Archives: architecture

TJI Framing

By Todd Fratzel on Building Materials, Framing

TJI Floor Joist Framing Engineered lumber continues to become more and more popular in today’s construction industry. TJI’s (engineered wood I joists) are my preferred framing members for floor systems. TJI’s offer many benefits compared to traditional dimensional lumber joists including: almost no twisting or warping, very little dimensional shrinkage, stiffness and strength. Framing a…

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Basement Flooring Options | Finished Basements

By Todd Fratzel on Basements, Flooring

Finished Basement Flooring Finished basements are very popular today for a good reason. Properly finished basements can significantly increase the amount of living space in your home without the need for an addition. The key is the proper selection of techniques and materials to ensure a mold free, dry, healthy space for you and your…

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How To Transition Hardwood and Tile Floors

By Todd Fratzel on Flooring

Floor Transitions I’d like to share some thoughts on how to transition hardwood and tile floors. Hardwood Flooring has become a very popular DIY project for many home owners. Also every DIY program on television has featured numerous programs on installing your own hardwood and tile floors. So you might ask why I’m focusing on…

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French Doors with Built In Blinds

By Todd Fratzel on Doors

French Doors – Built In Blinds French Doors with built in blinds between the glass panels are great. Typically French Doors don’t provide much privacy because of all the glass. If you wanted privacy with a French Door in the past you would have to install some type of blind or a curtain attached to…

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Stairs Construction – How To Build

By Todd Fratzel on Finish Carpentry, Framing

Staircase Design / Drawing We built our new garage with attic trusses so I could have a space for a workshop. In order to get to that space I need to build a staircase.  As you can see from the sketch my plan is to build a staircase that has a short run to a…

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Can Blinds Between Glass Be Repaired?

By Todd Fratzel on Doors, Maintanence

Doors with Blinds Between Glass I wrote and article about French Doors with Built In Blinds awhile ago and numerous people have asked how to repair these type of window treatments if they get damaged. The answer is not one most people want to hear. Almost all of the doors and windows sold today with…

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How To Repair Hairline Cracks in Tile Grout Lines

By Todd Fratzel on Flooring

How To Repair Cracked Grout Anyone that’s installed ceramic tile knows that after time you may find narrow cracks in the grout lines. Typically this happens where two perpendicular faces come together. For example, where a tiled wall meets a tiled counter top or floor.We have this problem in or master bathroom in a few…

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Wainscoting Adds Elegance To A Room

By Todd Fratzel on Finish Carpentry

DIY Wainscoting Wainscoting is an easy way to add some elegance to a room. In our new home I wanted to have a more formal feeling dining room and wainscoting helped us achieve that feeling. Do-it-yourself wainscoting can be achieved in a couple different approaches. You can create faux wainscoting by applying small pieces of…

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