Room Additions in Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach room additions by Aspenwell Construction with ground-contact treated sills, matched hardware and footings tied into the existing house.
Treated lumber rated for ground contact goes under the walls of a Hermosa Beach addition, at the sill where the frame meets concrete. Moist ocean air and dampness rising through the footing can both work on that board, and decay there loosens the grip of the anchor bolts that hold the house to its foundation. A heavier treatment at the sill protects the first link in the load path.
The sill and its hardware
Shear walls push sideways on the sill during an earthquake, and the anchor bolts pass that force into the footing. Square plate washers spread the load across the wood so the bolt cannot split it. Copper-based wood treatments corrode plain steel, so every connector touching treated lumber is either hot-dip galvanized or stainless. Fasteners match the connector they go through, galvanized with galvanized and stainless with stainless, since mixing metals speeds corrosion of the zinc. A foam sill sealer under the plate keeps the wood off bare concrete.
Plan review, vents and the coastal zone
Plans go to the City of Hermosa Beach for building review, and inspectors check the footing trench, the steel and the framing before each is covered. Whether a particular parcel lies within the coastal zone is confirmed with the city before design is final, because a coastal approval, if required, can affect the schedule. Crawlspace vents are kept clear and the soil inside is covered with a vapor retarder, so less moisture reaches the new sill from underneath. Final sign-off follows the last inspection.
About our room additions serviceEverything we do in Hermosa Beach
Room Additions in Hermosa Beach: questions
Digging beside the old footing reveals how wide and deep it runs, and the engineer compares that with the weight a second floor brings. If it is too small, new sections or posts go in, each on a treated sill of its own, before the upper floor is framed.
Galvanized bolts, straps and hangers join the two frames at the points the engineer marks. The added wall gets screwed and bolted to the original studs, joists drop into hangers level with the existing floor, and flashing covers the roof junction before roofing. Treated wood goes wherever new framing sits on concrete.
While the crawlspace is open, the older sill can be checked for decay and bolting along its full length. Replacing soft sections and adding bolts and bracing can share the addition's permit, with each item priced separately and described in the scope with the reason for it.
Room Additions in other cities
More we build in Hermosa Beach
Book an inspection in Hermosa Beach
Describe the house and what it needs. We look at the structure first and send the quote in writing.