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The leading guide to professional home construction, updated and expanded
Fundamentals of Residential Construction is the definitive guide to single family and multifamily home building that details every step of the construction process. From siting and foundations to finishing details, this book provides a complete walk-through of professional home construction. Over 1,200 drawings and photographs animate the textbook, while interactive supplementary online resources help facilitate an understanding of the material. This fourth edition accommodates the latest developments in materials and methods, including new coverage of sustainable building and energy efficiency, multifamily construction, prefabricated building components, and CAD/BIM planning tools in residential construction. Authoritative coverage of wood light-frame construction, building systems, industrialized fabrication, insulating concrete forms, light-gauge steel and masonry construction, multi-family buildings, and more provides a solid foundation in residential construction methods, tools, and processes.
Building a home requires a deeply integrated understanding of materials, structures, codes, and management procedures. Because the process involves such a broad array of considerations and challenges, construction professionals must regularly draw on a clear body of knowledge to keep a project running smoothly. This book helps you lay the groundwork of expertise required to successfully complete a residential project.
• Learn the advantages and disadvantages of common materials and systems
• Understand site preparation, foundations, and framing
• Delve into the details of roofing, finishing, and energy efficiency
• Understand heating/cooling, plumbing, and electrical options
• Examine the latest codes, costs, and management best practices
Designing and constructing a home presents a unique project dynamic; people's homes are their sanctuaries, where they make the memories of a lifetime. They must be designed to be lived in, not simply "used." Lifetime costs play a major role in decision-making, materials must be carefully chosen and sourced, and spaces must be structured to be efficient yet enjoyable. Fundamentals of Residential Construction shows you how to bring it all together to turn a project into a family's cherished home.
EDWARD ALLEN, FAIA, has a teaching career spanning more than thirty years, including as a faculty member at Yale University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is the best-selling author of The Architects Studio Companion; Architectural Detailing; Form and Forces; and Fundamentals of Building Construction, all published by Wiley.
ROB THALLON, Associate Professor at the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts, is the best-selling author and coauthor of Graphic Guide to Frame Construction; Graphic Guide to Site Construction; and Graphic Guide to Interior Details.
ALEXANDER C. SCHREYER is Senior Lecturer and Program Director at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he heads the Building and Construction Technology program and is a faculty member in Architecture. He is a wood engineering researcher and the author of Architectural Design with SketchUp, Second Edition, published by Wiley.
www.wiley.com/go/resconstruction4e
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Part One Context for Building 1
Chapter 1 The Context for Residential Construction 3
1.1 History 4
1.2 A Culture of Building 6
1.3 Construction Systems 9
1.4 Types of Residential Development 11
1.5 Zoning Ordinances, Building Codes, and Other Legal Constraints 17
1.6 Building Costs and Financing 19
1.7 Building a House: The Typical Process 22
1.8 MasterFormat 26
Chapter 2 Sustainability Aspects of Construction 31
2.1 Why Sustainability Matters for Buildings 32
2.2 Environmental Responsibility: Building Green 35
2.3 Comprehensive Certification Systems 45
Chapter 3 The Construction Community: Builders, Contractors, and Developers 51
3.1 History 52
3.2 Builders and Contractors 54
3.3 Obtaining Work 58
3.4 The Residential Developer 60
3.5 Training the Construction Community 67
3.6 Green Builders, Contractors, Remodelers, and Developers 68
3.7 Tools of the Trade 70
3.8 Safety 72
Chapter 4 The Design Community 77
4.1 History 78
4.2 Residential Designers 79
4.3 Consultants 81
4.4 The Design Process 84
4.5 Design Sources 89
4.6 Communication between Designer and Builder 91
4.7 Green Designers 94
Part Two Materials 97
Chapter 5 Wood and Wood Products 99
5.1 Trees 100
5.2 Lumber 104
5.3 Wood Products 114
5.4 Chemical Treatment 127
5.5 Wood Fasteners 128
5.6 Wood-Manufactured Building Components 134
5.7 Types of Wood Construction 134
Chapter 6 Masonry 141
6.1 History 142
6.2 Mortar 145
6.3 Concrete Masonry 146
6.4 Brick Masonry 156
6.5 Stone Masonry 168
6.6 Other Types of Masonry Units 172
6.7 Special Problems of Masonry Construction 173
Chapter 7 Concrete 179
7.1 History 180
7.2 Cement and Concrete 181
7.3 Making and Placing Concrete 184
7.4 Formwork 188
7.5 Reinforcing 188
7.6 ACI 301 195
Part Three Wood Light Frame House Construction 199
Chapter 8 Rough Site Work 201
8.1 Design Considerations 202
8.2 Organizing the Site for Construction 203
8.3 Site Preparation 203
8.4 Excavation 205
8.5 Site Utilities 206
8.6 Surface Water Drainage 211
8.7 Grading 214
Chapter 9 Foundations 221
9.1 Foundation Loads 222
9.2 Foundation Settlement 222
9.3 Soils 223
9.4 Designing Foundations 224
9.5 Footings 226
9.6 Concrete Foundation Walls 229
9.7 Concrete Masonry Foundation Walls 232
9.8 Concrete Slab Foundations 233
9.9 Wood Foundations 240
9.10 Precast Concrete Foundations 240
9.11 Pier Foundations 240
9.12 Anchor Bolts and Hold-Downs 241
9.13 Drainage and Waterproofing 241
9.14 Foundation Insulation 244
9.15 Backfilling 246
9.16 Foundation Design and the Building Codes 247
Chapter 10 Floor and Wall Framing 251
10.1 History 252
10.2 The Platform Frame 253
10.3 Building the Frame 255
Chapter 11 Roof Framing 281
11.1 History 282
11.2 Roof Types and Parts 283
11.3 Building the Roof 285
11.4 Wood Framing and the Building Codes 301
11.5 The Uniqueness of Wood Light Frame Construction 303
Chapter 12 Finishing the Roof 309
12.1 Preparation for Roofing 310
12.2 Roof Slope 312
12.3 Steep Roofs 313
12.4 Low-Slope Roofs 326
12.5 Roof Edge Details 331
12.6 Roof Drainage 334
12.7 Roofing and the Building Codes 336
Chapter 13 Windows and Exterior Doors 341
13.1 Windows 342
13.2 Exterior Doors 354
Chapter 14 Finishing the Exterior Walls 363
14.1 The Weather Barrier Membrane 365
14.2 Exterior Trim 366
14.3 Siding 366
14.4 Exterior Paints and Coatings 375
14.5 Ladders and Scaffolds 382
Chapter 15 Plumbing 389
15.1 Plumbing Basics 390
15.2 Planning for Pipes 394
15.3 Rough-in Plumbing 395
15.4 Finish Plumbing 398
15.5 Plumbing Codes 398
15.6 Other Piping Systems 399
Chapter 16 Heating and Cooling 407
16.1 Choosing a System 408
16.2 Forced-Air Systems 410
16.3 Radiant Panel Systems 416
16.4 Other Hydronic Heating Systems 420
16.5 Ductless, Mini-Split Heat Pumps 421
16.6 Local Source Heaters 421
16.7 Finishing a Heating/Cooling System 425
16.8 Heating and Cooling Systems and the Building Codes 426
Chapter 17 Fireplaces and Stoves 431
17.1 Selecting a Fireplace 433
17.2 Planning for Fireplace Construction 434
17.3 The Masonry Fireplace 434
17.4 Masonry Heaters 444
17.5 Factory-Built Fireplaces 444
17.6 Freestanding Stoves 448
17.7 Fireplaces and the Building Codes 449
Chapter 18 Electrical Wiring 455
18.1 Wiring Basics 456
18.2 Electrical System Design 461
18.3 Rough-in Electrical Installation 464
18.4 Finish Electrical Work 466
18.5 Electrical Wiring and the Building Codes 467
18.6 Low-Voltage Wiring 467
Chapter 19 Thermal Insulation 471
19.1 The Thermal Envelope and Its Components 473
19.2 Thermal Insulation Materials 478
19.3 How Much Insulation? 482
19.4 Installation of Insulation 483
19.5 Control of Water Vapor 485
19.6 Ventilation of Cavities 487
19.7 Control of Air Infiltration 491
Chapter 20 Interior Surfaces 497
20.1 Wall and Ceiling Finish 498
20.2 Finish Flooring 505
Chapter 21 Finishing the Interior 517
21.1 Interior Doors 518
21.2 Cabinets 521
21.3 Finish Carpentry and Trim 528
21.4 Paints and Coatings 535
Chapter 22 Finish Sitework 541
22.1 Paving Systems 542
22.2 Level Changes 545
22.3 Porches and Decks 549
22.4 Finish Grading 550
22.5 Fencing 551
22.6 Outdoor Lighting 553
22.7 Irrigation 554
22.8 Planting 555
Part Four Alternative Construction Systems 559
Chapter 23 Panelized and Prefabricated Construction 561
23.1 The Concept of Prefabricated and Panelized Construction 563
23.2 Types of Panels 563
23.3 Framed Panel Systems 565
23.4 Structural Insulated Panels 568
23.5 Prefabricated (Factory-Built) House Construction 580
Chapter 24 Timber Frame Construction 587
24.1 The Uniqueness of the Timber Frame 589
24.2 Materials and Structure of the Timber Frame 592
24.3 Building a Timber Frame House 594
24.4 Timber Framing and the Building Codes 597
Chapter 25 Loadbearing Masonry and Concrete Construction 603
25.1 Loadbearing Masonry 604
25.2 Insulating Concrete Forms 610
Chapter 26 Light-Gauge Steel Construction 621
26.1 Light-Gauge Steel Frame Construction 622
Chapter 27 Low-Tech, Low-Energy Construction 637
27.1 Earthen Construction 638
27.2 Stacked Log Construction 646
27.3 Straw Bale Construction 651
Part Five Multifamily Building Construction 665
Chapter 28 Multifamily Construction Systems 667
28.1 History 668
28.2 Special Issues 671
28.3 Foundations 671
28.4 Framing 680
28.5 Acoustical Separation 687
28.6 Fire Protection 690
28.7 Systems 692
28.8 Accessibility 694
28.9 Site Management 695
Glossary 703
Index 727
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