shape to serve almost any purpose, and it often finds its way into slabs to support structures or patios....

Basements must be constructed to withstand great forces, vertically and horizontally. They must also have the ability to withstand the forces of water that will forever weigh on the exterior of...

Treating new slabs involves applying termiticide to a building site while the foundation is being laid. Termites do not eat concrete, but cracks that develop in concrete slabs give termites...

A core drill bores holes through concrete using a core drill bit. Core drill bits are a hollow cylinder with square teeth along the bottom edge and an enclosed top that attaches to a threaded stud...

To drill holes larger than one inch in diameter, use a core-drilling bit. A core-drilling bit has an open center or a center arbor that allows the concrete to enter inside the bit. There are...

A bottom plate is the bottom horizontal piece of a 2-by-4 or 2-by-6 framed wall. Properly attaching a framed wall to a concrete floor requires preparation of the bottom plate and the concrete...

There are specially designed screws that allow you to install the screw directly into concrete. The screws require a pilot hole, and when you run the screws into the concrete, they create their...

Tubes are used for pouring concrete to help force the concrete to solidify in the desired shape, similar to the way a mold would be used. The tubes are strong enough to hold the concrete while it...

Concrete wedge anchors consist of a threaded draw bolt with a tapered end and an expanding sleeve that rests above the tapered section of the bolt. When you apply torque to a nut threaded onto the...

Epoxy set concrete anchor bolts offer a strong connection point if properly installed. Failure to adhere to the installation instructions will result in eventual failure of the anchor, which can...

The first step in building a detached garage or a shed is determine what type of floor your going to put the structure on. One option when building a shed is to put it on a wooden floor but that’s...

You can cut concrete using several kinds of tools. For small jobs around the home or on the job site, a skill saw equipped with a masonry blade will allow you to finish the task with ease. There...

Ideal conditions for working concrete seldom occur in the middle of winter, but if your foundation begins to crumble or your car threatens to disappear into a bottomless pothole in your driveway,...

If you want to build a fence or another structure that involves creating stable posts, it is important to dig and pour a post footing properly. If you set a wooden post directly into the ground...

Concrete pumps are pieces of machinery used for moving liquid concrete quickly. Concrete pumps come in a variety of sizes, but in most cases, concrete pumps are large, industrial machines used for...

You can use a small cabin for a trip like a vacation getaway, a hunting excursion or just a retreat from the hustle and bustle of your normal workweek. You can build this simple, inexpensive and...

A concrete slab, a common structure used in modern buildings, can provide an important foundation for homes and buildings by carrying the weight of everything placed on top of it. A concrete slab...

If you are planning on pouring or already have poured a concrete project, you should know about the different techniques available for curing concrete. Concrete will generally cure hard enough for...

A concrete footer is used for support of walls or a slab of concrete. Anytime you are laying brick or stone, you should pour a footer first, to prevent your work from slowly shifting or sinking in...

When building a home, two of the most common types of foundation to choose from are a concrete slab or a foundation with a crawl space. They are both alternatives to a basement. Both a concrete...

One of the most important things you can do for your new home or building structure is to provide it with a proper foundation. Understanding how to correctly prepare the site, what types of slope...

You have the concrete for your floor poured, screeded off, and have run a bull float over it. You have the power trowel ready to run (started it to see if it runs so you're ready when the right...

If you are considering building your own house, then there are some tips and techniques that you should know about before you begin your project. Building a house will be the most major...

Building your own cabin is challenging, building an off grid cabin is even more challenging. You need basic carpentry skills and an understanding of off grid options. Property selection includes...

As soon as concrete is mixed, it begins the process of hydration that bonds the materials into a stone-like substance. If left to dry naturally, the materials will lack the time to bond completely...

Unlike solid foundations that are completely enclosed beneath the structure, pier foundations consist of a number of single piers or columns onto which the structure in built; the entire area...

The foundation of a house or any other building provides a flat surface for the home to sit on. The foundation shoulders the weight of the house and even disperses the weight so the house does not...

Fiber cement siding, panels and trim are constructed of cement, wood fibers, and silica. To make cuts into this hard siding, you will need to use special masonry tools and equipment. Masonry...

Concrete stairs are some of the strongest and most resilient stairs known to the construction industry. They will last 20 to 30 years and can be easily cleaned and maintained. You can build your...

Anchor bolts are the single most important connectors between your house foundation and its walls. Without anchor bolts, your house is basically free-standing on top of its foundation; the anchor...

It is common when building walls to need to attach the wall, or anchor it, to a concrete base. This step is necessary to have a strong and durable wall. When building an exterior wall on concrete,...

Concrete countertops are beautiful pieces of art that are also functional. You can make a concrete countertop in any shape and size and in virtually any color or texture. Building one, however,...

There are many types of concrete anchors. Selecting the right anchor for your project is based on factors such weight, vibration, solid or hollow concrete, vertical or horizontal placement and...

High winds and flooding pose the two biggest dangers to a house when a hurricane strikes. The main strategy in hurricane-proofing addresses high winds. Interestingly, flooding causes the greatest...

One way to make your yard look truly spectacular is to add a garden pond. A garden pond can enhance the beauty of your home while adding serenity and comfort to your surroundings. The garden pond...

Concrete slabs provide a solid surface for anything from a family outing to a game of basketball. Previously, when the average homeowner wanted to add a concrete slab, he called a number of...

The bottom, or sill, plate of a structure is a board that lies on the floor of a structure and has the wall studs sitting on it. This plate attaches the wall to the floor. For wood floors,...

A slab is always monolithic, which means it is made from a single pour of concrete. Usually when the term monolithic is used, it is because the concrete footings and slab are poured at the same...

A habitable pole barn can provide emergency housing for a family member who has no other place to live. Another use is to provide a place for you to live when you are building a house,...

The geodesic dome, designed by Buckminster Fuller in the early twentieth century, is one of the most efficient homes ever devised. Construction of a basic concrete dome is considerably less...

There are two types of foam insulation. Foam-in-place insulation is widely used for older buildings and buildings that were not insulated when built. Rigid foam insulation is commonly used for...

Pilings are an excellent idea for beach homes or any waterfront property that is at the mercy of the elements. Homes on pilings are routinely saved from flooding, tidal swells and erosion that can...

Calculating the cubic meters of concrete you will need to pour in the area you have formed is easy. By following these simple steps, you can figure out the amount needed quickly and with little...

This is a really straight forward and relatively fun do it yourself project. Because aluminum fences come in prefabricated panels, you only need to concern yourself with a limited scope of work...

Laying down concrete and finishing it properly is more finesse than you think and requires less talent than you probably envision. Anyone can lay down concrete successfully by following the right...