Writing for Engineering | ||
Date: February 26, 2019 | Name: Jaspreet Jaswal |
Title: Scratch the Patch
Abstract
This lab report pertains to tactics and skills of the field of civil engineering, and how it plays over while constructing a house from scratch. While constructing a house seems to be a devious amount of work, it can be simplified into smaller parts to make it more convenient for understanding the fundamentals of how civil engineering go on the field. In this report, I will be stating the process of when my father bought a piece of property, and then was able to construct a house while saving a surplus amount of money and getting the work done.
Question
How can we safely construct a house from scratch, while following the laws and rules of New York State regulations and adhere to the conducts of the building department so that we can allow citizens to safely reside in a safe environment?
Hypothesis
If we use construct the house efficiently by using the best possible materials, then we are able to sustain a safe and aesthetic environment, while also allowing profit to expand as a long-term goal.
Experimental Design
- Prior to even buying a property, make sure you have a plethora amount of money as expenses do build up gradually.
- Once you bought a piece of land and observe the depth of soil and the size of the plot, get ready to talk to an architecture on how you would want your house to be built. In my case, the plot size was 40×100 feet.
- Once architecture approves the design, you can begin renting/buying equipment that will be stated explicitly in ‘Materials’.
- Once equipment and workers are on field, prepare to create the foundation of the house after clearing all debris around the perimeter.
- After pouring the foundation, make sure the investigators check the trenches to avoid any conflicts.
- Once investigators confirmed everything is good, the contractor builds vertical foundation using cinderblock on walls that rest on the footing trenches. (foundation walls are waterproofed)
- Prior to pouring concrete slabs, it is advised to hire plumbers (lay pipes down to get covered with concrete) and electricians (electric lines running through slab).
- Sub-contractor will pour concrete
- Wired reinforcement will be laid down and positioned to offer support
- Framing workers needed to put up lumber framework for flooring, walls, and ceilings along with the installation of a roof. (Requires the weather to be good). Sheathing of walls and ceilings would conclude carpenters work.
- Installation of windows over sheathing.
- Interior Work design for House– Electricians and Plumbers do circuit working as well as HVAC ductwork.
- Electricians will return one more time to make sure connections are stable
- Insulation work gets started by carpenter or homeowners to save money.
- Drywall is hanged throughout the house before any work continues and their seams are taped and finished with sand.
- Interior walls and ceilings are primed.
- Finals Steps– A painter is called to paint the walls and finish with choice of color/texture
- Counter-tops for kitchen and bathrooms installed
- Installation of driveway and choice of building gate around perimeter of the house.
- Calling disposal company to pick up and garbage or remains inside and outside the house.
- Final inspection to grand CFO (Certification of Occupancy).
- Done with home ownership!
Materials
1)5000 square feet of sheating, including roof, wall and floor sheating.
2) 243 square feet of plywood for sheating.
3)55 cubic yards of concrete–three-fourths of which is poured concrete and the remainder concrete block.
4)2,528 square feet of exterior finish–either aluminum siding, brick or wood.
5) 2000 square feet of asphalt shingles for roofing.
6) 2,500 square feet of insulation.
7) 6,500 square feet of gypsum wall board.
8)100 linear feet of ducting.
9)50 gallons of paint.
10) 302 pounds of nails.
11)750 feet of wiring.
12) 280 linear feet of copper pipe (water supply pipe).
13) 100 plumbing fittings for water supply pipe.
(Materials were searched up online, but the quantity is varied according to specifications of the sizes).
Safety
Never carry/yank a tool by its cord or hose. Also, be sure to keep these cords or hoses far from oil, heat, water, and sharp edges. Protect your ears and eyes from intense noises and vibrations; opt for power tools with lower vibrations, muffled noises, and longer trigger tools. Ensure hand tools do not conduct heat or electricity. always Maintain good posture and balance the tools in correct alignment to your body. Keep other people well away from machine-operating areas. Consider investing on a construction safety program for your employees. Always be aware of your surroundings. Have a care for overhead lines, obstructions, low clearances, underground utilities, and other such obstacles that could prove to be a nuisance or a lethal hazard. Always hire a profession if you’re not experienced in a certain field even if it saves you money!
Guidelines taken from- https://www.atlantictraining.com/safety-tips/construction-safety-tips.php
The procedure is coincided with the experimental design.
Observations
Pictures taken from actual jobsite in 2016
http://www.nahbclassic.org/generic.aspx?genericContentID=260013/
Data Analysis
While constructing the house, my father made sure to use eco friendly or ‘green’ material so that mother earth wouldn’t get severely impacted with all the debris and chemicals in the site. Eco friendly material was also sustainable in preserving the structure of the house, while ensuring protection for the environment all while being cheap!
Going further on with the data analysis, the construction of the home required at least $500,000 let alone purchasing the property. For people investing or buying a property, it is important to manage finances so that no conflict arises while constructing the house. Many banks, such as ‘citi’ bank offer mortgage plans and loans with little interest such at 3.8% interest per month depending on the cost of the house and the banks flexibility.
Conclusion
Originally our main purpose was to construct a house with strong aesthetic structures to ensure safety and long-term sustainability. Using the best and possibly the most expensive material would give the result, while also allowing for the structure to stand tall. The use of brick work and cinderblocks would erode any major conflict. From this experiment, we can take away few things. If one is experienced in a certain field such as carpeting, it would be cheaper for the contractor or home owner to install floors and walls himself rather than paying someone else to do it. In my case, my father was already experienced in the field of plumbing so that made it possible to avoid extra costs. Moreover, even once the house is built and complete, it is important as a home owner to keep updating the circuits and insulation in the house as those materials tend to wear out gradually. Our experiment did live up to its expectation, but again it’s something that always requires adjustments as neglecting would result in faults in the structure such as ice being frozen in pipes.
Sources
Articles.latimes.com. (2019). Los Angeles Times – Page unavailable in your region. [online] Available at: http://articles.latimes.com/1990-03-25/realestate/re-525_1_square-feet [Accessed 3 Mar. 2019].
Atlantictraining.com. (2019). Construction Safety Tips | Atlantic Training Safety Tips. [online] Available at: https://www.atlantictraining.com/safety-tips/construction-safety-tips.php [Accessed 1 Mar. 2019].
The Spruce. (2019). The Steps to Build Your Own House. [online] Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/building-your-own-house-1821301 [Accessed 1 Mar. 2019].