Chapter 17Chapter 17

Constructing Homes and Constructing Homes and Other BuildingsOther Buildings

ObjectivesObjectives

Describe the preparation of a Describe the preparation of a construction site.construction site.

Explain how foundations and Explain how foundations and superstructures are constructed.superstructures are constructed.

Describe how interiors are finished.Describe how interiors are finished. Discuss post-construction tasks.Discuss post-construction tasks.

Preparing the SitePreparing the Site

Step 1 – Surveying the site to mark Step 1 – Surveying the site to mark the property line.the property line.

Step 2 – Clearing the site of anything Step 2 – Clearing the site of anything that might interfere with that might interfere with construction.construction.– This might include trees, old structures, This might include trees, old structures,

rocks, and/or excess soil.rocks, and/or excess soil.

Site prep continuedSite prep continued

– Demolition – rid the site of old buildings. Demolition – rid the site of old buildings. This is done by tearing it down or This is done by tearing it down or blasting it down with explosives.blasting it down with explosives.

Earthmoving – excess earth and rock Earthmoving – excess earth and rock are cleared away and the remaining are cleared away and the remaining earth is leveled and smoothed.earth is leveled and smoothed.

Laying out the SiteLaying out the Site

Identifying and marking the exact Identifying and marking the exact location of the structure on the location of the structure on the property.property.

Using the site plan as a guide, Using the site plan as a guide, workers take measurements from the workers take measurements from the stakes surveyors placed at each stakes surveyors placed at each corner of the property.corner of the property.

Boundaries are marked with batter Boundaries are marked with batter boardboard

Batter BoardsBatter Boards Are boards held horizontally by Are boards held horizontally by

stakes driven into the ground.stakes driven into the ground. Placed four to five feet outside the Placed four to five feet outside the

buildings boundaries.buildings boundaries.

Batter BoardBatter Board

String is used to connect batter String is used to connect batter boards at opposite sides of the boards at opposite sides of the building.building.

The attached strings cross directly The attached strings cross directly over the boundary stake at the over the boundary stake at the corners of the building.corners of the building.

FoundationFoundation The part of the structure that rest The part of the structure that rest

upon the earth and supports the upon the earth and supports the superstructure.superstructure.

Foundations are usually made from Foundations are usually made from concrete.concrete.

Can be above or below ground.Can be above or below ground.

SuperstructureSuperstructure The superstructure rest on the The superstructure rest on the

foundationfoundation

In buildings the superstructure In buildings the superstructure usually consist of everything above usually consist of everything above ground.ground.

ExcavatingExcavating

Excavating, or digging, for the Excavating, or digging, for the foundation is done by heavy foundation is done by heavy equipment such asequipment such as– BackhoesBackhoes– Front-end loadersFront-end loaders– And Trenchers.And Trenchers.

Parts of the foundationParts of the foundation

Footing – Footing – is the is the part of the part of the structure below the structure below the foundation wall foundation wall that distributes the that distributes the structure’s weight.structure’s weight.

The footing is The footing is usually twice as usually twice as wide as the wide as the foundation wall.foundation wall.

Building the SuperstructureBuilding the Superstructure

There are two types of There are two types of superstructuressuperstructures– Framed structureFramed structure– Load-bearing wall structure.Load-bearing wall structure.

Framed StructureFramed Structure A framed building has a main A framed building has a main

skeleton, or framework, that skeleton, or framework, that supports the weight of the building.supports the weight of the building.

Framing MembersFraming Members

StudsStudsJoistsJoistsRaftersRaftersRoof TrussesRoof Trusses

StudsStuds

StudsStuds – – parallel, evenly spaced, parallel, evenly spaced, vertical boards that form the frame vertical boards that form the frame of exterior and interior walls.of exterior and interior walls.

Studs are nailed at the top and Studs are nailed at the top and bottom to horizontal boards called bottom to horizontal boards called plates.plates.

JoistsJoists Parallel, evenly spaced, horizontal Parallel, evenly spaced, horizontal

boards that form the frames that boards that form the frames that support floors and ceilings.support floors and ceilings.

Rafters or roof trussesRafters or roof trusses

RaftersRafters are sloping roof framing are sloping roof framing members cut from individual pieces of members cut from individual pieces of dimension lumber.dimension lumber.

They extend from the ridge downward They extend from the ridge downward over the side walls of the building.over the side walls of the building.

Roof trussesRoof trusses – are preassembled – are preassembled triangular frames that are used to triangular frames that are used to frame the roof.frame the roof.

ContinuedContinued

The sloping sides of the truss’s The sloping sides of the truss’s triangular frame serve as rafters; the triangular frame serve as rafters; the base of each triangular frame forms base of each triangular frame forms a ceiling joist.a ceiling joist.

Load-Bearing Wall StructureLoad-Bearing Wall Structure

Heavy walls support the weight of Heavy walls support the weight of the structure.the structure.

There is no frameThere is no frame Bearing walls are usually made of Bearing walls are usually made of

concrete blocks, poured concrete.concrete blocks, poured concrete. Bearing walls construction is best Bearing walls construction is best

suited for low buildings of one of two suited for low buildings of one of two stories.stories.

Enclosing the Enclosing the superstructuresuperstructure

Sheathing – Sheathing – is a layer of material, is a layer of material, such as plywood, oriented-strand such as plywood, oriented-strand board, or insulating board, that is board, or insulating board, that is placed between the framing and the placed between the framing and the finished exterior.finished exterior.

Vinyl or wood siding, stone, brick, Vinyl or wood siding, stone, brick, and other materials are placed over and other materials are placed over the wall sheathing for decoration.the wall sheathing for decoration.

Installing FloorsInstalling Floors

SubfloorsSubfloors – consisting of sheets of – consisting of sheets of plywood or oriented-strand board, is plywood or oriented-strand board, is nailed or glued to the floor joists.nailed or glued to the floor joists.

The subfloor serves as a base for the The subfloor serves as a base for the finish flooring.finish flooring.

Underlayment – Underlayment – is nailed or glued is nailed or glued to the subfloor before the finish floor to the subfloor before the finish floor is applied.is applied.

Installing UtilitiesInstalling Utilities

Utilities refer to service systems in a Utilities refer to service systems in a buildingbuilding– Electrical systemsElectrical systems– Plumbing systemsPlumbing systems– (HVAC) Heating, ventilating, and air (HVAC) Heating, ventilating, and air

conditioning systemsconditioning systems

InsulationInsulation

Is material that is applied to walls and Is material that is applied to walls and ceilings to help keep heat from entering ceilings to help keep heat from entering the building in the summer and leaving in the building in the summer and leaving in the winter.the winter.

Helps make a house more energy-Helps make a house more energy-efficientefficient

Insulating materials are labeled according Insulating materials are labeled according to their R-value. The higher the R-value, to their R-value. The higher the R-value, the better the insulating qualities.the better the insulating qualities.

Insulation FormsInsulation Forms

Batts or Blankets – Batts or Blankets – These are thick These are thick fiberglass sheets or rolls, with a fiberglass sheets or rolls, with a paper or foil backing. Designed to fit paper or foil backing. Designed to fit between framing.between framing.

Rigid Panels – Rigid Panels – large sheets of large sheets of plastic foam or natural fibers.plastic foam or natural fibers.

Loose fill –Loose fill – fibrous or granular fibrous or granular material that is blown into place material that is blown into place using a special hose.using a special hose.

Finishing the InteriorFinishing the Interior

Ceilings and WallsCeilings and Walls – Enclosed with – Enclosed with drywall. Drywall is a general term used for drywall. Drywall is a general term used for plasterboard or wallboard.plasterboard or wallboard.

Floor CoveringsFloor Coverings – finish flooring is – finish flooring is usually installed over the underlayment usually installed over the underlayment after the walls and ceilings have been after the walls and ceilings have been finished.finished.

Trim and Other Finish work – Trim and Other Finish work – Used to Used to cover edges where ceilings, walls, and cover edges where ceilings, walls, and floors meet.floors meet.

Prefabricated StructuresPrefabricated Structures

Components of structures and even Components of structures and even whole structures are now being built in whole structures are now being built in factories.factories.

The prefabricated parts or sections are The prefabricated parts or sections are shipped from the factory to the shipped from the factory to the construction site.construction site.

Three TypesThree Types– Panelized ConstructionPanelized Construction– Modular ConstructionModular Construction– Manufacturing HousingManufacturing Housing

Panelized ConstructionPanelized Construction In Panelized construction, the floors, In Panelized construction, the floors,

walls, and roof all consist of walls, and roof all consist of prefabricated panels that have been prefabricated panels that have been made in factories.made in factories.

Panels are then shipped to the Panels are then shipped to the construction site where they are construction site where they are assembled to produce the framed assembled to produce the framed and sheathed shell of the structure.and sheathed shell of the structure.

Modular ConstructionModular Construction Entire units, or modules, of Entire units, or modules, of

structures are built at factories and structures are built at factories and shipped to the site.shipped to the site.

The modules are assembled at the The modules are assembled at the site to product a finished structure.site to product a finished structure.

Has been used Has been used

to build motels.to build motels.

Manufactured HousingManufactured Housing

Many new single-family homes are Many new single-family homes are entirely manufacture in factories and entirely manufacture in factories and then shipped to the site. then shipped to the site.

These homes are built in two or more These homes are built in two or more sections to produce a finished sections to produce a finished structure.structure.

Example - Example - Double wide or trailerDouble wide or trailer

Finishing the SiteFinishing the Site

Paving – Several areas around the Paving – Several areas around the homes and other buildings need to be homes and other buildings need to be paved. paved. – DrivewaysDriveways– Walk WaysWalk Ways– Parking LotsParking Lots

Landscaping – Begins after all the debris Landscaping – Begins after all the debris from construction has been removed.from construction has been removed.– Changing the natural features to make it Changing the natural features to make it

more attractive.more attractive.

ReviewReview

Preparing the site involves clearing Preparing the site involves clearing away unwanted objects, leveling and away unwanted objects, leveling and smoothing, and laying out the site.smoothing, and laying out the site.

The foundation, which supports the The foundation, which supports the superstructure, consists of footings superstructure, consists of footings and walls.and walls.

The superstructure may have a wood The superstructure may have a wood or steel frame or may be a load-or steel frame or may be a load-bearing wall structure.bearing wall structure.

Review ContinuedReview Continued

Once the structure is framed, it is Once the structure is framed, it is enclosed, the subfloor is laid, the utilities enclosed, the subfloor is laid, the utilities are roughed in, and insulation is installed.are roughed in, and insulation is installed.

Components of structures and even entire Components of structures and even entire structures may be prefabricated in structures may be prefabricated in factories, then shipped to construction factories, then shipped to construction sites to be assembled.sites to be assembled.

Finishing the site involves paving and Finishing the site involves paving and landscaping. Then the project is landscaping. Then the project is transferred to the owner.transferred to the owner.