Building Links: Table of Contents


General	Foundation	Mediation/Conflict

Framing	Windows	Lumber

Roofs	Inspections	Masonry Fireplace

Wall Covering	Firestopping/Penetration	Insulation/Vapor Barrier

Earthquakes	Hurricanes	Environmental

Handicap Accessibility	Safety, Fire Codes	Fire Doors

Alternate Materials	Energy Efficient

General

b4uBuild Large directory of homebuilding resources
About Constuction About.com is a human assisted search engine
Arquitectura. La mejor dirección en Español para los amantes de la Arquitectura.
AECinfo Architecture/Engineering/Construstion. Deep sight with some forums
Conversion Calculators Metric-Feet, etc.
Building Codes, Why? History and rationale from ICC
misc.consumers.house Archive of postings from an active newsgroup.
Building Oracle Commercial code checklists. Very useful info. for architects and contractors.
Buildnet Massive site. Links to all aspects of construction.
Codes, codes, codes a short history and listing of the many building code organizations from the American Wood Council
Constuction Site This is a no frills, content rich site.
Green Construction Resources Environmentally friendly materials. Oikos
Ownerbuilder.com Guide to self contracting for the Owner Builder
Homeowners Education Association a distributor of books related to residential construction guidelines and home maintenance guidelines.
Housenet.com Home improvement information online since 1991. Gene and Katie Hamilton
Construction Information Source Broad spectrum of construction links. From bathrooms to bridges.
Day in the Life of a Building Inspector by Redwood Kardon
Structural Engineering links Structural Engineers Association of California
Specs-Online Specified products for commercial and industrial construction.
Wise Construction Outstanding resource for all kinds of construction.

Inspections

American Society of Home Inspectors
Association of Construction Inspectors
FAQ's Home Inspection & How to's from Sound Home Consultant. Well organized content rich site.
Roofs: Common Violations RC Lichy, grizzled veteran of the weather wars lists his top six.
Sequence of Inspections as set down in the Uniform Building Code

Experts

Arbitration, Mediation and Disputes Project going south? Start here. Great sources of information from FindLaw.com
Consultants This is a listing of expert witnesses and consultants.

Foundation

Alternative Builidng Forms Specially manufactured building types & products.
Connectors/Hardware from Simpson Strongtie Corp.
Builders Foundation Handbook prepared for the U.S. Departmet of Energy
Conservation and Renewable Energy

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Framing

Bibliography of wood framing design.
TrimJoist Product information.
Trus Joist Product information.
Residential Steel Framing Manual Builder's Guide to Fire and Acoustic Details.
Connectors/Hardware from Simpson Strongtie Corp.

Lumber

Lumber American Wood Council provides help on framing questions.
Plywood Sheathing What's in a label?

Roofs (code issues)

Truss Installation Trus Joist
Attic Ventilation by B. R. Stewart Texas A&M University
Ice Dams, Damn! Oak Ridge National Laboratory has remedy.
Attic Ventilation Newsgroup response
Roofs: Common Violations RC Lichy is an experienced veteran of the weather wars lists his top six.
Venting Flat Roofs and Cathedral Ceilings Q&A
General Information RoofingNet Information Center
Shingle Installation Tips from APA
Roof and Attic Ventilation Roll Vent Ventillation Systems. Some good background material from Benjamin Obdyke Incorporated

Windows

R- and U- Values: Unraveling the Mystery from Paul Bianchina from DoItYourself.com
Window Types & Design Product information from Door&Window.com
Window Glazing , multiple panes of glass, gas fillings, and high-tech, heat-sensitive coatings, a basic guide from This Old House.
Windows & Daylighting for energy efficiency, design, specification and installation from the Department of Energy "Selecting Windows" PDF
Choosing Energy-efficient Windows information on the best type and design of windows for your home from the Efficient Windows collaborative.

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Masonry Fireplace

Code Development Various organizations are re-writing the fireplace codes
Clay Flue Installation A New Standard for ASTM Clay Flue Installation C-1283 by Todd McClave and Jim Buckley
Flue Sizes Explained The Mystery of Flue Sizing Fully Explained by Jim Buckley
Gas Flues...and Masonry Chimneys by Jim Buckley
Chimneys & Earthquakes From an article about reinforced masonry buildings published in Earthquake Spectra Magazine

For non-masonry fireplaces (see Mechanical Section)

Wall Covering

Drywall Helpful tips from Denver Building Department
Gypsum Construction Handbook a thorough coverage of proficient construction procedures for gypsum, drywall, veneer plaster, cement board, and conventional plaster construction.
Stucco How to apply over wood.

Firestopping

Terms, UL Listings Specs & References with UBC excerpts
Achim Hering Not the slickest site but full of valuable information.
Firestopping vs. Fireblocking explaining the difference
Q & A Firestopping Questions about pipe and cable penetrations.

Insulation

Insulation Fact Sheet latest version from the Department of Energy
Tyvek weather-resistant building wrapping instructions & examples
Vapor Barrier and House Wrap Newsgroup discussions
Insulation Article by Don Vandervort Code issues

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Earthquakes

Earthquake Code Compliance Manual For sale
Safer Structures USGS site.
Homeowners Guide to Earthquake Safey most recent California Seismic Safety Commission publication (2002).
Earthquake Wood Products APA(Engineered Wood Association) design suggestions.
Connectors/Hardware from Simpson Strongtie Corp
Earthquake Resistance Manual and Hardware Loos & Co.Inc.
Emergency Preparedness Information Center Epicenter.com

Hurricanes

Shutter Designs from APA(Engineered Wood Association)
Connectors/Hardware from Simpson Strongtie Corp.

Environmental Issues

Radon Radon.com is a good place to start.
Cancer Risks Get scared
Formaldehyde from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Limited.
Carbon Monoxide from the Hanford Fire Dept. for the US Dept. of Energy.
Radon EPA Citizen Guide to Radon
Indoor Air Quality Latest news and hot topics concering our indoor breathing
Green Building Resource Guide is a database of over 600 green building materials and products.
Green Construction Resources Environmentally friendly materials. Oikos
Stem Grease Q & A , Pipe Dope Healthy or not?
Asbestos Pipe Wrap Q_A_To Remove or Not To Remove
Asbestos in Building Materials Q_A_

Alternate Methods

Straw Bale Codes requirements for California
Staw Bale Construction Background articles from U.S. Dept. of Energy

Energy Efficiency

California Title 24 Model energy code.
Federal Energy Management Program Aeral Building Managers, Architects, and Engineers
Renewable Energy Educational links from the US Dept. of Energy
Electrical Energy Sources from Encyclopedia.com
Energy Efficiency and Design Energy Efficient Buildlng Association
Photo Voltaic Roof Shingles once a nutty idea, now a reality.
Renewable Energy Policy Project Center for Renewable Energy & Sustainable Technology, we may be saved yet!

Safety and Security

Tool Safety Ben Meadows company has some good advice
Fire Codes website of the NFPA, the folks who write the codes.
Consumer Product Incident Report Report a dangerous product.
Home Safety thorough subjects from the Home Safety Council
Safety Organizations Extensive list of links.
Fire Safety, Links to important articles and relevant organizations
Fire Doors proper usage and implementation from the National Institues of Health.