NEWSLETTER #228
HOUSE-N-HOME PLANS.com 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.
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