Saw the first of Mike Holmes' new season of home repairs. He fixed an old
couples' duplex which had an odd roof configuration that perpetually leaked.
He extended the roof up into a peak as a normal house would use. However,
the houses had an 8" concrete block firewall between them. When he extended
to roof framing, the firewall had to be extended up to the underside of the
new roof.

Personally, I would have extended the block wall with more blocks as it
would be an excellent firewall but Holmes, who normally has distaste for the
minimum code requirements and tends to over build most things he works on,
extended the firewall with a wood frame and drywall. I know it is legal, (in
the past when these homes were originally built, it was not legal) to
construct a firewall out of drywall but this is the minimum code
requirement.

I see he is now lowering his supposed standards down to the minimum code
requirement.

"EXT" wrote in message
anews.com...
Saw the first of Mike Holmes' new season of home repairs. He fixed an old
couples' duplex which had an odd roof configuration that perpetually
leaked. He extended the roof up into a peak as a normal house would use.
However, the houses had an 8" concrete block firewall between them. When
he extended to roof framing, the firewall had to be extended up to the
underside of the new roof.

Personally, I would have extended the block wall with more blocks as it
would be an excellent firewall but Holmes, who normally has distaste for
the minimum code requirements and tends to over build most things he
works on, extended the firewall with a wood frame and drywall. I know it
is legal, (in the past when these homes were originally built, it was not
legal) to construct a firewall out of drywall but this is the minimum
code requirement.

I see he is now lowering his supposed standards down to the minimum code
requirement.




Nobody cares, dipwad

"Jeff" wrote in message
...

"EXT" wrote in message
anews.com...
Saw the first of Mike Holmes' new season of home repairs. He fixed an old
couples' duplex which had an odd roof configuration that perpetually
leaked. He extended the roof up into a peak as a normal house would use.
However, the houses had an 8" concrete block firewall between them. When
he extended to roof framing, the firewall had to be extended up to the
underside of the new roof.

Personally, I would have extended the block wall with more blocks as it
would be an excellent firewall but Holmes, who normally has distaste for
the minimum code requirements and tends to over build most things he
works on, extended the firewall with a wood frame and drywall. I know it
is legal, (in the past when these homes were originally built, it was not
legal) to construct a firewall out of drywall but this is the minimum
code requirement.

I see he is now lowering his supposed standards down to the minimum code
requirement.




Nobody cares, dipwad

Thanks for your thoughtful response. Why do you even bother reading
postings, let alone bother to reply with useless juvenile drivel.

On 10/17/2012 10:54 AM, EXT wrote:
Saw the first of Mike Holmes' new season of home repairs. He fixed an
old couples' duplex which had an odd roof configuration that
perpetually leaked. He extended the roof up into a peak as a normal
house would use. However, the houses had an 8" concrete block firewall
between them. When he extended to roof framing, the firewall had to be
extended up to the underside of the new roof.

Personally, I would have extended the block wall with more blocks as
it would be an excellent firewall but Holmes, who normally has
distaste for the minimum code requirements and tends to over build
most things he works on, extended the firewall with a wood frame and
drywall. I know it is legal, (in the past when these homes were
originally built, it was not legal) to construct a firewall out of
drywall but this is the minimum code requirement.

I see he is now lowering his supposed standards down to the minimum
code requirement.



There's code, over code and practicality. I will usually go over code
but there are times when code is simply good enough.

In a wood frame urban situation a drywall firewall will hold up long
enough to do what it has to do. The fire department will have, or at
least should have, put the fire out before then. I live in an area
outside of urban fire protection and that is reflected in my insurance
premium.

The practicality part comes in when the fire has burnt long enough to
get through the drywall firewall. If the fire has gone on that long in
a wood frame structure it really doesn't matter what the firewall is
made of. By then it will likely be the only thing left standing.

LdB

On Oct 17, 11:55*am, "EXT" wrote:

I see he is now lowering his supposed standards down to the minimum code
requirement.

A single example is woefully insufficient evidence to support your
conclusion.
-----

- gpsman

On Oct 17, 2:56*pm, gpsman wrote:
On Oct 17, 11:55*am, "EXT" wrote:



I see he is now lowering his supposed standards down to the minimum code
requirement.

A single example is woefully insufficient evidence to support your
conclusion.
*-----

- gpsman

If I DVR the episode and then watch it a number of times would that
count as sufficient evidence? ;-)

On Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:54:37 -0400, "EXT"
wrote:

Saw the first of Mike Holmes' new season of home repairs. He fixed an old
couples' duplex which had an odd roof configuration that perpetually leaked.
He extended the roof up into a peak as a normal house would use. However,
the houses had an 8" concrete block firewall between them. When he extended
to roof framing, the firewall had to be extended up to the underside of the
new roof.

Personally, I would have extended the block wall with more blocks as it
would be an excellent firewall but Holmes, who normally has distaste for the
minimum code requirements and tends to over build most things he works on,
extended the firewall with a wood frame and drywall. I know it is legal, (in
the past when these homes were originally built, it was not legal) to
construct a firewall out of drywall but this is the minimum code
requirement.

I see he is now lowering his supposed standards down to the minimum code
requirement.


He exceeded minimum code by using heavier dry-wall than required. Said
something about drywall and plaster - never saw the plaster go on but
I believe there werer 2 layers of 5/8" fire rated drywall on both
sides

On 10/17/2012 11:54 AM, EXT wrote:

I see he is now lowering his supposed standards down to the minimum code
requirement.

How extreme should he go beyond code?

Maybe he should build houses out of concrete and steel and other
non-combustible materials so they are completely fire-proof?

Maybe they should be tornado-proof as well?

Would you like him to rip out all the Romex and replace it with rigid
metal conduit?

Maybe insulate the walls with 3 foot of closed-cell foam so you could
heat the house with a ****ing candle?

"devnull" wrote in message
...
On 10/17/2012 11:54 AM, EXT wrote:

I see he is now lowering his supposed standards down to the minimum code
requirement.

How extreme should he go beyond code?

Possibly to the way code used to be. Firewall code has been softened over
the years as builders demand cheaper ways to build houses to offset the
increased costs of other insulation and envelope sealing methods.
Personally, after seeing all the houses joined by "firewalls" that burn from
building to building, I would prefer the older way of a masonry firewall
between units and that are then covered by drywall.

On Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:53:34 -0400, "EXT"
wrote:


"devnull" wrote in message
...
On 10/17/2012 11:54 AM, EXT wrote:

I see he is now lowering his supposed standards down to the minimum code
requirement.

How extreme should he go beyond code?

Possibly to the way code used to be. Firewall code has been softened over
the years as builders demand cheaper ways to build houses to offset the
increased costs of other insulation and envelope sealing methods.
Personally, after seeing all the houses joined by "firewalls" that burn from
building to building, I would prefer the older way of a masonry firewall
between units and that are then covered by drywall.



If the firewall does not protrude above the roof it is not REALLY a
fire-wall.