Load Factor Chart
Imagine you’re inside a half-built office building. The steel beams is up. Concrete’s been poured. Looks solid. But beneath that placid exterior, an invisible tug … Read more
Thomas Martinez
Pitch Roof Angle Calculator | Roof Pitch to Degrees
When most people imagine their roof they visualize a plain old triangle. What that geometry doesn’t show is the additional labor involved. A few degrees … Read more
Deck Post Span Chart
When you start a weekend building project, you usually starts with the pretty stuff. You might choose nice composite boards or decking with minimal upkeep. … Read more
Hip Rafter Calculator | Length, Angles, Jacks
Once we get to the valleys and hips, though, the roof framing becomes more about thinking in diagonals then straight lines, and this is where … Read more
Roll Insulation Calculator | Rolls, Area, R-Value
For insulation, it’s the same as paint: we’re casual about the purchase; we’ll get what’s on sale or nearest our budget. The result? It never … Read more
I Beam Load Capacity Chart
Now imagine adding a second floor on top of your garage. You stand there looking at that steel beam and ask yourself: Will it hold? … Read more
Lathe Spindle Speed Calculator | RPM, Feed, SFM
There’s one noise you know from a machine shop. It starts off like high pitched whine until it becomes a shriek, and then finally ends … Read more
Roof Beam Span Chart
What you don’t see is the physics that keep your home from collapsing. On most homes, people think there’s nothing but rafters and then shingles … Read more
57 Limestone Gravel Calculator | Tons, Yards, Bags
I think one of the mistakes people make at home improvements is not knowing how much gravel to order. Measure the length, eyeball the width, … Read more
Wide Flange Beam Dimensions Chart
When you look at a steel beam, it’s an I-shape. It is made off metal. But that metal can cost a lot if you choose … Read more
Roof Joist Span Chart
A rafter and a ceiling joist may look alike, but these two structural component differ greatly, and mistaking one for the other will result in … Read more
Scissor Truss Calculator | Pitch, Rise, Chords
In a thirty foot span, the scissor truss make the room seem much larger then it is while using minimal interior column. It creates a … Read more
Lumber Grading Chart
Hardware store lumber aisles are confusing. The wood all appears to be identical, yet it’s priced different with varying grades. You notice Stud grade, Select … Read more
Plywood Size Chart
The point is, if you buy a piece of plywood from the lumber yard and the tag reads one half inch, you know you’re in … Read more