On Thu, 04 Nov 2010 09:09:38 -0500, Swingman wrote:

On 11/3/2010 6:33 PM, Larry Jaques wrote:

Hurricane-proof house? I don't see as -any- ties or shear walls.

Trying to rain on someone's parade again, C-less?

Again? But the answer is no. I was shocked to see no ties in the
house.


Obviously hurricane strapping is not installed until after all the
framing elements are in.

Do you know what a "shear wall" is?

I thought I did, but I don't build homes. There appear to be far more
types of shear walls than I'd been aware of.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/lcb1121...ream/lightbox/

You see that thermo-ply sheathing It is one of the main elements of a
"shear wall" in a frame construction.

In the photo, you can also see, from the top sill plate of the first
floor exterior wall, that the next course of plywood sheathing will
overlap the first and second floor exterior walls, which is also a shear
wall requirement in most locales in this area.


(I would have actually used a "running bond" overlap, instead of butt
join, of the sheathing in this area to give it added shear resistance,
but as long as it is properly nailed it should pass local shear wall
inspection requirements, as is ... once the sheathing is complete, of
course).

I've never seen one which wasn't tied down with thick steel to the
foundation, and most of those I've seen were steel or aluminum.

--
Experience is a good teacher, but she send in terrific bills.
-- Minna Thomas Antrim