Home Building Techniques by Steven Brouillard Construction; Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham and surrounding areas.

The techniques we use are often traditional, learned from working with master carpenters, builders and books past and present. Some are techniques of experience, learned and adapted from 30 years of doing. The purpose is simple - to build a strong and beautiful structure, be it a house, a handrail, or a door that will stand the test of time and satisfy our clients and ourselves.

I like to draw the plans first as this gives us the best chance to gain all the needed information before we start. Almost all problems and changes can be eliminated this way. Planning saves money.

The Story Pole
We like to put all elevations - bottom of footing, top of footing, block and brick coursing stairs, top of foundation, floor heights, ridge heights and grading - on a story pole. A story pole is a long stick (2 x 4) or (2 x 6) with the elevations on it. We use this from beginning to end, as it gives us the ability to locate any point at any time from any place on the site by using our transit or builders level.

Footings
Footings are formed and poured by us. This establishes a high level of control right at the start, flat and accurate no matter how complicated the footprint. Masons are happy when they see our footings!

Framing - No Nail Guns Here
Framing to my mind is the true joy and challenge of carpentry. It is where the enduring strength of a building comes from and where the quality of the exterior and interior trim begins. To this end we do not use nail guns. Nail guns are production tools that have no place if you want a well-built home. During the framing process we go to great lengths to keep things tight and right. This includes picking and culling lumber and using a great amount of string.

We straighten all walls right before insulation and sheetrock, again with a string line at vertical midpoint, planning for small problems, cutting and cracking for larger bows and twists and sistering or replacing the truly ornery. We feel that all houses should be dry and stable before any insulation or sheetrock is applied. Numerous problems can be avoided this way.

Golden Rule of Carpentry
String is how we keep things flat and straight. It is the technique of choice for "Dividing the Difference", the Golden Rule of Carpentry. "Difference" is the natural inconsistence you get from building anything bigger than a breadbox. "Dividing" is the compromise.

Of course, all of this is just an overview of some of our techniques. Proper nailing, sanding and sealing of wood are all practices we employ to insure a high quality end result.

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