NEWSLETTER
#228
New House Building: Money Saving, Convenience and Healthy House Tips
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CONTENTS:
- Understanding Building Terminology
- First of a series on Septic
systems
- Driveways - Concrete, Asphalt, interlocking brick or
stone
- Thought for the Day
- Subscription Information
Please forward this newsletter to anyone whom you think
may be interested!
1.
Understanding Building Terminology
Terminology used by builders and
people in the building trade can be complicated and downright
confusing, especially
if you have no idea of what they are talking about!
How many of our readers know what ABS is, what a
Cripples might be or what a z-RidgeTM
is? Have you been speaking
with a builder or a foreman on the site of you new
home and felt like he was speaking another language?
If
you find yourself in this situation, you may be missing
something important that the building foreman
is trying to tell you and worse it may cost you a lot
of money if you do not take the time to clarify what
exactly he or she is saying to you.
If we return to
our original question, “ABS
- A type of black plastic pipe commonly used for waste
water lines” is a fairly common term used
by many trades on constructions sites. You may
have
already known what this term referred to.
Cripples on the other
hand may be less obvious to the reader, since we
found at least two different definitions: “Cripples
- A pipe for conducting rainwater from the roof to
a cistern or to the ground by way of a downspout.” Or “Cut-off
framing members above and below windows.” Depending
on whom you were talking to you might need to clarify
if they are referring to a down pipe or cut-off
framing members!
z-Ridge(tm) - " A product designed to cover the
ridge line of a roof, designed by Elk Roofing Products(r)" gives
the roof lines more character
There are many sources
of various building terminology available on the Internet.
We have included several
sites at the end of this article for your reference.
This is such a vast subject; that the reader may not
want to spend too much time learning all of these definitions
and details. Instead we suggest that you bookmark these
sites for future reference and any time you are about
to begin a project, or have a need to understand a
particular subject, you can go quickly to one of these
sites.
In addition some definitions are based on the
manufacturer’s
product description, so don’t be surprised if
you do not find every item defined in these web sites.
Sometimes you will need to go to the manufacturer’s
web sites to review specifications and the description
of a product. This is also a great place to begin,
if you and your builder are discussing a specific
product that will be used on your new home. Virtually
all manufacturers
will post descriptions and specifications for their
products on their corporate web sites.
As a final comment,
if you do not understand what the builder is recommending,
ask the builder for information
and spend the time to research the product to ensure
that it will meet the application that you intend it
to be used for.
Some Useful Links
Hampton Homes Building Terminology & Definitions
http://www.hampton-homes.com/Buildterm.cfm
MIT Libraries
http://libraries.mit.edu/guides/subjects/architecture/design/
Home Building Terminology
http://www.stewart-homes-inc.com/learning.htm#HOME%20BUILDING%20TERMINOLOGY
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2.
Septic Systems - The Basics
This is the first in a multi-part series on septic systems.
Septic
systems are necessary when there are no community sewers
to remove human waste and other wastewater from
your home. The rules for septic systems vary greatly from
community to community, so talk to your local community
offices to get the details.
Septic Systems are relatively
simple, and very efficient. The effluent from your house
includes human waste from
toilets, and gray water from baths, showers, sinks and
laundry. This effluent is gravity fed within your dwelling
via a large drainpipe, which is typically 4" in diameter.
This drain pipe exits the house and connects to a large
holding tank (1000 gallons or more), made of concrete,
steel or plastic, usually buried 1 to 3 feet underground,
about 10 feet from your dwelling. Bacteria processes the
waste entering the tank producing gas, which vents through
the system, fats, liquid, and solids. These layers are
very distinct within the tank: the scum layer on the top,
the liquid effluent layer in the middle, and the sludge
at the bottom. There are usually baffles or chambers in
the tank, which prevent the sludge and scum from leaving
the tank. The gases are primarily methane and hydrogen
sulphide.
The piping is arranged so that the liquid layer
drains downhill out of the tank to a network of perforated
pipes
or clay tile, 4 to 6 feet below grade, on a specially layered
combination of gravel and soil called an absorption field
or leaching bed, where the liquid safely dissipates. This
entire bed, which can be several hundred square feet, is
normally covered with a soil barrier, then sand, then soil,
and finally topsoil and grass. All these components are
important parts of the system.
A properly designed and maintained
septic system will safely and completely treat your wastewater
for 30 to 50
years.
Note that eave trough drainage, pool drainage, sump
pumps, sidewalk and road run-off should never be tied into
your
local septic system. Backwash from your water softener
is not septic and can be drained to other than your septic
system. However, if the water softener backwash is less
than a hundred gallons a week, your septic system may be
the most convenient drainage system. Rather than using
kitchen garbage disposal unit with your septic system,
consider installing a composter in your backyard.
Next edition we will cover Septic System Sizing and Septic
System Maintenance.
Some useful links to check out
How Stuff Works
http://people.howstuffworks.com/sewer1.htm
Septic-Info.Com
http://www.septic-info.com/
Clean Solution (alternative)
http://www.thecleansolution.com/
3. Driveways - Concrete,
Asphalt, Interlocking Brick or Stone
Virtually any type of material can be used to install a new
driveway in just about any climate. Preparation must be varied
depending on the temperature variation between summer and
winter and the type of soil the driveway will be constructed
on.
There are a number of criteria that many clients will
want to consider when selecting the type of driveway that
they will have installed on their property. For example,
overall cost of the installation, the time it takes to
install the driveway, the length of time the driveway will
last assuming normal use, colour retention time, flexibility
retention over time, impact of de-icing salts in cold climates,
tendency to shift over time, repair and maintenance requirements,
and the overall primary criteria will of course be “how
will it look when finished and also 10 years from now?”
All
designs have standard construction approaches, which will
be varied to withstand climatic conditions of extreme
heat as well as extreme cold. You should discuss this with
your contractor to ensure that they are aware of what is
required in your location. A reputable driveway builder
will be well informed.
The fundamental requirement, regardless
of what type of driveway you chose, is to ensure that you
have an adequate
base to support your driveway material and that there is
proper drainage. Depending on the state you live in and
the type of soil you are dealing with, you may want to
install sub grade material from 4 inches to 12 inches thick.
This may seem to be extreme, however in situations with
solid soil conditions, 4 inches of crushed rock may be
sufficient, where as in soils that are less stable you
may need up to 12 inches of crushed stone. Consult with
an experienced driveway contractor in your area, to assess
the proper depth of crushed stone.
Finally select a driveway
that will enhance the beauty of your home. This is up to
individual taste of course,
however you can request a driveway contractor to prepare
designs for you and also to either show you pictures of
completed driveways or even take you to visit several driveways
that he or she would recommend. The advantage of visiting
several homes, is that you will not only have some idea
of what the finished product might look like, but also
you can review the quality of the work of the contractor
that you are considering.
There are also unusual designs
that you may consider such as colourful brick, durable
grass, nubby pebbles and concrete
bands. These are just a few different types of designs
found on one of the web sites found below, which provide
additional information. Don’t be afraid to search
for other types of designs and experiment.
Some useful links to check out
Concrete Driveways
http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/concrete_driveways/
Great Ideas for Driveways
http://www.homestore.com/homegarden/homeimprovement/features/
spring/driveways.asp?poe=homestore&tran=vud
Driveways with Style
http://houseandhome.msn.com/Improve/FourDrivewayswithStyle0.aspx
Pavestone Plus
http://www.pavestoneplus.com/doityourself/diypavingstones.htm
4. Thought For The Day
People will be more impressed by what you
finish than by what you start and never complete.
5. Subscription Information
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