I love a structural challenge! So I always jump to new threads where the poster has an issue to solve involving spans, loads, connections, etc.
But what is getting old for me is the folks who come here and post, giving us a half-baked layman’s description of the situation, or even if they know a little, don’t provide enough clues.
For most all of these design issues, a drawing would be a big benefit.
Just my beef for this morning.
Replies
Another kuppa java and the whole world will seem better, Gene.
I get the same feeling sometimes, but this is really one of the main reasons we are here. A homeowner who thinks he can just start chopping away at a truss to do this or that, or who wants to eliminate a load bearing wall, or improperly attach a dedck to his house, can either hurt himself or somebody else, and can ruin his house for resale.
it is in preventing this unseen and unrealized loss of value or loss of life that we make some of our most valuable contributuions here, so let's just pat each other on the backs, smile and get on with it.
Want a cyber medal or something? Where would you pin it on?
;)
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I'll hang that medal on my scraggly beard, then I can see it in the monitor's reflection!
There are 2 things that bug me about structural threads.
First, it isn't what they *DO* tell us that bothers me. It's what they *DON'T* tell us. You never know where they're from, what design loads are required by local codes, or if they missed some important detail that they just don't know to look for.
Second is when you don't tell 'em what they want to hear and they get defensive. That ticks me off.
Gene,
I feel pretty competent in a lot of areas, but when it comes to framing, I havent learned the ins and outs, and if I posted I would probably leave out half the info just because I dont think like a framer. I think it might be all the little things that the experienced think of.
I have read tons of info on the ledger board, and I think I could attach one in best practices method, but I dont know a turd about spans and whats what when it comes to a deck. In additon, if I build it, its going to need to be overbuilt a bit, and I wouldnt know which parts would best be oversized.
Im going to be building one soon, so Ill be sure to come drive you crazy... it might even be round on one end, if not the customer wants a stair that goes off the corner.
-zen
oh and thanks for your frustration... its the latex paint over a pressure treat deck threads that drive me crazy.
zendo.. decks are rather easy to design as far as strucutre goes..
paste 'em up and let us have at it
as far as hoping newbies would give more information.. if they knew what they had to give us to let us render an informed opinion.. they probably wouldn't need us to begin withMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
it can be even worse when you don't tell them what they want to hear and they get offensive.but what bothers me worst is when somebody gives an inappropriate and potentially dangerous answer, though that usually gets corrected pretty quick in this site.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
"...but what bothers me worst is when somebody gives an inappropriate and potentially dangerous answer"
Anybody in particular come to mind? Like GeorgeR?
I hope that guy never comes back...
The greatest achievement of the human spirit is to live up to one’s opportunities, and to make the most of one’s resources. [Vauvenargues]
Everybody has to have a nemsis, Boss;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
What get's me is when the original poster goes "Solution Shopping" after someone else offers the correct solution.
You mean the ones like,
"I've been to Home Depot and gotten my deck designed (for free) by them, but I don't like the plan because it is set up to be overbuilt (to save them from liability issues) and now I want you guys to design it on line for me (for free) and tell me what I want to really hear."
Yes, they do wear me out.
Dog
Single-post threads as well.
A Q is asked by a homeowner or builder...ideas are offered, but we ask for clarification on a few things...and the origonal poster never replies back.
Poof!
Bingo!That and posters who don't have the common courtesy to say "thank you". Baby birds, I call 'em. Mouths open, waiting for and expecting a bunch of worms because that's "Mommy's" job. Those register in my head most of the time and won't receive a response from me in the future, should they return.Nor will I change their diapers.(I've had plenty of coffee this morning, Pif. <G> )Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
Edited 3/19/2005 10:30 am ET by GOLDHILLER
geez Gold,
When it comes to finish and unconventional product solvent, your post are among the few that I actually learn something.
I hope I always sent you a thank you note... Im gonna start mailing e-cards.
-zen
Not to worry. I wasn't talking about me in particular. Anytime I see BT members and contributors put in the time and effort to help out a newbie questioner and receive zero thanks for that time and effort....I'm offended to some degree.I certainly don't expect any thanks from the regulars here if I try to help out a bit, nor for exchanges amongst any of the regulars, as we all gain from one another's efforts pretty much equally.......or at least I like to think so. I know I get alot of good info reading the threads and don't say anything to the posters.It's the "I need an answer right now" demands and expectations from impatient and discourteous occasional visiting posters that rub me raw sometimes. It's as if they think we're paid by some third party for that info and time.....and that it should be forthcoming immediately to boot. I think this sort of thing is a sign of the times. Too busy, self-absorbed and in too much of a hurry to bother themselves with common courtesy. Gimme what I want and I'm outta here.Should they post a "thank you" to every responder? Absolutely not. That gets boring, too. But a simple, "thanks everyone" isn't asking or expecting all that much. My folks saw to it that I learned these things before I ever hit kindergarten and would've boxed me upside my ears if I forgot that simplest expression of gratitude for a gift or accomodating gesture.Call me old-fashioned, I guess. Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
please don't ecard me except thru prospero. So many of those companies compile e-mailinglists to sell to the spammers from friends who turn your email over to them
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I can tell. Time to Dee Caf?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Sorry if I sound a litle gruff about all this.I'll try some decaff for the rest of the day. <G>Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
I realize now that you are standing up for others and not your own self
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Or the original poster with the question never even comes back to log in to read his replies! What's with that?
be unread
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Edited 3/19/2005 2:29 pm ET by the razzman
Edited 3/19/2005 2:30 pm ET by the razzman
I have been on different forums since well before the internet.And there has always been the one time poster that asks a question, usually urgent or very critical that never goes back.It seems that the more replies that the question gets the less probability that they will come back.Whenever I see one of those I start looking to see if they made the Darwin Awards.
Yup!! Nuthin like a big dose of negativity to start the day off right!! Be patient. It might get better as you go along.
Take what you need,.. Leave the rest!
You may be interested in the first question under General Discussion.
>> You may be interested in the first question under General Discussion.At the instant you posted your message, it displaced whatever thread you were referring to as the first question under General Discussion. Could you tell us the thread title or message number instead.
Sorry, it was "2x12's replaced by smaller LSL?".
It's a general rule, in just about any pursuit where you have to use someone else's description to make decisions, that the BEST descriptions will leave out about half the important facts, and things just go downhill from there.
It's life.