Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [planning]

64 questions
22
votes
5 answers

Architect drawing home addition by hand

I am planning to expand master bedroom and hired an architect to draw the plan. What I learnt is that he drew diagram by hand and not using CAD. He is an old guy. But I am wondering if I should be concerned now? Given this age, everything has to be…
HP.
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6 answers

Should I hire an architect to design my house?

I am planning to build a house for my family. It's relatively simple and modest by modern American standards. I plan to do much of the work myself, and want to keep costs down. I have been working on some designs, but I wonder what a professional…
Jay Bazuzi
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13
votes
5 answers

What is the industry term for house wiring diagrams?

I am doing electrical work in my own home. Primarily replacing old sockets and fixtures. Through the course of this work I am finding odd, but not unsafe, wiring paths. I want to document these paths so that I can develop a plan to improve them. I…
Freiheit
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9
votes
4 answers

What's the recommended order for completing these bathroom remodel tasks?

I realize that this question is similar to What is the order of tasks when refitting a bathroom? but since I have some different projects, I thought it would be appropriate to ask in a separate question. I'm getting ready to remodel a bathroom and…
Mike B
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6
votes
5 answers

What voltage/amperage garage circuits should I install for welding tools and an air compressor?

As a part of renovating my garage this fall, much of the wiring is being re-done. Since doing the work before putting up walls will be much easier now than adding circuits in the future, I'd like to run two circuits for future "big" tools. The…
MarkD
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6
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4 answers

Looking for alternatives to AutoCad to make floorplans and interior elevations for my kitchen

I am looking to remodel my kitchen. I want to start with floorplans and inside elevations of the 4 walls, cabinets, and major appliances. I've been using LibreCAD because it supports Autocad 2000 format (dxf) and is free and open source. I've been…
Justin Dearing
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6
votes
2 answers

When ordering lumber what percentage of waste should be expected?

Let's say I'm getting ready for a remodeling project, and I'm getting ready to order 2x lumber for framing. Specifically, I'll be ordering No. 2 or better 2x lumber. What percentage of my order should I expect to be scrap (i.e. twisted, warped,…
Tester101
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2 answers

What are the standard sizes/clearances for bathroom elements?

I expect to be asking several more questions about this project; but I'm starting with a general one, and will get more refined as things develop. We are working on finishing our basement, which includes a bathroom. In the original plans, the…
Scivitri
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6
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1 answer

What's the best/official way to draw a building's electrical system?

We are installing home automation systems, and we have serious problems with electricians. Short: they are stupid and lazy. So, we have to do something. There're some stories: We have a spreadsheet with a numbered list of all the wallets, lamps,…
ern0
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6
votes
4 answers

How can I calculate the load capacity of a platform?

I'm planning to build a very basic bed frame, but I'm not sure what size lumber to use. I was thinking of building the entire thing from 2x4s (legs would be 4x4), but I'm not sure if this will be adequate. Some other ideas: 2x6 Perimeter with…
Tester101
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2 answers

Are most contractors capable of building any home?

I know very little about building homes. However, I have a vision of what I want my next home to be like. But when I look at the websites of local builders and contractors, it looks like they only have preset designs and plans for the homes that…
justspamjustin
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6 answers

What's a good way to sharpen a carpenter's pencil, without buying a special sharpener?

I have a carpenter's pencil that's getting pretty blunt and I've realised I don't know how to sharpen it. How can I sharpen it without buying a special dedicated tool for it?
Highly Irregular
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Where can I find plans for building a chicken coop?

I was hoping to build a chicken coupe for 3-4 chickens. Does anyone know where I can find some plans (preferably free) for building a decent chicken coop? It doesn't have to be the Taj Mahal, but I don't want it to be an eyesore either. Some key…
Brh
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4
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1 answer

Woodworking Plans for an Office Desk

I am looking to build a desk for my office (L-shaped), but I am rather new at woodworking. I have the tools, and this would be a long project, but have no idea where to start. Are there any good places to buy plans from? Where should I even start?
Benny
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3 answers

Must a window in a proposed basement habitable space conform to code even if it is not required to be in the space?

I am looking to create a finished space in my basement. The plans are for a habitable room within my basement (non-sleeping) to be used as an office. The plans exceed horizontal width requirements, and the ceiling exceeds 7ft. Contained within the…
Andy Hall
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