Stronger Walls in One Easy Step

Increased incidence of strong weather systems and the tragedies that follow high wind events have encouraged engineers and designers to rethink the way we build to improve wall strength. Stronger walls will keep home occupants safer during weather events and will increase the lifespan of the home. One of the problems is that the roof, wall and flooring systems are installed as separate entities. Connecting the OSB wall sheathing and the flooring system can create a continuous load path which can improve wall strength by up to 38%.

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Controlling Against Moisture Damage for Wall Sheathing

Moisture can cause many structural problems and create a very unhealthy home for your family when mold and mildew begin to form. Building a home that deals effectively with moisture requires due diligence from design to installation and on to maintenance. The home must be built in such a way as to prevent leaks which are the biggest cause of damage and it must also eliminate condensation which occurs naturally in every home.

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Jobsite safety: Best Practices from OSHA

We’re no experts on safety, so we turned to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for some guidelines on best practices for onsite job safety. They set standards for employers and employees to follow to reduce the risk of injuries on construction sites. Here are some of the most important steps to keeping your job site safe. Always check for local requirements before embarking on a new build.

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8 Strategies for Better Energy Efficiency in a Retrofit or Addition Part 1

Homes built as recently as the 1980s are riddled with gaps in the building envelope and have far too little insulation to measure up to modern energy efficiency standards. Retrofitting an old home will make it more comfortable, will reduce energy costs and will make it kinder on the environment. The question is; where do you get the most bang for your retrofitting buck? Here is a basic guide to help you to decide where your money is best spent.

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