Engineering

• Merging Biophilic Design with Green Building Standards

  Biophilic design is gaining traction in residental construction as an ancillary component of green building.

   

• Aluminum Steeple

  An old church gets a new spire

   

• Passive House Costs Explored (Subscriber content)

   

• Controlling Whole-House Remodeling Costs

  Managing customer and architect expectations can head off problems in a remodeling project.

   

• RetroTreads Hardwood Stair Treads

  If your clients want to replace their carpeted stairs with hardwood, these treads are an economical option

   

• Wolf PVC Deckboards

  Wolf has added two tropical-hardwood colors to its PVC Deckboard collection.

   

• Supporting a Brick Chimney With Structural Steel (Subscriber content)

  A pair of I-beams support a three-story brick chimney in this basement remodel.

   

• Cornice Returns, Production Style (Subscriber content)

  Preassembiing an addition's exterior trim speeds the job.

   

• Interpreting the RRP (Subscriber content)

  This letter is part of an ongoing discussion about how the EPA defines "demolition"

   

• Ductless Heat Pumps (Subscriber content)

  These easily installed units offer flexible sizing and high efficiency at moderate cost.

   

• Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center

  Brooklyn, N.Y. / Weiss/Manfredi Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism

   

• ZipDoor Kit Dust Container

  If nothing but a doorway separates the work zone from living space, your safest best may be to install a ZipDoor Kit.

   

• Propane-Powered Generator

  With a power output of just over 3,000 watts, the LP3250 Portable Generator would not be the right choice for a framing crew.

   

• Coated I-Joists

  PKI Engineered I-Joists get their distinctive pink color from a nontoxic coating that the maker says resists fire, repels water, and prevents mold growth.

   

• Southern Pine 2x4 Lumber Downgraded

   

• An Affordable Passive House - Part 1 - Airtight and Super-Insulated With Familiar Materials (Subscriber content)

  This airtight, superinsulated home was built using familiar methods and materials.

   

• Project Focus: Little House in the Back Yard

   

• Deck Ledger Boards

  Failure of the ledger board—the structural member placed to attach an outdoor deck to the primary structure—is the leading cause of deck collapses. Here's a point-by-point checklist of the best practices.

   

• In Zoning Dispute, Teardown Looms for New Cape Cod House

   

• Contemporary Bathroom Addition (Subscriber content)

  A stepped footprint makes the most of space left by a property easement.