Some vital parts and roofing terminology of a roof

In this construction article, you will be familiar with various roofing terminology which are integral parts of any roof.

Built-up Roof

A low-slope (or flat-appearing) roof that is wrapped with alterable layers of roofing felt and hot-mapped asphalt and loaded with a layer of gravel.

Cornice

The segment of the roof extended from the side walls of the house. 

Counter flashing

The flashing which is implanted at its top in a wall or other vertical structure is lapped down over shingle flashing. 

Courses

Rows where shingles or tiles are arranged horizontally. 

Deck/sheathing

The surface normally made of plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) where roofing materials are utilized. 

Dormer

A small structure extended from a sloped roof, generally with a window. 

Drip Edge

A strip with L-shaped (generally made of metal) that is set up along roof edges to facilitate water to clear out to drip clear of the deck, eaves and siding. 

Image Source : memphite.com

Eaves

The lower edge of a roof (normally projecting outside the edge of the house). 

Fascia

Trim board located at the backside of the gutter and eaves.

Felt

The "tar paper" applied by roofer, generally formed with a blend of asphalt and either paper or rags. 

Fire Rating

Process for categorizing the fire resistances of different materials. Roofing materials are ranked as Class A, B or C. Class A materials contain the utmost resistance capacity against fire that is developed outer the structure. 

Flashing

Sheet metal or other material which are used at the intersection of various planes on a roof to resist leakage. 

Frieze Board

A Board that is situated at the top of the house's siding, making a corner with the soffit. 

Gable

The upper portion in a triangular shape of a wall that closes the end of a ridged roof. 

Hip

The outward angle at the intersection of two sides of a roof whose supporting walls are attached. 

Joist

A horizontal structural member in a flat roof above which sheathing is nailed.

Louvers

Slatted devices which are arranged in a gable or soffit (the bottom of eaves) to release the space underneath a roof deck and level air temperature and moisture. 

To get more information on other sections of roof, go through the following link.

http://www.srikumar.com/engineering/civil/costruction/roofing/roofing-parts-and-terminology.htm

Some useful methods to make concrete water resistant

To make concrete water resistant, it should be made as very condense dense and does not contain cracks. Concrete can be made condensed with the following ways :-

• Utilize high class portland cement with standard quality.
• Ensure that the grading and proportioning of the sand, aggregate and cement are accurate.
• Utilize clean and non-porous aggregate.
• Apply the exact amount of water for blending all the materials uniformly.
• Be cautious for placing, tamping and curing.
• Apply appropriate water-proofing compound.

The cement concrete to a specific extent may be formed impervious to the water with hydrophobic cement. In the recent time, most of the flat roofs are built up with R.C.C. Therefore, it is essential to arrange some treatment of waterproofing to such roofs.


Process for waterproofing concrete

Given below, some useful processes undertaken for waterproofing of R.C.C. flat roofs:

• Finishing
• Bedding concrete and flooring
• Mastic asphalt and jute cloth
• Use of water-proofing compounds

Image Source : civileblog.com

Finishing

For ordinary buildings which are made with cheap construction, the finishing of roof surface is prepared while placing cement concrete. The finishing of flat roof is accomplished in cement mortar with ratio 1:4 i.e. one part of cement to four parts of sand by volume.

Bedding concrete and flooring

Under this process, the surface of R.C.C. slab is retained rough and a layer of concrete is placed on this surface. The concrete may come in the form of brickbats lime concrete (1:2:4) or brickbats cement concrete (1:8:14). The density of the concrete layer is approx 100mm. The surface of the bedding concrete is made with appropriate flooring like tiles, terrazzo, Indian patent stone, etc. A convex joint is arranged at the meeting point of parapet wall and roof.

Mastic asphalt and jute cloth

Under this method, a layer of hot mastic asphalt is placed on the roof surface. The jute cloth is extended over this layer. Afterwards, another layer of mastic asphalt is utilized to oppress the jute cloth among the two layers of mastic asphalt. The sand is then sprayed over the whole surface of roof. To grip more efficiently, the lead sheets are included at the meeting point of parapet wall and roof.

Apply water resistant compounds

Some of the water resistant compounds like Pudlo, Impermo, are very useful as when these compounds are provided to the cement throughout construction, it resists seepage, leakage and damp resulting from the capillary absorption of the moisture in cement, mortar and concrete. Only 2% of water-proofing compound is required. Therefore, approx 10N of such compound is needed for a bag of cement.

The water-proof compounds come in the powder form and they should be blended comprehensively with cement manually prior to the cement is blended with the aggregate.

Article Source : https://www.onlinecivilforum.com

Types and construction process of Reinforced Concrete Column

Different types of RCC column exist on the basis of their shape, length and forces. Given below, the details of function and construction for these types of column.

Column stands for a vertical member that bears entire load of the beam, slabs and the whole structure. The floor and other portion of the building is modified according to the client’s or owner’s need.


In the structural drawing various information are given which range from the size of the columns, quantity of cement sand and aggregate to be blended, the number of steel bars to be arranged, gapping among the stirrups. The structural designer creates the structural drawing on the basis of the actual load on the column and the factor of safety.

A column stands for a vertical member that efficiently bears load through compression. Mainly, column belongs to a compression member as load delivers along its longitudinal axis. The reason for bending moment is because of wind earthquake or accidental loads.


Column transmits the load of the structure concerning slabs and beams over to underneath, and finally load is transmitted to the soil. The columns should be placed in such a manner so that no tensile stresses form at the cross section of the columns. The position of the columns location should be arranged in such a manner that it gets concealed in the walls partially or fully.

Types of RCC Column

Types of RCC Column depending on the Shapes

• Circular for exposed outside for good architecture view
• Square or rectangular traditional for any structure

Types of RCC Column depending on length

• Short column – if L/B<=12
• Long column – if L/B > 12

Here, L defines the height of the column and B defines width

Usually, floor height remains roughly 3 m or 10 feet, L/B ratio will be under 12, so in most of the cases short column is set. In some situation where height of floor surpasses 3 m or 10 feet, we have to verify L/B ratio so result becomes long or short column. Normally, on long column, more forces can be produced. Therefore, design should be created cautiously.



Types of RCC Column depending on moments

• Biaxial column: Designed for axial load and moment in 2 directions
• Uniaxial columns: Designed for axial load and moment in 1 direction

Usually, in a building corner most columns refer to biaxial columns and side column refers to uniaxial column and internal columns belong to any of these.

Construction Procedures of RCC Columns

Construction of RCC columns includes the following four steps:
• Column layouts
• Column reinforcement work
• Column formwork
• Pouring of concrete

Layout of Columns

Column layouts are accomplished by placing rope in the grid lines and mark the location of columns.

Column Reinforcement

The following checklist is required on the jobsite to facilitate the column reinforcement works:
• Verify the numbers and diameter of vertical bars
• Gapping among vertical bars
• Verify development length that is based on diameter of bar
• Lapping in alternate bars should derive at equivalent height.
• Lapping should not arise with beam or slab.
• Lapping should be at l/3 or 2l/3 of column according to structural notes
• Gapping among stirrups should be according to the drawing
• Hook should be bent perfectly at exact angles.
• Verify the stirrups corner. Vertical bar should appear at perfect angle edge of stirrup exactly bound with binding wire.

To gather more information, click on the following link.
https://theconstructor.org/structural-engg/types-of-rcc-column-construction/13700/

Some useful construction tips to stamp & pour a colored concrete patio

This construction video tutorial from Odell Complete Concrete youtube channel, provides brief information for starting up your next concrete patio project.

In this video tutorial you will learn how to pour and stamp colored concrete toward a concrete patio that is made with Belgium slate texture mats.



The video will demonstrate the normal method for grading exact levels for concrete, forms and placing the concrete down whereas applying all the typical tools in completing the concrete work.



Various steps are associated with stamping concrete which should be executed in quickest possible time. While going to employ a decorative coating or stain to solidified concrete, the whole stamping process should be completed prior to arrange the fresh concrete. To complete the job efficiently, the contractors should be knowledgeable, organized, and well prepared. To deal with the large projects, it is necessary to diagram the stamping layout beforehand, organize the stamping tools and prepare to start the work, and ensure there are sufficient labor at hand for accomplishing the job.



Some vital tips for stamping

• If a new stamp pattern is applied for the first time, it is suggested to use the tools on compacted sand prior to employ them in concrete.
• Get rid of pattern repetition, particularly with patterns that duplicate natural materials like stone or slate. A random composition will appear as more pragmatic.
• To obtain superior result, just precondition or coat your stamp mats with some of the release agent to have extra bond breaking to produce a clean imprint.
• To get a random antiquing outcome, employ a very small amount of powdered release to the surface of the concrete and then spray the liquid release above the top of it. The liquid liquefies the light layer of powder to drop fine accents once the surface is stamped.



• Ensure the release agent is compressed efficiently into the concrete by the stamp so that it can’t be washed off the surface devoid of leaving the required color.
• Occasionally examine the alignment of the stamps each pair of rows with a string line as stamps may shift as much as 1/4 inch per row, specifically on sloped areas.
• On various occasions, you have to stamp up alongside a vertical surface, like a wall or a column. Utilize a floppy mat and texturing to bend or flex up against these surfaces.
• Verify that the person walking on and moving the stamps is wearing clean boots or work shoes without containing any pebbles, mud, or other debris. Unavoidably, these contaminants will turn out on top of the stamps and drop onto the fresh concrete surface while elevating the stamps.
• While utilizing a powdered release, significant time can be saved by sawcutting the contraction joints prior to eliminate the release. It facilitates you to take out the release residue and the dust generated from sawing in one step.

Some useful construction tips to enhance the fire resistance capacity of concrete

The concrete materials with their property provide a significant impact in controlling fire that may occur in a building. In some cases, the temperature of concrete enhances quickly and leads to spalling.

To make the fire resistance capacity of concrete better, the following steps should be undertaken.

• While forming concrete with ordinary Portland cement, the fire is required in excess of 300 degrees Celsius; therefore, most of the crucial properties of concrete will be lost. The concrete can decline its structural performance for a temperature more than 600 degrees Celsius.
• The depth of the feeble region of the concrete will vary from small thickness from millimeters to several centimeters because the fire can raise the temperature of the concrete.
• It is recommended to use high alumina cement to safeguard the refractory linings above the temperature of 1600 degree Celsius. This is considered to retain higher performance in fire. An outstanding resistance to fire is exposed for a temperature exceeding 1000 degree Celsius.

A better performance is ensured with carbonate type aggregates like limestone, lime rock and dolomite. These have good resistance capacity against fire because if these are vulnerable to heat, the calcine will be heated up and will release carbon di oxide. Therefore, heat is essential to sustain such a reaction.

Image Source : precast.org

So, this reaction consumes some heat from the exothermic energy. Those aggregates containing silica provide poor performance in fire. Heat performance is associated with the thermal conductivity of concrete. Therefore, light weight aggregates in concrete is suitable to provide best resistance in fire.

Spalling in concrete because of high temperatures can be minimized by applying polymers or polypropylene monofilament fibers. It is an effective way to enhance the fire resistance capacity of the concrete.



These polymers will dissolve at temperature approx 160 degrees celsius and create channels to allow the consequential water vapors to outflow. This method is useful for minimizing the pore pressures and as a result the risk is decreased for spalling.

Other fruitful alternatives to safeguard the structural system from fire will comprise of the following:

• Applying heat shields coated with intumescent paint
• Spray used with lightweight mortars
• The application of preventive board systems

These are known as passive structural systems which are applied for fire resistance of concrete structures.

Joist – The newest construction app for contractors & estimators

Joist is a useful free construction app that can be applied to generate professional estimate quickly as well as invoices, accept payments, and manage projects from any location.

Joist is compatible with iOS 9.0 or later as well as iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.


Joist is specifically designed for various types of contractors, estimators, general contractors, handymen, electricians, plumbers, builders, landscapers, roofers, painters, carpenters, heating and air conditioning, flooring, siding, tile, concrete, paving, bathroom and kitchen remodeling, renovators, deck builders, drywallers, pest control etc.


Joist provides the following benefits for the contractors :-

• SAVES TIME – Get rid of laborious paper works. Just finish work at the jobsite or in the truck.
• WIN MORE JOBS – A brief estimate can be delivered to your client prior to leave the jobsite. Quickly submit your bid and win more jobs.
• ELIMINATE THE OBSTACLES OF ESTIMATING & INVOICING - Generate estimates and invoices instantly by producing and choosing from your list of frequently applied materials and labor rates.
• ACCEPT PAYMENTS FROM CLIENTS – Joist allows to receive Credit Card and E-Check payments from your clients directly. So, you can avoid time consuming offline transactions.
• HANDLE CLIENTS EFFICIENTLY - Make, arrange, and preserve worthy client info and avail their info anytime and anywhere.

Joist comes with following exclusive features :-

- Personalize your estimates & invoices with your company info, logo, etc.
- Assign a client contract and get a signature directly on the spot
- Accept Credit Card and E-Check Payments directly via the app
- Form a list of generally employed items/services/materials
- Include photos to your estimates and invoices
- View estimates & invoices prior to dispatch them
- Print or email estimates & invoices on the spot
- Produce a personal message for your clients
- Transform estimates into invoices
- Monitor customer payments and how much is overdue
- Arrange and save your clients information
- Fix your tax rates
- Export everything into your accounting program (curtail bookkeeping costs)

For more information, go through the following link.
www.joistapp.com

Benefits of sumps and ditches for Dewatering of Excavations

The use of sumps and ditches inside an excavation is one of the basis systems of dewatering found in construction. The water that goes into these installed units can be drained.

The general method of dewatering with sumps and ditches is demonstrated below.

The sump is situated under the ground level of the excavation at one or various corners or the sides. The method consists of the cutting of a small ditch close to the bottom of the excavation, that is dropping towards the sump.

The sump is titled for the shallow pits which are excavated along the boundary of the excavation or the drainage area. It is called as ditches. Due to the action of gravity, the water will pour to the sumps from the slopes. The sumps preserve the water and drenched later on.

Adequate amount of seepage can lead to raveling or sloughing or softening of the slope in the lower part. The slump bottom may depend on piping.

To get rid of the issue mentioned above, inverted filter, that contains various filters, should be utilized. It contains coarser material in successive layers from the bottom of the sump pit to the ascendant direction.


This easy-to-follow method is applied for dewatering shallow excavations containing coarse grained soils or the soils which have permeability in excess of 10-3 cm/sec.

Benefits of Sumps and Ditches

Given below, the benefits of Sumps and Ditches:

• The method is mostly utilized. It is suitable for small depth lowering.
• This method is very cost-effective amid various dewatering systems with regards to the installation and the maintenance methods.
• This method is useful for most of the soil and rock conditions.
• This method is recommended for the site where boulders or massive obstructions are found inside the ground.
• The highest depth up to which the water table is reduced by this method is 8m

To get more information, click on the following link.
https://theconstructor.org/construction/sumps-ditches-dewatering-excavations/17515/

Extensive lists of free estimating, contract administration and specifications templates are available to download

Given below, an extensive lists of Building Templates which can be downloaded at free of cost and applied for our personal application. Explore through a wide array of estimating, contract administration and specifications templates. Utilize and customize the templates according to your choices.

Residential House Building Template

Download the residential Building Estimating template available in excel format. Adjust as per your requirement to suit with your particular project.

Click on the following link to download it.
http://organizedbuilders.com/Excel-Building-Costing-Templates/Residential-House-Building-Template



Light Commercial Building Estimate Template

Download Light Commercial Building Estimating template at free of cost. It is available in excel format. This template is related with each Trade, Material & Supplier.

To download, click on the following link.
http://organizedbuilders.com/Excel-Building-Costing-Templates/Light-Commercial-Building-Estimate-Template


Development Feasibility Template

Download Feasibility Study template available in excel at free of cost. This template highlights the related costs in developing a project.

To download, click on the following link.
http://organizedbuilders.com/Excel-Building-Costing-Templates/Development-Feasibility-Template

Construction Estimating Template

Waffle slab on ground takeoff sheet

Download Waffle slab on ground takeoff sheet available in excel for format to suit your specific project.

Download it form the following link.
http://organizedbuilders.com/Excel-Building-Costing-Templates/Waffle-slab-on-ground-takeoff-sheet

Single storey stumps and bearers takeoff sheet

Download the Single storey stumps and bearers takeoff sheet available in excel format at free of cost.

To download, click on the following link.
http://organizedbuilders.com/Excel-Building-Costing-Templates/Single-storey-stumps-and-bearers-takeoff-sheet

Single storey frame takeoff sheet

Download the Single storey frame takeoff sheet available in excel format at free of cost.

Click on the following link to download it.
http://organizedbuilders.com/Excel-Building-Costing-Templates/Single-storey-frame-takeoff-sheet

Fixing takeoff sheet

Download Fixing takeoff sheet accessible in excel format at free of cost.

Click on the following link to download it.
http://organizedbuilders.com/Excel-Building-Costing-Templates/Fixing-takeoff-sheet

Customary slab on ground takeoff sheet

Download customary slab on ground takeoff sheet available in excel format at free of cost.

To download, click on the following link.
http://organizedbuilders.com/Excel-Building-Costing-Templates/Conventional-slab-on-ground-takeoff-sheet

Brickwork Takeoff Sheet

Download the Brickwork Takeoff Sheet available in excel format at free of cost.

To download it, click on the following link.
http://organizedbuilders.com/Excel-Building-Costing-Templates/Brickwork-Takeoff-Sheet

Bill of Quantities Summary (Databuild)

A sample copy of a Bill of Quantities Summary is available to download at free of cost to evaluate a building summary that is developed in Databuild. Databuild is the most recognized Builders Estimating Software program in Australia specifically created for the building & construction industries.

To download, click on the following link.
http://organizedbuilders.com/Building-Costing-Templates/Databuild-Bill-of-Quantities-Summary

Bill of Quantities (Databuild)

A sample copy of Purchase orders is available to download. It is adjustable to accommodate your building business.

To download, click on the following link.
http://organizedbuilders.com/Building-Costing-Templates/Databuild-Bill-of-Quantities

Fieldwire – The powerful mobile based construction app for contractors & engineers

Fieldwire is the newest construction app for the construction professionals. It is specifically designed for foremen, supers, and engineers to distribute drawings, files and RFIs devoid of exiting from the jobsite.  This blueprint based app is rapid, free, and performs in offline also.


This allows the construction professionals to include indefinite drawings to the mobile plan viewer. Each one is accessible to the entire team to observe via the field app or the web based construction management software.

The users will be able to update their blueprints in the jobsite with markups, annotations, and hyperlinks. It is considered as one of the best apps for contractors due to its capability to generate as-built drawings on the fly.


Material take-offs can be accomplished directly in Fieldwire without requiring various construction estimating apps.

Mobile Construction App

The app can perform as a blueprint, punch list and construction management software all at the same time.



Instantly generate and assign tasks. The app is compatible with iPhone or Android and the contractors will be able to view their tasks and report development perfectly at each phase of project.

The app offers the search tool to quickly locate all construction floor plans, files, and project tasks to keep the work continued.

Fieldwire is directly connected with a wide array of software suites to upload files efficiently. Apply Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, Excel and more to upload drawings, documents, and project files into Fieldwire with some simple clicks of mouse.

To download the app, click on the following link.
http://www.fieldwire.com/

Some useful construction tips to estimate your drywall work

The process is very complicated for quantity take-off  and estimating of drywall works. Given below, some easy-to-follow steps to make the process uncomplicated.

Calculate the Square Footage

Calculate the total square footage of the area in which portion the drywall will be set up. While setting up drywall in walls, the width & height should be multiplied for each wall or ceiling where drywall is going to be set up. Create a spreadsheet categorizing all walls or ceiling sections and sum up all the quantities.

Measure Drywall Boards



Work out how many drywall boards are required. Once all areas are summed up, divide them with 32, if a board having 4 x 8 dimension is utilized, or with 48 if the dimension is 4 x 12, based on the size of drywall that should be set up. It will help you to obtain the numbers of boards necessary for installation. In order to find out the cost, just multiply the total amount of boards needed with the price of each drywall sheet. Don’t forget to include local taxes and delivery charges.



Compute Drywall Tape

Follow these steps to compute the quantities of drywall tape. As you get the number of required drywall sheets, multiply them with the periphery of the drywall board to ascertain the linear feet of joint tape for the drywall. The produced result shows the total amount of linear feet for the project, and it should be divided by 500 to get the total amount of linear feet a roll of joint tape includes. After getting the necessary quantities of rolls of drywall tape, multiply with the cost of each roll.


Workout Joint Compound
To find out the necessary number of ready mixed joint compound , divide the area with 400. Multiply the number of buckets with the separate price of each bucket to detect the cost. Another useful method is to divide the area where drywall is set up by 200. The produced result will be the quantity of gallons of required joint compound.

Calculate Drywall Screws
While calculating drywall, you should have clear idea on the quantities of screws to be needed. To find out the pounds of screws, just divide the square footage of drywall with 300. It shows the required pounds of 1-1/4 inch drywall screws. Usually, you require about 5-6 pounds of nails for each 1000 square-foot, on the basis of how the drywall is going to set up. Alternatively you can find out the total area and divided with 1,000 and then multiply with 5 ¼.

Measure Corner Beads
For corner bead, include the length of all exterior corners. Corner beads are generally available in 8 and 10 foot sections, so the total amount of corner beads will comprise of the total amount of outside corners where drywall should be set up. Sum the entire linear feet of soffits and buy a similar amount of corner bead.



Compute Drywall Miscellaneous

It is suggested to consider waste removal costs, protecting finished areas, worker’s compensation insurance, permit fees, liability insurances, cleaning activities, small tools, and sand paper and installation costs. These costs may fluctuate in various locations. Lastly, include your markup for profit and overhead. Small companies can fix among 15 to 20 percent, while other companies can fix among 10 to 20 percent, based on location, size and other factors which can change your quote.

Calculate Drywall Additional

Other components which are inherent part of a drywall and should also be included in your calculation. These items range from drywall hammers, tape measure, drywall rasp, metal cutters (straight cut, razor knife, pipehole knocker (preferably copper pipe), chalk line, T-square, router (optional), screw gun, drywall horse, kicker bar (for jacking up bottom sheets on the walls).


Article Source : www.thebalance.com