New house construction has developed a problem on the exterior walls.

The OSB panels are bending / bowing on the horizontal and vertical axis
caused by putting the panels too close together according to the GP
representative (supposed to be 1/8 inch between each sheet on the
vertical to allow for expansion). This is further supported by each
panel having the 1/8 inch requirement written on them. In the house
the OSB panels are touching each other which does not allow for the
necessary expansion. The problem is that the 2x4's have not been
sufficiently strong enough to prevent the panels from moving which then
moves the 2x4's which prevents having a "flat" wall for the sheet rock.
The brick wall on two sides is suppose to hide the problem on the out
side.

The proposed solution is to vertically cut each panel with this problem
which requires removing the 2x4 over it, cutting the panel and replacing
2x4 with a new 2x4. This is suppose to relieve the expansion problem
and/or allow for a "flat" wall to install the sheet rock.

There is no plan to correct the problem on the portion of the two
exterior walls that already has stucco applied since that probably would
cause the stucco to crack now (my opinion).

I have a few questions caused by this problem:

1) Does this proposed solution compromise the structural integrity of
the house especially on the long brick wall ( bricks are attached to
this wall which is stabilizing the bricks and the inside sheet rock )?
I think of this as taking 4x8 panels and making them into 2x8 panels
that still have to provide the necessary strength in two horizontal
directions. I think the horizontal strength is reduced by more than
half when a panel of OSB is cut into two pieces.

2) As the panels continue to move under the stucco does that mean that
it will crack and peal his summer on the outside and the sheet rock
walls also move/crack (the summer heat will cause much more expansion
and bigger movement in both directions)?

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

u4ick

The bending and bowing in my opinion would definately harm stucco, the
expantion should not be a problem as thats how it's been done for years.

I don't understand why you cannot simply set the depth of a circular saw to
1/2" and run all the horizontal and vertical seams. Would take next to no
time and would give you the 1/8" gap that they require.

"u4ick" wrote in message
...
New house construction has developed a problem on the exterior walls.

The OSB panels are bending / bowing on the horizontal and vertical axis
caused by putting the panels too close together according to the GP
representative (supposed to be 1/8 inch between each sheet on the vertical
to allow for expansion). This is further supported by each panel having
the 1/8 inch requirement written on them. In the house the OSB panels
are touching each other which does not allow for the necessary expansion.
The problem is that the 2x4's have not been sufficiently strong enough to
prevent the panels from moving which then moves the 2x4's which prevents
having a "flat" wall for the sheet rock. The brick wall on two sides is
suppose to hide the problem on the out side.

The proposed solution is to vertically cut each panel with this problem
which requires removing the 2x4 over it, cutting the panel and replacing
2x4 with a new 2x4. This is suppose to relieve the expansion problem
and/or allow for a "flat" wall to install the sheet rock.

There is no plan to correct the problem on the portion of the two exterior
walls that already has stucco applied since that probably would cause the
stucco to crack now (my opinion).

I have a few questions caused by this problem:

1) Does this proposed solution compromise the structural integrity of the
house especially on the long brick wall ( bricks are attached to this wall
which is stabilizing the bricks and the inside sheet rock )? I think of
this as taking 4x8 panels and making them into 2x8 panels that still have
to provide the necessary strength in two horizontal directions. I think
the horizontal strength is reduced by more than half when a panel of OSB
is cut into two pieces.

2) As the panels continue to move under the stucco does that mean that it
will crack and peal his summer on the outside and the sheet rock walls
also move/crack (the summer heat will cause much more expansion and bigger
movement in both directions)?

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

u4ick

I assume you are thinking of cutting from the outside of the house --
through the wrapping -- the OSB is full of nails from the guns. Is
there a saw that would cut through the nails as well as the OSB?

u4ick



--
-Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler-

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 17:28:09 -0600, u4ick
scribbled this interesting note:

I assume you are thinking of cutting from the outside of the house --
through the wrapping -- the OSB is full of nails from the guns. Is
there a saw that would cut through the nails as well as the OSB?

u4ick

Sure. A good carbide blade lasts a long time, even cutting through
nails. For the entire exterior it will just take a few blades. Small
price to pay for the savings in time it will take!:~)


--
John Willis
(Remove the Primes before e-mailing me)

u4ick wrote:
New house construction has developed a problem on the exterior walls.

The OSB panels are bending / bowing on the horizontal and vertical axis
caused by putting the panels too close together according to the GP
representative (supposed to be 1/8 inch between each sheet on the
vertical to allow for expansion). This is further supported by each
panel having the 1/8 inch requirement written on them. In the house
the OSB panels are touching each other which does not allow for the
necessary expansion. The problem is that the 2x4's have not been
sufficiently strong enough to prevent the panels from moving which then
moves the 2x4's which prevents having a "flat" wall for the sheet rock.
The brick wall on two sides is suppose to hide the problem on the out
side.

The proposed solution is to vertically cut each panel with this problem
which requires removing the 2x4 over it, cutting the panel and replacing
2x4 with a new 2x4. This is suppose to relieve the expansion problem
and/or allow for a "flat" wall to install the sheet rock.

There is no plan to correct the problem on the portion of the two
exterior walls that already has stucco applied since that probably would
cause the stucco to crack now (my opinion).

I have a few questions caused by this problem:

1) Does this proposed solution compromise the structural integrity of
the house especially on the long brick wall ( bricks are attached to
this wall which is stabilizing the bricks and the inside sheet rock )? I
think of this as taking 4x8 panels and making them into 2x8 panels that
still have to provide the necessary strength in two horizontal
directions. I think the horizontal strength is reduced by more than
half when a panel of OSB is cut into two pieces.

2) As the panels continue to move under the stucco does that mean that
it will crack and peal his summer on the outside and the sheet rock
walls also move/crack (the summer heat will cause much more expansion
and bigger movement in both directions)?

Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

u4ick
Hi,
Who is footing the bill for all the remedy work?
I feel for you. I still believe OSB is no good for horizontal
application. I think whoever built your house should be responsible
for all the cost. I did not know they still allow 2X4 walls. It's all
2X6 where I live.(energy conservation)
Tony

"u4ick" wrote in message
...
I assume you are thinking of cutting from the outside of the house --
through the wrapping -- the OSB is full of nails from the guns. Is there
a saw that would cut through the nails as well as the OSB?

u4ick




Yes from the outside, any decent carbide blade will go right thru the nails.
Depending on the sq ft that we're talking about you may need a couple/few
baldes, cheap price to pay considering the alternative.

House wrap....yup, gonna get trashed. Cut out the sections along the seams
and layer in new stuff when your done with them.

You also refrenced horizontal...one of the other poster brought up an
excellent point. By horizontal I am hoping you are refering to a seam and
not the actual board. OSB on a horizontal plane is nasty, doesn't meet code
in any area I've ever worked in. All roofs should be an absolute minimum of
1/2" plywood, I personally won't use anything less that 5/8".

Cheap repair
3 blades @ 10
1 roll 3' x 100' wrap 40
T50 staples 5

Cost ya 75 plus a saturday

knowing it's done right and you won't have to worry.....priceless