Can anyone point me to a resource where I can learn construction industry-related lingo? [more inside]
posted by eliina on Nov 22, 2009 - 1 answer

Help me think about and plan boat building. [more inside]
posted by Fiasco da Gama on Nov 20, 2009 - 15 answers

Please help me to find, and to understand Toronto's Construction and Parking By-Laws, and then how to have them enforced and upheld strictly, quickly, and legally in order to protect our rights, our property and our peace of mind. I have been to the city's website, and have downloaded Chapter 363 Building Construction and Demolition and am trying to understand how to apply the information in it. I've Googled, and have written to the City Planner and our local Councillor's office for information and advice - but know from experience that their responses take days if not weeks and I see that we will sometimes need to immediately effect change. Jokingly mentioning to the construction workers "Please kind to your neighbours!" isn't working. I need to take Gladys Kravitzing to the next level. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 17, 2009 - 3 answers

Why do crosswords have to be symmetrical? [more inside]
posted by cmoj on Nov 12, 2009 - 10 answers

Construction newbies would like to build a backyard ramada. We're thinking of an open structure, similar to an arbor. The plan is to use 4 4x4 posts set 8 feet apart. The roof will be a slatted top with a 1 foot overhang. Since this is termite country, I'd like to anchor the posts in a cement footing using a J-bolt. [more inside]
posted by TorontoSandy on Oct 11, 2009 - 3 answers

We want to add a wood stove to my wife's studio, currently under construction. Is outside combustion air a must or a maybe? [more inside]
posted by ulotrichous on Oct 7, 2009 - 8 answers

Seeking books or articles on corruption in large building projects, ancient to modern. [more inside]
posted by IndigoJones on Sep 23, 2009 - 12 answers

Engineers, construction workers, and lawyers: How can I find out what the specific site safety requirements and statutes are for an under-construction commercial urban development site? Specifically, I'm looking to find out more about site-safety requirements in the city of St. Louis, Mo. [more inside]
posted by limeonaire on Sep 20, 2009 - 16 answers

Where can I send someone a design of a 3D object and have them put it together for me? [more inside]
posted by god particle on Sep 2, 2009 - 11 answers

Where can I pick up strenuous physical labor in DC on an occasional, volunteer, or (extremely) part-time basis? [more inside]
posted by Inspector.Gadget on Aug 14, 2009 - 13 answers

Is there a way to speed up the construction of the house next to mine? [more inside]
posted by hellbient on Aug 13, 2009 - 5 answers

How cheaply can I build a house? [more inside]
posted by Nonce on Jul 13, 2009 - 23 answers

I was watching my old Sopranos DVDs last night and a question came up. When Tony's crew show up at a construction site and just sit around in lawn chairs eating donuts...what the the heck are they really doing and why?
posted by punkfloyd on Jul 7, 2009 - 13 answers

So a friend of mine locked his bike to a city-provided bike post... he came back and the city (Toronto) had torn up the entire sidewalk for 2 blocks, including where he had locked his bike. The workers tossed the bikes aside, some still locked to the posts, but some of the posts broken in two thereby freeing up the bikes. His bike was gone. There was no indication from the city that they were going to do this (signs not to lock your bike, etc.). Police have been called but consider it a "stolen bike" issue... now what? Photos and more inside. [more inside]
posted by You Should See the Other Guy on Jul 1, 2009 - 16 answers

What is the best way to design and construct a standing whiteboard? [more inside]
posted by BearPaws on Jun 19, 2009 - 5 answers

At the moment, if one wants to drive westward through Pennsylvania, is it a better bet to take I-80 or the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-70/76) through the state? What's the construction like on those two routes? [more inside]
posted by Chanther on Jun 12, 2009 - 8 answers

What are the S-shaped objects (seen here) I saw on houses all over Burgandy, in France? [more inside]
posted by deadweightloss on Jun 9, 2009 - 13 answers

I was recently delighted to learn that my 3-year-old nephew shares my profound fascination with construction cranes. Can you recommend a sturdy yet functional toy crane? [more inside]
posted by halogen on Jun 1, 2009 - 11 answers

BRICKLAYING. I need to learn all about how to lay brick; the classic/historical patterns; esp. in the US.; techniques; thin mortar joints; different types of bricks. European precedents.
posted by ebesan on May 23, 2009 - 5 answers

Why does the shower head only come up to my chest? [more inside]
posted by billtron on May 20, 2009 - 28 answers

Are the lowered speed limits enforced after a construction job is finished? Read on for a better explanation. [more inside]
posted by ascetic on May 20, 2009 - 16 answers

Is there an architect or graphic designer in the house? I need line/blue print style images of windows and doors for art pieces I am designing. Please help! [more inside]
posted by Ponderance on May 14, 2009 - 16 answers

Please recommend resources for learning about home remodeling, particularly basement finishing. [more inside]
posted by medusa on Apr 30, 2009 - 3 answers

What are my options for borrowing money for home improvement? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 20, 2009 - 8 answers

Have you ever cut a road into a densely wooded area? [more inside]
posted by Ollie on Mar 29, 2009 - 13 answers

I want to build a dog run on a flat (well, 1% or so) modified bitumen (I think) roof. What materials should I use? [more inside]
posted by iknowizbirfmark on Mar 24, 2009 - 8 answers

Where can I find large-ish (500px by 500px+) images of cats with hard-hats, construction equipment, or other buildering/fix-ish things? [more inside]
posted by roue on Mar 23, 2009 - 7 answers

Is there an 'ask metafilter' on the internet for home/yard projects? Not that I'm disputing the collective mind here, but I'm looking to build something in my backyard and it seems to me there must be some group of contractors who all get together somewhere on the internet to tell amateurs that they're doing it wrong. Of course if you KNOW how to install a yard retaining wall, then, by all means, speak up. [more inside]
posted by rileyray3000 on Mar 23, 2009 - 24 answers

When a survey map and the real world differ, where are construction setbacks measured from? [more inside]
posted by werkzeuger on Mar 1, 2009 - 5 answers

Construction paper's beautiful bright color fades. What paper should I use instead? [more inside]
posted by Foam Pants on Feb 11, 2009 - 9 answers

What is the difference between card stock and construction paper? Any web searches reveal that they're of similar weight/size and are used in standard art projects, but being from non-US, they're not specific enough for me to understand what it is. Where I live, it's all "cardboard" to us =\ . [more inside]
posted by kreestar on Feb 5, 2009 - 17 answers

Where can I find info on house construction that favours simplicity over clever extras? Think "LEGO". [more inside]
posted by phoeniciansailor on Jan 28, 2009 - 24 answers

Is Penetrol a good coating for galvanized steel? [more inside]
posted by philmas on Jan 16, 2009 - 5 answers

What are these thin wood beams in m attic and why are they there? [more inside]
posted by bingwah on Jan 10, 2009 - 12 answers

Woodworkers I need you! A dream fulfilled: We are being given a new workshop! I need help ensuring we plan correctly. [more inside]
posted by stormygrey on Jan 1, 2009 - 15 answers

Victorian house construction/DIY: building a wall in a shared loft (attic). 'What's this thing?' and 'Am I doing it right?' [more inside]
posted by boosh on Jan 1, 2009 - 7 answers

Mortgage Expert Needed: How do I take advantage of these low low mortgage rates BEFORE I gain building approval. [more inside]
posted by Thrillhouse on Dec 22, 2008 - 3 answers

I need to cheaply sound-insulate a door that has two issues: it's hollow, and it has half-inch gaps at its top and bottom. [more inside]
posted by sparrows on Dec 5, 2008 - 14 answers

What’s the best way to build a storage room in my basement? [more inside]
posted by bondcliff on Oct 7, 2008 - 7 answers

I have found someone who can build me a mobile phone out of a rotary dial telephone. But Sparkfun doesn't really have a one-stop shopping list. Help me decipher exactly what parts from this article i will need and also please recommend a good antenna I can use that will give me the best reception but also be cell-phone-tiny. [more inside]
posted by parmanparman on Sep 24, 2008 - 2 answers

Advice/tips on re-tiling a kitchen floor... [more inside]
posted by rokusan on Sep 2, 2008 - 10 answers

A friend of mine recently went to work for a construction team. Their current music selection on their field boom box is limited to CDs of Journey's Greatest Hits, Led Zeppelin 3 and 4, and Mötley Crüe Shout at the Devil. "Tragically," they recently lost their Huey Lewis and the News Sports CD as well. We (mostly) agree that these are perfectly fine records, but there's only so much of this one can stand in a 40-hour week. I was going to help out my buddy track down some new music, but all I'm coming up with is Bob Seger, Eagles, and Steve Perry's Street Talk solo lp. What construction-and-hard-work-friendly full-length releases could be introduced to this stack of CDs to make both my friend and his co-workers happy? He works with men in their late 30s and early 40s, so nothing too outré (No Lightning Bolt or Hair Police.)
posted by porn in the woods on Aug 16, 2008 - 55 answers

I like the mood and health benefits of exercise, but hate the inherent pointlessness of the activity. Short of going into construction work, what are some activities or hobbies that involve physical exertion, but to some other purposeful end? [more inside]
posted by Bardolph on Jul 24, 2008 - 48 answers

Noisy Neighbors Filter: The construction at the house next door is waking me up every morning and they start before 8am. How early can residential construction in Chicago begin and what can I do to bust them if they violate that start time? [more inside]
posted by Elminster24 on Jul 21, 2008 - 15 answers

How was this made? [more inside]
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim on Jun 24, 2008 - 15 answers

Help me figure out just what the hell is up with our new addition, bugs, and sawdust! [more inside]
posted by littlerobothead on Jun 24, 2008 - 2 answers

It seems to me that bricklaying would be more efficient if house bricks interlocked like Lego blocks. Why aren't they made like that?
posted by Joe in Australia on Jun 23, 2008 - 28 answers

I'm moderately handy. Is installing a replacement window something I can do? Or should I leave it to the pros? [more inside]
posted by stupidsexyFlanders on Jun 10, 2008 - 10 answers

Please help identify buildings in two photographs depicting the area around Toronto's CN Tower, in 1976 and 2008. [more inside]
posted by pseudostrabismus on Jun 2, 2008 - 11 answers

I need to compare construction costs in 1968 to costs for a similar project in 2008. [more inside]
posted by viewmastr on May 17, 2008 - 5 answers