Construction Forums

1. Builder’s Talk: The Screwfix Community offers discussion for topics focused on building, remodeling and general all-around fixing.
2. Construction Resource Forum: This is a user-friendly forum for homeowners, buyers, sellers and contractors.
3. DIY Chatroom: A great forum to discuss all aspects about add-ons, remodeling and design.
4. Ghar Expert Forum: No matter if you’re building a new home or remodeling, you can get ideas and answers from this forum.
5. Great Possibilities Construction Industry Forums: Enjoy construction tips as well as issues such as contracts and other legalities and home improvement.
6. Remodel Crazy Forum: This forum may appeal to both construction workers and DIY remodelers.
7. Owner-Builder Forums: Learn about construction budgeting, bargain strategies, scheduling and more from other participants in this forum.
8. Ridgid Construction Discussion Forum: The discussions on this forum range from construction to home improvement.
9. SkyscraperPage Forum: Since 1999, SkyscraperPage.com’s forum has been one of the most active skyscraper enthusiast communities for development news and construction activity.
10. Taunton Press Breaktime: Fine homebuilding for beginners and for experts.

Contractor Forums

11. Contractor City Forums: Contractors can find topics that range from construction contracts to coaching and jobs.
12. Contractor Talk: This forum is part of a larger portal that contains blogs, projects, reviews and news.
13. Construction Contractors Community: Tap into contractor talk, help and solutions in topics that range from Internet marketing to window cleaning and everything in between.
14. ECN Electrical Forum: This is a discussion forum for electricians, inspectors and related professionals.
15. Electrician Talk: This is one of the most popular electrical contractors’ forums, for the professional.
16. Mike Holt’s Forum: Mike Holt worked his way up through the electrical trade from apprentice electrician through electrical contractor to become one of the most recognized experts in electrical power installations.
17. My Contractor List: This forum covers all aspects of the building trade, and includes a special spot for professionals only.
18. Paint Talk: Professional painters meet here to discuss all types of painting issues, inside and out.

Alternative Building Forums

19. Free Design Build Forum: Discuss plans for small home, cabin or cottage design with the folks who participate in this forum.
20. GFRC Forum: GFRC is an ultra-strong composite made of Portland cement infused with randomly dispersed glass fibers that reinforce the concrete and increase its load-bearing capacity. Users need to register.
21. Green Building Forum: Join this forum and benefit from discussions with thousands of other green building fans and discounts on green building.
22. Green Building Talk: This site’s forums are on the menu to the right, and include residential, commercial, design and planning and building and construction.
23. Historic Preservation Learning Portal Forum: This forum is a small part of a larger site, with a focus on historic preservation for residential and commercial buildings.
24. Home Builder Implode-O-Meter: On the alternative side, lean back and learn about the frustrations others have endured with home building across the nation.
25. Lean Construction Forum: This forum is for anyone to engage in a dialogue on lean construction by sharing information and best practices.
26. Log Home Builders Association: This forum is jammed with discussion in the public section, including topics such as homesteading, solar energy and alternative power and general discussion about log homes and cabins.
27. National Trust for Historic Preservation Forum: You must be a forum member to participate in this forum about preservation of historic buildings and districts.
28. Western North Carolina Green Building Forums: For those of you ready to take that next step and either build a new green home or green your existing home, this is your forum.

Architectural and Design Forums

29. Archinect Discussion Forum: Students, contractors, designers and voyeurs visit this list to learn more about various architectural issues.
30. Cyburbia Urban Planning Community: And interesting group that discusses urban planning, including planners, architects, students, urbanists and city officials.
31. Design Community Forums: An amazing list of forums that ranges from architecture to local environment.
32. Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design: Use this site to learn about current West Coast trends and to discuss issues and design problems.
33. McGraw Hill Construction Community: These discussion forums, which are open to all, include such topics as green building projects, virtual design, practice matters and a forum for younger architects.
34. Residential Landscape Lighting and Design Forum: Learn more about curb appeal, landscape design and special lighting for commercial and residential spaces at this forum.

Real Estate Investment Forums

35. Agents Online Real Estate Idea Center: You name it, this forum has it…everything the real estate broker, agent and home owner might need to know about home improvements, investments and sales.
36. Appraisers Forum: This is the premiere online community for real estate appraisers, talking about everything from education to financing. Commercial and residential properties included.
37. Bigger Pockets Forums: The BiggerPockets Forums contain the answers to your real estate investing and other real estate-related questions. With 320,708 posts in 51,616 topics, across 336 forums, ours is the most comprehensive investing discussion area online.
38. Foreclosure.com Real Estate Exchange Forum: Don’t let this forum fool you — topics include foreclosures, but also topics on how to stop foreclosures, real estate marketing and more.
39. HGTV’s Buying & Selling Homes Message Board: Post your mortgage questions, appraisals, home inspections, locations, real estate issues. No topic too broad.
40. Overseas Property Investment Forum: Can’t find what you want stateside? Just look overseas, and let the folks at this forum help you find the property of your dreams.
41. Real Estate Forum: This forum bills itself as “The ‘ORIGINAL’ Real Estate Social Network since 2005 and your #1 Resource for all things Real Estate.”
42. Real Estate Investor Forums: This forum is a great place to learn and share knowledge in all types of real estate investments, including rehabbing, wholesales, foreclosures and remodeling to flip.
43. Real Estate Law Forum: Get free legal advice about everything from buying and selling a home to neighbors and boundaries.
44. REI Club Forums: Topics include creative real estate, wholesaling, 1031 exchanges, asset protection, commercial real estate, hard money lenders, IRA investing, landlording, lease options, mobile homes, no money down, owner financing, rehabbing, tax liens, and more.

Location-Specific Real Estate Forums

45. Chicago Real Estate Forum — Illinois Realty Talk Community: If you’re seeking property investments and building possibilities in the Big Windy, then this forum is up your alley.
46. Houston Realty Forum: This is a discussion board for Houston, TX and surrounding cities.
47. METRO: The real estate forum for NY, NJ, CT buyers, sellers and owners.
48. Seattle Real Estate: News and discussion about real estate and the housing bubble in the Seattle, Washington area.
49. Syracuse Real Estate Forum: Discuss this New York City’s real estate and real estate transactions.
50. The Tucson Real Estate Forum: Real estate issues, sales and purchases specific to the Tucson, Arizona region.

Home Owner’s Guide

1. 100K House: A blog that originated as a record of building a LEED Platinum home, that now discusses more recent building issues and experiences in a personal and professional way.
2. Homeowner’s & Trades Resource Center: Provides a variety of blogs that cover topics such as bad building practices, safety and sustainable remodeling.
3. Home Building and Interior Design: This blog covers a huge topic of remodeling questions, such as permits, costs, and planning. Great resource for a “do-it-yourselfer.”
4. Home Remodeling Bootcamp Blog: Gets down to the basics of remodeling that every homeowner should know. How do you keep from getting burned by a contractor? Learn how on this blog.
5. Home Sweet Home: If you are looking for ideas, designs and advice for online supplies, this is a good blog to begin your search.
6. Kathy’s Remodeling Blog: A refreshing approach to discussing the mechanics of everything from appliances to plumbing. Presented in every day language that every one can understand.
7. One Project Closer: The idea behind this blog is to help the do-it-yourselfer homeowner through the completion of the seemingly endless list of home repairs and projects.
8. The Quirky Contractor: This contractor enjoys and seeks innovation. Anything and everything about construction is game, and this quirky contractor always tries to find a new way to do something or listen to a new idea and try to apply it.
9. Young House Love: A record of learn-as-you-go, kept by a young and enthusiastic couple. Very personable approach to home improvement guidelines and experiences.

Business Guide

10. Best Practices Construction Law: A legal blog for people in the construction and building industries. Provides peer reviews and project analysis that can help with best practice decisions.
11. Bob The Builder’s Blog: This is a first-hand account of various aspects of homebuilding. Provides photos and video tutorials.
12. Builder News Blog: From the editor of Builder’s News, this blog offers a polished view on a wide range of construction issues and topics.
13. Collaborative Construction Blog: A blog that focuses on helping to negotiate agreements among stakeholders in the construction industry.
14. Construction Informer: This blog does just what it says it does – inform. Loaded with downloads, podcasts and a variety of resources for your business needs.
15. Federal Construction Contracting Blog: From a team of legal experts, this blogs informs and guides contractors who work with federal contracts.
16. Good Home Construction: A blog that focuses on the restoration and renovation of the vintage homes of Southern California. Before and after photos of pouring the foundation to the finishing touches with décor.
17. Home Improvement & DIY Advice: Need tips on any aspect of home construction, large or small? This blog offers photos and detailed advice. Great span of topics on tools and equipment.
18. New Home Builder’s Blog: A comprehensive listing of home builders in several states that provides good detail of their services and experience. Also showcases their most recent listings
19. New Home Construction. This blog offers a variety of resources that cover topics such as design centers, hot new products and corporate news. A great one-stop blog to help with nearly any construction need.

Architecture By Design

20. 3rings: Architects and designers alike will enjoy this products blog that displays and discusses many new concepts and their applications.
21. A Dailey Dose Of Architecture: Rich with the new and old world heritage of New York architecture. Daily updates and images.
22. A456: Begun as a way to share thoughts about architecture. This blog will help to expand ideas about concept and design.
23. AnArchitecture: Though an Austrian-based blog, the focus here is an international one. It dares the reader to broaden their concepts of design, push the envelope further than they thought they could stretch.
24. Archinect: A multi-disciplinary discussion by designers from around the world. This blog offers new approaches and insights to design.
25. BLDGBLOG: From the editor of Dwell Magazine, Geoff Manaugh has provided a place for lively discussion about planning, landscape and a variety of other architectural issues.
26. BUILD: BUILD relies on diverse professional and construction backgrounds to provide a balanced and thoughtful approach to architecture, design and structural engineering projects.
27. City Of Sound: A great blog for city design 101. Many architects have argued function over form, but this blogger concludes that design determines how these two elements can integrate.
28. Design Spotter: If you live and breathe contemporary design, this is a blog for you. Looks at such topics as accessories, lighting and new material.
29. Inhabitat: Complete with an excellent photo gallery, this blog showcases some of the best designs of today. A must-see.
30. Super Colossal: This blog offers “architectural ephemera” , news and exciting projects from Sydney Australia.

Going Green

31. Green Building: This blog, by environmental reporter Katie Zemtseff, has a focus on Seattle and the surrounding region, however, the view extends to other points of interest.
32. Earth Architecture: A showcase of sustainable architecture and design constructed with earthen materials from around the world.
33. Green Bean: Based in Chicago, one of the greenest cities in the country, this blog provides insight into on-going projects as well as those in the planning stages.
34. Green Building Law Update: Chris Cheatham, a construction attorney, blogs about land use, codes and regulations as they relate to environmental law.
35. Green Buildings NYC: If you are looking to secure office space with the intention to green-up your business practices, this is the blog for you.
36. Greenconstructionuk’s Blog: A great blog focussing on energy-efficient homes that support environmentally-friendly designs.
37. Green Goddess: A woman’s perspective in the construction industry and how, as a consultant, she has worked towards educating homeowners and builders in sustainable construction.
38. Jetson Green: An environmentally-minded blog that invites professionals in the construction industry to join in discussions.
39. Resilience Science: This blog focuses on practical measures in which to incorporate green design and urban ecology.
40. Treehugger: An award winning journal that posts news and technology for a greener future.

Landscape and Construction

41. Free Soil. A collaboration of various activists, artists and gardeners, this blog resolves to take a hands-on approach to sustainable design.
42. Garden History Girl. This blog has a passion to look beyond the mundane thinking that our landscape is only a collection of plants. To her, it is art.
43. Landezine. To this blog, no place is without the potential to being sculpted, not even our final resting place. Wonderfully inventive.
44. Landscape Architeck. Ideas gleaned from around the world in various disciplines of planning and design.
45. Landscape Designer. Paul Corsetti blogs about his years of experience in the landscape architecture industry combined with his love of gardening.
46. Landscape Design Advice. Have a landscape or design question? This is the place to post and respond with your own advice.
47. My Urban Garden Deco Guide. An environmentally-conscious blog that discusses ideas, products for an urban setting.
48. Places And Spaces. Provides recent news and comments about developments within the landscape industry.
49. Pruned. An offering of photos, videos and comments on unusual and interesting design.
50. Turned Earth. Detailed blog that covers garden issues ranging from pests to sculpture to furniture.

Make Multiple Graphs

You can make a number of different graphs and charts with these applications, suiting your visual aids to your needs.

1. Create a Graph: This offering from the National Center for Education Statistics provides the chance to create different kinds of graphs. It’s mainly for the kids, but it does a great job at simple graphs.
2. Smart Draw: You can try this for free, creating a number of different graphs and charts, and then copy them into different applications you use, from PowerPoint to Word to Excel.
3. ChartPart: Create bar, line, and pie graphs, as well as venn diagrams and scatter plots with this online tool.
4. IntelliPRINT: You can get a free trial of this product that can turn your Lotus Notes into usable data in the form of graphs and charts.
5. JS Charts: Generate JavaScript graphs for free. There is also a commercial license available.
6. Web Chart Creator: Enjoy a 30-day free trial of this graph and chart generator that can help you make dynamic 3D graphs.
7. ChartAll: Turn boring data into interesting visuals with this customizable graph and chart program.
8. ChartGizmo: Generate bar and line graphs, as well as pie charts and other interesting and helpful visuals.
9. GraphsCharts.com: Create graphs and charts to spice up your web site. Includes paid options as well as free options.
10. ChartGo: Use this free graph generator to create a number of different kinds of charts and visuals.
11. AnyChart: This is another graph application that offers a free trial. Just make sure you cancel before the trial period is over.
12. Graph ZX: Create pie charts, bar graphs and more with this Shareware application.
13. Chart Tool: Use this to design a number of different types of graphs and charts.
14. Grapholic: Get your graph on — in a number of different ways — with this tool that allows you to create a number of different graphs.
15. amCharts: Use different versions to create bar graphs, line graphs, pie graphs, and scatter charts.

Bar Graphs

If you are interested primarily in bar graphs, there are a number of applications you can use.

16. 3D Graph Generator: This bar graph generator creates “fly-through” graphs that feel as though you are moving through the chart, and viewing it from different angles. Try the free trial first.
17. Clustered/Stacked Filled Bar Graph Generator: This generator can help you create bar graphs that are either clustered or filled, adding visual variety to your presentations.
18. BARCHART Tool: Generator your own bar graphs by punching in information and watching the product appear.
19. Bar Graph Generator 1.0: Lite bar graph generator that is easy to use.
20. 3D Stacked Vertical Bar Graph: Create stacked bar graphs with ease when you use this software.
21. Bar Chart Tool: Simple bar chart creator that can also create cluster charts.
22. Bar Graph Generator: This online tool from MrNussbaum.com offers a quick way to create bar graphs.

Pie Graphs

Pie and donut charts are interesting and easy to understand. Here are some ways to generate pie graphs.

23. Yellowpipe: Designed to great pie graphs in 3D.
24. MapTools.org: Create pie charts that you can use for a number of presentations.
25. PieColor: A fun app that allows you to use crazy colors and customize your pie graph.
26. AT Pie Chart 1.2: Use simple PHP script to create a display using a pie graph.
27. 1-2-3 PieCharts: Step by step process helps you create attractive pie charts.
28. Pie Chart Creator: Create pie graphs with this free demo version. Or you can pay for a more advanced version.
29. Free Pie Chart Generator: Make a pie chart with up to six slices quickly and easily.
30. SpiceCharts 3D Pie Chart v1.6: Create pie graphs in 3D with this expressive app.

Line Graphs

While not always a lot of fun, line graphs can nevertheless get the point across. Here are some places for making line graphs.

31. Graph 4.3: Create line graphs using mathematical functions. Great for problem solving or visualization.
32. Make a Line Graph: Fill in the fields with different values, and watch a line graph appear before your eyes.
33. ZGrapher: Line graphs made easy with this plot utility.
34. Grapher: This graph creator has a demo form, and is marketed to engineers and scientists.
35. A Line Graph Generator: Create a line graph on the fly, adjusting backgrounds, axes and more as you work.
36. LINECHART Generator: Fill in the fields to customize your line graph.
37. 2D/3D Line Graph for PHP: Create line graphs, and then get the PHP script to embed it online.

Animated Graphs

Add a little fun to presentations with animated graphs. You can get your point across online especially well with these.

38. Animated Chart: Create charts using flash animation. A free version and a paid version.
39. Swiff Chart: Interesting animated graphs. Free trial version and paid version both available.
40. FusionCharts: Use the free demo trial to get an idea of what you can accomplish with these animated charts.
41. XML/SWF Charts: Use this tool to create a number of different charts, including animated charts.
42. Rich Chart Live: Use the free version of this graph generator to create attractive animated charts.
43. CoPlot: A free version of this graph tool can allow you to animate your data in interesting ways.
44. FlyCharts: Create interactive and animated graphs using the free version, or pay for a license.
45. AmiChart: Sign up for a free trial and make professional looking animated graphs and charts until it runs out.

Miscellaneous Graphs

There are a number of other graphing programs that offer unique and interest data displays.

46. Gliffy: Includes flow graphs, and different types of charts and diagrams for more interesting presentations with a free trial.
47. Family Tree Builder: Create a visually interesting graphs showing different aspects of your genealogy.
48. Online Function Grapher: Solve problems and see graphs of solutions with this mathematical graphing tool.
49. Scatter Plot Maker: Generate a scatter plot graph with this simple and straightforward tool.
50. StatPlanet Map Maker: Put your data in map form, adding different graphical information as needed.

1. Under the floor heating with an automotive radiator: If you don’t have all the parts, find something you do have. This under the floor heating and plumbing project certainly gives new meaning to the word “recycle.” These are pipes that go with a wood burning stove boiler. An automotive radiator is attached to the floor joists as a main system component, and no one really knows where the mish-mash of pipes (some of them quite rusty) came from. According to This Old House, this system never worked as well as the Ozark mountain engineers had hoped. Surprised?
2. “Efficient” air exchange: When you are properly ventilating your home, and setting things up so that you end up with vents to blow hot or cold air into the home, you also have to have return registers. These help keep the flow of air circulating properly in a well-ventilated home. But what happens when you don’t think things through? Well, you might end up with your hot air flowing directly back to the furnace. Which means that, not only will you be getting poor air circulation, but the rest of your house will be less than warm and cozy this winter.
3. Chimney stack right next to the window: Chimney safety and planning is one of those important things that shouldn’t be overlooked. Unfortunately, some don’t think everything through when planning their DIY home projects. This home has the chimney stack right up to the window. That means that all of the smoke, soot and carbon monoxide can easily get in. Unless, of course, it’s blocked by the air conditioning unit. Of course, it doesn’t look as though the air conditioner has been properly installed, either…
4. Cardboard to keep PVC pipe from toughing the hot water heater flue pipe: The fact that this set up could result in a house fire is the biggest of problems. This DIY home project features PVC pipe installed next to the hot water heater flue. Of course, PVC pipe is plastic and can melt. So, the do it yourselfer decided to separate the pipe from the flue with the help of some cardboard. Of course, the fact that cardboard is flammable is not really a very good solution to the problem.
5. Nails to secure the floor: Whether building a first floor, or building a second floor onto your home, the DIY home project needs proper planning for a way to secure the floor. This usually involves securing a column to an I-beam supporting the floor. Generally, sturdy bolts or a welder is required to properly ensure safety and security. But if such things aren’t on hand, perhaps some nails will do? It’s amazing that all sorts of problems didn’t manifest themselves before the problem was discovered and corrected.
6. Flue pipe made of aluminum foil: For some reason heating systems seem to be quite popular in terms of DIY home projects. Perhaps because it is a relatively small system that is easy to get to, and that seems easy to work on. Why, you can even construct your own flue pipe if you like. This do it yourselfer made a section of water heater flue entirely out of aluminum foil. Unfortunately, foil is highly corrosive and likely to degrade rather quickly. Which will mean a rather large mess at sometime in the very near future.
7. I-Beam support with…shims: Sometimes, you might find that the I-beam is not long enough. Or perhaps the pocket cut into the foundation is too deep. In any case, a pile of shims was used to make up the difference. Just putting the shims in there was a foolhardy and risky move, as the intrepid do it yourselfer was risking life and limb. Hopefully, this is just a temporary solution, rather than expected to be a long term building component. After all, any number of natural events could easily dislodge the shims — and the floor.
8. Homemade humidifier out of a whipped topping container: Some DIY home projects include attempts to make homes more comfortable, as with a humidifier. And it is possible to make your own humidifier, with the help of a whipped topping container. Really, though, any plastic container will do just as well. Just fill it with water and hook it into the system some how. You’ve installed your own whole-house humidifier! Of course, one isn’t sure how successive owners will react to this type of home appliance.
9. Duct tape can fix anything: It’s been said that duct tape is the ultimate fix-it tool. It holds many things together. Additionally, it can be used to create purses and luggage, and even act as fabric for those who construct clothing out of the many different colors of duct available these days. But perhaps using it to repair a broken framing member is going a bit too far. It just seems as though duct tape is a little insufficient when it comes to structural repairs — even if it is this confidence-inspiring shade of industrial gray.
10. Sideways water heater: Many people choose to install their own water heaters. This is because it can be accomplished with an intermediate amount of DIY skill. However, sometimes things still go wrong. These intrepid do it yourselfers installed a water heater on its side. And then they took away the pressure relief valve and replaced it with a pressure gauge. That way, they could see how much pressure was building — but have no way to relieve it. If this thing were pressurized enough, it could actually explode. And we all know how messy and painful that would be.