Home Building

A roof is a vital design consideration for home builders. It must protect a house from the elements. To design a roof, builders must consider the trusses, a skeletal framework that improves...

A truss is a prefabricated rigid framework used for roof and floor construction. Designed by an engineer, it's factory-built, and shipped directly to the building site. Most new homes are built...

Shingle roof construction, like the construction of almost any type of roof, begins with the support structure that will hold up the outside surface. Strong, heavy trusses are laid across the...

Any child loves to have his or her own playhouse. A playhouse gives your child a sense of personal space and independence. With the right tools and materials, a playhouse can be built on your own...

Building a playhouse is very much like building a full-size house. You need a stable foundation to build the house on, and you need to make sure everything from the walls to roof is stable to...

In these troubled economic times, building a house might seem like a very expensive undertaking. However, if you keep in mind these pieces of advice, you will find that building a house can...

Roof construction starts with a structural framing system made of wood or metal. The frame is constructed in such a way that the weight of the roof is distributed safely to the building's walls,...

Bridges are often supported by trusses, as are the gabled roofs of many modern homes, and the huge flat ceilings of "big box" stores. Most definitions of trusses (ignoring the references to...

Place the first truss flush against the wall leading up to the attic opening. The top of the truss should be 1 inch below the attic floor to allow a 1 inch stair tread to mount flush and level...

Every family eventually seems to outgrow the garage and have a need for additional storage space. A shed with a gable roof is simple to build for someone with a little carpentry experience.

Hip trusses are trusses that have a flat top instead of the common peaks you see on traditional houses. By following these five easy steps, you will learn how to make hip trusses like a...

If you need extra outdoor storage, then building a shed can be the answer to your problem. A homebuilt 8 by 12 shed is a great place to store a riding lawnmower and garden tools. Of course the...

The difference between building a house with help and building it alone lies in the tools you use. You'll need tools that allow one person to do the job of two. The first tool you need is a...

Every building needs a roof, but hiring a company to do this job for you can be very expensive. You can learn how to roof a building on your own, but in order to do so, you must already have...

Roof trusses come in more than just one style. Vaulted, cantilever, queen, fink, and gambrel roof trusses only name but a few. Usually roof trusses are constructed in a factory and shipped to a...

Engineered roof trusses come in many different styles: gable, saltbox, fink, queen, howe, hip, and gambrel, to name but a few. Prefabricated trusses are used in 75 percent of all new construction...

In framing a home, it's necessary to take precautions when you frame your roof system, whether you stick-build your roof or use trusses. High winds may damage your framing while it's in progress....

Generally speaking, roof trusses are structurally engineered and manufactured by a licensed truss company, sent to you with a stamped copy of plans. However, if you wish to make roof trusses...

So you want to build a pitched roof? Here are some tips for construction. This article is in response to requested building instruction. This will vary greatly depending upon if it is new...

Building or renovating a house is expensive. One way to cut costs is to roof the building yourself. Installing a roof is a long and challenging project, but with the right supplies and guidance,...