Archives: building engineering

How To Insulate Basement Walls

By Todd Fratzel on Basements, Foundations, Insulation

How To Insulate Basement Walls Insulating a basement properly is rather challenging in cold climates. In this article I’d like to discuss how to insulate basement walls in cold climates. Insulating basement walls in cold climates is a great way to keep your home warmer and drier. However, special care should be used when insulating…

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Insulated Door & Window Headers

By Todd Fratzel on Framing, Insulation

Energy Efficient Door & Window Headers With a continued focus on energy efficient construction (Green Construction) we are always looking for ways to improve upon residential construction techniques. Insulated door and window headers are one way to improve on standard framing methods. Old School Headers Years ago we used to build door and window headers…

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Installing Foundation Window Wells

By Todd Fratzel on Foundations

Window Well Installation Installing window wells is a very good way of preventing unwanted water from entering into your basement windows. Window wells also allow the finish grade to be brought to an elevation higher than the window while still letting light into the window. How To Install Window Wells Window well installation is fairly…

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Rim Joist Insulation – Insulating Options

By Todd Fratzel on Insulation

How To Insulate Rim Joists We’ve written a number of articles on insulating basements including; insulating basement walls, insulating basement floors and basement insulation options. In this article I want to focus on rim joist insulation and the options that are available. Rim Joist Spray Foam Spray foam insulation is the best way to insulate…

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What Are Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)?

By Todd Fratzel on Design, Energy Conservation, Framing

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) A reader asked me the other day to explain what’s the difference between Structural Insulated Panels and Prefabricated Wall Panels. Before answering the question on the difference it is important to answer the of: What Are Structural Insulated Panels or SIPs? Structural insulated panels (or structural insulating panels), SIPs, are a…

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Custom Stairs

By Todd Fratzel on Finish Carpentry, Framing, Interior Decorating

Custom Brazilian Cherry Staircase In our new home we built the custom stairs with Brazilian Cherry treads, handrails and newel post. The risers and stringers are made from poplar. Brazilian Cherry is a really beautiful wood and extremely dense. I’m told it’s about 100 times harder than red oak. As you can see in the…

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Certainteed BIBS Insulation System

By Todd Fratzel on Insulation

Blow-In-Blanket® System with OPTIMA® Fiber Glass Insulation Recently I had the pleasure of trying a new insulation system on one of our projects. We’re using the Blow-In-Blanket System with OPTIMA Fiber Glass Wall Insulation by Certainteed for a major addition to a private school. Blown In Wall Insulation We’ve been using more and more blown…

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Grace Roof and Window Flashing Products

By Todd Fratzel on Roofing, Windows

Grace Flashing Solutions One of the most important and difficult components of construction is proper flashing to keep rain, snow and ice out of buildings to prevent water damage and premature rotting of wood framing. On one of our current projects at work the guys have been building an addition for a school that has…

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