The most comprehensive guide to material selection & installation It takes a wise choice of building materials and details to create durable, attractive, and affordable custom homes and remodeling projects. Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction provides up-to-date, field-tested recommendations that help professionals balance cost and performance when designing and building residential projects. Steven Bliss, former editorial director of The Journal of Light Construction and founding editor of Progressive Builder, draws on his extensive knowledge as a practicing builder, designer, and construction editor to help building professionals select the right materials for every job and install them with confidence. This one-stop resource covers the real-world challenges of material selection and installation so designers, contractors, and building owners can make informed decisions for all major building components. Useful to architects, designers, and specifiers--as well as contractors, builders, and developers--Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction features: * More than 200 photos and illustrations of critical residential construction details * Installation tips and cautions that help prevent costly product failures * Descriptions of the latest composites and synthetics that are changing the way we build * Easy-to-use charts for making quick product comparisons * An authoritative guide to indoor air quality and healthy house construction

The leading guide to professional home construction—now updated and revised! Fundamentals of Residential Construction, Third Edition features the most up-to-date explanations of today's residential construction systems. From foundation to roof and exterior finishes to interior details, this new edition thoroughly addresses the latest developments in materials and methods of house construction, including energy efficiency, framing, and roofing. Abundantly illustrated with more than 1,250 drawings and photographs, including new photorealistic illustrations that bring the text to life, this Third Edition provides authoritative coverage on wood light-frame construction, industrialized systems of construction, insulating concrete forms, light-gauge steel frame, panelized construction, and a new chapter on multifamily construction. Topics covered include: Plumbing Building codes Heating and cooling Financing Wiring Roofing Thermal insulation Environmental concerns Foundations Finish sitework Rough sitework Wood and light-gauge steel framing Engineered materials Exterior and interior finishes Organized in a logical, easy-to-follow format, Fundamentals of Residential Construction, Third Edition is the one-stop source for building professionals to gain a working knowledge of codes, management procedures, material, and all home building concerns.

"he JLC Field Guide sets a new standard of best practice in residential construction. By following the principles, materials and methods detailed in this book, you'll be able to produce not only safe, durable structures, but fine-quality homes that will delight your clients and establish your reputation as a skilled construction professional. Volume 1 of the JLC Field Guide is the ultimate visual guide to building a sound structure and durable exterior shell. It's packed with professional details and proven techniques that have been successfully developed by leading builders, remodelers, subcontractors, engineers and architects. This volume is a visual guide to every stage of constructing a durable, high-quality shell on a firm foundation. And it features over 440 detailed technical drawings and concise instructions on the fundamental principles, proven techniques, and practical rules of thumb for every builder and remodeler. Spiral bound with heavy-duty cover to give you years of practical on-the-job guidance on virtually every aspect of residential building and remodeling."--Amazon.com viewed Dec. 2, 2020.

Down and dirty – a complete step-by-step guide to making, installing and living with beautiful, all-natural earthen floors Poor heat and moisture management are the enemies of durable, comfortable, and efficient housing, and good building design and construction starts with a solid understanding of good building science. Essential Building Science provides a highly visual and accessible introduction to the fundamentals of building science for residential construction. Part one covers the rationale behind high-performance design and the fundamentals of building physics, including thermal dynamics, moisture transfer, and hygro-thermal dynamics such as vapor drive and condensation. Part two teaches the vital critical thinking skills needed to consider buildings as whole systems and to develop thermal and moisture control strategies regardless of the specifics of the design. Case studies and examples from across North American climatic zones illuminate real-life problems and offer builders, designers, and DIYers the insights and tools required for creating better new buildings and dramatically improving old ones. Good science plus critical thinking equals high performance buildings.

Modern Residential Construction Practices provides easy-to-read, comprehensive and highly illustrated coverage of residential building construction practices that conform to industry standards in the United States and Canada. Each chapter provides complete descriptions, real-world practices, realistic examples, three-dimensional (3D) illustrations, and related tests and problems. Chapters cover practices related to every construction phase including: planning, funding, permitting, codes, inspections, site planning, excavation, foundations and flatwork, floors, walls, roofs, finish work and cabinetry; heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC); electrical, and plumbing. The book is organized in a format that is consistent with the process used to take residential construction projects from preliminary concept through all phases of residential building construction. An ideal textbook for secondary and college level construction programs, the book is packed with useful features such as problems that challenge students to identify materials and practices, along with research and document information about construction materials and practices, useful summaries, key notes, a detailed glossary, and online materials for both students and educators.

In the climate-controlled buildings of today, moisture problemsaffect not only the useable life expectancy of the structure, butthe comfort and health of the occupants. This reference is thefirst to apply up-to-date moisture control and treatment techniquesin a problem/solution format. Opening with an introductoryexplanation of the nature and causes of mold, mildew, andcondensation, the book gives specific advice on heated, cooled, andcombination environments, plus a short course in the dynamics ofmoisture movement within buildings. Other invaluable coverageincludes: * clear, detailed recommended practices for all United Statesclimates * practices for cooling as well as heating climates (often, heatingclimate solutions are applied in cooling climates, where problemsand solutions are completely different) * an overall, systematic view of moisture problems--including howmechanical systems and occupant lifestyles can create and alsoresolve moisture problems * actual case studies of buildings with moisture problems thatillustrate the principles and practices presented in the book This detailed, no-nonsense exploration of moisture cause andeffect--as well as its protection and remediation--will expandreaders' knowledge on this crucial subject. Moisture ControlHandbook will be welcomed by building contractors, architects,mechanical engineers, building science researchers, buildingproduct manufacturers, homeowners, and small commercial buildingowners.

The Journal of Light Construction has assembled an all-star team of national building and energy experts to help you understand energy efficient construction methods and apply them to your new construction and remodeling projects. This practical book describes in detail the proven field-tested techniques that are both cost- effective and resource-efficient. Many energy-efficient building techniques are overly complicated. They're costly. And they frequently fail to deliver the promised energy performance. In contrast, this hands-on book from JLC cuts through the confusion and identifies the best building techniques and materials to help you achieve superior energy performance in all your projects. Without breaking the bank.

A must-have reference to more than 100 common residential conditions—from accessibility issues to working with zinc Practical information that the architect, engineer, contractor and homeowner can access quickly, with over 230 supporting tables photos and details Identifies frequently used reference standards, acceptable practices, and other relevant resources Quick, reliable answers to your most common on-site questions When you're in the field, you never know what you'll come across. Graphic Standards Field Guide to Residential Construction gives you fast access to the information you need when you're on-site and under pressure. Presented in a highly visual and easily portable format, Graphic Standards Field Guide to Residential Construction is organized by CSI's MasterFormat and is coordinated with the 2009 International Residential Code, as well as current sustainable practices. It addresses issues pertaining to residential construction by covering every aspect of the process, such as the use of materials, structural concerns, finishes, thermal and moisture protection, accessible design applications, and more. Graphic Standards Field Guide to Residential Construction extends beyond the studio, with: Quick access to essential information wherever you are Graphic Standards-quality details accompanied by photographs and tables Illustrations that help you troubleshoot problems, along with on-the-spot solutions Compact format that's easy to reference and carry along Graphic Standards Field Guide to Residential Construction is a handy companion that offers the essential tools that time-crunched professionals can turn to in an instant when dealing with clients, or when handling the many complex demands surrounding construction management.

"The all-in-one reference that lets you establish a standard for workmanship, quickly resolve disputes, avoid defect claims ... and much more!"--Back cover.

Provides technical information on foundations, framing, roofing, and exteriors to residential builders and remodelers.