Preface

xi

Acknowledgments

xi

PART ONE

CONTEXT

1

1

The Context for Construction

2

A Building Culture

7

Construction Systems

9

Types of Residential Development

11

Zoning Ordinances, Building Codes, and Other Legal Constraints

17

Building Costs and Financing

18

Environmental Responsibility: Building Green

21

Building a House: The Typical Process

23

2

The Construction Community: Builders, Contractors, and Developers

30

History

32

Builders and Contractors

33

Obtaining Work

38

The Residential Developer

40

Training the Construction Community

45

Green Builders, Contractors, and Developers

47

3

The Design Community

50

History

52

Residential Designers

53

Consultants

55

The Design Process

56

Design Sources

63

Communication Between Designer and Builder

65

Green Designers

68

PART TWO

MATERIALS

71

4

The Material Wood

72

Trees

74

Lumber

78

Wood Products

88

Chemical Treatment

99

Wood Fasteners

100

Wood-Manufactured Building Components

106

Types of Wood Construction

106

Building Green with Wood

106

5

Masonry

110

History

112

Mortar

115

Concrete Masonry

116

Brick Masonry

126

Stone Masonry

138

Other Types of Masonry Units

142

Special Problems of Masonry Construction

143

Building Green with Masonry

145

6

Concrete

148

History

150

Cement and Concrete

151

Making and Placing Concrete

154

Formwork

158

Reinforcing

158

ACI 301

165

Building Green with Concrete

165

PART THREE

WOOD LIGHT FRAME CONSTRUCTION

169

7

Rough Sitework

170

Design Considerations

172

Organizing the Site for Construction

173

Site Preparation

173

Excavation

175

Site Utilities

176

Surface Water Drainage

181

Grading

184

Green Practices for Rough Sitework

186

8

Foundations

190

Foundation Loads

192

Foundation Settlement

192

Soils

193

Designing Foundations

195

Footings

198

Concrete Foundation Walls

201

Concrete Masonry Foundation Walls

204

Concrete Slab Foundations

206

Wood Foundations

210

Precast Concrete Foundations

212

Anchor Bolts and Hold-Downs

212

Drainage and Waterproofing

212

Foundation Insulation

215

Backfilling

216

Foundation Design and the Building Codes

216

9

Floor and Wall Framing

218

History

220

The Platform Frame

220

Building the Frame

222

10

Roof Framing

248

History

250

Roof Types and Parts

251

Building the Roof

253

Wood Framing and the Building Codes

271

The Uniqueness of Wood Light Frame Construction

272

Building Green with Wood Framing

274

11

Finishing the Roof

276

Preparation for Roofing

278

Roof Slope

280

Steep Roofs

281

Low-Slope Roofs

293

Roof Edge Details

298

Roof Drainage

301

Roofing and the Building Codes

303

Building Green with Roofing

304

12

Windows and Exterior Doors

306

Windows

308

Exterior Doors

320

Building Green with Windows and Doors

325

13

Finishing the Exterior Walls

328

The Weather Barrier Membrane

331

Exterior Trim

333

Siding

334

Exterior Paints and Coatings

344

Ladders and Scaffolds

348

Building Green at the Exterior Walls

350

14

Plumbing

352

Plumbing Basics

354

Planning for Pipes

358

Rough-in Plumbing

359

Finish Plumbing

362

Plumbing Codes

362

Other Piping Systems

363

Building Green With

Plumbing Systems

366

15

Heating and Cooling

370

Choosing a System

372

Forced-Air Systems

374

Radiant Panel Systems

380

Hydronic Heating Systems

384

Local Source Heaters

385

Finishing a Heating/Cooling System

388

Heating and Cooling Systems and the Building Codes

388

Green Strategies for Heating and Cooling Buildings

388

16

Electrical Wiring

392

Wiring Basics

394

Electrical System Design

400

Rough-In Electrical Installation

402

Finish Electrical

404

Electrical Wiring and the Building Codes

405

Low-Voltage Wiring

405

Building Green with Electrical Systems

406

17

Thermal Insulation

408

The Thermal Envelope and Its Components

411

Thermal Insulation Materials

415

How Much Insulation?

420

Installation of Insulation

420

Control of Water Vapor

422

Ventilation of Cavities

424

Control of Air Infiltration

428

Building Green with Thermal Insulation

430

18

Fireplaces and Stoves

434

Selecting a Fireplace

437

Planning for Fireplace Construction

438

The Masonry Fireplace

438

Factory-Built Fireplaces

448

Freestanding Stoves

451

Fireplaces and the Building Codes

452

How Green are Fireplaces and Stoves?

454

19

Interior Surfaces

456

Wall and Ceiling Finish

458

Finish Flooring

465

Building Green with Gypsum Products

472

20

Finishing the Interior

474

Interior Doors

476

Cabinets

479

Finish Carpentry and Trim

486

Paints and Coatings

493

Building Green with Paints and Coatings

494

21

Finish Sitework

496

Paving Systems

498

Level Changes

501

Porches and Decks

505

Finish Grading

506

Fencing

507

Outdoor Lighting

509

Irrigation

510

Planting

511

Green Considerations in Finish Sitework

512

PART FOUR

ALTERNATIVE CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS

515

22

Multifamily Construction

516

History

518

Special Issues

521

Foundations

521

Framing

530

Acoustical Separation

533

Fire Protection

533

Systems

536

Accessibility

539

Site Management

540

Green Issues for Multifamily Housing

541

23

Low-Tech, Low-Energy Construction

546

Earthen Construction

548

Stacked Log Construction

556

Straw Bale Construction

562

The “Greenness” of Earth, Logs, and Bales

571

24

Loadbearing Masonry and Concrete Construction

574

Loadbearing Masonry

576

Insulating Concrete Forms

582

25

Timber Frame Construction

592

The Uniqueness of the Timber Frame

595

Materials and Structure of the Timber Frame

596

Building a Timber Frame House

600

Timber Framing and the Building Codes

606

Building Green with Heavy Timber

606

26

Light-Gauge Steel Construction

608

Light-Gauge Steel Frame Construction

610

Building Green with Steel Framing

620

27

Panelized Construction

622

The Concept of Panelized Construction

624

Types of Panels

625

Framed Panel Systems

626

Structural Insulated Panels

630

Glossary

643

Index

669