Builder's Guide to Room Additions
How To Solve Problems Unique to Building Additions such as Basement Conversions, Attic Conversions, Footings, Foundations & Slabs

Table of Contents | Preview A Chapter

by Jack P. Jones

How to tackle problems unique to room additions, such as requirements for basement conversions, reinforcing ceiling joists for second-story conversions, handling problems in attic conversions, and what's required for footings, foundations and slabs.

Explains how to design the best bathroom for the space. Even covers how to handle upgrades to electrical work in additions. Besides actual construction techniques, you'll find help in planning and designing and estimating room additions.

Building room additions and conversions is a multi-billion-dollar business every year. If you're already experienced in home building, you have the skills you need to succeed in this lucrative niche of the construction field. But it takes more than knowing how to frame straight and true. This manual shows you how to tackle items that are unique to room additions - like what is required for basement conversions, how to best box around unsightly beams and joists, methods of reinforcing ceiling joists for second-story conversions, requirements for bathroom additions, and how to complete attic conversions.

Each job you take will have its challenges. And the greater the challenge, the better your profit potential. The trick is to identify problems and solve them before they dissolve your profit and erode your reputation. This book covers the problems you're likely to run into when converting basements, attics, garages, and adding rooms to existing houses - from the footings to the roof.

Here you'll find how to build just about every item needed in constructing room additions:

• What's required for footings, foundations and slabs
• How to plan floor, wall and ceiling framing
• How to design and construct basement, attic, and main floor stairs
• How to install sheathing and roofing
• How to install interior and exterior finishes
• How to design the best bathroom for the space
• What's required in installing fireplaces and chimneys
• How to tackle electrical work in additions

And there's more. Besides the actual construction, you'll find help in designing, planning and estimating your jobs. Manhour charts, based on actual jobs the author has encountered in his long career, are provided for each part of the addition or conversion. They should improve the accuracy of your cost estimates, so you're sure you'll make a good profit, even on work you've never tackled before.

Finally, there's a chapter on making a business plan, with advice on marketing, financing, hiring and record-keeping. If you're thinking of taking on room additions and conversions, you can't afford to be without this complete guide.

Jack P. Jones has been building and remodeling homes for over 25 years. He's a skilled carpenter, plumber, mason and electrician. He's handled all types of residential and light commercial jobs, from minor remodels and add-ons to building highly-profitable spec homes. When housing prices and high interest rates forced many growing families to increase the living space in their current home rather than buy a larger house, Mr. Jones turned their need into a successful niche for himself. In this manual, his sixth for the construction industry, he shows exactly how to add quality living space to just about any home, in almost any price range.

Contents:

Chapter 1
Starting Out, 5

Selling to and Satisfying the Homeowner, 5
Designing and Sizing an Addition, 6
Adding to an Existing Structure, 8
Measuring Major Components, 9
Demolition, 9
The Importance of Paperwork, 10

Chapter 2
Footings, Foundations and Stabs, 29

Staking Out an Addition, 29
Planning the Footings, 32
Treated Wood Foundations, 34
Masonry and Concrete Foundations, 37
Concrete Slab Construction, 38
Estimating Manhours and Materials, 41

Chapter 3
Basement Conversion and Construction, 43

Can the Basement Be Converted? 43
Designing a Basement Conversion, 45
Providing Windows for Basement Conversions, 50
Estimating Basement Conversions, 54
Designing and Building a Basement for an Addition, 55
Excavation, 55
Basement Footings, 58
Pouring Concrete Slab Basement Floors, 58
How to Construct Concrete Block Walls, 60
Waterproofing Basement Walls, 62
Installing a Drainage System, 64
Estimating Block Walls, 64

Chapter 4
Floor Framing, 67

Floor Joists, 68
Floor Framing Techniques, 68
Girders, 70
Subflooring, 83
Estimating Materials, 86
Estimating Manhours, 89

Chapter 5
Wall Framing, 91

Modem Braced Framing (MBF), 91
Western (or Platform) Framing (WF), 93
Balloon Framing (BF), 94
Plank and Beam Framing (P&B), 97
Comer Posts 98
Constructing End and Interior Walls, 100
How to Frame Doors and Windows, 102
Window Types and How to Install Them, 104
Trusses, 108
Estimating Studs, 108
Estimating Manhours for Studding, 111

Chapter 6
Ceiling and Roof Framing, 113

The Ceiling Joists, 113
Post and Beam Framing, 116
Planning the Roof, 116
Start with Roof Pitch, 120
Pitched Roof Construction, 125
Hip Roof Construction, 126
Valleys and Dormers, 127
Calculating Rafter Length, 128
Calculating the Cuts on Rafters, 130
Cutting the Rafter, 133
Applying the Roof Sheathing, 134
Estimating Materials and Manhours, 136

Chapter 7
Easy Steps to Stair Construction, 139

Stairway Code Requirements, 142
Figuring the Tread Width and Riser Height, 143
Laying Out the Stair Carriage, 144
Framing a Stairway Opening, 144
Building Stairs , 149
Estimating Materials and Manhours, 150

Chapter 8
Modular Construction, 153

Planning for Modular Construction, 154
Floor Framing, 156
Planning Exterior Wall Framing, 158
Where to Locate Openings and Intersections, 161
Framing Nonbearing Walls, 161
Estimating Studding Requirements, 163

Chapter 9
Sheathing, Roofi2g, and Cornices, 165

Installing Roof Sheathing, 165
Installing Roof Coverings, 167
Flashing a Valley, 172
Flashing at Chimneys, 174
Laying Wood Shingles and Shakes, 176
Material and Manhour Estimates for Roofing Materials, 178
Types of Cornices, 181
Basic Cornice Construction, 187
Estimating Manhours for Cornice Trim Work, 188

Chapter 10
Finishing Werior Walls, 191

Brick Veneer Construction, 191
Estimating Masonry Materials, 195
Wood and Manufactured Wood Siding, 196
Plywood Siding, 197
Hardboard Siding, 199
Wood Siding, 206
How to Make a Material Transition, 208
How to Finish Installed Siding, 209
Estimating Siding Labor and Materials, 209

Chapter 11
Finishing Walls and Ceilings, 211

Hanging Drywall, 211
How to "Mud" and Tape Joints on Drywall, 215
Backerboard Gypsum Wallboard, 216
Paneling, 217
Trim, 218
Estimating Wallboard Material and Labor, 219
Estimating Trim Materials and Labor, 223

Chapter 12
Finish Floor Coverings, 225

Wood Flooring, 225
Sheet Vinyl Flooring, 227
Installing Vinyl Tile, 233
Carpeting, 237
Estimating Materials and Manhours, 237

Chapter 13
Building the Bathroom, 239

Designing a Bathroom for a Small Space, 239
Pick Components to Fit the Design, 241
Bathtubs, 244
Installing a Shower, 250
Toilets and Bidets, 255
Lavatories and Vanities, 259
Second-Story Bathrooms, 263
Bathroom Wall and Floor Coverings, 264
Estimating Manhours, 264

Chapter 14
Attic Conversions, 265

Design Considerations for an Attic Conversion, 266
Adding Floor Joists, 272
Installing Knee Walls, 275
Subflooring an Attic, 277
Attic Partition Walls and Rafter Collar Beams, 277
Working Around Obstructions in an Attic, 278
Dormer Construction, 280
Installing Skylights, 282
Adding a Second-Story Loft, 287
Estimating Manhours, 291

Chapter 15
Building Fireplaces and Chimneys, 293

Masonry Fireplace Design, 293
Types of Fireplaces, 294
How to Construct a Residential Fireplace, 297
Chimney Construction, 302
Estimating Materials and Manhours, 303

Chapter 16
Electrical Work in Residential Additions, 305

Volts, Amperes and Watts, 305
Wire Size and Capacity, 306
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), 307
Guidelines for Residential Wiring, 307
Expanding an Electrical System, 307
Manhours for Electrical Wiring, 316

Chapter 17
Finishing with Paint and Wallpaper, 321

How to Use Color and Texture, 321
Paint Properties, 322
Painting Tips for Exterior Painting, 323
Painting Interior Walls and Ceilings, 325
Painting Windows and Doors, 325
Estimating Manhours and Materials, 326
Hanging Wallpaper, 328

Chapter 18
Making a Business Plan, 329

Creating Your Business Plan, 330
Planning Effective Sales and Advertising, 332
Planning the Work, 335
Organization, 336
Bonding, Personnel and Equipment Requirements, 336
Financial Planning, 339
Putting Your Plan into Action, 342
Building Your Management Ability, 343
Management Tips, 343
How to Build a Strong Company, 344
Keeping Records, 344
Summary, 345

Index, 346

352 Pages, 8-1/2 x 11

Table of Contents | Preview A Chapter