Expert Home Improvement Advice
I'm full time builder for a large construction company in New Hampshire. I run their design-build division that specializes in custom homes, commercial design-build projects and sub-divisions. I'm also a licensed civil and structural engineer with extensive experience in civil and structural design and home construction. My hope is that I can share my experience in the home construction, home improvement and home renovation profession with other builders and home owners. I'm also the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Tool Box Buzz. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or you'd like to inquire about advertising on this site.
Now that I’ve almost completed the new staircase to my workshop I need to start designing the layout. I must say I’m a bit overwhelmed at the idea of coming up with a great layout that will make me happy for years to come. The actual workshop will be approximately 28′ long by 12′ wide.…
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Todd Fratzel, P.E.Newport, NH I’m a licensed professional engineer in the states of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Currently I’m employed by a large construction company as Principal Engineer and project manager for the residential and commercial design-build division. I oversee the construction of custom residential homes, commercial building projects and the development of design-build opportunities.…
Selecting A House Lot At work this week we broke ground on a new house lot for some customers of ours and it reminded me that choosing a lot is not always easy. There are many things to consider when evaluating a piece of land to build your new home on. Several key factors include…
One of the hottest topics today in energy conservation is the use of geothermal heat pump systems. The US Department of Energy estimates that 40,000 geothermal heat pumps are installed each year. These systems have been in use since the 1940’s but have only become popular due to the soaring price of fossil fuels. A…
Having a good source of references is a very important component of any home improvement project. If you’d like to be included in the home improvement links section of Home Construction Improvement then add this site to your links page and send me an email us with the location and the link you’d like to…
This week at work my crew was setting trusses for a new house and it reminded me about how often residential wood trusses collapse. The biggest reason they collapse is poor bracing and a mis-understanding about how to proper erect these great time savers. A typical metal plate connected wood truss is a very efficient…
How To Quickly Cut TJI Joists I’m often asked if there is a quick way to cut long TJI (I-Joist) joists to length while keeping the cuts square. We use Weyerhaeuser’s TJI’s for floor framing in most of the houses we build. The nice thing is you can get them the full length of the…
How To Insulate Basement Walls Insulating a basement properly is rather challenging in cold climates. In this article I'd like to discuss how to insulate basement walls in cold climates. Insulating basement walls in cold climates is a great way to keep your home warmer and drier. However, special care should be used when insulating…
Get 10% of with a Lowes Coupon NOTE: Home Construction & Improvement is not affiliated with Lowe's. Looking for a Lowes Coupon? Want to save 10% on a major purchase at Lowe's? Have you moved recently are about to move? If so this is an offer you can't afford to miss! How about a printable…
Tips for Deck and Fence Projects With Spring finally here many of us are considering deck and fencing projects. Maybe you're considering having a new deck or fence built. Maybe it's time to refinish your deck or add some new decorative touches to your tired deck. Spring is the perfect time to plan these projects…
New DEWALT Job Site Table Saws Models DWE7480, DWE7490X, and DWE7491RS DEWALT recently introduced a new line of portable table saws that include significant updates and features. The new line includes 3 new models; DWE7480 - 10" Compact Table Saw, DWE7491X - 10" Table Saw with Scissor Stand, and DWE7491RS - 10" Table Saw with…
I'm full time builder for a large construction company in New Hampshire. I run their design-build division that specializes in custom homes, commercial design-build projects and sub-divisions. I'm also a licensed civil and structural engineer with extensive experience in civil and structural design and home construction. My hope is that I can share my experience in the home construction, home improvement and home renovation profession with other builders and home owners. I'm also the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Tool Box Buzz. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, suggestions or you'd like to inquire about advertising on this site.
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