Nail or screw pops occur from time to time. The average house has about 25,000 to 35,000 fasteners, so a dozen screw pops is normal, but when you’re getting hundreds, you have a serious problem and a very expensive callback. Here are some construction tips to help prevent screw and nail pops so you save time and money.
Increased incidence of strong weather systems and the tragedies that follow high wind events have encouraged engineers and designers to rethink the way we build to improve wall strength. Stronger walls will keep home occupants safer during weather events and will increase the lifespan of the home. One of the problems is that the roof, wall and flooring systems are installed as separate entities. Connecting the OSB wall sheathing and the flooring system can create a continuous load path which can improve wall strength by up to 38%.
As the cost of building materials increase and building codes demand more effective envelopes, construction professionals are looking to taller wall sheathing to fill in the gaps. OSB wall sheathing already makes for a sustainable and cost-effective option but with taller OSB wall panels, the efficacy of the building envelope is increased by creating fewer seams while labor costs, waste and installation time are reduced.
Traditionally, wall sheathing is placed horizontally on the studs with an open joint seam running through the middle of the wall system. Now some innovative wall sheathing manufacturers are creating engineered taller wall sheathing panels that can be installed vertically. This provides a number of advantages for builders including lower labor costs and improved energy envelopes.
Keeping your home well maintained will mean that you are able to catch issues when they start and before they inflict too much damage.
It’s spring and, as home and condo owners take advantage of the improved weather to do a little work on their homes, you may be wondering where your renovation dollar will have the most impact. Careful planning and the right choices are the best way to ensure that your home improvements actually add value to your property.
As construction costs increase and building codes demand more effective building envelopes, construction professionals are looking to taller wall panels to fill in the gaps. OSB wall panels already make for a sustainable and cost-effective option but with longer length OSB wall panels, the efficacy of the building envelope is increased by creating fewer seams while costs, waste and installation time are reduced.
Many framers are being told to install OSB wall panels/sheathing as tight as possible in order to create a tighter building envelope and meet energy codes. While this may make some sense, there are inherent pitfalls to this strategy.
From flooring to wall decor and everything in between, unfinished OSB is the latest trend in modern interior design circles. The ‘unfinished’ look takes advantage of the rich texture and pattern that OSB provides to add a little flair. Plus it’s cost-effective and eco-friendly.
Energy efficient buildings are comprised of a number of different elements including specialized wall and window assemblies, insulated doors, structural elements and mechanical systems all working together to ensure a comfortable environment all while minimizing the expense of utility consumption. Most HVAC systems are still sized by rule of thumb, but taking the guesswork out of your calculations will mean that you get the right sized system for your build.
