To install laminate wood floors, mark a reference point for the flooring, do a dry layout, apply the glue with a trowel, and install the flooring with a tongue-and-groove system. Use a rubber mallet and spacers to get laminate wood flooring in place with instructions from a home repair specialist in this free video on laminate wood floors.
Building Codes and Remodeling
The building code that may apply to your remodeling project is most likely based on one of four models developed and continually updated by the major code organizations:
- The Uniform Building Code, published by the International Conference of Building Officials, is revised annually and republished every three years. A short form of the code covering buildings not more than two stories tall with less than 6,000 square feet of ground floor areas is available, and if you’re interested in the details, it’s all you may need to study for a home remodeling project.
- The BOCA Basic Building Code, published by Building Officials and Code Administrators International, is available in an abridged form for residential construction that includes plumbing and wiring standards.
- The National Building Code is published by the American insurance Association. It is available in an abbreviated version that covers matters pertinent to homes.
- The Standard Building Code is prepared under the direction of the Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. This model is widely used throughout southern United States and addresses typical issues and conditions for the region.
Localities Modify Model Building Codes to Address Local Issues
One of these model codes will be the basis for the building code that must be followed in your town. States and localities usually adapt a model code for their particular areas and may even tweak them to set hyper-local standards.
What Building Codes Address
Building codes set standards for structural properties and construction details that affect safety and health. If your house is built to code, you can be more or less certain that the wiring won’t cause a fire, that the plumbing won’t leak, that poisons won’t contaminate the living area or water supply, and that the house will remain structurally sound for a long time.
Trends in Building Code Development
Localities may look at health and safety issues differently and give priority to some that are more prevalent as a result of local conditions. Codes change in response to news and trends, particularly weather-related or seismic disasters, and as new building products and techniques are developed to address potential hazards.
For example, in the aftermath of devastating hurricanes affecting the Gulf Coast and Florida in recent years, many codes in those regions are setting standards requiring impact-resistant windows, doors, roofing, siding and other components prone to damage from high winds and wind-driven rain. Impact-resistance standards are spreading to other regions where tornados and high-wind conditions occur.
In other code-related developments, new energy standards are being written in to codes all across the nation to reduce consumption and promote conservation. These standards can affect not only the types of heating, cooling and electrical appliances permitted, but also the required level of insulation and energy characteristics of windows and doors.
Most codes offer options. You may need to consult with your home designer to choose building products and methods that meet your needs. Local building departments may also be helpful in explaining local code issues that may affect your remodeling project. And they will eventually check for conformity with codes during the inspections required by law throughout the construction process.
Why It’s Important to Comply with Local Building Codes
If code violations are discovered, you will be required to correct them at your own expense or at the builder’s. If violations are not corrected, the project won’t be able to proceed. Depending on how the project is being financed, you may not be able to draw funds from your construction credit line. Unremediated code violations will prevent you from obtaining home insurance and a certificate of occupancy for your home.
