Construction

LEED ID Credits – New LEED Pilot Credit Library

by EVstudio AEP March 8, 2019

Earlier this year, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) introduced a new dimension to their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating Systems for green building certifications known as the Pilot Credit Library (PCL). The PCL currently includes 41 Pilot Credits which can be […]

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Why Mock-up Wall Sections Are a Great Idea for Your Next Building

by EVstudio AEP February 15, 2019

In addition to all the other reasons, I love looking at construction projects mock-up wall sections are one of the most useful tools I’ve found on a job site for learning and teaching. Mockup walls can be specified in a project specification, general notes or even […]

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Getting Nailed: A Brief History of Nails

by evstudio February 8, 2019

Unless they get one in their car tire I am willing to bet that the average person does not spend a lot of time thinking about nails. I actually do think about nails quite a bit, but then again I am a structural engineer who, […]

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Grades of Solid Clay Masonry – Bricks

by EVstudio AEP February 8, 2019

Common building bricks come in three grades which indicate the bricks resistance to weathering. The weathering general refers to how much rain is expected and how low the temperatures get. NW: Negligible Weathering – Typically used for interior applications as well as a backup for […]

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You Wouldn’t Download a House, Would You? 3D Printing Homes

by EVstudio AEP February 6, 2019
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3D printing technology is experiencing a bit of an explosion at the moment. Your local Home Depot has a MakerBot display, and many libraries around the world offer fabrication stations along with the reference section and magazines. All of that is very interesting, but perhaps […]

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Quickly Construct Concrete Pad Footings with FASTBAG

by evstudio January 31, 2019

At a recent seminar I attended I was introduced to the Fab-Form product called FASTBAG. This product is brilliantly simple….a textile bag you can fill with concrete and reinforcing bars to take the place of the wood formwork traditionally utilized to construct pad footings. The […]

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Plate Crushing – Importance and Solutions

by Hayley Selden January 29, 2019
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“Sticky” doors and windows? Plate crushing could be to blame The Issue When there is a large point load coming down on a wall, even though the post below can withstand the load, that is not always the case for the top and bottom plates […]

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Why Hire an Architect When a Contractor Offers to Design-Build

by Sean O'Hara January 18, 2019

Design-build is a common delivery method in construction and a popular buzz word in the industry. What it generally means is that you hire a single person or company who both designs your project and builds your project. Design-build can be great and it can […]

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Restrained versus Unrestrained Members

by EVstudio AEP January 7, 2019
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In the last several months, I’ve had many questions about what constitutes a “restrained” concrete member, and what constitutes an “unrestrained” concrete member.  The volume has been such that I’ve decided to take a break from my usual post-tensioned discussions and lay this out. This […]

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Staples or Nails? Choosing the Right Fastener for Wall and Roof Sheathing

by Dean Dalvit January 7, 2019

We are often asked by contractors if they can substitute framing staples instead of nails for their wall and roof sheathing fasteners. There is no easy universal answer to this question because the location of the project may place it in a high wind or […]

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Do it yourself? Or consult a professional? – Forensic and Investigative Engineering

by Beth Weiss January 3, 2019

Did you ever wonder if something is still good years later? If something you own is still functional after years of use? Or if something is cracked, leaking, burned, or decayed do you question if it is still functioning properly? These are questions investigative/forensic engineers […]

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Great City Views from a Custom Home

by EVstudio AEP December 14, 2018
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One of the great perks to building a home in the mountains is the great view of the surrounding mountains or valleys. Another view that is often over-looked is the fantastic view of the Denver metro area that is available on the right site. A […]

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