Q: I’m getting ready to build a large room addition that needs a beam to support the floor joists. I’ve been told that a wood beam will work, but I’ve always seen steel I-beams in other houses. Is it ...

DEAR TIM: I’m getting ready to build a large room addition that needs a beam to support the floor joists. I’ve been told that a wood beam will work, but I’ve always seen steel I-beams in other houses.

Q: Can you tell me a few things about the wood beam I uncovered while doing a plumbing repair? How is it possible for this beam to carry the load of everything above it? How do I know whether the beam ...

A load-bearing wall works to support the weight of the structure, while a non load-bearing wall is simply a cosmetic addition. This means that you can remove a non load-bearing wall without any ...

I'd like to build a wood shed to hold firewood. I'd like to build a raised structure supported on concrete blocks or some other kind of foundation, if possible. Traditionally, people either just throw ...

Large wood timbers are strong, impressive and widely used in architecture. They are popular because they are easy to work into shapes that can be used both structurally and aesthetically. Wood beams ...

Floors sag because the load-bearing posts supporting a house beam are failing and/or the footings holding those posts are undersized and sinking. Diagnose the problem by seeking the easiest solution ...