Edges, Seams and Corners Some of the most intriguing components of a drywall finishing system are the reinforcing tapes and beads that are used at joints and corners. These elements should be invisible after walls are finished, buried beneath layers of joint compound. But they play and important role in the long-term performance of your walls.

In the past five years, digital electronics have invaded the home. Programmable thermostats have led the way, with occupancy sensors, infrared security alarms and motion detectors following quickly. Several new communications technologies are also emerging; in the works are interactive television, video telephones and high-speed Internet access. Boost Capacity Most modern homes will benefit from the installation of 200-amp service, rather than a standard 100-amp box.

The term “mechanicals” refers to the hidden components of your home—the wiring, plumbing, ducts, furnaces and fans that give you control over your indoor environment. Specialty subcontractors—electrician, plumbers, HAVC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) specialists—will typically be brought in to the project by your builder to install your home’s mechanical systems. Most municipalities publish highly detailed codes that mandate the proper installation of mechanical systems.

Fiberglass Batts- Economical and widely available, this type of insulation resembles blankets made from glass fibers attached to a kraft-paper or foil backing; it has a proven performance record. In recent years, new types of glass fibers have been developed to reduce the characteristic skin irritation caused by the material. Fiberglass batts are sometimes wrapped in a plastic material to reduce skin contact during insulation.

Once the exterior wall and roof framing are in place, the next phase of construction involves applying the home’s skin to strengthen the structure and make it weather-tight. The strength is supplied by installing bracing and sheathing, and the weather-tightness comes from applying layers of insulation and other barriers. It’s important to complete this phase quickly and pay attention to details that protect the framing from moisture and assure the home’s energy efficiency.

Because a stick frame consists of hundreds of individual pieces of wood, flaws in assembly may allow walls to shift of even fail under stress. The most common causes of failure include an insufficient number of fasteners, excessive gaps, inferior lumber or a weak system of lateral bracing.

But lumber framing faces an identity crisis in the 1 900s. With the depletion of our old-growth forests, younger second-growth trees now account for the bulk of wood products. For framing purposes, however, second-growth lumber has less natural stability and requires much more careful inspection than the lumber previously available.

The most typical structural method used today is called platform framing. In this system, a floor frame is constructed on the foundation, then flooring underlayment is installed. Wall frames, consisting of a sole plate, studs and top plates, are set on top of the underlayment; then ceiling joints of the second-floor frame is constructed on top of walls. The structural, or load-bearing, frame is completed in sequences for each story from the ground up, and then the roof frame is built.

After the foundation has been constructed and allowed to cure for at least five days, framing generally begins. It is the phase in which the home’s structural skeleton is established and its rooms begin to take shape. At no time in the construction process does progress seem faster.