 |
 |
| This
single, 4-page card quickly covers
the essentials you need in specifying,
buying and using the typical lumber
found in residential and light commercial
frame construction. Formulas for
calculating board feet, as well as
quick lookup tables ... |
|
 Specification
Checklist- Softwood
grading categories
- Dimension
lumber
- Timbers,
boards, sheathing
- Lumber
defects defined
- Nominal
and actual sizes: lumber, rough
sawn, surfaced, shiplap, tongue & groove,
siding, etc.
- Sheathing
coverage
- Board
feet
- Rapid
computations in board feet and
board measure
- Coverting
inches to feet (decimal fractions)
|
 |
| This
single, 4-page card quickly covers
the math essentials you need in contracting:
the formulas and rules of thumb for
calculating dimensions, surface areas,
volume, etc. Special sections focus
on specific calculations for each
area of construction... |
|
- Concrete & Masonry
- Sheathing,
decking and roofing
- Drywall,
painting, wallpapering
- Flooring
and tile
- Studs
and headers
- Metric-to-English
conversions (and vice versa)
- Business
math for contractors: Markup,
percentages, etc.
|
 |
| In
this 4-page study guide, you get
a great review aid as you prepare
for the California Law & Business
exam. It also makes a great general
law and management reference, even
after you've received your license! |
|
- Law
Examination Overview
- License
Exemptions
- General
Knowledge
- Safety
- License
Law
- License
Status, Renewal, etc.
- Immigration
- Labor
- Payroll
Taxes
- Taxes
- Business
Management
- Mechanic's
Liens / Stop Notices
- Basics
of Mechanic's Liens and Stop Notices:
How and when to use them
- Home Improvement
Contracts: Required provisions
- General
Knowledge
- Subletting
/ Subcontracting
- Insurance
(Liability)
- Bonds
- Workers'
Compensation
|
 |
| In
this 4-page study guide, you get
a great review aid as you prepare
for the California General Building
license exam. It also makes a great
general reference even after you've
got your license! |
|
- Provides
the "rules" and "tips" for
all the major trades
- Includes
important Cal/OSHA, safety and
first-aid information
- Math
basics, too!
|
 |
Here's
a 4-page, quick guide to collecting
on your contracts, using the California
Mechanics' Lien. Plus, you get
a blank form for your use!
NOTE: You
can't record a Mechanics' Lien
if you haven't first provided your
customer with a proper 20-Day Preliminary
Notice. So we encourage you to
consider the Calif. 20-Day
Preliminary Notice Quick-Card (below),
as well. |
|
- What
is a mechanics' lien?
- Definitions
of important terms
- Waivers
and releases
- The
20-Day Preliminary Notice
- Important
deadlines for primes and subs
- Where
and how to record the lien, and
tips on filing
- Sample
form showing how it looks when
completed
- Blank
form included for your use
- Checklist
and flow-chart so you'll understand
the entire process and every
important deadline
|
 |
Preserve
your ability to collect, and ensure
your customer's timely payment.
Make it a habit to use a California
20-Day Preliminary Notice, and
do it right! This 4-page guide
gives you everything you need to
know... plus a blank form for your
use!
You
can't record a Mechanics' Lien
in California if you haven't previously
provided your customer with a proper
20-Day Preliminary Notice, so this
is the first (and most important)
step to getting paid. |
|
- Updated
for recent changes in the law.
- What
is the 20-day preliminary notice
and why use it?
- How
the 20-day preliminary notice
can actually get you paid faster
- Definitions
of important terms
- Answers
to other common questions
- Timing:
when to deliver the notice
- How
to fill in the notice: a sample
form, showing how it looks when
completed
- Blank
form included for your use
- Checklist
and flow-chart so you'll understand
the entire process and every
important deadline
|
 |
Once
your customer pays you in part
or in full, they may ask you for
a release or waiver of your lien
rights. Here's a Quick-Card that
tells you what you need to know
about such requests, and how to
use the forms that are available
for this task. |
|
- What
is a "waiver & release"?
- Text
of relevant California Law sections
- Definitions
of important terms
- How
to deliver a release
- Progress
Payments: conditional and unconditional
waivers & releases; when
to use which form
- Final
Payments: conditional and unconditional
waivers & releases; when
to use which form
- Releasing
a Mechanic's Lien
- Checklist
and flow-chart so you'll understand
the entire process of mechanic's
liens and every important deadline
|
 |
A
good building starts with a great
foundation! This handy 4-page guide
covers the basics of this next
step in residential construction.
Great for carpenters and framing
contractors, property owners...
anyone who needs a quick overview
of building basics. |
|
- Foundation
Checklist
- Setting
survey stakes
- When
you need a Soils Engineer
- Forms:
Formwork checklist
- Concrete:
Transit mix, field mixing
- Water-to-cement
ratio
- Mixing,
placing and curing concrete
- Inspections
and Testing
- Slab
on grade: expansion joints
- Slab
defects: causes, prevention and
remedies
- Illustrations:
Soil types, U.S. frost penetration
map, foundation layout, typical
details for slab-on-grade and
raised floor foundations, stepped
foooting.
|
 |
Once
your foundation is place, it's
on to the framework! This extended,
6-page guide covers the basics
of this critical step in residential
construction. Great for contractors,
property owners... anyone who needs
a quick overview of the basics
involved in this key building phase. |
|
- Framing
procedure
- Fire-resistive
requirements (in hours) for construction
Types I through V
- Allowable
building heights/floor areas
for one-story buildings
- Allowable
spans/member sizes: Rafters,
Floor joists, Plywood/OSB flooring,
Roof sheathing, Ceiling joists,
Headers, Floor girders
- Nails:
Sizes; Nailing schedule
- Rafter
ties
- Purlins
- Framing
notes: Anchor bolts, Sills, Use
of pressure-treated lumber, Under-floor
ventilation, Footings
- Raised
floor construction (wall section)
- 2-Story
Exterior Wall Framing (section)
- Workmanship
notes
- Outline
of Inspections required onType
V buildings
|
 |
| This
6-page, full-color guide covers
the essentials of door and window
installation and replacement, featuring
dozens of clear illustrations and
diagrams and many useful tips. |
|
- Installing
a Door
- Parts
of a door
- Installing
a Window
- Parts
of a window
- Plan
and Elevation symbols for dozens
of door and window types
- Types
of Windows
- Nail-on
windows
- Framing
out a door or window
- Understanding
Window ratings
- Weather
stripping, caulking and thresholds
- Safety
glass - where and when to use
it
- French
doors
- "Hands" (and
bevels) of doors
- Locating
hardware on a door
|
 |
 |
| Need
a quick introduction to construction
how-to's? Or just a short review
of the items you need to remember
when planning a project? Quick-Cards
on Construction Techniques fit the
bill. |
 |
| This
6-page, full-color guide covers
the basics of interior and exterior painting, featuring clear illustrations
and useful tables and tips. Includes several quick lookup tables... |
|
- Painting Checklist
- Systems of Coating
- Methods os Estimating Painting
- Calculating Areas
- Exterior paint selection chart
- Painting Tips
- Federal Regulations
- Painting Equipment
- Safety First
- Painting Quick Facts
|
 |
| This
4-page, full-color guide covers
the basics of roofing and roofing materials, featuring clear illustrations
and useful tables and tips. Includes several quick lookup tables... |
|
- Roofing Systems
- Roofing Materials and Fire Ratings
- Basic Roofing Safety Rules
- Roof Slope & Pitch
- Materians Used for Finished Roofing
- Typical Asphalt Rolls & Shingles
- Metal Roofing
- Metal Gauges: Thickness & Weight per foot
- Roofing Calculations
- Roofing Terms & Definitions
|
 |
| This
4-page, full-color guide covers
the basics of stucco exterior
finishes, featuring clear illustrations
and useful tables and tips. |
|
- 1-,
2- and 3-coat stucco finishes
are compared.
- Preparation
of frame, masonry and concrete
structures for the stucco finish.
- Safety
precautions when working with
Portland cement.
- Stucco
mixes and mixing techniques,
for basecoats (scratch and brown)
and finish coat.
- Application
patterns and tips.
- Curing
each coat.
- When,
where and how to use metal lath,
control and expansion joints
and other lath "accessories".
|
 |
| This
6-page, full-color guide covers
the basics of excavation and
trench safety,
featuring clear illustrations and
useful tables and tips. |
|
This
new, six-page laminated, full-color
card with illustrations quickly covers
essential Excavation & Trench
Safety in construction, public works,
architecture, and engineering. Includes
several quick look up tables...
- Soils
- Standard
Sieve Size
- Designated
Soil Sizes
- Soil
Volume Characteristics
- Typical
Weight of Soils, Sand, Gravel
and Stone
- Maximum
Allowable Slopes
- Factors
Affecting Cave-ins
- Shear
Strength of Soils
- Unconfined
Compressive Strength of Soils
- TYPE:
A, B, C Soil Classifications
- OSHA
Prevention & Protection
- A
list of Trench & Excavation
Facts
- Four
Common Sheathing & Shoring
Methods
- Excavation
Slopes
- Calculating
Excavations Steps 1-3
- Calculating
Area for Common Geometric Shapes
- Calculating
Volume for Common Geometric Shapes
|
|
 |
| Whether
it's a quick review of the items
you should include in your estimate,
commonly-used formulas and rules-of-thumb,
or a handy worksheet on repair costs,
you'll find a Quick-Card that fits
the bill! |
 |
| This
6-page guide (same low price as our
4-page cards!) provides a collection
of checklists, formulas, quick look-ups
and tables for the estimator. A great
reference for the general contractor
and subcontractor alike. |
|
- Pointers
on creating accurate and profitable
estimates
- Rules-of-thumb
on realistic estimates
- Estimating
reminders: a list of often-overlooked
items that can make or break
a project
- Basic
weights and measures and equivalents
- Calculating
areas and volumes for circles,
squares and rectangles, parallelograms,
triangles and trapezoids, trapezoidal
prisms (typical of walls, footings
and piers), etc.
- Common
sources of estimating errors
- Tables
of decimal equivalents: minutes,
hours and days
- Basic
Cycle times (30-, 45-, 60-, 75-
and 90-seconds)
- Typical
Cycle times for excavators, loaders,
and dump trucks
- Estimating
math and techniques for concrete
walls: formwork and concrete,
reinforcement, misc.
- Estimating
math and techniques for drywall:
quick-calculations for rectangular
rooms
- Stucco
and plaster work
- Typical
thicknesses required for concrete
slabs
- Labor
costs
- Additional
costs (design, engineering, documentation
and permits, owner orientation,
etc.)
- Rounding
off for materials and prices
|
 |
| This
4-page guide brings together the
basic concepts, formulas, quick look-ups
and reminder lists for a masonry
estimator. Also a great reference
for the general contractor and property
owner. |
|
- Elements
of a Masonry Estimate
- Masonry
formulas for area of wall, area
of a masonry unit, height of
courses, number of courses, number
of masonry units, mortar requirements
- Block,
brick and mortar types
- Maximizing
productivity on the masonry job
- Rules-of-thumb:
number of blocks or brick, amount
of mortar, amount of sand, amount
of concrete to fill voids in
block and bond beam lintels
- Brick
and Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)
sizes
- Formulas
for brick and block calculations,
as well as quick look-up tables
for typical sizes and wall areas,
including mortar joint allowance
- Conversion
tables and formulas for inches
to feet
- Formulas
for calculating square and circular
area measure, and concrete cubic
yards for slabs, footings and
columns
- Tables
for reinforcement and lintels
|
 |
| This
4-page guide provides a collection
of the formulas, quick look-ups and
reminder lists for the concrete estimator.
Also a great reference for the general
contractor and property owner. |
|
- Formulas
for calculating slab, wall and
column volumes, as well as odd
shapes (pyramids, prisms, etc.)
- Elements
of a Concrete Estimate
- Materials
and Mixtures: Typical mixtures,
weight of concrete, tips on placement
- Forms:
Elements of forms, estimating
tips and reminders
- Columns:
Quick look-up to the concrete
required for square, rectangular,
circular, hexagonal and octagonal
columns
- Footings:
Quick look-up to the concrete
required, by linear foot, for
footings in 100 different sizes
- Slabs:
recommended thicknesses; quick
look-up to the concrete
required for slabs in 24 different
thicknesses
- Reinforcement:
Size and weight of standard rebar
and welded wire mesh; required
coverage
|
 |
| This
4-page worksheet provides up-to-date
cost information for hundreds of
the most typical residential repairs.
Designed for the "handyman" contractor,
this is also a great reference for
the general contractor and property
owner. |
|
- Unlike
our typical Quick-Cards, this
ia a worksheet, printed on standard-weight,
matte paper so you can fill it
out!
- Priced
at just 99 cents each and available
in affordable 10-packs
- Covers
site work, structural elements,
decks roofing, fireplaces/chimneys,
walls, ceilings, floors, doors,
kitchens, exterior work, windows,
gutters, bathrooms, sewers, septic
systems, water heaters, washers/dryers,
supply piping (water and gas),
private wells, electrical, HVAC,
and hot water heating.
- Each
column includes a space for subtotal,
and the last page includes a
cost summary (total), generous
space for notes, and payment
options.
|
|
 |
| These
2 NEW Quick-Cards cover some of the
most important basics of plumbing.
Whether it's a quick review of plumbing
codes, or a handy reference to commonly
used plumbing formulas and figures,
you'll find a Quick-Card that fits
the bill! |
 |
| This
4-page guide provides the basic numbers,
flow rates and formulas the plumber
needs. |
|
- Pick
a pipe size for single and multi-family
units
- Standard
f ixture connection sizes
- Hot
water requirements by appliance/fixture
- Waste
pipes, rates of flow, pipe sizes
- Piping
support
- Gas
Supply piping: sizes and flow
- Hot
water recovery rates
- Pressure
drop
- Terms
and units usedin plumbing and
hydraulics
|
 |
| This
4-page guide provides a great overview
of the plumbing codes and how to
apply them to your work. |
|
- Understanding
the code
- Model
codes... what are they? what
do they mean to me?
- Plans,
isometrics, estimates and permits
- Applying
for a plumbing permit... what
you'll need to know
- Inspections,
tests and maintenance
- Illustrations
of typical townhouse plumbing
(2-story), hot and cold water
systems, multi-story waste system,
and more.
- Plumbing
glossary with a design/compliance
focus
|
 |
| This
NEW 4-page guide covers the most
often used plumbing symbols on architectural
plans and engineering drawings. A
must for every plumbing contractor. |
|
- Typical
lines and their corresponding
riser symbols
- Equipment,
fittings and valves
- Fixtures
- Dozens
of common abbreviations used
in plans and drawings related
to plumbing
In
most cases, symbols are shown for
plan view, and where alternatives
are commonly in use, multiple symbols
are shown. Typical notation formats
are also included. |
 |
| This
4-page guide covers the topic of
septic systems from A to Z. Costs,
soils, EPA requirements, siting,
testing, construction, failures and
abandonment... a must for every general
and subcontractor working on projects
where septic systems are involved. |
|
- EPA
figures on household water use:
sizing the septic tank, leach
lines, etc.
- Cost
comparison: septic system versus
public sewer hookup
- Sizing
and preparing leach line trenches,
leach line sizes
- Seepage
pit and grease trap requirements
- EPA
septic system requirements: general,
septic tanks and grease traps,
leach lines and drainfields,
seepage pits
- Safety
rules and recommendations
- The
basic septic system
- Percolation
tests
- Soils,
soil terminology and soil conditions
- Failures:
signs of failure, causes of failure,
remedies, abandoning a septic
system
|
|
 |
| Need
a quick introduction to HVAC formulas?
Or just a handy quick-reference to
the equations you use most often.
We've got it in a new Quick-Card! |
 |
| This
4-page, full-color guide covers
the essential formulas and equations
used in HVAC calculations. Plus several
handy lookup tables. |
|
- HVAC
Rules-of-Thumb
- Fans
(Basic Fan Laws, More Fan Equations)
- Ductwork
and Air Flow
- Equivalent
Duct Sizes
- Air
Flow in a Duct
- Required
Main Duct Sizes (table)
- Air
Flow for HVAC (Sensible Heat)
- Ductwork
Pressures
- Pressure
Drop in HVAC Air Ducts
- Reynolds
Number
- Heat
Loss or Gain (Buildings)
- Steam
Heating or Cooling
- Common
HVAC Formulas for Air and Water
- Energy
Efficiency Calculations:
Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER),
Coefficient of Performance (COP),
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
(SEER), Heating Seasonal Performance
Factor (HSPF), Annual Fuel Utilization
Efficiency (AFUE)
- Useful
Conversions
- R-Value
- AC
Condensate Flow
- Combustion
Air-Opening Sizes (table)
|
|
 |
 |
| This
NEW 6-page guide provides the tables
and formulas needed on a daily basis...
a true essential for every electrical
contractor. |
|
- Conductors
- Cable
insulation moisture ratings
- Additional
Insulation Letter Codes
- Specific
wiring applications
- Safety
first + safety always = good electrician
- Cord
- Flexible
cords and cable uses
- Calculating
branch circuit voltage drop in
percent
- Voltage
drop formulas
- Conductor
size /voltage drop
- Conductor
length/voltage drop
- Voltage
drop using Ohm’s law
- Electrical
cable class ratings
- Busway
or busduct
- Swithboards
or switchgears
- Circuit
breaker/fuse sizes
- Pull box
and junction box sizes
- Panel
board sizes
- Disconnect
sizes
- Gutter
and wireway sizes
- Standard
wiring colors
- Outlet/devices/junction
box fill
- Conductor
volume allowance
|
 |
| This
NEW 8-page guide covers the growing
field of solar energy. Focusing primarily
on typical residential installations
and the basics of what goes into
them, this essential reference is
filled with tables, tips, how-to's,
why's and wherefore's... this is
truly a must-have for anyone interested
in solar... contractors, homeowners,
etc. |
|
- Solar
Radiation Map (U.S.)... the best
places for solar installations
- Solar
Energy: A Bright Idea
- Orientation
and Inclination of PV Arrays
- Residential
and Commercial PV System Types
- Basic
Grid-Tied System
- Grid-Tied
System with Backup Power
- Off-Grid
System with Backup Power
- Parts
of the System: Batteries, Charge
Controllers, DC Converters, Photovoltaic
(PV) Cells, Inverters,
- PV Cell
Construction
- Efficiency
Losses
- Sizing
a PV Array
- Solar
Power Economics
- Residential
Net Metering
- Comprehensive,
4-page Solar Glossary defines the
dozens of terms that are essential
to your understanding and application
of solar concepts.
|
 |
| This
NEW 6-page guide covers the essentials
involved in residential rough-in
work. Filled with tables, tips, and
how-to's... this is a must-have for
every electrical contractor. |
|
- Notching
and drilling in studs and joists
- General
guidelines for roughing in a
residential project
- Junction
boxes: sizing for the number
and types of wires.
- Placement
of outlets and switches in general,
in kitchens and bathrooms
- Pulling
cable: tips and best practices
- Wire/cable
checklist
- Standard
Wire colors
- Wire
sizes and Voltage drop
- Attachment
of cable to framing: where and
how often
- Placement
of electrical outlets and fixtures
- Glossary
of relevant terms
- Clearance
and grounding of service panels
and gas utilities
- Calculating
required electrical service:
a step-by-step worksheet.
- Dozens
of electrical symbols most commonly
in use. Typical notation formats
are also included.
|
 |
| This
NEW 4-page guide provides the essential
electrical symbols used in architectural
plans and engineering drawings. A
must have for every electrical contractor. |
|
- Electrical
outlets and fixtures
- Switches
- Wiring
and Conduit
- Exterior
site: lines, lighting, etc.
- Communications,
Audio-Video and data/computer
cabling
- Hundreds
of abbreviations used in plans
and drawings related to electrical
Symbols
are shown for plan view, and where
alternatives are commonly in use,
multiple symbols are shown. Typical
notation formats are also included. |
|
 |
 |
This
new, six-page, full-color card
quickly covers essential welding
symbols used in architectural plans
and engineering drawings. Includes
several quick lookup tables... |
|
Typical
welding symbols are included
- ISO
symbols
- AWS
symbols
- Structural
Steel Shapes
- Types
of weld joints and positions
- Designation
of welding processes by letters
- Designation
of cutting processes by letters
- Dozens
of common abbreviations used
in plans and drawings related
to welding
In
most cases, symbols are shown for
plan view, and where alternatives
are commonly in use, multiple symbols
are shown. Typical notation formats
are also included. |
|
 |
| These
2 NEW Quick-Cards cover the basics
of taking your contracting business
to the next level. Organize and plan
your work better, and you'll manage
to do more work and make more profit! |
 |
| This
4-page guide explains the basic approaches
to managing and scheduling commercial
projects. |
|
- Activity
List for typical Commercial Jobs,
broken down by phase/trade
- Bar
Chart
- Arrow
Diagram
- Critical
Path Method (CPM)
- Cost
Curves (S-Curve and Bell Curve)
- Glossary
of project management and scheduling
terminology
- What
the successful project manager
and scheduler should know
|
 |
| This
4-page guide explains the basic approaches
to managing and scheduling residential
projects. |
|
- Activity
List for typical Residential
Jobs, start to finish... a great
check to make sure you've considered
everything in your schedules
(and your estimates!)
- Bar
Chart
- Arrow
Diagram
- Critical
Path Method (CPM)
- Cost
Curves (S-Curve and Bell Curve)
- Glossary
of project management and scheduling
terminology
- What
the successful project manager
and scheduler should know
|
|
 |
 |
| This
expanded, 6-page guide presents the
required elements for compliant interior
and exterior facilities: parking,
ramps, doors, stairways, toilet facilities...
and signage throughout. Clear, full-color
illustrations with required dimensions. |
|
- Parking
and entryways
- Curb
ramps, ramps
- Stairways
- Handrails
- Doorways,
clearances (landings/platforms),
door hardware
- Single-
and multiple-accommodation toilet
rooms
- Urinal
facilities
- Lavatories
and sinks
- Grab
bars
- Dispensers
and other restroom accessories
- Showers
and tubs
- Signage
throughout
|
 |
| This
4-page guide presents the requirements
for laying out and outfitting compliant
toilet facilities. Color illustrations
with required dimensions make it
easy! |
|
- General
requirements for clear spaces,
flush valves and door hardware
- Single
and multiple accommodation toilet
rooms
- Lavatories
and sinks
- Grab
bars
- Dispensers
and accessories
- Urinals
- Signage
|
 |
| This
4-page guide presents the requirements
for laying out, striping and signing
compliant parking facilities. Color
illustrations with required dimensions
make it easy! |
|
- General
requirements (number of accessible
spaces required)
- Signage
- Pavement
markings
- Single
and double stalls
- Double-diagonal
stalls
- Walks
and sidewalks
- Parking
structures
- Doors
and gates
- Accessible
route of travel
- Passenger
loading zones and Valet parking
- Curbs,
overhangs
- Detectable
warning surfaces at crossings
|
|
 |
 |
| This
new 4-page Quick-Card provides a
great introduction to the basics
of swimming pool construction. Includes
essential tables and full-color illustrations. |
|
- Project
activity list
- Table:
calculating pool volumes
- Table:
amount of concrete required
- Table:
sizing heaters
- Table:
sizing pumps (required flowrates)
- Concrete
and finish plaster basics; curing
- Electrical
connections and bonding
- Heater
and filter types/requirements
|
 |
| This
special 4-page Quick-Card provides
information on typical structures
used in a standard Southern California
swimming pool or spa, in different
types of soil. |
|
- Standard
wall section
- No-deck
section
- Shallow/deep
end ramp
- Typical
longitudinal section
- Building
surcharge section
- Spa
details
- Expansive
soil details
- Skimmer
- Section
at underwater light
- Raised
bond beam
- Bond
beam details
- Fencing/barrier
requirements
|
|
