Common Definition: A person who builds or constructs buildings.
Unauthorized Definition: Someone who can’t stand working in an office all day and would rather drive between job sites, jabbering on the phone. Even if this means talking with crazy homeowners, clueless suppliers and no-show subcontractors. While builders were once exclusively truck driving, swearing, butt crack flashing men. Thankfully brave women are now entering the profession in greater numbers, especially in home-building. Continue reading Featured Term: Builder→
Roofing, Flashing & Waterproofing, is a book in the “For Pros By Pros” series by Taunton Press. A great book for pros and seasoned do-it-yourselfers. Reasonably valuable for curious homeowners passionate about making informed decisions and ensuring projects are completed correctly. Only a few step by step instructions may be tedious for those not actually performing the work. Although even these passages have kernels of valuable construction wisdom. Continue reading Review: Roofing, Flashing & Waterproofing→
Common Definition: A person who designs buildings.
Gary Cooper as architect Howard Roark in The Fountainhead
Unauthorized Definition: Architects are media darlings. The Fountainhead featured Gary Cooper as an uncompromising architect. Robert Reed’s character, Mike Brady was a cool architect dad for The Brady Bunch TV sitcom. Paul Newman was a white collar hero saving lives in The Towering Inferno. For at least three movies, Steve Martin played an intellectual yet romantic architect. However, the funniest architect characters came later when Matt Dillon and Lee Evans both faked being architects in There’s Something About Mary. Sadly few architects in the media are women. Although this is changing in the real world. Continue reading Featured Term: Architect→
In the spirit of full disclosure, I’m not a fan of sliding barn doors. Don’t get me wrong, they’re perfect for sequestering horses where a tight seal isn’t necessary. But for homes? Barn doors may look hip and trendy, yet they just aren’t functional. Continue reading Review: Barn Doors for Homes→
Building regulations were enacted to protect everyone’s health, safety and well-being. I tell myself this when visiting a building department. Reality however, appears far from this goal. Instead I usually find a morass of confusing red tape and contradictory information.
No matter how frustrated I get, building regulations are here to stay. Because they carry the force of law, I don’t bury my head. Instead, I ask questions, write down conversations and work hard to understand each rule’s intent, even the ridiculous ones. I’ve seen do-it-yourselfers and Libertarian leaning builders try bucking the rules. Most end up paying hefty fines. Others find trouble insuring or selling their illegal monstrosities. Some even call me after the fact to help calm down angry inspectors.
To help everyone build wisely, below is a basic primer for understanding the typical regulations I’ve encountered during 30 years of designing and building homes around the country. Continue reading Zoning & Building Code Basics→
My wife swears it wasn’t her. Yet we lived in relative bliss before she brought home bags of produce from the farm. Within days our kitchen was infested with fruit flies. I mean hundreds of the little buggers. Whatever the cause, we suddenly had a perfect experiment to answer the burning question: Does wine trap fruit flies?Continue reading Does Wine Trap Fruit Flies?→
Frankly, when clients want a freestanding tub I have mixed emotions. Sure these tubs radiate old world charm and make bathrooms feel big. Hollywood capitalizes on their romantic symbolism when filming steamy sex scenes in claw foot tubs. Just watch Bull Durham. Now everyone who dreams of baseball and romance thinks a freestanding tub is requisite equipment. Continue reading Review: Freestanding Tubs→
Common Definition: A 16 penny nail. The size of a framing nail used to fasten studs, plates and joists together.
Unauthorized Definition: The penny, symbol “d”, refers to nail size. Penny is a confusing term based on obsolete traditions, but it’s still used daily. Carpenters don’t call a nail that is one inch long, a “one inch nail”. No, that’s too logical. Besides, how could they tell the salty journeyman from the crass beginner? Instead a 1″ nail is really a 2d nail. Nail length increases with the number. A 2d (1″) nail is smaller than a 16d (3-1/2”) nail. Continue reading Featured Term: 16d Nail→
In a meeting this week, I came to the frightening realization everyone present was assuming something different. Yes, we were all there to finalize the door order. But the supplier, builder, designer, client and even myself had different ideas about how to specify the door’s swing or “handing”. I made a joke of it and chuckles rang out. But then we spent several minutes agreeing on the rules to avoid a bad order. Continue reading Door Handing is Confusing, Even for Pros→
Maybe I’m just a neurotic architect. Or maybe seasonal change encourages existential reflection for everyone. Whatever the reason, as the leaves turn I’m acutely aware of a dependence on home for shelter and survival. Which means fall is a great time for a home maintenance check. I relish the thought of discovering small problems when easily fixable. And I laugh out loud when fixing them. Because a nasty winter catastrophe is avoided. Thought I’d share a list of maintenance items I diligently check. Just in case you feel the same about fall. Continue reading Fall Home Maintenance Checklist→
Unauthorized Definition: Someone who can’t stand working in an office all day and would rather drive between job sites, jabbering on the phone. Even if this means talking with crazy homeowners, clueless suppliers and no-show subcontractors. While builders were once exclusively truck driving, swearing, butt crack flashing men. Thankfully brave women are now entering the profession in greater numbers, especially in home-building. Continue reading Featured Term: Builder 
My wife swears it wasn’t her. Yet we lived in relative bliss before she brought home bags of produce from the farm. Within days our kitchen was infested with fruit flies. I mean hundreds of the little buggers. Whatever the cause, we suddenly had a perfect experiment to answer the burning question: Does wine trap fruit flies? 
Unauthorized Definition: The penny, symbol “d”, refers to nail size. Penny is a confusing term based on obsolete traditions, but it’s still used daily. Carpenters don’t call a nail that is one inch long, a “one inch nail”. No, that’s too logical. Besides, how could they tell the salty journeyman from the crass beginner? Instead a 1″ nail is really a 2d nail. Nail length increases with the number. A 2d (1″) nail is smaller than a 16d (3-1/2”) nail. 
