Here are a few helpful articles
|
By Paul Bianchina From a minor home repair to the construction of an entire house, virtually every construction project requires some mathematical calculations. From calculating the square footage of a room to more complicated figures like the area of a triangle or the number of board feet in a piece of lumber, a calculator and a few simple formulas are all you need. Area Measurements Measuring and calculating area takes two of the three dimensions into account: width and length, as when measuring a floor, or width and height, as when measuring a wall. For the following examples, we'll use a rectangular room that is 10' wide and 12' long and has 8' high ceilings.
Cubic Measurements Cubic measurements take all three dimensions into consideration - width, length and height. This will tell you the volume of a given area and is useful for such things as knowing how much air is in a room when sizing an exhaust fan or the volume of a foundation form when ordering concrete.
Board Feet Most lumber is sold by the board foot, which is equal to a board that is one foot long, one foot wide, and one inch thick. If you would like to know how many board feet are in a given piece of lumber, use the following formula: T x W x L / 12, where T = the thickness of the board in inches, W = the width of the board in inches, and L = the length of the board in feet. For example, suppose you would like to know how many board feet are in a 16 foot long piece of 2 x 8 lumber. Applying the above formula, you would have the following: 2 x 8 x 16 / 12 = 21.33, so there are 21.33 board feet in that particular piece of lumber. Tiles are a mixture of clays that are pressed into shape and fired at high temperatures which gives the tile its hardness. The bisque (body) of ceramic tile may then be glazed, or left unglazed depending on its intended use. Classifications of Ceramic Tile P.E.I Wear Ratings from the Porcelain Enamel Institute Group I: Tiles that are suitable for residential bathrooms with light foot traffic. Generally wall tile products fall into this group. Some wall tiles can be used on the floor. Consult the manufacturer of the tile for their recommended areas of application. Group II: Tiles that can be used in residential areas, but not areas with high foot traffic, such as in kitchens, foyers, laundry rooms, etc. Group III: Tiles that are recommended for all residential installations with normal foot traffic. Group IV: Tiles that are suited for light to medium commercial applications, such as offices, sales rooms. Group V: Tiles used in heavy commercial traffic areas and are suited for exterior areas, shopping centers, airports, hotel lobbies, public walkways. Types of Tiles Ceramic Mosaic Tile tiles that are less than 6 inches facial area and may be either porcelain or natural clay composition and usually are 3/8" or less in thickness. Quarry Tile tiles made from the extrusion process from shale or natural clays and usually are 6 square inches or more in facial size and can be glazed or unglazed. Paver Tile glazed or unglazed natural clay or porcelain tiles having a facial area of six square inches or more and made from the dust-pressed method. Wall Tile glazed tiles with that are designed for indoor use and are generally non-vitreous. Common Tile Terms Glazed The most common style today in floor and wall tiles, as well as for residential and commercial applications. A liquid glass is applied to the body of the tile and fired at high temperatures. The glazing becomes hard and non-porous resulting in a flooring that is: · Stain Resistant · Scratch Resistant · Fire Resistant · Doesnt Fade from Sun Light · Slip Resistant · Easy to Clean Shiny glazes are softer, can be scratched easier, and can be slippery than the satin or rustic finishes. Unglazed There is no glazing or any other coating applied to the tile. Their color is the same on the face of the tile as it is on the back resulting in very durable tiles that do not show the effects of heavy traffic. The most common unglazed tiles are the red quarry tiles or the granite looking porcelain ceramic tiles used in heavy commercial areas. Saltillo Tile is a Mexican tile made of unprocessed clays. Listello a narrow tile used to accent field tiles. Tile Density & Moisture Absorption Tile Density As the weight or the density increase it becomes a stronger tile. Moisture Absorption Again as the density increases the amount of moisture that a tile can absorb becomes less. Tile density and moisture absorption have an indirect relationship to each other. As the density of the tile increases the moisture absorption rate becomes less. Tile density and moisture absorption are important to understand when selecting the tiles for different applications. Non-Vitreous Tiles tiles with a water absorption of 7% or greater (wall tile). Suited for indoor use only. Semi-Vitreous Tiles tiles with a water absorption greater than 3%, but less than 7%. Suited for indoor use only. Vitreous Tiles tiles with a water absorption less that 3% moisture, but more than 0.5%. Referred to as frost resistant tiles but can not be used in exterior areas where freeze thaw conditions could cause tile cracking. Impervious Tiles tiles that have less than .5% moisture absorption (Porcelain tile). These tiles are frost proof and can be used in exterior areas, or on the outside of building facades. Tile Production Methods Bicottura - It is an Italian word meaning "double fired". The clay body is fired on the first pass through the kiln, and the glaze is applied and fired on the second pass through the kiln. This process is only being used today for decorative wall tile products. Monocottura It is an Italian word meaning, "single fired". The tile passes through the firing process one time at a temperature of 2200 degrees. Monocuttura tiles have denser bodies and harder glazes than Bicottura tiles. White Body Tile versus Red Body Tile The color of the body is determined by the color of the clay used by the manufacturer that is available in their geographic region. Look at the body of the tile to see if the color is red or white. The quality of the tile is more related to the quality of the manufacturer not the color of the body. Wall Tile Trims Bullnose This is the most used trim shape for wall tile installations. Wall tile bullnose is sometimes referred to as surface cap. It has one rounded finished edge on the tile and can be used horizontally or vertically. For a 4" x 4" tile the industry number would be S4449. Corner Bullnose It has two rounded finished edges on the tile to be used to complete the corner where the horizontal and vertical bullnose meet. Generally you use only 2 3 pieces for a bathtub enclosure. For a 4" x 4" tile the industry number would be SN4449. Stack-on Cove Base This cove base provides a coving on the bottom and a flat edge on top to continue with more wall tile up the wall. For a 4" x 4" tile the industry number would be A3401. Rounded Top Cove Base This cove base has a rounded finished top like bullnose and is used as a cove base in areas that will not have wall tile installed above it. The industry number would be S3419. The above trims are the most commonly used. There are many other specialty trims available that will only confuse you. Your tile installer will be able to look at your installation and know what trims will be needed.
EXTERIOR Land Grading Satisfactory___ Low Spots___ Needs Regrading___ Landscaping Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Privacy Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Driveway Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Walkways Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Garage Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Attached___ Detached ___ No. Cars___ Decks Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Patios Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Porches Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Retaining Walls Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Roof (Type) Asphalt Shingles___ Slate___ Tile___ Cedar___ Other___ Roof (Condition) Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Sags___ Roof Leaders & Gutters Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Chimney Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Not Plumb___ Exterior Facades (Type) Wood Siding___ Aluminum Siding___ Vinyl Siding___ Stucco___ Stone___ Brick___ Wood Shingles___ Asbestos Cement Shingles___ Exterior Facades (Condition) Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Bulges___ Exterior Trim Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Windows (Type) Single Glazed___ Double Glazed___ Windows (Condition) Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Exterior Doors Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Comments _______________________________________________________
INTERIOR Ceilings (Type) Sheetrock___ Plaster___ Paneling___ Acoustic Tiles___ Tin ___ Ceilings (Condition) Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Evidence Of Water Damage___ Cracks___ Peeling Paint___ Needs Repainting___ Walls (Type) Sheetrock___ Plaster___ Paneling___ Wallpaper___ Walls (Condition) Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Cracks___ Peeling Paint___ Needs Repainting___ Needs Removal Of Wallpaper___ Needs Removal Of Paneling___ Evidence Of Water Damage_____________ Floors (Type) Hardwood___ Ceramic Tile___ Marble Tile___ Vinyl___ Carpet___ Slate___ Other___ Floors (Condition) Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Squeaks___ Unlevel___ Closets Adequate___ Inadequate___ Window Treatments Included___ Not Included___ Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Built-In Furniture Included___ Not Included___ Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Ceiling Fixtures Included___ Not Included___ Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Doors Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Source Of Heat In Each Room Yes___ No___ Source Of Air-Conditioning In Each Room Yes___ No___ Comments _____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
KITCHEN General Condition Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Needs Remodeling ___ Appliances Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Exclusions ______________________ Cabinets & Counters Adequate___ Inadequate___ Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Pantry Space Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Eat In Kitchen ___ Comments ___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ BATHROOMS Number Full___ Half___ Condition Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Remodel ___ Fixtures Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Faucets Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Cabinets Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Jacuzzi___ Steam Shower___ Wall Tile Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Fiberglass Enclosures Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Re-tile___ Comments ___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ LAUNDRY Condition Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Exclusions______________________ Comments_____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
ATTIC Type Walk-up___ Access Via Hatch___ Room For Storage___ Insulation Adequate___ Inadequate___ Ventilation Adequate___ Inadequate___ Evidence Of Past Water Intrusion No___ Yes (Location)_______________ Roof Structure Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Cracked Structure___ Sags___ Comments ___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
BASEMENT Type Full___ Partial___ Crawl___ Room For Storage___ Foundation Walls Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Cracks___ Bulges___ Basement Structure Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Cracked Structure___ Sags___ Water/Insect Damage___ Evidence Of Past Water Intrusion No___ Yes (Location)_______________ Sump Pump___ Dehumidifier___ Comments ___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Service To House Overhead___ Underground___ Amperage 30___ 60___ 100___ 125___ 150___ 200___ Voltage 110___ 110/220___ Service Panel Circuit Breakers___ Fuses___ Electrical Outlets Adequate___ Inadequate___ Lighting Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Exclusions ________________________ Comments ______________________________________________________ PLUMBING SYSTEM Source Of Water Municipal___ Community___ Private Well___ Private Well Pump, Pressure Tank Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Water Pressure Adequate___ Inadequate___ Domestic Hot Water Source Separate Tank___ Oil Fired___ Gas Fired___ Electric___ Integral With Space Heating System___ Domestic Hot Water Condition Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Aged___ Water Pipes Copper___ Brass___ Steel___ Lead___ Plastic___ Water Pipe Condition Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Leaks___ Asbestos___ Drainage, Waste, Vent Pipes Copper___ Cast Iron___ Steel___ Plastic___ Drainage, Waste, Vent Pipe Condition Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Sanitary Waste Disposal Municipal___ Community___ Private___ Comments ______________________________________________________
HEATING SYSTEM System Type Steam___ Warm Air___ Hot Water___ Hydroaire___ Heat Pump___ Electric Resistance Heaters___ System Fuel Oil___ Natural Gas___ Propane Gas___ Electric___ System Condition Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Aged___ Number Of Systems/Zones 1___ 2___ 3___ 4___ 5___ 6___ Other___ Oil Tank Visible___ Buried___ Piping/Duct Condition Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Leaks___ Duct Condition Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Evidence Of Asbestos Insulation On Pipes/Ducts Yes___ No___ Heating Source Radiators___ Heating Baseboards___ Heating Registers___ Fireplaces Masonry___ Prefabricated___ Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Comments ____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ AIR-CONDITIONING System Type Central___ Window/Wall Units___ System Condition Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Aged___ Number Of Systems/Zones 1___ 2___ 3___ 4___ 5___ 6___ Other___ Duct Condition Good___ Fair___ Poor___ Asbestos___ Comments ____________________________________________________
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||