Archives: Structure

Preparation for Truss Erection

By Todd Fratzel on Framing, Safety

Today on the Total House Construction Series – Foundation to Finish I’d like to talk about preparing a house for truss delivery and erection. Preparing the house frame prior the truss delivery can make the erection process quicker and safer. Typically pre-engineered trusses come with a set of engineering plans. The plans contain information about…

Continue reading »

Porter-Cable 23-Gauge Pin Nailer

By Todd Fratzel on Finish Carpentry, Power Tools, Product Reviews

One of my favorite air tools in my workshop is my Porter-Cable 23-Gauge Pin Nailer. Pin nailers are very useful for all kinds of home improvement projects and fine carpentry. Most often I use the pin nailer when I have delicate pieces of wood that need to be held in place for a glued assembly.…

Continue reading »

Prefabricated Wall Panel Erection

By Todd Fratzel on Framing

As promised in my prefabricated house wall panels post today we erected the exterior wall panels for the house that I’m documenting in the Total House Construction Series – Foundation to Finish. As you can see in the photos all of the prefabricated wall panels were delivered on trucks from the factory and then erected…

Continue reading »

Prefabricated House Wall Panels

By Todd Fratzel on Framing

Prefabricated Wall Panels The new house that I’ve been following on Total House Construction Series – Foundation to Finish will feature prefabricated wall panels. I think many people confuse prefabricated houses with modular homes. When in reality they are very different. Prefabricated house wall panels are built in a controlled environment out of the elements.…

Continue reading »

ZIP System Sheathing

By Todd Fratzel on Building Materials, Framing, Siding & Trim

I recently wrote about a new product, ZIP System Wall and Roof Sheathing, and today we finally installed some of the ZIP System wall sheathing on the new house we’re building that you can follow on Total House Construction Series – Foundation to Finish. The ZIP System is an exciting new product that I’m very…

Continue reading »

Walkout Basements

By Todd Fratzel on Design, Foundations, Framing

Walkout Basements Add Value Walkout basements are very popular in this part of the country. A walkout basement has many benefits but the biggest one is the ability to have normal doors and windows in the basement along some of the walls. Walkout basements are exactly what the title suggests, a basement that has an…

Continue reading »

Foundation Slabs

By Todd Fratzel on Foundations

If you’ve been following the Total House Construction Series – Foundation to Finish then you know we’ve been pouring the concrete foundation. Well the concrete is finally finished now that the foundation slabs have been poured. This new house has a unique feature in the basement. The home owner wanted a walkout basement with a…

Continue reading »

Retractable Screen Doors

By Todd Fratzel on Doors

Today’s beautiful doors make it hard to install screen doors that don’t interfere with the beautiful architectural look. In the past folks would install a storm door or screen door in front of the entry door. The storm doors or screen doors seldom have the same architectural appeal that the main doors have. So that’s…

Continue reading »

Copyright © 2009-2023 Front Steps Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Home Construction & Improvement™ is a Trademark of Front Steps Media, LLC.