How can a half-built house be left in the weather with no issues? I’m talking about a wood frame with plastic in the rain type of thing.
In: Engineering
If they plan it right and have good materials, there are a lot of products that are water proof and water resistant.
They are not. They just have the painter fix any sheet rock bowing/ imperfections. The painter always hates the GC and other crews.
My father remembers houses being built using *real timber*, whatever that is, when they put up a frame, left it 12 months in the weather to settle. Then apparently they’d plane and square things up and the house wouldn’t suffer the movement that modern houses do.
It’s not always the case that there are “no issues”. The IBC strengthened the inspection requirements once the reasons behind the Berkley balcony collapse came to light. https://www.berkeleyside.com/2017/06/02/water-absorbent-material-caused-fatal-balcony-collapse-state-says
My gardens framed up with 2x10s sitting on wet soil all year around, it’s only pine (what houses are made of), its been 5 years and it only starting to rot now, woods stronger then you think, especially if it’s able to get some kind of air flow to dry out any excess moisture, wood can last years exposed to the elements.
And that’s how you end up with “sick house syndrome” when they come in and wrap a house whose framing was exposed to a season of rain. They have no way to breathe.
Back in 2008 when the housing market went and fucked off, there were some unbuilt homes near me. It was just the basements. They remained exposed for almost 3 years. There was no rebuilding the basements or anything. How’d they manage that? Wouldnt there be damage overtime?
Any wood in direct contact with cement must be treated since concrete always has some level of humidity. All the other wood sheds water rather well. Also all the 2×4 or 2×6 and such are in a place that is exposed to air and can dry quickly. The only thing that is a problem is OSB plywood. On a vertical wall it still sheds pretty well but when we do a roof the goal is to cover it the same day because it can’t shed as well and it will definitely swell and make it impossible to fit the spacer clips on. Also the last thing you want compromised in any way is the roof that will see plenty of abuse over the years.
Timber frames and most mortar and such can actually get wet no problem, it’s just if they retain the moister and don’t dry out that it becomes an issue, to the best of my knowledge.
Standard wood used for framing such as 2x4s and 2x6s do actualled start to warp after enough tine in the sun.
I frame houses and if we leave the material uncovered for even a few days in the sun it will warp and become much harder to work with.
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