Durable Housing for Group Homes
We all have favorites. I like Contoocook Creamery’s Blueberry Milk as a “Victory Drink” on top of a mountain! Litherman’s Bow Wow Yippie Yo IPA is a nice treat to celebrate… Read More »
Truss Uplift Wall Connection
Roof trusses have become more and more common in wood-framed construction. Their strategic design allows for economical material to be used, easy fabrication, and quick installation that saves costs all… Read More »
Air Quality 101
One of our great industry allies is Jeff Bradley of Indoor Doctor. Jeff is an Environmental Testing Professional and does a fantastic job helping home and building owners identify toxins… Read More »
Settlement of Shallow Footings
A shallow foundation on soil can be made for an individual load (i.e., isolated), or to support multiple loads (e.g., strip, raft or mat). The soil needs to be able… Read More »
Corridor Pressurization for Healthy Living
If you live or work in a medical facility, a nursing home, a stacked multi-family, a high rise or a garden-style condominium/apartment building with public/common hallways, lobbies and/or stairwells, you… Read More »
Allowable Holes and Notches in Wood Joists
There are very specific guidelines of where and how to drill holes and notches in conventional wood joists for plumbing and electrical. Taking out the wrong section of a wood… Read More »
Foundation Types and Their Uses
Foundations can be described by their geometry (e.g., depth, dimensions and relationship to other footings). A shallow foundation, as opposed to a deep foundation can be made for an individual… Read More »
Upside Down Joist Hangers
No, this picture is not upside down. These joist hangers were found to be installed upside down. Although the nails help keep the joists connected, the 2x wood member should… Read More »
Improperly Designed Garage Foundation Leads to Failure at 15 Years Old
We sometimes are in the unfortunate position of observing structural failures. Some, like this one, aren’t dramatic because the building has not (yet) collapsed. But we see and remedy the… Read More »
Properly Installed Lally Columns
Check out the new lally column and concrete footing installed in a recent basement renovation we helped engineer. It doesn’t look like much from the surface but, too many times,… Read More »