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Design Guide & Choices of Countertops for Kitchens and Baths
- Kitchen countertop design: material choices, installation, layout
- Countertop Design Issues: what countertop attributes provide the most convenient, durable, and attractive work surface for kitchens and baths?
- Cleanup Advice for Countertops
- Advice About High-Pressure (Plastic) Laminate Countertops
- Edge Treatment Choices for Countertops
- Cast Polymer (Cultured Marble, Engineered Stone) Countertop Guide
- Guide to Cultured Marble Countertop Properties & Quality
- Solid Surfacing Corian-type Countertop Guide
- Recommendations for Using Engineered Stone Countertops
- Guide to Choosing Ceramic Tile Countertops
- Guide to Choosing Natural Stone Countertops: Granite, marble, soapstone, slate countertops
- Questions & answers aboutkitchen & bath countertops: choices, materials, properties, installation, maintenance, repair
- References
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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Countertop choices for kitchens or baths: this article discusses the choices of kitchen countertops or bath countertop materials, including laminate countertops, cultured marble or engineered stone countertops, solid surfacing Corian type countertops, ceramic tile counters, and natural stone countertop choices among granite, marble, soapstone, slate. We discuss the properties, pros and cons of each countertop type and material.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Design Guide & Choices for Countertops for Kitchens and Baths
 Also see CABINETS & COUNTERTOPS This article describes common defects found at installed cabinets and countertops. This article series discusses current best design practices for kitchens and bathrooms, including layout, clearances, work space, and accessible kitchen and bathroom layout, clearances, turning space, grab bars, controls, etc. We include advice on choosing and installing kitchen countertops, cabinets, and kitchen or bathroom flooring, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures and fixture controls such as faucets.
As detailed in Chapter 6 of Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction:
After the cabinets, the countertop is the most visible element
in most kitchen and bath designs. In addition to providing
a visual focal point, durable and easy-to-clean
counters are critical for both hygiene and efficiency.
These
workhorse surfaces should resist scratching, knife cuts,
and burns, be impervious to water and stains, and wipe
clean with a sweep of the sponge.
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Figure 6-46
[Click any image or table to see an enlarged version with additional detail, commentary & source citation.]
Below we illustrate a cultured marble bath countertop installed in a bathroom where, as you can see from the table at left, use of this material is more common than in kitchens..
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Nonporous surfaces
like plastic laminate, solid surface, and engineered stone
fit the bill well.
While plastic laminate still dominates the
market based on its combination of good performance and
low cost, both natural and manmade stone products now
account for a substantial and growing share of the market
(Figure 6-46 above and Figure 6-47 at left).. |
Since no one product can meet every need in a
home, it often makes sense to mix and match materials,
particularly in the kitchen. The main counter areas might
be plastic laminate or solid surfacing with special sections
using, for example, stone for baking, wood for a cutting
board, and tile for a place to set hot pots. The most common
countertop materials and their characteristics are
shown in Table 6-8 below.
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Table 6-8
[Click any image or table to see an enlarged version with additional detail, commentary & source citation.] |
Countertop Design Issues
 For ease of use and maintenance, a
countertop will function best if it has the following
characteristics:
- A smooth surface that is nonporous, stain-resistant,
and has minimal joints and seams. At left we illustrate a ceramic tile countertop. It may have seemed a good idea to Larry and Toby, the builders who installed this surface, but it was a bear to keep clean.
- A flush or under mount sink that lets the homeowner
easily sweep water and dirt into the sink.
- A waterproof joint where the counter meets the
backsplash and side splashes. Side splashes. should
go wherever a counter end meets a wall or tall
cabinet.
- A coved corner at the backsplash makes this joint
easier to keep clean.
- In the kitchen: a no-burn area to set down hot pots.
- In the bathroom: a raised dripless counter edge helps
keep water contained near the sink.
Cleanup Advice for Countertops
For most customers, easy cleanup of countertops
is a top priority. While most of the materials discussed
below are at least moderately stain-resistant, the actual
performance will vary, depending on the specific color,
pattern, finish texture (gloss vs. matte), and porosity of the
material. If possible, obtain samples of the materials being
considered, with sealers applied if planned.
Mark each
sample with a few stubborn stains: indelible marker, grape
juice, salad oil. Let them dry for an hour and then see how
easily they clean up with normal household cleansers and
nonabrasive cleaning pads.
Advice About High-Pressure (Plastic) Laminate Countertops
Plastic laminate still dominates the market for kitchen
counters, because it provides an attractive, durable surface
at a cost of $5 to $10 per square foot versus $50 to
$100 per square foot for solid surfacing or stone. The range
of colors and textures continues to expand with new printing
technologies that have produced realistic looking wood
and stone surfaces.
Made from a sandwich of resin-impregnated kraft
paper, a decorative paper layer, and a top layer of clear
melamine fused under heat and pressure, plastic laminate
is impervious to moisture and resists scratches, dents, and
chips. It can be scratched with a knife, however, or
scorched with a hot pot. Small chips can be repaired with
special sealers, but scratches and burns are permanent.
Before selecting a countertop color, it is a good idea to test a few
sample squares with an indelible marker to see how easily
the marks clean off. Matte finishes stain much more readily
than gloss, and there may be considerable variation from
one pattern and finish to another. More expensive color through
plastic laminates show wear less than the standard
type, and they eliminate the dark band at exposed edges.
If using a postformed counter with a miter joint, it is
essential to mechanically draw the joint tight and to seal
that joint to prevent water intrusion, which will degrade
the particleboard and open the joint. Silicone or special
laminate seam sealer can be used.
Edge Treatment Choices for Countertops
There are now many alternatives to
the traditional square edge that exposes the dark edge of
the horizontal sheet of laminate. The least expensive is a
postformed counter with either a seamless square edge
or raised dripless edge. A wide variety of upgrades are
available to dress up the counter. Beveled laminate, solid
surfacing, and hardwood edging are common details. Site applied
wood edging, however, can lead to problems over
time if the joint is not watertight.
Cast Polymer (Cultured Marble, Engineered Stone) Countertop Guide
Cultured marble, solid surfacing, engineered stone, and
most other composites used in kitchen and bath counters,
sinks, and wall panels are different types of cast polymer.
Cast polymer products consist of a plastic resin, either
acrylic or polyester, and a mineral filler.
The type and
amount of filler largely determines the hardness, stain resistance,
and overall durability of the product. Cultured
marble, for example, which uses crushed limestone as a
filler, is relatively soft and porous and needs to be protected
by a gel coat.
The new granite and quartz “engineered
stone” composites, on the other hand, are nearly indestructible.
These materials are described in greater detail
below.
Guide to Cultured Marble Countertop Properties & Quality
Cultured marble has been produced
since the 1960s. It combines ground-up marble dust with
polyester resins and pigments to make a sheet material
for use in kitchens and bathrooms, as well as fireplace
surrounds and other ornamental applications.
Nearly all
cultured marble products are finished with a thin clear or
colored gel coat, which provides the color and pattern and
creates a relatively hard and stain-resistant skin.
Quality
varies widely, as there are hundreds of small-volume manufacturers
around the country producing the material.
Some of the lower-quality products have had problems
with crazing (small cracks) in the gel coat around drains
and other areas subjected to thermal shocks. High-quality
products should carry a label certifying compliance with
ANSI standard Z-124.
While cultured marble is stronger and less brittle than
natural marble, it is less impact-resistant and scratch resistant
than other cast polymers such as solid surfacing.
The nonporous surface resists mildew and most stains and
is easily cleaned with nonabrasive cleaning agents.
Cultured
marble is commonly used for vanity tops with integral
sinks, as well as shower and tub enclosures, but it is
rarely used for kitchen counters. Scratches and small chips
can be repaired using a special gel-coat compound available
from the supplier, but cracks or breaks cannot be repaired.
Since the gel coat provides the color and pattern,
significant damage to the gel-coat cannot be repaired.
The
sheen, however, can be restored with a thin coat of auto
wax or Gel Gloss (TR Industries).
Because many of the light-colored products are translucent,
they should always be installed on a light-colored
background material with clear silicone adhesive.
Solid Surfacing Corian-type Countertop Guide
Initially introduced as Corrigan® by
Dupont almost 40 years ago, solid surfacing products
consist of mineral fillers, usually alumina trihydrate (a
product of bauxite), and acrylic or polyester resins. Solid
surfacing is a hard and durable homogenous material with
color throughout and is easily machinable with woodworking
tools.
It can be seamlessly welded to itself at joints
and to under mount sinks made of the same material. This
creates an attractive, continuous work surface that is easy
to wipe clean. An economical veneer version, laminated
over a particleboard substrate, is available from some
manufacturers.
Because solid surfacing is nonporous, stains do not
penetrate and it will not support mold or bacterial growth.
Most stains can be wiped away with a nonabrasive pad and
mild cleanser, although bleach is OK if needed. It also resists
mild chemicals, but it should not be exposed for long
to harsh chemicals, such as acetone or paint thinner. The
alumina trihydrate filler also makes solid surfacing fire resistant,
although it is possible to scorch the surface.
While relatively easy to scratch or stain, solid surfacing
is easily repaired. Tough stains as well as minor
scratches or burns can be buffed out of a matte finish with
an abrasive cleanser and Scotch-Brite pad, or wet sanded
with very fine sandpaper (start with 1000-grit and use
coarser grits as needed). Most solid surfacing used on
countertops has a matte-satin finish, which is the easiest to
maintain. For a gloss finish, follow the recommendations
of the manufacturer.
Recommendations for Using Engineered Stone Countertops
The newest class of cast polymer,
sometimes called composite or engineered stone, uses a
high percentage of quartz, quartz silica, and granite to
produce a material with the hardness of natural stone and
the easy maintenance of solid surfacing. Engineered
stone typically has over 90% stone aggregate with just
enough acrylic resin and binders to hold it together. Combined
under heat and pressure, the resulting material is
uniform throughout and has greater flexural strength than
stone.
The nonporous surface is virtually stain-proof and
very scratch-resistant, although it should not be used as a
cutting board. Unlike natural stone, it does not require any
sealing or waxing. Although it will not burn or scorch,
placing hot pots directly on the surface can cause surface
damage from the thermal shock.
Some manufacturers are
able to add a seamless under mount solid-surface sink to
the engineered stone slab, adding to the appeal of the
material. Products include Silestone® (Cosentino USA),
Zodiaq®, (Dupont), Cambria®, (Cambria), Technistone®
(Technistone USA), Ceasarstone® (U.S. Quartz Products),
and Granyte® (Halstead International).
Guide to Choosing Ceramic Tile Countertops
Ceramic tile is a popular countertop material in the West
and Southwest. Its main advantages are high durability and
imperviousness to heat and water. Glazed tiles will not stain,
and tiles rated for use on floors and counters are very scratch
resistant. Softer tiles are prone to chipping, but damaged
tiles can be removed and replaced if necessary. Installing
ceramic tile on one section of counter near the range can
provide a handy place to set down hot pots and pans.
The main problem with tile counters are the grout
joints, which tend to discolor over time. Using a latex modified
grout and sealing the grout will help but will not
prevent stains altogether. The best solution is to use an
epoxy grout and to choose a dark or neutral grout color
such as gray. Lighter colors are generally OK on backsplashes
and walls. Tile is also very hard and prone to
breaking fragile glasses or dishes that strike it.
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Figure 6-33
[Click any image or table to see an enlarged version with additional detail, commentary & source citation.] |
Two details that will enhance a tile counter are a
V-cap nosing tile, which will create a clean-looking dripless
edge, and a coved corner at the backsplash, which will
make it easier to keep the corner clean. Tile counter details
are shown in Figure 6-33 above and Figure 6-35 below.
Guide to Choosing Natural Stone Countertops
Natural stone has become as popular as solid surfacing in
the past few years as stone prices have dropped and finished
stone slabs have become more widely available.
In
general, natural stone is hard, heavy, and cold, and is unaffected
by heat and water. Bakers like the cool, smooth surface
for handling dough. Stain and scratch resistance
varies with stone type, but all stones need some type of
sealer to prevent staining. The most common choices are
discussed below:
- Granite countertop properties: Very hard and resistant to scratching or
chipping. Takes high polish. Oil and grease may stain
granite if not sealed.
- Marble countertop properties: Acidic foods etch or dull surface. Porous
surface absorbs oils, stains, and some odors if not
sealed. Avoid abrasive pads or cleansers.
- Soapstone countertop properties: Very dense and stain-resistant but
relatively soft. Usually treated with mineral oil.
Scratches can be sanded out.
- Slate countertop properties: Very stain-resistant. May need sealers depending
on quality of stone. Minor scratches can be buffed
out with steel wool.
-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Kitchen and Bath Product Manufacturers, Sources, Associations
Ceramic Tile-Setting Material Manufacturer List
Bonsal American
www.bonsal.com
Setting compounds, grouts, preformed shower pans, curbs,
and niches. Also, distributor of backerboards, isolation
membranes, and other tile-setting products
Color Caulk, div. of Roanoke Companies Group
www.colorcaulk.com
Color-matched caulking
Custom Building Products
www.custombuildingproducts.com
Elastomeric and liquid-applied membranes, self-leveling
underlayments, setting compounds, and grouts
Laticrete International
www.laticrete.com
Trowel-on membranes, self-leveling underlayments, setting
compounds, grouts, and sealants
Noble Company
www.noblecompany.com
CPE sheet membranes, trowel-on membranes, clamping
ring drains, and preformed slopes, niches, and curbs
Mapei
www.mapei.com
Trowel-on and sheet membranes, self-leveling underlayments,
setting compounds, grouts, and color-matched
sanded caulks
Ceramic Tile Backerboard Producers
Custom Building Products
www.custombuildingproducts.com
Wonderboard cement backerboard, Easyboard cement and
polystyrene lightweight backerboard, and Rhinoboard
fiber-cement backerboard
Georgia-Pacific Gypsum
www.gp.com/build
Denshield gypboard backer with glass-matt facing
James Hardie Building Products
www.jameshardie.com
Fiber-cement backerboard
National Gypsum
www.nationalgypsum.com
Permabase lightweight cement and polystyrene
backerboard
Schluter Systems
www.schluter.com
Kerdi tile membrane goes directly over drywall or other
substrates
T. Clear Corp./Fin Pan Inc.
www.finpan.com
Util-A-Crete lightweight concrete backerboard
U.S. Gypsum
www.usg.com
Durock cement backerboard
W. R. Bonsal
www.bonsal.com
Extruded polystyrene backerboard with fiberglassreinforced
cement facing
Cabinet Hardware Manufacturers List
Accuride International
www.accuride.com
Ball-bearing drawer slides
Amerock Corp.
www.amerock.com
Comprehensive catalog of cabinet hinges, pulls, slides,
and accessories
Grass America
www.grassusa.com
Cup hinges, slides, shelf supports, and storage accessories
Hafele America
www.hafeleamericas.com
Cup hinges, ball-bearing slides, pulls, and
KD connectors
Mepla Inc.
www.mepla-alfit.com
Cup hinges, ball-bearing slides, drawer systems, shelf
supports, and KD connectors
Hettich America
www.hettichamerica.com
Cup hinges, ball-bearing drawer slides, shelf supports,
and KD connectors
Plastic Laminate Countertop Manufacturers List
Abet Inc.
www.abetlaminati.com
Arborite
www.arborite.com
Formica Corp.
www.formica.com
Nevamar Decorative Surfaces
www.nevamar.com
Pionite Decorative Surfaces
www.pionite.com
Wilsonart International
www.wilsonart.com
Solid Surface Countertop Manufacturers
Avonite Surfaces
www.avonite.com
Centura Solid Surfacing
www.centurasolidsurface.com
Dupont
www.corian.com
Formica Corp.
www.formica.com
Formica solid surfacing, formerly Surell and Fountainhead
Halstead International
www.e-topstone.com
Topstone solid surface distributor
Lippert Corp.
www.lippertcorp.com
Sansung Staron
www.getstaron.com
Swanstone
www.theswancorp.com
TFI
www.tficorp.com
Transolid Inc.
www.transolid.com
Wilsonart International
www.wilsonart.com
Engineered Stone Countertop Manufacturers
Cambria
www.cambriausa.com
Cosantino USA
www.silestoneusa.com
Dupont
www.zodiaq.com
Halstead International
www.halsteadintl.com
Granyte distributor
Technistone USA
www.technistoneusa.com
U.S. Quartz Products
www.caesarstoneus.com
Jetted and Soaking Tubs Manufacturers
American Standard
www.americanstandard-us.com
Aqua Glass Corp.
www.aquaglass.com
Aquatic Industries
www.aquaticwhirlpools.com
Bains Oceana Baths
www.bainsoceaniabaths.com
Eljer Plumbingware
www.eljer.com
Hydro Systems
www.hydrosystem.com
Jacuzzi Whirlpool Baths
www.jacuzzi.com
Kohler Co.
www.kohler.com
Lasco Bathware
www.lascobathware.com
Maax
www.maax.com
MTI Whirlpools
www.mtiwhirlpools.com
Bath Fan Manufacturers
American Aldes
www.americanaldes.com
Remote location single- and multi-port exhaust ventilators
Broan-Nutone LLC
www.broan.com
Low-sone Broan bath fans, also single- and multiport
remote location exhaust ventilators; Nutone ceiling-mount
bath fans
Fan Tech
www.fantech.com
Remote location inline-duct fans
Kanalflakt
www.kanalflakt.com
Remote location inline-duct fans
Marley Engineered Products
www.marleymeh.com
Ceiling-mount bath fans and general kitchen and room
exhaust fans
Panasonic
www.panasonic.ca/English/ventilationfans
Low-sone, Energy-Star-compliant ceiling-mount, inline,
and wall bath fans
Kitchen Exhaust Fan Companies
Amana
www.amana.com
Pop-up and traditional range hoods
Bosch
www.boschappliances.com
Chimney style, downdraft, and traditional range hoods,
stainless steel and colors
Kitchenaid
www.kitchenaid.com
Retractable downdraft, slide out, island, and traditional
range hoods
Broan-Nutone LLC
www.nutone.com
Nutone downdraft, island, and traditional range hoods
Dacor
www.dacorappl.com
Commercial-style, stainless-steel pop-up and overhead
range hoods; hood liners for custom canopies
Gaggenau
www.gaggenau.com/us
Chimney-style, pop-up, slide-out, and island range hoods
in stainless-steel, aluminum, and glass
Jenn Aire/Maytag Corp
www.jennaire.com
Pop-up, under-cabinet, wall, soffit, island, and fans and
hood liners for custom canopies
Thermador
www.thermador.com
Updraft, downdraft, and island-range hoods
Wolf Appliance Co.
www.wolfappliance.com
Pop-up, chimney-style, wall, and island-range hoods
in stainless steel
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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- "The Elimination of Unsafe Guardrails, a Progress Report," Elliott O. Stephenson, Building Standards, March-April 1993
- "Are Functional Handrails Within Our Grasp" Jake Pauls, Building Standards, January-February 1991
- Access Ramp building codes:
- UBC 1003.3.4.3
- BOCA 1016.3
- ADA 4.8.2
- IBC 1010.2
- Access Ramp Standards:
- ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Public Law 101-336. 7/26/90 is very often cited by other sources for good design of stairs and ramps etc. even where disabled individuals are not the design target.
- ANSI A117.4 Accessible and Usable buildings and Facilities (earlier version was incorporated into the ADA)
- ASTM F 1637, Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces, (Similar to the above standards)
- America's Favorite Homes, mail-order catalogues as a guide to popular early 20th-century houses, Robert Schweitzer, Michael W.R. Davis, 1990, Wayne State University Press ISBN 0814320066 (may be available from Wayne State University Press)
- American Plywood Association, APA, "Portland Manufacturing Company, No. 1, a series of monographs on the history of plywood manufacturing",Plywood Pioneers Association, 31 March, 1967, www.apawood.org
- ASHRAE resource on dew point and wall condensation - see the ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook, available in many libraries. The following three ASHRAE Handbooks are also available at the InspectAPedia bookstore in the third page of our Insulate-Ventilate section:
- 2005 ASHRAE Handbook : Fundamentals : Inch-Pound Edition (2005 ASHRAE HANDBOOK : Fundamentals : I-P Edition) (Hardcover), Thomas H. Kuehn (Contributor), R. J. Couvillion (Contributor), John W. Coleman (Contributor), Narasipur Suryanarayana (Contributor), Zahid Ayub (Contributor), Robert Parsons (Author), ISBN-10: 1931862702 or ISBN-13: 978-1931862707
- 2004 ASHRAE Handbook : Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning: Systems and Equipment : Inch-Pound Edition (2004 ASHRAE Handbook : HVAC Systems and Equipment : I-P Edition) (Hardcover)
by American Society of Heating, ISBN-10: 1931862478 or ISBN-13: 978-1931862479
"2004 ASHRAE Handbook - HVAC Systems and Equipment The 2004 ASHRAE HandbookHVAC Systems and Equipment discusses various common systems and the equipment (components or assemblies) that comprise them, and describes features and differences. This information helps system designers and operators in selecting and using equipment. Major sections include Air-Conditioning and Heating Systems (chapters on system analysis and selection, air distribution, in-room terminal systems, centralized and decentralized systems, heat pumps, panel heating and cooling, cogeneration and engine-driven systems, heat recovery, steam and hydronic systems, district systems, small forced-air systems, infrared radiant heating, and water heating); Air-Handling Equipment (chapters on duct construction, air distribution, fans, coils, evaporative air-coolers, humidifiers, mechanical and desiccant dehumidification, air cleaners, industrial gas cleaning and air pollution control); Heating Equipment (chapters on automatic fuel-burning equipment, boilers, furnaces, in-space heaters, chimneys and flue vent systems, unit heaters, makeup air units, radiators, and solar equipment); General Components (chapters on compressors, condensers, cooling towers, liquid coolers, liquid-chilling systems, centrifugal pumps, motors and drives, pipes and fittings, valves, heat exchangers, and energy recovery equipment); and Unitary Equipment (chapters on air conditioners and heat pumps, room air conditioners and packaged terminal equipment, and a new chapter on mechanical dehumidifiers and heat pipes)."
- 1996 Ashrae Handbook Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems and Equipment: Inch-Pound Edition (Hardcover), ISBN-10: 1883413346 or ISBN-13: 978-1883413347 ,
"The 1996 HVAC Systems and Equipment Handbook is the result of ASHRAE's continuing effort to update, expand and reorganize the Handbook Series. Over a third of the book has been revised and augmented with new chapters on hydronic heating and cooling systems design; fans; unit ventilator; unit heaters; and makeup air units. Extensive changes have been added to chapters on panel heating and cooling; cogeneration systems and engine and turbine drives; applied heat pump and heat recovery systems; humidifiers; desiccant dehumidification and pressure drying equipment, air-heating coils; chimney, gas vent, fireplace systems; cooling towers; centrifugal pumps; and air-to-air energy recovery. Separate I-P and SI editions."
- Principles of Heating, Ventilating, And Air Conditioning: A textbook with Design Data Based on 2005 AShrae Handbook - Fundamentals (Hardcover), Harry J., Jr. Sauer (Author), Ronald H. Howell, ISBN-10: 1931862923 or ISBN-13: 978-1931862929
- Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
- Building Research Council, BRC, nee Small Homes Council, SHC, School of Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, brc.arch.uiuc.edu. "The Small Homes Council (our original name) was organized in 1944 during the war at the request of the President of the University of Illinois to consider the role of the university in meeting the demand for housing in the United States. Soldiers would be coming home after the war and would be needing good low-cost housing. ... In 1993, the Council became part of the School of Architecture, and since then has been known as the School of Architecture-Building Research Council. ... The Council's researchers answered many critical questions that would affect the quality of the nation's housing stock.
- How could homes be designed and built more efficiently?
- What kinds of construction and production techniques worked well and which did not?
- How did people use different kinds of spaces in their homes?
- What roles did community planning, zoning, and interior design play in how neighborhoods worked
- The Circular Staircase, Mary Roberts Rinehart
- Energy Savers: Whole House Systems Approach to Energy Efficient Home Design [copy on file as /interiors/Whole_House_Energy_Efficiency_DOE.pdf ] - U.S. Department of Energy
- "Energy Savers: Whole-House Supply Ventilation Systems [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Whole-House_Supply_Vent.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11880?print
- "Energy Savers: Whole-House Exhaust Ventilation Systems [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Whole-House_Exhaust.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11870
- "Energy Savers: Ventilation [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Ventilation.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
- "Energy Savers: Natural Ventilation [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Natural_Ventilation.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
- "Energy Savers: Energy Recovery Ventilation Systems [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Energy_Recovery_Venting.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11900
- "Energy Savers: Detecting Air Leaks [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Detect_Air_Leaks.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
- "Energy Savers: Air Sealing [copy on file as /interiors/Energy_Savers_Air_Sealing_1.pdf ] - ", U.S. Department of Energy
- Gypsum Construction Guide, National Gypsum Corporation
- Gypsum
Construction Handbook [purchase at Amazon.com] H17, Technical
Folder SA920 and PM2, PM3 and PM4, United States Gypsum Company, 125 South Franklin ST., PO Box 806278, Chicago, IL 60680-4124,
- Humidity: What indoor humidity should we maintain in order to avoid a mold problem?
- Ice Dam Leaks in building attics and roof cavities, how to inspect for evidence of leaks, identify causes, and
- What Style Is It?: A Guide to American Architecture, Rev., John C. Poppeliers, S. Allen Chambers, Wiley; Rev Sub edition (October 6, 2003), ISBN-10: 0471250368, ISBN-13: 978-0471250364
- ...
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