QuakeZone provides a continuous load path which, when used with a professional designer’s fastener schedule, meets building code and helps withstand the kinds of shear forces your home is subjected to during an earthquake.
Can you install our longer OSB Wall sheathing panels vertically? Well, of course you can and the Ol’ Sage lets you know why you should.
As homeowners strive to reduce their monthly costs, construction professionals are finding innovative ways of reducing air leakage.
Did your wall sheathing get wet? Well, best listen to the Ol’ Sage Builder regarding the maximum moisture content before closing up your walls.
We recently received a message from one of our readers, and the Ol Sage thought he would pass it along as it is important to be concerned about Volatile Organic Compounds.
Knowing what R-value and U-values mean is key to following energy issues and to selecting products that best suit the climate zone you are building in. R-value is essentially a product’s resistance to heat flow. Adversely, U-value measures the rate of heat transfer. This means that products with a lower U-value will be more energy efficient. It is tempting to think that these two values are direct opposites of each other, but there are some important differences to note.
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%.
Thinking about installing your Windstorm panels horizontally? Is it even possible? You best check in with the Ol’ Sage Builder before starting that project, he’ll set you right!
Moisture can cause many structural problems and create a very unhealthy home for your family when mold and mildew begin to form. Building a home that deals effectively with moisture requires due diligence from design to installation and on to maintenance. The home must be built in such a way as to prevent leaks which are the biggest cause of damage and it must also eliminate condensation which occurs naturally in every home.
Raised-heel trusses provide a cost-effective way to meet more stringent energy efficiency codes. It’s not surprising that four out of five modern homes are built with pre-fabricated trusses as they offer a lot of advantages; a more uniform pitch and size, increased spans mean fewer internal load-bearing walls and they can be installed quickly, with less labor.
