I swung by one of my projects today to see how things were coming along. The last time I was there the stairs to the upper level were temped in. Today the steel frame for the cantilevered stairs shone in all its glory. At one point these stairs were going to be glass. It was […]
Cantilevered Stair in Modern Home Read More »
The 2009 International Building Code requires automatic sprinkler systems for a variety of reasons. One of the places that we commonly see a sprinkler required is in assembly spaces. In Groups A-1, A-3 and A-4; assembly areas over 12,000 sf or with more than 300 occupants require an automatic sprinkler. In Groups A-2 that requirement
Assembly Spaces that Require Automatic Sprinklers Read More »
When I’m requested to investigate a house with structural concerns one of the first things I check is proper floating sill plates on slab-on-grade floors. I’m always amazed how so many basements are finished without a floating sill plate or some way of allowing the slab to move without moving the structure. I believe the
As you might expect, as architects who design custom homes (among other things) we get a lot of interesting requests. Frequently they come from a client with the preface “I know this is a strange request”. But hey, you’re doing a custom home for a reason, get those spaces that you want. Here are ten
Top Ten Unique Homeowner Requested Rooms Read More »
When planning a new building, house, or addition allowing room for drainage can be a critical factor in the maintenance and resale value of your home. Talking with our Civil and Structural engineers the main cause of damage to properly designed foundations, and the ensuing damage to the rest of the homes structural system, is
The Importance of Proper Drainage Read More »
This past weekend a home owner asked me to look at a recently replaced driveway that was already cracking. Prior to the replacement, the old driveway was cracked and settling in several locations and was becoming a nuisance to clear snow in the winter and a tripping hazard. The home owner researched several different contractors
Cracking Concrete Driveway Read More »
Municipalities are increasingly asking for Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors to stamp drawings that could previously be stamped by architects. We see this a lot with small structural and civil pieces incidental to commercial projects. Municipalities are also adding new documents to their requirements that cannot be stamped by architects including grading permits and
A/E Firms have an Advantage over Architects with Municipality Regulations Read More »
This year we have had such an early spring that our deck design is already in full swing. Since all the snow has melted from decks, balconies, and patios – it has come time to re-evaluate our outdoor living space. With the beautiful Colorado weather, it is important to design a space that can be
‘Tis the Season for Decks Read More »
Paperless Gypsum Board vs. Mold Resistant vs. Standard We are currently working on a government contract that requires paperless gypsum board but it has brought up the question of the pros and cons of the various products available and the tradeoffs involved for each. Standard Gypsum Board is a fantastic product when installed and maintained
How Does Your Gypsum Board Stack Up? Read More »
EVstudio has been involved in a great number of projects and a wide variety of situations involving our clients that for one reason or another didn’t quite fully complete their due diligence when purchasing their property. It’s an easy trap to fall in to – you fall in love with the site and make all
Buying Land to Build? You MUST Do These 8 Key Things Before You Close: Read More »
iPhoned individuals may be interested to know that Weyerhaeuser has released a productive alternative to Fruit Ninja in the form of a deck beam sizing application (available from the Apple App Store here). This application requires only three inputs from the user to size a beam as well as provide emailed PDF documentation of calculations
Review of New Weyerhaeuser iPhone Application Read More »
I was recently asked about the construction costs for a Climbing Gym in Colorado. Below is the transaction: Hi, I was just curious what it would cost to build a 18,000 sq feet building at roughly 50 feet high. It’s for a rock climbing gym in Colorado. Just wondering what an estimated amount would be
Construction Costs for a Climbing Gym in Colorado Read More »
9442 North Capital of Texas Highway
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Austin, TX 78759
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