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Estimating the volumes of materials in cylinders is something you can do in your head, so long as you follow the right steps. Estimate the volumes of materials in cylinders with help from an experienced educator in this free video clip.
A typical Japanese sitting area is distinguished by an absence of Western-influenced furniture. People normally sit on zabuton cushions placed directly on the floor, although legless chairs are sometimes featured; tatami matting and low tables are also common. No type of covering defines an outdoor Japanese sitting area, but the Asian-style pergola is entirely Japanese in form and makes an authentic, defining structure around the seating space.
The maximum unsupported span for a 2-by-8-inch beam is about 12 feet, so if you're building a deck that's longer than 12 feet, it will need extra support. The maximum standard length for a 2-by-8 board is 16 feet. That makes a 16-by-16-foot deck possible and practical, attaching one side to the house and using precast concrete piers and beams. Check building codes when planning a large deck for regulations about size, support and other factors. Determine the soil conditions; you will need poured concrete footings for unstable soil or ground that freezes and thaws in winter.
A hip roof, which is a roof that has triangular slants, often has a decorative overhang, called a gable, that extends from the wall of the house and out. To help support the overhang, you can install a bracket that will reach from the outermost tip of the gable to the house’s wall. The installation process does not require much time, and you can purchase brackets that are decorative to disguise the bracket.
Fiberglass ductboard is used to construct square or rectangular heating ducts when you don't want to fabricate sheet metal ducts or want ducts with additional insulation. Ducts are made from flat sheets of the board, with sections created by cutting channels across the width of the panels that allow them to be folded and taped into shape based on your measurements. Duct segments are then joined to make up the run of the ductwork. Estimating the amount of board needed for the job can be more complicated than simple measuring.
An ugly or outdated staircase creates an eyesore in a home, especially if it is an open staircase in a prominent location. Refacing the staircase updates the area without the need to completely rebuild the steps. The tread, or flat part where you step, typically needs to be replaced rather than refaced because of the need for a strong, durable piece. The riser, or vertical back part of each stair, is better suited for refacing with a thin veneer material. To get professional results, learn the key steps to installing the wood veneer on the risers.
Roof joists are an integral part of a house's roof system. They tie the walls together and work in conjunction with angled rafters to bear the weight of the roof. Three types of loads or weights affect roof joists: dead load, live load and wind load. Dead load is the weight of the roofing material itself, the beams, decking and covering. Live load is external weight, mainly snow and ice accumulations. Wind load is the force of wind striking a surface. The type and size of lumber and spacing all affect the capacity of a joist to bear a load.
Roof tanks are a type of water collection system that gathers rainwater as it runs off the eaves of a building. This water is filtered through a screen and used to water plants and gardens. It's a cost-effective way of reusing rainwater instead of paying for city water. It also works well in areas where there is a limited amount of water. These tanks cost money to build, but they generally pay for themselves by providing free water.
In IT development, when you set a timeline and finish date for a software project, you're engaging in software estimation. Estimation is sometimes called a "black art" because project requirements and project teams' abilities vary widely, making accurate predictions seem magical. Careful planning and team discussion go a long way toward producing good estimates.
A bed slide can be a fun addition to your children’s bunk bed. Some bunk bed makers offer bed slide kits. But you can make your own for a lot less money and give your kids the excitement of literally sliding out of bed each morning. You can make a simple but safe bed slide for a child’s bunk bed using a preformed plastic slide from a home improvement or outdoor recreation store.
Installing gable vents on your home is a cost-effective way to ventilate the attic area. Gable vents install on each end of the home at the roof peak. Replacing existing gable vents requires simply measuring the existing hole and purchasing replacements that match the opening size. Measuring for new gable vents however, requires some calculations to ensure you get the proper size gable vent for your attic.
Installing an enclosure around your chimney pipe is a surefire way to protect it and improve its appearance. Prefabricated chases and flue wraps are designed for installing around an exposed chimney stack on the roof. These products make it easy to enclose the pipe. With a faux brick model, you can even make it look like a true masonry chimney. Every flue wrap is different, so follow the manufacturer's guidelines for installation details. Whenever you are working with vent piping, it's important to review local building codes for some of the general regulations that may apply to your situation.
Installing the right size valve for your tub shower ensures a safe and durable connection. Dual valves for a combination tub/shower come in many sizes, unlike regular shower valves, which come in only two sizes, 1/2 and 3/4 inch. Determining valve size for a tub shower requires basic tools and supplies. You can use the old fixture method for an existing tub or the pipe method when installing a new tub.
A roof on a barbecue cooking area protects the grill from the environment. This extends the barbecuing season to more than just good weather days. The cook does not get sunburned by the sun or drenched when it rains. The food is protected as well from downpours. Covering the area allows you to keep your barbecue outdoors wrapped in a cover and under the roof.
A butterfly roof is easily identifiable by its two rooflines that slope toward the center of the home to form a valley. This V-shaped configuration resembles the wings of a butterfly when viewed from a distance. The angle of a roof is referred to as slope. Slope is expressed as a ratio of rise to run. Run is the 12-inch horizontal extension of the roof. Rise is the number of inches the roof rises along the 12-inch run. Although butterfly roofs often feature identical slopes, it is wise to check both portions of the roof.
Flat roofs were common on many "modernistic" houses built in the housing boom right after World War II. They were easy to build, cheap and fit that type of architecture. Flat roofs, however, do not allow space for insulation or attic storage and also are prone to pooling or puddling of water, leading to leaks. Many homeowners opt to renovate houses to replace flat roofs with more traditional angled ones. It is a major remodeling project. Always check local building regulations for required permits and specific construction codes.
A diaphragm, as a construction term, is a type of floor that is used to offset the stresses and loads of other parts of a building. They are especially useful when building rooftops, because they can be installed as subsystems to distribute lateral loads to walls and frames so that the roof is more stable. Roof diaphragm analysis shows how effective a diaphragm can be in certain situations, based on the listed materials.
Evaporative coolers are also known as "swamp coolers," a system for homes and buildings which emits moisture to keep the air cool. This method of cooling is popular in the dry climate of the Southwestern United States. Existing ducts for conventional heating, ventilation and air conditioning may work for swamp coolers depending on the size of the premises. For efficiency, you may need to enlarge the ducts or reduce them to a window opening depending on the cubic feet of the area and size of the cooling unit.
Brick walls are not only aesthetically appealing but they also prevent soil erosion from rainwater runoff. Bricks are available in various colors, sizes and styles but the procedure for laying a brick wall is the same for all bricks. Design brick walls for raised flowerbeds, to highlight a patio or as a property border. Anywhere you lay a brick wall, it retains moisture and soil, making lawns and flowers flourish and preventing tree roots from losing topsoil and becoming exposed.
Math is one subject that most students grumble about in school, but it's actually a skill that's used often outside of the classroom. When determining the measurements of the walls or ceiling in your home, for example, you need to know some basic math to get the correct numbers.
In ancient times, many buildings were made of stacked stone. When the masons reached the ceiling line, they used support stones to span across the space and roofing stones on top of the support stones to provide shelter. This system created beams below and cavities above, a style that came to be called coffers. Today, the exposed beams are made of wood and the recesses are paneled. Calculating the dimensions of a modern coffered ceiling often puzzles and confuses homeowners. The trick that carpenters use will make your calculations much easier and you will end up with evenly sized coffers.
Design, color and decor may seem, at first glance, to be the primary factors in a room’s usability and comfort. Without proper lighting, however, those factors fade into the darkness. In addition, occupants may not be able to see enough to perform tasks, especially at night. Using the correct amount of light for the room size can avoid these issues.
Numerous roof support methods exist, from beams to ballast to trusses. Roof trusses consist of beams of wood or metal composed in a basically triangular shape. Some trusses assume a complete triangular shape, while others contain some curved or square elements. The angles in a roof truss run a wide gamut and depend ultimately upon the shape of truss you use and the angles you want to measure.
Moisture control is the primary concern when you install a roof. Most roofing moisture concerns revolve around the potential for leakage. Although roofs are designed to expel moisture, condensation and humidity can also be absorbed into roofing materials. Knowing the maximum level of moisture a roof can absorb will help you select a roofing material and decide on the pitch of the roof and the types of protective sealants you will use. A variety of factors affect calculations of moisture control limits.
Staircase design is one of the most difficult tasks in home-building, and building stairs for an unfinished basement slab presents additional challenges. The rise, or height, of each stair plays the greatest role in how safe the staircase is. Each stair must be the exact same height, because even a small discrepancy could send someone tumbling down the staircase.
The materials with which a roof is covered may influence the angle at which the roof slopes. Manufacturers often specify a minimum angle required to ensure efficient shedding of water and snow. So long as the manufacturer's minimum value is met, the angle of a roof is governed by two dimensions: the width of the building and the distance from the top of the walls to the highest point of the roof.
Round posts, also known as balusters or stair sticks, help make the passageway to an upper or lower floor attractive and safe. Newel posts are on the bottom and top steps along with the landings, where they act as anchors for the handrail. Typically, two stair posts are located on the end of each stair tread, beginning at the step above the newel post and ending at the step before the last newel post. Stair posts create a barrier to prevent a fall and make the handrail tight and secure.
Stud walls consist of vertical framing members, called studs, sandwiched between horizontal framing members, called plates. Length, height and thickness are the variable dimensions of conventional stud walls. The distance between a wall's ends is the length, while the distance between the wall's top and bottom is the height. The width of the wall's studs determines the thickness. Stud walls have between two and four plates. If the wall has two plates at its base, the lower plate is called a sill plate and the upper plate is called a bottom plate. If a wall has two plates at its…
If you have a closet doorway that looks rather plain, frame it with a simple wood trim. Wood trim gives your closet doorway a chance to pop, and using adhesive to secure the trim ensures that it will not interfere with the closet door, whether it is a pocket door, sliding door, bi-fold door or standard door. Frame your closet door using a wood trim that suits your home and your taste.
A stair banister is also known as a bannister or a handrail and it is held to a wall using brackets. Before you can install a banister, you need to cut it down to size, giving the ends a finished, beveled look while also ensuring that you have enough wood to stretch from one end of the staircase to the other. Cutting a stair banister does require some woodworking knowledge.
One part of planning a construction project is calculating the amount of materials you need. When determining the amount of lumber for building a roof, there are two calculations you must make. You must calculate the amount of 2-by-6 or 2-by-8 boards you need for the rafters and beams that support the roof, as well as the plywood or oriented-strand board you need for the roof sheathing. Using the blueprints for the roof can make this process easier.
Built-in cabinets can add more than functional storage to your home. They can also add value and style. Custom-built cabinets are designed with your needs in mind and make the best use of the space available. To make the most of your remodeling dollars, be sure that your cabinets flow seamlessly with the look of your home. Otherwise, you may be spending more money later to create the look you ultimately want.
A gambrel roof is frequently referred to as a barn roof because that style was a basic type used on barns in America from early days until today. It was adapted to home use for the same reason it was common in barns and sheds -- it provides much internal space. A basic gambrel roof has two slopes on each side of a center peak. Some complex gambrels have three slopes. A common element of all gambrels is multiple angles for the rafters or top chords of trusses that have to be calculated.
Like any other building, a garage requires a sturdy frame over which to install the protective materials, such as roof shingles and siding. Basic materials -- such as wood, metal and concrete -- may be used for this purpose. The cost of framing a garage from these basic materials varies widely, depending on a number of factors.
In order for your forced air furnace to work properly, you have to have the right sizes of duct vents in each room expelling air. The duct vent size will depend on the size of the furnace and the size of your home, so you know how many vents you need in each room. The furnace’s British thermal units (BTUs) will help calculate the size it needs to be.
A lot of math goes into a standard roofing project. One of the most critical parts of preparing to re-roof your home is calculating the square footage of your roof. Once you know the area of your roof, you can accurately calculate the materials you will need. You'll also need to determine the pitch, or slope, of your roof. These basic calculations should get you through some of the challenges of a roofing project.
Your lawn is by far the thirstiest thing on your property. A lawn can use more than 16,000 gallons of water in a single month. By comparison, a human being takes an entire lifetime to drink 16,000 gallons. If you are planning on sinking a well, then you need to make sure that it and the pump draws water from it are up to the task of irrigating your lawn.
Wall framing requires basic carpentry skills, the ability to use a tape measure, a framing square, a circular saw and a hammer. Even inexperienced carpenters can frame a good wall, however, if the framing is properly planned. The key to basic framing is being able to read house plans and mark wall plates for the location of studs, doors, windows and other elements.
Properly sizing steam and burner nozzles in boilers is important for thermal performance and overall heating efficiency. A nozzle that is too small and unable to handle the boiler's operating pressure will reduce the overall effectiveness of the system. It can even lead to a breakdown of the system's other components, such as valves and steam traps. Installing the correct nozzle size will keep pressures at optimal levels and produce enough steam to adequately heat your home.
Constructing a roof or making additions to it will require you to know the slope of the roof. This can be converted from the angle of the roof using one of three methods. To make conversion easier, you have to know exactly what the slope of the roof is telling you and the formats you are likely to see it on building plans. These will help you to work between the slope and roof angle as you make your conversions.
Stairs are a necessary part of multi-story homes and must follow measurements specified in local building codes for maximum safety and durability. These codes come from the International Residential Code, created by the International Code Council. Founded in 1994, this non-profit member organization standardizes construction techniques in all areas of the U.S.
Builders measure the slope of a roof, which is stated as either a pitch or an angle. A steep slope drains water away quickly and allows snow to slide off the roof. A shallow slope is easier to construct and often costs less to build and maintain than a steeper slope. The choice often is based on the owner's preference and the design of the home.
There is no simple formula for calculating how many activated carbon filters you need to clean the air of a room. Removing odors and air pollutants efficiently depends on the size and number of your filters and what you are filtering, but the most important consideration is how often your fans vent or re-circulate the air.
You can transform the look of your home by adding stone to an arched interior doorway. This cosmetic feature can give your home a rustic or Tuscan feel. Stone can be added to a finished interior arched doorway at any time. You can use stone veneer or even stones from your yard or land. Regardless of the type of stone chosen, the installation process is the same.
Concrete has high compressive strength, which means it can resist considerable pressure without crumbling. Steel reinforcement bars or mesh are added to give concrete tensile strength and shear strength. Tensile strength resists forces that stretch a material until it breaks. Shear strength resists failure that is parallel to the direction of force.
A wrought-iron stair railing can lend a look of sophistication to a staircase and provide sturdy support for those ascending or descending stairs, helping prevent falls and injuries. Because wrought-iron stair railings are typically custom-made, you need to determine the length and pitch of the railing before you order it from the manufacturer. Measuring the pitch and length of a wrought-iron stair railing is a straightforward process that requires few tools.
If you’ve ever been into your attic on a summer afternoon, you know how a roof’s direct exposure to the sun heats up an attic very quickly. Although many homeowners add vents to the soffit, the area between a roof's overhang and the wall, to increase fresh air circulation and help with cooling costs, a properly vented attic also helps cool your roof, helping extend its life. Soffit vents allow the intake of cool air into the attic, and performs best in conjunction with gable or eave vents that allow hot air to rise and vent from the attic.
Many homeowners remodel rooms, or groups of rooms, to update an older house or to add an addition. Interior designers may have a homeowner sketch a home's wall measurements for verifying dimensions to apply to a new room floor plan. However, the sketched floor plan must have clear and accurately labeled wall measurements to prevent costly remodeling mistakes.
Growing houseplants successfully depends on a number of factors, but among the most important is the level of light available to the plant. Measuring the sunlight coverage in a room is one way to guarantee that your houseplants receive enough light, which will enable them to survive indoors for many years. There are two simple and highly effective methods for accurately measuring light, but one requires a specialized piece of equipment called a light meter and the other uses only a standard camera and a sheet of white paper.
Standard steel trusses are made of U-shaped galvanized steel. The U-shape gives the steel its strength, not the weight of the steel. Steel trusses are typically a series of triangles within a larger triangle. The top chord of the triangle, the rafter, pushes down at the peak of the roof and out at the heel or edge. The bottom chord, the joist, is under tension to resist outward thrust. The small triangles that form the interior web give the truss structure and rigidity.
