Replies

1. 
   DanH | Dec 07, 2009 07:15am | #1

   Well, for one thing the classical platform framed house is held together by gravity more than nails. Each component is stacked on another component in such a way that the nails are just keeping things from slipping off, not actually carrying any weight (with exceptions, of course).

   The other reason, of course, is that gluing takes a lot more time than nailing.

   A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of its business, cannot help making celebrities of the people who would destroy it.  --Lewis H. Lapham
1. 
   Mike_Mills | Dec 07, 2009 10:17am | #4

   Living in earthquake country means you have to design to survive a 6g acceleration in each of the three axes.  Under earthquake conditions, things are not just statically loaded, bearing their own dead weight.  When the wind blows, especially when it blows erratically, the loading is not simple dead weight downward.

   I was wondering if gluing would reinforce the nailing and prevent some of the damage seen under these dynamic loading conditions?

   Yes, it would take some time but probably not that much.  I wonder how that cost-benfit ratio works out?  

1. 
   DanH | Dec 07, 2009 03:37pm | #5

   With earthquakes there's always the question of whether you're might be making joints too stiff. Hard to say whether stiffer is better or worse for a given joint without some analysis. From that standpoint nailed joints are a known quantity, with a known amount of flexibility.
   A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of its business, cannot help making celebrities of the people who would destroy it.  --Lewis H. Lapham

2. 
   jonblakemore | Dec 07, 2009 07:30am | #2

   Why?

   You could make a lot of things stronger, but to what end? If you don't benefit from the additional strength, are you not wasting your efforts?

    

   Jon Blakemore

   RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

3. 
   Jeff_Clarke | Dec 07, 2009 07:48am | #3

   If you use sprayed in place closed cell insulation for all practical purposes you ARE 'glueing' the framing together - and the difference is noticeable!

   Jeff

4. 
   YesMaam27577 | Dec 07, 2009 04:44pm | #6

   I agree that a glued wood joint is stronger than the wood. But only when the pieces are glued face-grain to face-grain (or side to side grain).

   The vast majority of joints in a house are end grain to face grain. And glue isn't worth much in that situation.

   Unless you want to start lobbying the code authorities for the use of mortise and tenon joinery. LOL

   I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone,
   And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone;
   I can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone,
   So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here. (Phil Ochs)

1. 
   DanH | Dec 07, 2009 11:09pm | #8

   Shoulda been around Fairborn Ohio maybe 50-60 years ago. They had several wood structures on Wright-Patterson AFB that were for antenna testing, and which were built entirely from wood with nary a nail. Used pegs and stuff. Story was that they brought in an Amish crew to build them.
   A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of its business, cannot help making celebrities of the people who would destroy it.  --Lewis H. Lapham

5. 
   RedfordHenry | Dec 07, 2009 05:17pm | #7

   Could you imagine how much more fun renovation/repair work would be if wall sheathing and roof decks were glued to the frame?  Maybe if PL put some pressure on the code writers...

6. 
   JohnSprungX | Dec 07, 2009 11:21pm | #9

   Here in earthquake country, I did glue stuff on my house -- roof sheathing to rafters, doubled top plates, sistering joists.  Bottom line, it takes way too much time to be practical for professional work.  Nailing 2" OC on the edges and 4" in the field comes close enough for LADBS, the additional strength of glue isn't cost effective. 

    

   -- J.S.

    

7. 
   xxPaulCPxx | Dec 10, 2009 02:29pm | #10

   I'm all for the wacky
   I'm all for the wacky ride.

   There are some specific places where glue can be a really useful tool - like shear walls. Other than that, it's overkill. Modern framing is good enough, and it's always getting better.

1. 
   Piffin | Dec 13, 2009 08:21am | #13

   One place in this industry where more glue and screws are used is modular homes, esp the pre-assembled module boxes that are delivered and stacked on foundations.

   They have to be able to withstand the rigors of road vibrations without damages. and because they are built factory assembly line style inside a controlled environment, glue and adhesives are compatible with the process and needs.

8. 
   byhammerandhand | Dec 11, 2009 10:10pm | #11

   A friend of mine from Oklahoma told me of a building put together with glue. All worked fine until the attic space reached a little over 150F when the glue plasticized and the whole roof collapsed.

1. 
   Mike_Mills | Dec 13, 2009 04:31am | #12

   Ya gotz ta haz the right kinda glue.