It is important (and required in most cases) to cover exposed foamed plastic insulation, be it site-applied, or purchased in sheets. This is because foam is extremely combustible, and if left uncovered presents a fire risk. That’s why the National Building Code mandates that exposed foam…
In the world of commercial construction, fire separations are a major construction element. That doesn’t mean that a reasonably skilled carpenter or builder can’t create fire separations if needed, but a little extra knowledge, care and attention is required. What’s a fire separation? Simply put,…
There are many reasons why one may wish to build a wheelchair ramp, but regardless of the reason, the intent is clear: make it easy for someone with a mobility challenge to access a building. For this reason, there are requirements in the National Building…
Although there are all kinds of styles of roofing styles and subystems (mansard, gambrel, gable, gable dormer, barn dormer), in the end, when it comes to most residential roofs, there are just two kinds of systems: rafters and trusses. The two systems have similarities –…
For the most part, the National Building Code isn't that concerned about the size of windows - except for bedrooms. The National Building Code mandates that bedroom windows have at least .35 square metres of area, with no dimension smaller than 38 cm, when the…