Idea
The Construction Guide is similarly a DIY tool. It is intended to explain, and thereby assist in achieving better/best primary construction decisions. It looks at basic ‘shell’ construction from foundation to roof.
As a general construction guide it does not know specific project circumstances and therefore cannot, and does not, make project recommendations. It also makes no attempt to analyze or recommend specific proprietary materials or techniques.
IMPORTANT: This guide along with the Addendum Set become active tools in developing a customized Construction Drawing Set with the Architect.
Closer Look
This Construction Guide is available for perusal and use here. It can be ‘unlocked’ and downloaded with a commitment to a customized Construction Drawing Set.
Chapter Index
- c1 Residential Foundation System Comparisons
- c2 Foundation Structure Basics in Single Family Home Construction
- c3 Foundation Protections for Single Family Home Construction
- c4 Concrete Floor Considerations for the Single Family Home
- c5 ResidentialFrame Floors
- c6 Residential Frame Walls
- c7 Residential Roof Construction
- c8 Total Building Shell Structure
- c9 The Home’s Thermal Envelope
c1 Residential Foundation System Comparisons
Foundation system selection wants to be selected early as it drives a lot of other choices and decisions. This chapter takes a simple 1 story design with attached garage, front and side porches, and compares the four baseline foundation options- the slab on grade with integral footing, the slab on grade with stem wall foundations, the crawl space foundation, and the daylight basement foundation.
c1.1 COMPARISONS USING A SIMPLE DESIGN PLAN
Introduces a 1 story plan that forms the basis for the foundation system comparisons.
c1.2 SLAB ON GRADE WITH INTEGRAL FOOTING 1
Plan diagram , excavation, and the footing forms.
c1.3 SLAB ON GRADE WITH INTEGRAL FOOTING 2
Final prep for the slab and the slab pour.
c1.4 SLAB ON GRADE WITH INTEGRAL FOOTING 3
Limitations of this foundation format based on excavation depth.
c1.5 SLAB WITH STEM WALL FOUNDATION 1
Plan diagram, excavations, trench poured footings, foundation walls including reinforcement placement for the slab integration.
c1.6 SLAB WITH STEM WALL FOUNDATION 2
Preparations for the sealed crawl space, backfilling inside the foundation and the 4 slab pours.
c1.7 CRAWL SPACE FOUNDATION 1
Plan diagram, excavations, trench poured footings and foundation wall construction.
c1.8 CRAWL SPACE FOUNDATION 2
Sealed crawl preparation work, girder and floor joist installations.
c1.9 BASEMENT FOUNDATION 1
Plan diagram, excavations, formed footings and basement wall construction.
c1.10 BASEMENT FOUNDATION 2
Under slab preparation, basement garage and porch slab pours, pipe columns, steel beams positioned, floor joists installed.
c1.11 SIDE TO SIDE SLOPE EXERCISES 1
Examines side to side slope conditions for a level site.
c1.12 SIDE TO SIDE SLOPE EXERCISES 2
Examines side to side slope conditions with the garage on the low side.
c1.13 SIDE TO SIDE SLOPE EXERCISES 3
Examines side to side slope conditions with the garage on the high side.
c1.14 RULES OF THE ATTACHED GARAGE
Typical conditions for a garage slab height in relation to the main finish floor.
c1.15 THE FLOATING SOLO FOUNDATION
Foundation constructions for simple independent accessory structures.
c2 Foundation Structure Basics in Single Family Home Construction
The foundation is the FOUNDATION. So it is smart to get it right. Having some understanding of soil and footings is the starting place. Upon that well placed and sized footing sits the entire house. Foundation walls have their own design calling. The more challenging is resisting soil (and water) pressures.
c2.1 STRUCTURE – GRAVITY LOADS AND CONCRETE
Concrete under load on grade. Concrete reinforcement.
c2.2 STRUCTURE – SOIL PRESSURE ON FOUNDATIONS
Soil pressure and how a walls responds to it.
c2.3 SOIL – TYPES, IDENTIFICATIONS
Soil classification chart, soil particle size and shape.
c2.4 SOIL – BEARING
Footing loads, soil resistance, and load distribution.
c2.5 SOIL – CAUTIONS, FILL, COMPACTION
Concerning soil situations, general fill and structural fill.
c2.6 GRAVEL – FUNCTIONS, SIZES, SHAPES
Properly selecting gravel, a flexible problem solver.
c2.7 FOOTINGS – CONTINUOUS 1
Load distribution thru the footing, footing proportions.
c2.8 FOOTINGS – CONTINUOUS 2
Gravel footings, trench pour footings, formed footings.
c2.9 FOOTINGS – INDEPENDENT 1
Functions and considerations for independent footings.
c2.10 FOOTINGS – INDEPENDENT 2
Interior and exterior pier and pier footings comparisons.
c2.11 PROFILES – SLAB WITH INTEGRAL FOOTING
Perimeter foundation, internal loads on concrete slabs.
c2.12 PROFILES – STEM WALL FOUNDATION
Stem wall foundation conditions (c1.5) are detailed here.
c2.13 PROFILES – CRAWL SPACE FOUNDATION
Crawl space foundation conditions (c1.7) detailed.
c2.14 PROFILES – BASEMENT FOUNDATION 1
Basement foundation conditions (c1.9) detailed.
… garage foundations situations.
c2.15 PROFILES – BASEMENT FOUNDATION 2
….full height basement and front porch conditions.
c2.16 PROFILES – BASEMENT FOUNDATION 3
…. partial height, daylight, walkout conditions.
c2.17 FOUNDATION WALLS – CODE CHARTS
How to read and use the code charts.
c2.18 FOUNDATION WALLS – CONSTRUCTION TYPES
Concrete, concrete block, ICF, PWF, precast panels.
c2.19 FOUNDATION WALLS – PARTIAL HEIGHT WALLS
3 common partial wall height conditions.
c2.20 STEP FOOTING GENERAL RULES
Rules of thumb, structural concerns.
c3 Foundation Protections for Single Family Home Construction
Foundation protections have a lot of variables. Soil type and drainage potential, and the foundation design, lead the discussion. Some requirements for thermal and moisture protections are code based, and some are good practice based on site specific conditions. Yet another decision set benefited by knowing a little about thermal and moisture behaviors.
c3.1 WATER, MOISTURE, VAPOR MANAGEMENT
Soil type and water behavior. A summary section illustrating water protection strategies.
c3.2 MOISTURE PROTECTION PLANES AND CODE
Dampproofing or waterproofing required locations and other locations worth considering.
c3.3 ROOF AND FOUNDATION DRAINAGE OPTIONS
Strategies for collecting and removing roof water. Foundation drain options and comments.
c3.4 UNDERGROUND DRAINAGE CONSIDERATIONS
For site soils that hold water other removal strategies should be considered.
c3.5 WHOLE SITE WATER MANAGEMENT
Simple diagrams included to stimulate thinking about whole site water management.
c3.6 THERMAL PROTECTION CODE REQUIREMENTS
Foundation insulation varies with the foundation type and the climate zone.
c3.7 INSULATING THE INTEGRAL FOUNDATION
Rigid insulation is the only product choice. There are alternate installation options.
c3.8 INSULATING THE STEM WALL FOUNDATION
The slab edge is the tricky detail. Under slab insulation is a judgement call.
c3.9 INSULATING THE CRAWL SPACE FOUNDATION
The closed (aka sealed) crawl and the vented crawl foundations are compared.
c3.10 INSULATING THE BASEMENT FOUNDATION
Typical basement foundation conditions are indicated with thermal and moisture protection notes.
c3.11 SAMPLE BASEMENT SECTION 1
More descriptive details noted these 3d sections showing exterior rigid insulation.
c3.12 SAMPLE BASEMENT SECTION 2
More descriptive details noted these 3d sections showing interior rigid and cavity insulation.
c3.13 HEAT GAIN HEAT LOSS 1
Both slab and basement sections take a look at soil temperatures and heat flow in the soil.
c3.14 HEAT GAIN HEAT LOSS 2
Delta T discussed below and above grade.
c3.15 CONDITIONS, EXCEPTIONS
A few specific conditions exist with rigid/foam insulations in foundation applications.
c4 Concrete Floor Considerations for the Single Family Home
We may call them concrete floors, concrete slabs, or flatwork. In all instances poured concrete is being employed as a permanent surface to ‘do things’ on. It is asked to do a lot of different jobs under a lot of different conditions. Although a simple enough idea- the poured concrete slab has a pretty long list of do’s and don’ts.
c4.1 SLAB SUMMARY
Introduces the simple slab and the many layered slab.
c4.2 BASIC STRUCTURAL CONCEPTS FOR THE SLAB
Characteristics of concrete, and typical structural cautions.
c4.3 STRUCTURAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE SLAB
Reinforcement methods, steel and wood support decks are illustrated.
c4.4 THE INEVITABLE SHRINKING SLAB
The water present in a concrete pour evaporates and slabs shrink. It is an inherent condition.
c4.5 SHRINKAGE MANAGEMENT
What to do about that inevitable shrinkage.
c4.6 PLANNING FOR CONCRETE JOINTS
Concrete is all about timing. Pours demand some thinking ahead.
c4.7 INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
Some images and abbreviated comments about generic concrete pours.
c4.8 CONCRETE SLAB FINISH OPTIONS
Finishes are really wide ranging, and each has a purpose and a technique.
c4.9 SLABS AND PERMEANCE
Both in the slab’s initial drying, and through its life, moisture is a condition.
c5 ResidentialFrame Floors
The ‘stick’ built frame floor is a built in place system. Beams or girders in turn support floor joists or trusses which then receives a surface sheathing that ties all those pieces together. A simple idea with a lot of complex conditions and demands. This chapter starts with a full description of the options available for joists and beams and their characteristics, and then builds the floor while explaining conditions and options along the way. The parts and the construction conditions are pretty accurately illustrated.
c5.1 STICK FRAMING INTRODUCTION
Tyipcal components illustrated, terminology, loading intro.
c5.2 JOIST, BEAM PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
Structural performance in compression and tension.
c5.3 JOIST, BEAM STRUCTURAL TYPES
Member types and their relative structural efficiencies.
c5.4 DIMENSIONAL LUMBER JOISTS
Characteristics, performance, and reading span charts.
c5.5 ENGINEERED JOISTS
Characteristics, sizes, spans, and deflection.
c5.6 TRUSS TYPE JOISTS
Several truss types for floor use. Dead loads introduced.
c5.7 JOIST CENTERS AND SHEATHING
All ‘repetitive’ joist members require ‘on center’ spacing.
c5.8 TYPICAL BEAMS
Flexible capacity is a benefit. Spans and loads vary a lot.
c5.9 JOIST AND BEAMS IN A FLOOR SYSTEM
Joist types and supporting beams want to cooperate.
c5.10 TRIBUTARY LOADING PRINCIPLES
Live and dead loads get ‘distributed’ using simple rules.
c5.11 TRIBUTARY LOADS – STACK CONSTRUCTION
Stacked ‘stick’ frame construction is simple and direct.
c5.12 TRIBUTARY LOADS – BOX CONSTRUCTION
Bigger span roof and floor trusses make it simpler.
c5.13 TRIBUTARY LOADS – COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION
Complex joist framing is complex to track.
c5.14 SUPPORTING FRAMING AT FDN WALLS
Joists and beams supported at the foundation walls.
c5.15 SUPPORTING FRAMING ON WALLS, POSTS, PIERS
Typical conditions are illustrated.
c5.16 WOOD AND STEEL POST CHARACTERISTICS
Wood posts have rules. Steel posts are very efficient.
c5.17 FLOOR LOADING CONDITIONS 1
Joining methods for joists to beams are illustrated.
c5.18 FLOOR LOADING CONDITIONS 2
Floor to floor load transfer conditions are illustrated.
c5.19 FLOOR LOADING CONDITIONS 3
Wall plate loads and loading perpendicular to the joists.
c5.20 FLOOR LOADING CONDITONS 4
Beam point loading – bottom bearing and hangers.
c5.21 STRUCTURAL CHECKS FOR SIMPLE BEAMS
Deflection, bending, horizontal and vertical shear.
c5.22 SPANS, CANTILEVERS, LOAD CASES
Behaviors change with different supporting conditions.
c6 Residential Frame Walls
The primary component of the frame wall is the ‘stud’. This is a little counterintuitive in so far as the wood stud is sort of spindly, not particularly strong, often not straight, and certainly not expensive. But put them together, and put a skin on, and they turn into a highly flexible structural panel, which when attached to other panels can create any shape and size of closure imaginable. The ‘stud’ is where to start.
c6.1 FRAME WALL FLEXIBILITY
The many uses of the frame wall in a single home.
c6.2 FRAME WALL COMPONENTS
The basic frame wall parts and ’tilt up’ construction.
c6.3 STUDS AND WALLS UNDER TYPICAL LOADS
Gravity loads, lateral pressures from both directions.
c6.4 OPTIONS – FRAME WALL HEIGHTS
Ceiling heights, header integration, proportion.
c6.5 OPTIONS- FRAME WALL MEMBERS AND SPACING
2×6, 2×4 comparisons. On center spacing comparisons.
c6.6 CODE CHARTED LOAD LIMITS ON FRAME WALLS
Illustrated interpretation of the code chart.
c6.7 CALCULATED LOAD LIMITS ON FRAME WALLS
Examples of calculated loads on the frame wall.
c6.8 WIND LOAD ACTING ON FRAME WALLS
Wind resistance based on member size, spacing, height.
c6.9 HEADER PARAMETERS
Purpose of, and structural demands on the header.
c6.10 HEADER CONFIGURATIONS 1
Lots of header configurations, and insulated headers.
c6.11 HEADER CONFIGURATIONS 2
Header clearances based on header and ceiling heights.
c6.12 LOAD CRITERIA FOR HEADERS, JACKS, KINGS
Purpose of jacks and kings, and generic load capacities.
c6.13 DEFAULT HEADERS
Simplified header schedules are acceptable.
c6.14 HEADER LOAD CHART
Header members, bearing limits, max plf header loads.
c6.15 HEADER SITUATIONS
Header thinking for larger windowscape situations.
c6.16 WALL LAYER FUNCTIONS
Many possible layers of the complete exterior frame wall.
c6.17 WALL CAVITY INSULATION
Code requirements, deciphering, frame wall efficiencies.
c6.18 WALL EXTERIOR INSULATION
Cavity and board insulation types and r values.
c6.19 CODE REQUIRED INSULATION
Thumbnail sections by climate zone.
c6.20 KEEPING WATER OUT, DEW POINT
Potential dew point instructs a smart wall design.
c6.21 VAPOR MANAGEMENT
Vapor risks and strategies regarding a drying direction.
c7 Residential Roof Construction
It is helpful to recognize a distinction between the gable and hip roof, and the single slope shed and flat roof. The gable and hip roofs are pitched in 2 or more directions, become more complicated geometrically and structurally. The shed and flat roof may be pitched but in one dimension and they always behave he same way structurally. This is mentioned here because this chapter jumps back and forth a bit between the gable and hip roofs being ‘set up’ as a ‘braced’ roof, or one using, essentially, ‘posts and beams’ for internal support. They can look identical on the outside but the framing is necessarily different. The term gable and hip really refer to the shape. The structure is either ‘braced’, or ‘post and beam’. The ‘braced’ structure it is fair to say is the usual stick framed gable, but there are instances when the (vaulted) gable must use a post and beam support system and times when it is either structurally or aesthetically the better choice. The hip is typically a ‘braced’ construction. It is by its nature a ‘braced’ form.
c7.1 3 BASELINE ROOF FORMS
The gable, the hip, and the shed roof .
c7.2 STICK FRAMING OVERVIEW
Stick framing of these 3 roof geometries.
c7.3 TRUSS OVERVIEW
Truss roof framing for these same roofs
c7.4 TRUSS FLEXIBILITY AND LIMITATIONS
With computer assistance truss profile flexibility is vast.
c7.5 TYPICAL TRUSS PROFILES
Typical roof designs shown in profile and 3d.
c7.6 TYPICAL STICK FRAME PROFILES
Comparable roof designs shown in stick frame format.
c7.7 GRAVITY LOADING
Basics of gravity dead and live loads on roof profiles.
c7.8 WIND LOADING
Wind behavior on the roof, and resistance techniques.
c7.9 THRUST RESOLUTION
Roof rafters want to push the walls out. That is not allowed.
c7.10 COLLAR TIES, RAFTER TIES, CEILING TIES
Ties connect one rafter side to the other. Where and why?
c7.11 HEEL JOINT CONNECTION LOADING
That rafter thrust needs to be held fast at the wall.
c7.12 HEEL JOINT CONNECTION OPTIONS
Rafter connections to wall vary. So must thrust resistance.
c7.13 RIDGE CONNECTION OPTIONS
Ridge boards, ridge beams require different connections.
c7.14 RAFTER TYPE OPTIONS 1
Rafter span and length, rafter choices, rafter spacing.
c7.15 RAFTER TYPE OPTIONS 2
Span charts for the 3 common rafter options.
c7.16 HIP AND VALLEY MEMBERS AND MATH
Member options, spans, member lengths, cut heights.
c7.17 HIP AND VALLEY STRUCTURAL ROLES
The structural role of ridge, hip and valley are conditional.
7.18 GABLE ROOF LOAD DISTRIBUTIONS
Braced and ridge beamed rafter roofs distribute loads differently.
c7.19 HIP ROOF LOAD DISTRIBUTIONS
Braced and beamed hip roofs distribute loads differently.
c7.20 RIDGE BEAM AND SUPPORT POSTS
A roof beam needs carefully positioned posts.
c7.21 CONDITIONS WITH THE BRACED ROOF
The braced roof sometimes needs specific assistance.
c7.22 HIP, VALLEY SUPPORT OPTIONS
Finding post support for longer valleys and hips can help.
c7.23 HEADERS AND DORMERS IN THE ROOF
Both are structured openings in the roof.
c7.24 THERMAL ENVELOPE OPTIONS 1
Profiles explain thermal envelopes and insulation strategies.
c7.25 THERMAL ENVELOPE OPTIONS 2
Rafter and insulation depths noted per strategy, climate zone.
c7.26 CODE REQUIRED ROOF INSULATION
Code chart plus rafter and insulation depth guide.
c8 Total Building Shell Structure
A lot of structural tasks have been presented for building components from the footing up to the roof. Repeated has been the 2 major ‘forces’ the components need to deal with – gravity loads and lateral loads. In order to deal with both loading conditions the designer has to accurately envision this total shell. Gravity loads start at the roof, and need to be tracked down to the footings. Lateral wind and seismic loads act on the entire building shell- and need to be resisted by the total shell working as a complete entity. Tracking the gravity loading has a pretty straightforward logic. Wind and seismic loads are anything but straightforward. This chapter mostly deals with this more complicated lateral loading. The heads up is that most of the country is not in a a high wind zone, or in a high seismic risk zone. If not in a risk zone the building requirements for wind and seismic are not onerous, in fact often met with ‘standard construction’. The one specific devil is that some jurisdictions may require one to substantiate with plan specific drawings, that the lateral bracing wanted to satisfy code standards, is there. And that unfortunately is complicated.
c8.1 ADVANCED FRAMING
Highlights, noting conditional framing choices.
c8.2 GRAVITY LOADS SUMMARY 1
Profiles showing load tracking to the footing.
c8.3 GRAVITY LOADS SUMMARY 2
Code footing chart with interpretation notes.
c8.4 WIND DESIGN CRITERIA BASED ON GEOGRAPHY
Geography effects wind speed and therefore wind pressure.
c8.5 WIND BASED CRITERIA BASED ON HOUSE GEOMETRY
Wind pressures are dynamic and vary around the house.
c8.6 WIND LOADING – COMPONENTS and CLADDING
This code chart is a tough one, and a helpful one.
c8.7 WIND LOADING – UPLIFT
Uplift by floor is profiled. This simple(r) code chart presented.
c8.8 WHAT TO DO? – STRUCTURE
Uplift fasteners required, with additional fastener options.
c8.9 WHAT TO DO? – SIDING
Partial code chart for typical siding noted.
c8.10 WHAT TO DO? – ROOFING
Partial code chart for asphaltic shingles noted.
c8.11 LATERAL BRACING FOR WIND, SEISMIC FORCES
Forces caused by wind and a shaking earth have similarities.
c8.12 LATERAL BRACING FOR RACK, SLIDE, LIFT
The basics behind containing rack, slide and lift.
c8.13 LATERAL BRACING REQUIRED BY CODE
Applying the containment methods to the entire building shell.
c8.14 ‘SIMPLIFIED’ WALL BRACING HIGHLIGHTS
Lateral bracing compliance has this simplified version.
c8.15 STRUCTURAL BASICS ON WALL BRACING OPTIONS
Values get assigned to wall’s bracing capacity, called ‘braced panels’.
c8.16 COMMENTS ON WALL BRACING OPTIONS
Several ‘braced panel’ options, all with their own rules.
c8.17 COMMENTS ON THE BRACING LINE 1
One of the minimum 4 bracing lines detailed.
c8.18 COMMENTS ON THE BRACING LINE 2
One can manipulate that same bracing line for better results.
c9 The Home’s Thermal Envelope
The thermal envelope has been noted all thru these guides. Defining it is a controlling decision because floor, wall, ceiling, roof constructions meeting ‘the outside’ have their own requirements set. A more complicated requirement set. Beyond those exterior constructions involved, the whole heating and cooling approach may be contingent upon that envelope definition. It’s a big deal.
c9.1 DEFINING THE THERMAL ENVELOPE
Important. Drives a lot of decisions. Don’t ‘figure it out later’.
c9.2 SURFACE AREA, DELTA T, AND R
An important energy concept to understand, retain.
c9.3 LEARNING FROM THE LOAD FORMULA
This is ‘indirect’ energy analysis.
c9.4 R values, U values AND CODE COMPLIANCE
The basic code compliance methods.
c9.5 UA COMPLIANCE AND REScheck 1
REScheck , a free, easy to use design tool.
c9.6 UA COMPLIANCE AND REScheck 2
Alternatives can be valued instantly.
c9.7 AIR TIGHTNESS AND THE STACK EFFECT
Another of mother nature’s dictates worth considering.
c9.8 AIR TIGHTNESS AND CODE COMPLIANCE
The code is doing us another service here.
c9.9 DUCTING REQUIREMENTS
Basic ducting location options are illustrated.
c9.10 CONDITIONED SPACE DUCTING OPTIONS
Always smart- but geometrically challenging.
c9.11 CEILING PLANE DUCTING OPTIONS
One can ‘bury’ the ducts in insulation. Interesting.
c9.12 HVAC RULES OF THUMB
Dangerous except when used with caution.
c9.13 CODE COMPLIANCE AND GLASS
Code has made good citizens of the door/window industry.
c9.14 SOLAR HEAT GAIN AND GLASS
Design in favor of solar gain or not. Smart to know how.
c9.15 CODE COMPLIANCE OVERVIEW
Consider 3rd party energy consultants to boost performance.
c9.16 SUMMARY THOUGHTS
Setting the ‘big picture’ design approach.