|
|
|
 View More Services
 |
| The information provided should be applicable to most residential situations. Construction products continually change,
but design and construction fundamentals remain consistent. The following represents construction 'guiding principles'
according to American Dream Consulting. |
|
  |
The foundation of a building is the most critical link to the structural loads and the ground. The buildings foundation must distribute
vertical loads so that the settlement of the building is equal under all it's parts. It also anchors the building against uplifting and racking due
to forces of nature. The soil of which the building loads are distributed are the most critical factor in determining the foundation system. Some types of
foundation systems typically consist of columns, piers, walls which rest on footings. Footings for residential and other light structures can useually be estimated by the following
formula when they bear on stable soil.
Footing supporting foundation walls:
Width(W) = 2 x thickness of the foundation wall.
Thickness(T) = thickness of the foundation wall.
When bearing on poor soil or designing for heavy loads or sloping sites, the soil should be tested and an structural engineer should be part of the design
to determine type and size of the foundation system.
View Foundation
View Beam and Column System |
|
 |
Floor systems are the building's primary horizontal planes which must support both live and dead loads, ie people and furnishings for live loads and
the weight of the floor construction itself for the dead loads. The floor system must transfer their loads horizontally across
space to either beams or columns or to a bearing wall. A floor ayatem may be composed of a series of linear beams and joists overlaid
with sheathing or decking. The depth of a floor system is directly related to the size and proportion of the building bays it must span and the strength
of the materials used. A floor systems edge conditions and connections to supporting foundation and wall systems affect both a building's structural
integrity and it's physical appearance.
View Floor System
View Floor Joist Span Chart
View Bridging Systems |
|
 |
Wall systems are the vertical planes of a building which define and enclose it's interior space. They may be
bearing or non bearing walls. How these walls support floor and or roof systems above, and how they are supported by wall and
foundation systems below, are determined by the structural compatibility of these systems and the type of materials and connections used.
Exterior walls servive as a protective shield against the elements. Their construction should control the passage of heat and cold, air, moisture, and water
vapor. The exterior skin, which may either be applied to, or intergrated with the wall structure, should be durable and resistant to the weathering effects
of the sun, wind, and rain.
Interior walls which subdivide the space within a building may be nonstructural or load bearing. Their construction should be able to support the desired
finish materials, provide the required degree of acoustical seperation, and accommodate when necessary runs of mechanical and electrical lines. The size and
location of door and window openings in a wall are determined by the requirements for natural light, ventilation, view, and physical acces. These openings must be
constructed so that any vertical loads are distributed around the openings and not transferred to the door and window units themselves.
View Wall System |
|
 |
The roof system functions as the primary sheltering element for the interior spaces of a building. It's form and construction
should control the flow of water as well as the passage of water, air, heat and cold. Like floor systems, a roof must be structures to span across
space and carry both it's own weight and live loads such as wind, rain, and snow. The gravity loads for a building begin with the roof system. It's structural
layout must therefore correspond to that of the wall system though which its loads are transferred down to the foundation system. The form of a roof
system whether flat, sloped, gable, or hipped has a vital impact on a building's visual image. How a roof form is structured, in turn, affects the choice
of roofing materials used. Long roof spans would open up a more flexible interior space, while shorter spans might suggest more defined space.
View Gable Roof
View Gable Dormer Roof
View Hip Roof |
|
 |
Stairs provide means for vertical movement between stories of a building. Whether punctuating a two-story volume of space or rising through a narrow
shaft of space, a stairway takes up a lot of space. A stair's landing should be logically intergrated with a building's
structural system to avoid overly complicated framing. Safety and ease of travel are probably the most important considerations
in the design and placement of the stairs.
View Riser Tread Dimensions
View Stair Terms and Formula |
|
 |
Please consult your local building department for the proper building permits and codes |
|
| |