Engineering Related Blog
As a specialist in hangar home design and engineering for the last 10 years, I have seen that many of my clients desire hangar sizes to exceed 2000 ft.². This is reasonable given the way so many intend to use this residential space: multiple airplanes, tractors, motorhomes, antique cars and many other private and residential…
The Appeal I am seeing more and more requests for hangar home combinations where the living area is built above the hangar. Around the Internet there are a few pictures of projects, some which have not yet been built, which show nice and neat depictions of this type of an arrangement. Its appeal, on certain…
I was asked to write a guest article for another website about fire separation requirements in hangar home projects. Check it out. Ken Risley on Fire Separation in Hangar Homes
Remember the old purple 1985 Code Book (for those of us operating in 80’s)? That was the entire Code – and, quite adequate by many accounts. The picture to the right is my own copy which I still keep up on the shelf for occasional reference. Most recognize that the Codes prior to 1992 were…
This article was written in early 2012. I want to make it clear that I know and work with many Architects and have found them to be a fine and often talented and knowledgeable group of folks. The Architectural profession is to be admired, especially those who produce fine works and operate by high professional standards. This article…
The Building Profession is traditionally slow to change and adapt to new methods and materials. One example is the use of OSB sheathing verses the “good-ol” CDX plywood. I still find, in 2011, some builders who have never used nor plan to use OSB. When asked why, their answers seem to boil down to a…
I am often asked by my clients if we should use a masonry exterior wall or one that is framed in wood. Masonry walls consist of concrete blocks stacked up from the slab to the full height of the wall. They are placed in beds of mortar and strengthened with embedded reinforcing steel and hollow…
Looking to Build your own home yourself? Here are the Pros and Cons – in a Tough Economy Should you build your own home without a contractor? There can be a strong incentive for the owner to take on the building project and hire the subcontractors and buy the materials directly. Managing one’s own building…