Fundamentals of Residential Construction, Fifth Edition

Edward Allen taught for more than thirty-five years at Yale University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Now deceased, he designed more than fifty constructed buildings and was lead author on Fundamentals of Building Construction, Architect's Studio Companion, and Architectural Detailing, Form and Forces. Alexander C. Schreyer is Program Director and Senior Lecturer II in the Building and Construction Technology (BCT) program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is an experienced educator and industry expert whose background combines construction, building science, and digital design. He is also the author of Architectural Design with SketchUp. Rob Thallon is Associate Professor and Director of OregonBILDS in the School of Architecture and Environment at the University of Oregon. He is also the author of Graphic Guide to Frame Construction and Graphic Guide to Interior Details.

Preface to the Fifth Edition xi How to Use This Book xiii Acknowledgments xvii Part One Context for Building 1 Chapter 1 The Context for Residential Construction 3 1.1 History 4 1.2 A Culture of Building 7 1.3 Construction Systems 10 1.4 Types of Residential Development 12 1.5 Zoning Ordinances, Building Codes, and Other Legal Constraints 19 1.6 Building Costs and Financing 21 1.7 Building a House: The Typical Process 24 1.8 MasterFormat 29 Chapter 2 Sustainability Aspects of Construction 35 2.1 Why Sustainability Matters for Buildings 36 2.2 Environmental Responsibility: Building Green 39 2.3 Comprehensive Certification Systems 49 2.4 Resiliency 49 Chapter 3 The Construction Community: Builders, Contractors, and Developers 57 3.1 History 58 3.2 Builders and Contractors 60 3.3 Obtaining Work 65 3.4 The Residential Developer 67 3.5 Green Builders, Contractors, Remodelers, and Developers 72 3.6 Training the Construction Community 73 3.7 Tools of the Trade 74 3.8 Safety 77 Chapter 4 The Design Community: Architects, Designers, and Consultants 83 4.1 History 84 4.2 Residential Designers 84 4.3 Consultants 87 4.4 The Design Process 90 4.5 Design Sources 95 4.6 Communication between Designer and Builder 98 4.7 High- Performance House Designers 101 Part Two Materials 105 Chapter 5 Wood, Wood Products, and Plastics 107 5.1 Building with Wood 108 5.2 Lumber 110 5.3 Wood Products 122 5.4 Protection and Treatment 135 5.5 Wood Fasteners 137 5.6 Wood- Based Building Components 143 5.7 Types of Wood Construction 143 5.8 Plastics in Construction 145 Chapter 6 Masonry 155 6.1 Building with Stone 156 6.2 Mortar 158 6.3 Concrete Masonry 160 6.4 Brick Masonry 170 6.5 Stone Masonry 180 6.6 Other Types of Masonry Units 186 6.7 Special Considerations for Masonry Construction 187 Chapter 7 Concrete and Metals 193 7.1 Building with Concrete and Metals 194 7.2 Cement and Concrete 196 7.3 Making and Placing Concrete 199 7.4 Formwork 203 7.5 Reinforcing 203 7.6 Metals in Construction 210 Part Three Wood Light Frame House Construction 221 Chapter 8 Rough Site Work 223 8.1 Design Considerations 224 8.2 Organizing the Site for Construction 225 8.3 Site Preparation 225 8.4 Excavation 227 8.5 Site Utilities 229 8.6 Surface Water Drainage 234 8.7 Grading 236 Chapter 9 Foundations 245 9.1 Foundation Loads 246 9.2 Foundation Settlement 246 9.3 Soils 247 9.4 Designing Foundations 248 9.5 Footings 251 9.6 Concrete Foundation Walls 253 9.7 Concrete Masonry Foundation Walls 256 9.8 Concrete Slab Foundations 258 9.9 Wood Foundations 264 9.10 Precast Concrete Foundations 264 9.11 Pier Foundations 265 9.12 Anchor Bolts and Hold- Downs 265 9.13 Drainage and Waterproofing 267 9.14 Foundation Insulation 268 9.15 Backfilling 270 9.16 Foundation Design and the Building Codes 271 Chapter 10 Floor and Wall Framing 275 10.1 History 276 10.2 The Platform Frame 277 10.3 Building the Frame 279 Chapter 11 Roof Framing 307 11.1 History 308 11.2 Roof Types and Parts 309 11.3 Building the Roof 311 11.4 Wood Framing and the Building Codes 327 11.5 The Uniqueness of Wood Light Frame Construction 332 Chapter 12 Finishing the Roof 337 12.1 Preparation for Roofing 338 12.2 Roof Slope 338 12.3 Steep Roofs 340 12.4 Low- Slope Roofs 350 12.5 Roof Edge Details 358 12.6 Roof Drainage 358 12.7 Roofing and the Building Codes 362 Chapter 13 Windows and Exterior Doors 369 13.1 Windows 370 13.2 Exterior Doors 379 Chapter 14 Finishing the Exterior Walls 393 14.1 The Weather Barrier Membrane 395 14.2 Exterior Trim 396 14.3 Siding 396 14.4 Exterior Paints and Coatings 405 14.5 Ladders and Scaffolds 412 Chapter 15 Plumbing 419 15.1 Plumbing Basics 420 15.2 Planning for Pipes 424 15.3 Rough- in Plumbing 425 15.4 Finish Plumbing 428 15.5 Plumbing Codes 428 15.6 Other Piping Systems 429 Chapter 16 Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation 439 16.1 Choosing a System 440 16.2 Forced- Air Systems 442 16.3 Radiant Panel Systems 447 16.4 Other Hydronic Heating Systems 453 16.5 Mini- Split Heat Pumps 453 16.6 Local Source Heaters and Air- Conditioners 454 16.7 Ventilation Systems 458 16.8 Finishing the HVAC System 459 16.9 Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation Systems and the Building Codes 460 Chapter 17 Fireplaces and Stoves 467 17.1 Selecting a Fireplace or Stove 468 17.2 Planning for Fireplace or Stove Construction 470 17.3 The Masonry Fireplace 470 17.4 Masonry Heaters 479 17.5 Factory- Built Fireplaces 481 17.6 Freestanding Stoves 484 17.7 Fireplaces and Stoves and the Building Codes 485 Chapter 18 Electrical Wiring 493 18.1 Wiring Basics 494 18.2 Electrical System Design 499 18.3 Rough- in Electrical Installation 503 18.4 Finish Electrical Work 505 18.5 Electrical Wiring and the Building Codes 506 18.6 Low- Voltage Wiring 506 Chapter 19 Thermal Insulation, Air-and Vapor-Control 513 19.1 The Thermal Envelope and Its Components 515 19.2 Thermal Insulation Materials 520 19.3 How Much Insulation? 525 19.4 Installation of Insulation 527 19.5 Control of Water Vapor 528 19.6 Ventilation of Cavities 530 19.7 Control of Air Infiltration 534 Chapter 20 Interior Surfaces 543 20.1 Wall and Ceiling Finish 544 20.2 Finish Flooring 552 Chapter 21 Finishing the Interior 567 21.1 Interior Doors 568 21.2 Cabinets 571 21.3 Finish Carpentry and Trim 579 21.4 Paints and Coatings 581 Chapter 22 Finish Sitework 591 22.1 Paving Systems 592 22.2 Level Changes 594 22.3 Porches, Decks, and Structures 599 22.4 Finish Grading 600 22.5 Fencing 601 22.6 Outdoor Lighting 604 22.7 Irrigation 604 22.8 Planting 605 Part Four Alternative Construction Systems 611 Chapter 23 Panelized and Prefabricated Off-Site Construction 613 23.1 The Concept of Off- Site Construction 614 23.2 Types of Construction Systems 614 23.3 Framed Panel Systems 616 23.4 Structural Insulated Panels 618 23.5 Prefabricated (Factory- Built) House Construction 628 Chapter 24 Timber Frame Construction 641 24.1 The Uniqueness of the Timber Frame 643 24.2 Materials and Structure of the Timber Frame 647 24.3 Building a Timber Frame House 650 24.4 Timber Framing and the Building Codes 653 Chapter 25 Loadbearing Masonry and Concrete Construction 661 Part Five Multifamily Building Construction 725 25.1 Loadbearing Masonry 662 25.2 Insulating Concrete Forms 668 Chapter 26 Light-Gauge Steel Construction 679 26.1 Light- Gauge Steel Frame Construction 680 26.2 Hybrid Uses of Light- Gauge Steel 690 26.3 Advantages and Disadvantages of Light- Gauge Steel Framing 690 Chapter 27 Low- Tech, Low- Energy Construction 697 27.1 Earthen Construction 698 27.2 Stacked Log Construction 706 27.3 Straw Bale Construction 712 Chapter 28 Multifamily Construction Systems 727 28.1 History 728 28.2 Special Considerations 731 28.3 Foundations 731 28.4 Framing 737 28.5 Acoustical Separation 749 28.6 Fire Protection 752 28.7 Systems 754 28.8 Accessibility 756 28.9 Site Management 757 Glossary 767 Index 793