Types of Steel Bars

March 3rd, 2010 by qwcdirect

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In general, steel bars are categorized into two. These include deformed and mild steel bars. The mild ones are mainly used to make slab beams that require reinforced cement concrete. They are usually plain and are available in round sections. These sections vary in diameter and can be between 6mm and 50mm. They are usually manufactured as long rods but they can be easily cut or bent without getting damaged.
The deformed type of steel bars usually has ribs, deformations or lugs on the surface. They are used to reduce slipping in concrete. The tensile stress on these bars is higher compared to the mild steel bards. End hooks are not necessary when you are using the deformed steel bars. They usually measure between 6mm and 50mm in diameter. Deformed steel bars are preferred because they limit cracks in reinforced concrete and thus are recommended for use in structural engineering.

Repair Cracks on the Walls

February 28th, 2010 by qwcdirect

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If you realize that your walls have cracks, you only need a few tools to repair them. The cracks usually occur when you bump something against the walls, after a natural disaster or when your home is naturally settling on the foundation. If the walls are cosmetic, you can make them look more presentable. In some cases, the crack indicates that there is damage on the joists or studs in your house.

Before you start repairing, determine whether you have a drywall or plaster wall. If it is plaster, you need to apply plaster paste to fill in the cracks. Make sure you sand and paint the area once the paste dries.
For a drywall, you will be required to use spackling putty to fill in the cracks but unlike the plaster one, you have to apply the putty twice. It also has to be sanded once the cracks have been filled in.

Best of Concrete Construction

February 25th, 2010 by qwcdirect

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Concrete construction is one of the most common techniques used in various buildings because the concrete is durable and easy to work with. One of the methods that are widely used in modern concrete construction is thin joint masonry. This is an accurate, fast and clean way of constructing using concrete blocks that are autoclaved aerated.

With thin joint masonry, contractors are able to construct high quality buildings at a much faster rate and reduce the amount of material that is wasted unlike the traditional mortar construction. This technique also improves thermal performance.

This is a fast technique because the mortar is easily and accurately applied on the joint and this makes it a good option for buildings that have long walls. Construction also takes a shorter period of time because walls made using this method are stable in an hour. Applying plaster will also be easier and it will only take a short time to dry.

How are Tiltwall Buildings Constructed?

February 22nd, 2010 by qwcdirect

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Tiltwall projects start with carrying out some groundwork on a site and pouring slab. Footings are also installed near the slab before the panels are installed. Wooden pieces are assembled to create forms for the panels. These forms are used as molds when making the panels. The forms have to be reinforced using steel grids. At this point, embeds and inserts are installed to help lift the panels and attach them to each other, the footing and roof system.

Once embeds and inserts are in place, any standing water and debris on the slab has to be cleaned so that concrete can be poured inside the forms to make panels. When the panels have solidified, they are lifted using cranes and attached on the footings using embeds. After the erection of all the panels on the buildings, finishes are applied to the walls by painting or sandblasting and then work on the interior begins.

Living Large in a Micro House

February 19th, 2010 by qwcdirect

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There is a guide that can help you beautify your small house and make it worth living. This guide has helped many U.S citizens who have been affected by the economic crisis and thus opted for tiny homes. Other than that, you can seek help from a number of online companies who have specialized in design and marketing if this tiny houses.

Such companies sell their plans to willing customers who complete their own layouts as per their tastes and preferences. Apart from that, you can pay them to do the whole design for you if you are not experienced. They also produce tiny homes ranging from 60 to 837 square feet with different pricing. Normally, the smaller models are available as pre-built, meaning that they can be towed next to trucks and cars.

Living in micro houses can also be exciting as living in larger or spacious homes.

Tips for Improving Your Roof

February 16th, 2010 by qwcdirect

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There are many things that can be gathered on the roof and you need to remove these things if you want to improve the life of your roof. This article gives you some guidelines on what you are supposed to do and check and also gives you some important safety precautions when removing this debris that collects in the roof.

Gutters – They drain water off the roof and should be the first thing that you need to check. If the gutters are blocked, water will run along the walls and you may get your home damaged.
Downspouts – These are responsible for bringing the water down the ground level and you need to make sure that they are not blocked as well.
Roof surface – The roof itself might collect debris as well and if left, can collect water that damages the roof.
Shakes and shingles – You need to check the spaces that are between the shingles for any debris and you need also to be careful when removing because you may damage the roof.

Anchors and Fasteners for Your Home

February 13th, 2010 by qwcdirect

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Whether you are planning to add extra shelves to your home or you are hanging a beautiful painting just to enliven your wall, this article will be helpful to you. Here are some of the common types of anchors and fasteners that you can use in your home to improve the appearance.

Plastic anchors – They are the most common fasteners available and are suitable for concrete, bricks, stone walls and solid wall.
Toggle bolt – They are used for hollow masonry and are pushed onto a drilled hole in the wall.
Screws and lag shields – This is another way of fastening that is mainly used in concrete and any other type of masonry work. They are stronger than plastic.
Concrete screws – They are very popular since they are easy to install and have several trade names. They can be drilled into concrete, brick or block.
Drop-in anchors – They are internally threaded anchors and remain flush on the surface.

Advantages of Steel Building Construction

February 10th, 2010 by qwcdirect

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The use of steel in building construction dates back to 1700s’ when iron columns were used within walls. There are many advantages when it comes to building using steel. One of the advantages is that they are normally constructed faster than any building that is built using other materials. Moreover, the cost of building using steel is lower as compared to other traditional methods. Steel is lighter in weight, is easier to maintain and does not catch fire easily like other building materials.

Other advantages that steel has include, steel is 66% recyclable and thus is cost effective and environment friendly. When building, strength is what comes out mostly and thus steel offers the strongest buildings which can last considerably longer than any other material. Steel is also resistant to such things like termites, cracks, rotting, creeping and splitting and thus are more durable than any other building material.

Helpful hints of natural stone tiles

November 27th, 2009 by Engineer

Natural Stones, Home Construction, Office ConstructionThe natural stone tiles are found in different colors, structure, tone and variety. To increase their durability, the stone tiles need following care:

The natural stone tiles should be mopped and swept regularly as grit, stone or dirt can damage them.

Place door mats and rugs to reduce the entry of dust through shoes.
Mild and non abrasive cleaning agents should be used to clean the natural stone tiles.

Never use lemon, vinegar or acid to clean these tiles.

In bathroom apply non acidic scum removing agent and rinse with clean water.

Apply penetrating sealer in the kitchen tiles. This will create a barrier so that the strains don’t penetrate inside and become permanent.

The strain can be removed by sanding the stone tile again.

At the outdoor stone tiles you can apply a mild bleach to clean it. Remove the built up moss regularly for better care of tiles.

Why granite flooring is hard to beat

November 21st, 2009 by Engineer

Granite Flooring, Home Construction,There are many reasons why granite flooring is hard to resist. The granite being the most durable and hard can be used for flooring of every room but the kitchen floor must be granite. The granite floor doesn’t require much look after; just a simple sweep and mop can keep it shining. A wash with stone soap once a week is enough to maintain it. As it is very hard, it will endure fall of any type of heavy utensils or tools and will not get damaged. The spills are common in kitchen but a granite floor doesn’t suffer due to it.

The personal taste and amount of human traffic naturally dictate the type of flooring used but granite floor can be used anywhere and it will never go out of fashion. Granite has many colors, designs and patterns to suit everyone’s choice. Granite floors can increase the beauty of the interiors manifold.

There is just one disadvantage that it can get scratches by quartz. The sand, which comes inside the house with the shoes, contains quartz and they can scratch the granite floor. It can be avoided if the floor is swept regularly.