materials: Articles tagged with “materials”

Q: I want to remove an exterior wall that separates my living room from a sun porch. It is a load-bearing wall and I would like to support the 14 foot 6 inch span with as small a beam as possible, wood or steel.

Can you let me know my options for temporary support and permanent post and beam size requirements?

There are many types and textures of stone tile available today. There are six basic surface textures available.

Q: Should I use quickset for putting tile on my greenboard shower stall, or should I use some kind of glue or caulk?

Stone is one of the most durable of all floorings. When properly installed, it should last the lifetime of a house. This toughness combined with the natural beauty of stone makes it the material of choice where quality and character are important considerations. Stone is just what its name implies: quarried slate, limestone, flagstone, granite, or marble.

Q: I would like to know the different grades of ceramic tile. I was told that they are graded from 1 to 5, 5 being the best. Is this true?

Cement board is a product that revolutionized the tiling industry. It's literally a board of concrete (usually in 4- x 5-foot sizes). It ranges anywhere from a half inch thick for walls to 1/4 inch thick for floors.

The most durable of all tiling materials are ceramic tile and stone materials that, when properly installed, last the lifetime of a house. This toughness, combined with the natural beauty of stone and the incredible array of tile types, colors, patterns, and textures makes tile and stone the materials of choice where quality and character are important.

Q: I want to put siding on the outside of my new upscale home. I want a natural look, with little maintenance? Have you ever heard of Werzalit?

This information can clarify and help answer some questions about wood panel siding.

Vinyl siding looks similar to horizontal wood siding but doesn't require as much maintenance. These systems can be applied right over old siding but are easier to apply over solid sheathing. Vinyl siding doesn't rust or corrode, but vinyl, which is actually polyvinyl chloride (PVC), does become more brittle as it gets older.

Q: Lately I've been receiving all kinds of calls and ads in the mail about vinyl siding for my home. I have never thought of vinyl siding before, but we are facing a distressingly high heating bill now, and the task of repainting the house this spring, so it seems like an option to consider. What can you tell me about it?

Q: How do I choose the best type of siding?

The following information can clarify and help answer some questions about stucco.

Asbestos siding, also known as cement asbestos siding or slate siding, isn't manufactured anymore and is only found on older homes. Though it's just finely ground asbestos particles mixed with cement, since it's mixed with the cement, it can't be breathed so isn't usually a health threat.

The temperature of your roof plays an important part in a number of environmental factors within your home. If your roof collects heat without reflecting any then your home will get hot during the summer months meaning you will have to pay more for energy to keep your air conditioning running or face long sweaty days with no reprise from the searing temperatures. This extra heat can also cause a build up of moisture inside your roof and eventually cause damage to the timber structure; this damage may manifest itself in the form of cracks, warped materials and leaks. Also in winter your home will get cold and you will have to pay more for heating. There are essentially four main types of reflective roofing materials you may want to consider using for your roof.

Your roof is one of the most important parts of your house and is the one thing that provides the building structure, the building occupants and the building contents with protection from the elements. Many roofs are in a state of disrepair but homeowners ignore this until the roof gets worse or until the weather gets worse. With regular maintenance and the early identification and fixing of any problems you can usually avoid big problems that have equally big price tags attached to them. Regular maintenance will also help extend the life of your roof.

Q: I am interested in educating myself on the different types of roofing material available. We just bought a house that had its roof improperly installed. We would like to replace it with something better. Could you outline the different materials?

Custom weathervanes, fireplace grills, chimney caps and cupolas for gazebos and homes are commonly ordered from custom metal fabricators. Other frequent requests include building trailers, and racks for cars, trucks, trailers and recreational vehicles as well as in garages and workshops. Rural applications could include fabrication or repair of farm animal enclosures.

Is your garage door sagging and cracking, almost impossible to lift, or just generally falling apart? Perhaps it's time to replace it with a new one that's easy to operate and maintain. Not only can a new garage door provide safe, secure, easy access to your garage; it can renew and refresh your home's appearance.

Adding a fence to your landscaping scheme can transform your outdoor living space and enhance the style of your home. A redwood fence creates a pleasing backdrop to a garden, an awkward hillside lot is transformed with the addition of a deck and a privacy fence. Consider the following to find materials that suit your style and budget.