HAUN HOUSE & HOME At last, a complete, step-by-step guide to building a house from the world’s leading authorityA on community homebuilding, FORHABITAT HUMANITY Habitat for Humanity International. Veteran carpenter Larry Haun, The Taunton Press, and Habitat for Humanity have teamed up on the perfect book for anyone who wants to build a simple, energy-effi cient home without spending a lot of money. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofi t organiza- tion that brings families and communities in need together with volunteers and resources to build decent, affordable houses. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses in over 90 countries, including 66,000 houses across the United States. HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE LARRY HAUN worked as a carpenter in southern California for four decades and builds houses for Habitat for Humanity on the Oregon coast. He is the author of The Very Effi cient Carpenter and Homebuilding Basics: Carpentry, both published by The Taunton Press. These days he teaches Spanish, does yoga, and tries to keep warm. Look for other Taunton Press books wherever books are sold or visit our website at www.taunton.com The Taunton Press 63 South Main Street, P.O. Box 5507 Newtown, CT 06470-5507 www.taunton.com REVISED US $24.95 / $27.95 CAN & UPDATED ISBN 978-1-56158-967-8 52495 Pp Taunton The Taunton Press also publishes Fine Homebuilding, 9 781561 589678 where today’s builders and architects share what they know about Taunton Product #070975 building, remodeling, and home design. HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE HOW TO BUILD REVISED & AUPDATED HOUSE LARRY HAUN WITH VINCENT LAURENCE AND TIM SNYDER Text © 2008 by The Taunton Press, Inc. Photographs © 2008 Randy O’Rourke (except where noted) Illustrations © 2008 by The Taunton Press, Inc. (except on p. 238) All rights reserved. The Taunton Press, Inc., 63 South Main Street, PO Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506 e-mail: [email protected] Distributed by Ingram Services Editors: Vincent Laurence and Tim Snyder Copy editor: Seth Reichgott Indexer: Cathy Goddard Cover design: Renato Stanisic Front cover photograph: Roe Osborn, courtesy Fine Homebuilding magazine, © The Taunton Press, Inc. Back cover photographs: Randy O’Rourke (top), courtesy HFHI (bottom) Interior design and layout: Renato Stanisic Illustrator: Mario Ferro (except p. 238, illustration by Charles McCausland, courtesy Fine Homebuilding magazine) Photographer: Randy O’Rourke (except where noted). Photographs p. ii, iii courtesy HFHI Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: Haun, Larry. Habitat for Humanity how to build a house / Larry Haun. -- Rev. and expanded. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-1-56158-967-8 1. House construction--United States--Amateurs’ manuals. 2. Habitat for Humanity, inc.--Amateurs’ manuals. I. Habitat for Humanity, inc. II. Title. III. Title: How to build a house. TH4815.H38 2008 690’.837--dc22 2007051045 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 The following brand names/manufacturers appearing in How To Build a House are trademarks: Barricade®, Dalluge®, Durabond®, Gore-Tex®, Lego®, Lincoln LogsTM, L.L. Bean®, Milwaukee®, Porta Potti®, Sawzall®, Sheetrock®, Skyhook®, Smartside®, Spackle®, Speed® square, Stiletto®, Surform®, Typar®, Tyvek® Homebuilding is inherently dangerous. From accidents with power tools or hand tools to falls from ladders, scaf- folds, and roofs, builders and homeowners risk serious injury and even death. We try to promote safe work prac- tices throughout this book, but what is safe for one builder or homeowner under certain circumstances may not be safe for you under different circumstances. So don’t try anything you learn about here (or elsewhere) unless you’re certain that it’s safe for you. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. Look for another way. Please keep safety foremost in your mind whenever you’re working. To all the beautiful hands that help build decent, affordable houses. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I didn’t find it easy to write this book, mainly North Carolina, for the hours she freely gave to because of the amount of material it covers and make this book accurate and comprehensive. because I have tried to write it for a national The helpful people from Habitat for audience. I was able to do it because hundreds Humanity make up a long list. Many thanks to Iof people helped me. This book is not the work Nevil Eastwood and all the Habitat folks. of one person. My name may be on the cover, To everyone who answered my phone calls but the contents belong to a large group of and e-mails, thanks. wonderful people who gave willingly of their Give credit to the editors, Vincent Laurence time and knowledge. and Tim Snyder, for the consistency and Let me begin by offering a deeply felt thanks coherency in this book. They deserve special to those who I won’t be able to mention by name. thanks. And thanks to the people at Taunton Thanks also to my wife, Mila, and my Press, including Carol Kasper, Meredith brothers and sisters, Margaret, Jim, Loretta, and DeSousa, Stefanie Ramp, Wendi Mijal, Joe, good-hearted, helping people. Jennifer Renjilian, Courtney Jordan, and Steve Thanks to Anna Carter from Charlotte, Culpepper. CONTENTS Foreword 3 Introduction 4 1 GETTING STARTED Site, Design, Permits, and Preparation 6 STEP 1 Obtain a Site 7 2 Prepare the Site 9 3 Design the House 10 4 Secure the Building Permits 13 5 Get Organized to Build 16 2 BUILDING BASICS Getting Acquainted with Tools and the Parts of a House 24 Tool-Buying Tips 25 Essential Hand Tools 26 Tool Carriers 32 Power Tools 34 The Parts of a House 41 3 FIRM, FLAT, LEVEL, AND SQUARE Foundations and Floors 46 Know the Foundation Fundamentals 47 STEP 1 Form and Pour the Footings 52 2 Build the Foundation Walls 53 3 Backfill around the Foundation 54 4 Attach the Sills 55 5 Build Midspan Support for Joists 60 6 Install the Joists 65 7 Install Extra Joists and Blocking 69 8 Install the Floor Sheathing 71 4 GOING UP Walls Create Space 76 STEP 1 Lay Out the Walls 78 2 Plate the Walls 80 3 Count and Cut the Headers, Rough Sills, Cripples, and Trimmers 85 4 Mark the Plates 88 5 Build the Walls 94 6 Raise the Walls 101 7 Plumb and Line the Walls 105 8 Install and Plumb Door and Window Trimmers 109 9 Sheathe the Walls 110 5 SHELTER A Roof Overhead 112 Roof Trusses 113 STEP 1 Prepare for Truss Arrival and Installation 116 2 Install the Gable Truss 118 3 Install the Remaining Trusses 122 4 Secure the Trusses to the Interior Walls 124 5 Add Drywall Backing 125 6 Install the Barge Rafters and the Fascia Boards 127 7 Sheathe the Roof 131 8 Seal the Roof with Felt Paper 133 9 Shingle the Roof 136 Photos this spread courtesy HFHI 6 CLOSING IN Windows, Doors, Siding, and Exterior Trim 146 Vinyl Siding 148 STEP 1 Install the Remaining Sheathing and the Rough Exterior Trim 153 2 Install the Housewrap and Flash Openings 156 3 Set the Windows and Doors 158 4 Complete Ventilation and Electrical Work 164 5 Install the Starter Strips and the Trim for Vinyl Siding 164 6 Install the Siding Panels 167 7 Finish the Soffits 172 8 Cover Exterior Trim with Aluminum Cladding 172 7 BUILDING AN OUTDOOR ROOM Basic Design for Porches, Decks, and Landings 176 Design Ideas for Decks and Porches 177 STEP 1 Complete the Essential Roof Framing 179 2 Install the Ledger 180 3 Install the Foundation and Floor Framing 183 4 Frame the Stairs 186 5 Install the Decking and Stair Treads 189 6 Install the Railings 190 8 COMFORT INSIDE Sealing, Insulating, and Ventilating a House 194 Sweaters, Windbreakers, and Rain Gear 196 STEP 1 Seal Penetrations in the Walls, Ceilings, and Floors 196 2 Insulate the Walls, Ceilings, and Floors 200 3 Install Vapor Barriers (if Necessary) 207 4 Provide Adequate Ventilation 210 9 THE WALLS WITHIN Drywall and Painting 212 STEP 1 Get Ready to Install Drywall 213 2 Install the Ceiling Panels 216 3 Install the Wall Panels 222 4 Install the Corner Bead 225 5 Mud, Tape, and Finish the Drywall 226 6 Paint the Ceilings and Walls 232 7 Prepare and Paint the Interior Trim 234 8 Paint the Exterior Siding and Trim 236 10 MAKING A HOUSE BEAUTIFUL AND USEFUL Interior Trim, Cabinets, Countertops, and Closets 240 STEP 1 Install Underlayment for Vinyl Flooring 241 2 Install the Interior Doors 243 3 Install the Window and Door Casings 249 4 Install the Cabinets 253 5 Install the Countertops 258 6 Install the Baseboard and Chair Rail 259 7 Trim Out the Closets 264 11 FINAL DETAILS From Locks to Smoke Detectors to Landscaping 268 STEP 1 Install the Hardware and Fixtures 269 2 Select and Install the Finish Flooring 272 3 Get to Know Electrical and Mechanical Systems 275 4 Prepare for the Worst 276 4 Landscaping 277 Resources 279 Index 280 Photos this spread courtesy HFHI FOREWORD Not everyone is a master carpenter. Fortunately 1 million people are living today in Habitat for for most of us, it’s possible to learn. And that’s Humanity homes—which they’ve helped build the inspiration for How to Build a House. It is and then bought on terms they could afford. designed to teach various building techniques Habitat for Humanity, as you may know, is not Nto people with a wide range of backgrounds, a give-away program, but rather a “hand up” skills, and interests. My hope is that in the that lets families in need become part of their following pages you’ll find the “tools” you need own decent housing solution.