A bid for time and material pricing may not be in your best interest. Fixed price bids lend more cost control than payment by the hour. Before signing a time and material contract, read this.
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Contractors can supply a more precise quote if you are specific about your needs and desires. Ask each of the contractors you contact for itemized bids. Get copies of insurance certificates from each contact as well to prove that it is in force.
A contractor allowance is rarely a good idea. Preselecting every item you desire in your home will virtually eliminate construction delays, cost overruns, and homeowner heartache.
Cordless drills are essential for installing locksets and wall anchors. Here are some cordless hammer drill manufacturers that allow you to drill concrete, brick or concrete block just like wood.
Engineered I joists offer many advantages. The floor joists can be purchased in varying depths with different flanges on the top and bottom. The I joists install in the same way as a traditional wood floor joist and make for a stiffer, squeakless floor.
Engineered I joists now have a uniform set of manufacturing rules for quality control. The following is a list of the manufacturers of engineered I joists who make joists that meet the PRI-400 guidelines.
Engineered I joists are similar to traditional floor joists, but have a few special care requirements. I joists should be stored upright and not come in contact with moisture and need to be blocked to prevent rollover. Here are some tips for installation and cutting holes in an I joist.
There are all sorts of places to get literature for Plywood and Oriented Strand Board (OSB board), but the best place is the Engineered Wood Association. This group produces some of the best descriptive booklets, technical manuals and brochures in the world.
Oriented strand board (OSB board) can be used for many things that plywood can do. However, it does have its limitations. In some cases, treated plywood is a cheaper and just as useful choice. Be sure to read the label on OSB board to make sure you're purchasing the right kind for your job.
Pier foundations resemble wood decks or a common table. The actual foundation is a series of vertical columns, or piles, that transfer the building load to the soil. Beams are built on top of the vertical columns that hold up the walls of the house or structure. These specialized foundations work great around trees or in other locations where it is difficult to dig a traditional foundation.
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