California Building Code Section 2308 – Conventional Light-Frame Construction
I was recently requested by a residential designer and property owner to review a portion of conventional California roof framing […]
My First Taste of Wright
Some things, even things that seem inconsequential and mundane at the time, have a way of carving out in our […]
Hiring Building Professionals, Pt. 2: Do I Need a Professional Engineer (PE)?
In part 1 of this series on hiring building professionals, we discussed the role of the architect. Our focus now […]
Hiring Building Professionals, Pt. 1: Do I Need an Architect?
When it comes time to build, a large portion of a property owner’s stress can have to do with the […]
San Francisco Soft Story Retrofit Program in 3 Steps
Here’s how it works . . . Step 1: Hire a licensed design professional (architect or engineer) to complete and […]
Building Permit Expirations
Once a building permit has been obtained, most jurisdictions require that construction on the project commence within a certain amount […]
Outdoor Meetings
I recently read a good article by Mike Michalowicz about reducing stress. He compares our fast-paced and evermore demanding lives […]
Should Building Green Be Mandated?
This month marks the publication of yet another new building code — the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) 2012. While local […]
Liquid Metal Batteries
Like in agriculture, I’m all for diversity when it comes to energy sources, and for the same reason — resilience. […]
How Strong is a Spider Web?
I was excited this winter when my 5th grade daughter chose the topic for her science fair report: ‘How Strong […]