Stair riser height and tread depth are the most common reasons stairs fail inspection in residential construction. They fail because the stair layout is wrong. Under the International Residential Code (IRC), which applies to one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, stair requirements are prescriptive and strictly enforced. And most of the time, failure comes down … Read more
NEC damp wet dry location definitions: Let’s get the code straight from the source, because this is where the confusion usually starts—and where most of the confusion on jobsites begins. Dry Location (Article 100):A dry location is exactly what it sounds like—somewhere you don’t expect any real moisture. It might get damp temporarily (say, if … Read more
Cold weather concrete protection Zone 5 isn’t just a seasonal problem—it’s a code and inspection issue every builder in northern Illinois faces. Zone 5 climate, basically means real winters, real freeze–thaw cycles, and plenty of days that bounce between “not bad” and “what are we doing out here?” Concrete feels every bit of that. Here’s … Read more
