I am currently having a house built for me. Alas, I’ve had day after day of rain and snow and freezing rain. The builders have done little to keep the materials dry. I am getting stressed about the OSB subfloors, and roofing getting drenched. What are the implications of OSB swelling at the edges? I also wonder about the studs starting to develop mildew. Is there something I should do to clean the studs before I put in the insulation and vapour barrier? Will the wetness alter the structural integrity of my new home? Are there any tricks to drying the place out once it is completely closed in? I’d appreciate any advice.
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Replies
Are the floors plain osb, or Advantech brand?
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I'm pretty sure that the flooring is regular 19/32" OSB and the roofing is 15/32" super-roof.
You better hope that the flooring is 3/4", not 5/8", or you're going to have more problems down the road. 3/4" is the absolute minimum for floor tile, and even then most tile installers will want a full inch or more.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
or he can add a layer of 1/2" ply where he wants to tile.
Did he say he was tiling??
I hate osb, never used it yet, have no desire to.
Stop scaring the poor lad![email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
yeah, see what Piffin said??
No mention of tile either.
Sheese!
Fast thread eh?[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
The builders told me they would cover the materials with tarps, but it never happened.
I was planning on putting underlayment down in the places that are being tiled. I also figured I would put laminate flooring right over the OSB.
A tarp on the OSB roof with some water under it is probably worse than no tarp at all. If it gets rained on for a few hours, and dries over the next day or two, it spends less time being wet than if it had a tarp holding the moisture in.
-- J.S.
On the underlayment ... I assume you mean an additional layer of underlayment-rated plywood or osb. Particle board won't work under tile. And a layer of hardiebacker doesn't add any strength.
Same for the laminate ... check the manufacturers web site, and see what the require for underlayment.
I'm not trying to pop your bubble, but if you need another layer throughtout the entire house, now is the time to do it. It will never be easier or cheaper. And if you do it now, all the doors will be set to the right height, as will the cabinets, toilets, etc.
Just for fun, how about check the floor joists and tell us what size they are (probably 2x10) and the spacing (probably 16"). And how far between supports.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Undelayment installation DURING rough framing?? Huh??
That's finish flooring over here, goes down before the tile or when other finish flooring is being intalled.
Before the trim of course, but during rough?, never heard of it.[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
What are you calling underlayment?
Down here it is common to use 1" or 1-1/8" osb for the second floor decking ... first floor being concrete.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
We might typically do 1/2 r 5/8 PLYWOOD sub.
5/8 or 3/4 PLYWOOD underlayment over that.
Did I mention that I don't care for osb?
It's typically installed before trim after rock.
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
The builders told me they would cover the materials with tarps, but it never happened.
That's likely more of an inconvenience to them than it is to you. But I would also take them to task on it. Hey, it's your house and your money right?
Shows they are lazy perhapr too, at least in my book.
I'd probably covered it with ply wood.
Underlayment goes on down the raod when your doing the finish floors.
The next poster after the one I am replying to has it right.
Relax.
When the house is dry you can assess the stituation in a calm and thoughtful manner.
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
since the subfloor is only 5/8" you were planning to recover it with 1/2" underlayment anyways - right?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Here in Wi, 5/8ths OSB is not code! Plyood can be 5/8, but OSB needs to be 3/4".
As a flooring installer, I have serious problems with OSB. Nialed down hardwood doesn't stay put as the nails pull much easier, and it is prohibited as a subfloor under tile. That said, there are 2 companies that do warrant going over OSB, them being Hardibacker and Schluters Ditra. Do not use any other CBU or you are without a warranty.
I know there will be those who say there is no difference between OSB and plywood, but then they also are probably the ones not giving the price difference back to the customer.
drill a few 1" holes in the subfloor so it doesn't puddle.
If you didn't use Advantec OB then all you can really do now is pray for good luck
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I'll play prick, inspite of what your builder maybe could do a little better..........
Whatsit say in your contract about storing building materials??
Did you actually think that the structure would be erected and under roof and not see a drop of water??
Lumber develops mold and mildew from the day it is cut. Get over it. It's all around us every day in the air we breathe and the food we eat.
Take a deep breath man, you'r gonna expire!
Honey, pass the mushrooms please!
(oh c'mon, just havin a little fun!)
[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
I wouldn't sweat it too much. Time is always of the essence but if this is your own house, you probably have a bit more control over the building schedule. Once the framing is done and the house is "dried in" meaning the roof is on and the windows and ext doors are installed, you can open the windows and let the house *breath* for a bit during dry weather. You still have your plumbing and electrical to do before insulating and drywalling so it's going to dry out anyway. You should be fine.
PS: I would however try so see that the roof decking has a chance to dry out as much as possible before laying on the felt and shingles.
"I'd appreciate any advice."
relax. It'setty hard to build most houses inside themselves ... so most houses get rained and snowed on/in till their dried in.
That's why it's called ... dried in.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
We don't use OSB, 3/4" T & G ply, but I have one we finished the roof decking last week as it started to rain. It's rain or drizzled everyday since and is expect to continue for a few more days. Don't worry about it. It will soon be roofed and windows installed, follow the advice to let the roof deck dry out before applying felt and shingles. Here in the northern zones some heat will be applied while plumbing, HVAC, electric, and other roughs are completed and the home will easily dry out before insulation. Be sure to keep the basement dry, so a swimming pool of humidity doesn't travel up through the house.
Good luck and sleep tight, it'll all be ok. Oh and I would kick the GC's a$$ for not covering the stored materials. It's of somewhat questionable value but it importantly does show respect for the project, you and themselves.
I cannot stress enough to my people and subs that almost no owner clearly understands the construction process and it's esoteric techniques, but every owner knows if you show up and if you keep the project looking professionally tidied up and orderly. It's like when I was a charter pilot in my mis-spent yut, no matter the difficulty of the flight, the only thing that mattered and what your competence as a pilot was judged, was if you greased the landing. It's the little things or better put, very big and important to the client, little things.