Errors in Substituting Dead Load for Live Load in Wood Design Scott Coffman Introduction Custom kitchens, with high-end appliances, granite countertops, and central islands, are becoming more and more prevalent in the home market today. These products and finishes are heavy and the dead loads from the central islands and/or cabinets positioned along interior... Read More October 2018 Issue #10231 Page 48
When Fashion Affects Structure—Floor Design Considerations for Preventing Tile and Stone Cracks Frank Woeste Two kinds of designers are involved in home construction—design professionals responsible for the structure and the interior-focused designers responsible for the final appearance. Although these roles can overlap, it is important for design professionals to be aware of in-service demands... Read More June 2018 Issue #10227 Page 60
All Things Wood: Wood Frame Construction Manual—a Valuable Structural Design Guide Frank Woeste While the International Residential Code (IRC) gives the structural requirements and prescriptive design data for residential framing, additional help for the non-engineer is available through the Wood Frame Construction Manual for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (WFCM) published by the American... Read More January 2018 Issue #10222 Page 73
All Things Wood: Evaluating an Existing Residential Deck Frank Woeste Since 2003, deck researchers and representatives of the code community have worked to improve and expand the deck provisions in the International Residential Code (IRC). I believe the deck-related provisions of the 2015 IRC, coupled with best practices in the American Wood Council DCA6-2012,... Read More August 2017 Issue #10217 Page 66
When I Cut My Lumber, Do I Affect the Lumber Grade? Glenn Traylor As a general rule, when you cut lumber to length, the lumber grade is unchanged. In those cases, care should be taken to transfer that grade verification along with the cut lumber. This can be done with a lumber crayon, segregation, tagging, or many other suitable ways. Ripping lumber,... Read More April 2017 Issue #10213 Page 30
How to Select a Connector Series – Holdowns Paul McEntee This article discusses how to select holdowns and tension ties, which are key components in a continuous load path. They are used to resist uplift due to shearwall overturning or wind uplift forces in light-frame construction. In panelized roof construction, holdowns are used to anchor concrete... Read More September 2016 Issue #09206 Page 64
High Wind Guides for the Hurricane Season Robert Glowinski With hurricane season underway, several regions of the United States face the threat of wind-related damage to buildings. According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), high winds cause millions of dollars in property damage each year, with roofs representing 85 to 95... Read More July 2016 Issue #09204 Page 42