How to Read the Sources
Use code provisions, manufacturer tables and cost surveys within their stated scope.
Different sources answer different construction questions. Read the document title, edition and stated conditions before applying a number to a project.
Model codes and local requirements
A model code describes provisions that jurisdictions may adopt and amend. Confirm the effective edition, local modifications and site criteria with the responsible authority. A code reference on a national guide does not determine which requirements govern a particular address.
Manufacturer documents
A beam table belongs to its named product, grade, dimensions and loading conditions. Keep total load, live load, bearing and connection requirements together. Roof test reports likewise apply to a specified panel or shingle and installation arrangement. Use the exact document and approved assembly when reviewing a substitution.
The LVL guide uses Weyerhaeuser TJ-9000, July 2026. The roof comparison identifies representative manufacturer products and distinguishes their attachment methods.
Surveys and estimates
A construction-cost survey describes its sample, period and cost definitions. The addition budget guide identifies the NAHB 2024 new-home sample and uses its categories alongside an itemized estimating process. Obtain local quotations for the actual addition scope.
Government building-science guidance
Agency publications explain hazards, building behavior and construction practices. Older manuals remain useful background, while current adopted codes and project-specific analysis govern the design. FEMA’s Coastal Construction Manual is FEMA P-55, published in 2011; its two volumes address planning and technical construction topics.
Keep the source documents, approved drawings and accepted changes with the project records. That connection makes later inspection, repair and remodeling decisions easier to assess.