Builder ommitted sections of exterior sheathing – is this acceptable?
It looks like on my production built home, the wall studs went up and most of the exterior sheating (consisting of OSB panels) were nailed on. However, before all of bare studs could be covered with OSB panels, it looks like they wrapped the exterior of the house with a black membrane/barrier. So some sections of the exterior walls have just the black vapor barrier and nothing underneath, and others have vapor shield and the OSB exterior sheathing. I included a picture (2nd story bedroom). Is this normal? Thanks!
Replies
The osb is a shear panel
The osb is most likely installed as shear panels, and isn't required for the entire wall surface.
The appropriate wall design is dependant on a lot of things such as the climate, the siesmic zone, and finished wall surface to be installed.
While the osb would perhaps be a shear panel.............
there's usually a sheeting of some sort the same thickness nailed off between the sheets of OSB.
This membrane (black stuff), how thick is it-some almost looks like felt paper, but under the window it shines.
What kind of siding is going to be miraculously put on that frame?
Could this be a brick veneer home?
thanks.
The siding will be stucco, and there is a wire mesh that is on the exterior surface of that black membrane. The home is in California, so there is earthquake risk, but no extremes of climate (i.e. no snow, no tornadoes, not super hot). The black barrier is fairly thick, I think it might be felt, but some parts, as you point out, are a material with a shinier finish, and it appears to be something else. Most of the home (maybe 80-90%) is covered with the OSB sheathing, but I'm concerned that the sheathing did not cover all the exposed studs, and there's only a layer of moisture barrier between the studs and the stucco.
Call the BI and ask what code requires.
I've never seen anything like that b/4.
I have seen plywood corners and mid wall run with an asphalt impregnated sheathing or foamboard, even an exterior gypsum product, but never sheeting and then some missing spots..............
I would think that the whole house would have felt or that membrane over the sheathing.
Beats me, I'd certainly question the builder and/or call the inspector.
Best of luck.
This is standard then
From my experience doing stuccoed tract homes in Vegas, and Phoenix, I'd say that what you are getting is standard building practice. for the southwest.
Sounds like standard practice for stucco
90% of the houses built from WWII on had only let in 1x6s for racking and tarpaper with chicken wire with stucco.
Seems to be working, I wouldn't worry about what you have, it's way more seismic brace than those 1 bys ever were.
Joe H
Not fully sheathing is often code and often done, particularly w/ stucco. Code requires every corner to have shear sheathing on it. Distance depends on your approach but usually ranges from 2 ft to 4 ft ... of a FULLY sheathed wall (i.e. no windows and sheathed top to bottom).
However your pic bothers me a bit ... your sheathing appears not to go all the way to the bottom plate? Also your pic focuses around a window ... what do you have at the corners of the house?
Please post more pictures
Shoot verticals, showing bottom plate to top plate, and horizontals showing wide angles so that we can see a bigger picture.
Thank you,
Dan