I am looking at a house for my daughter to buy.The house is in the northeast and was built in 1963.The house has gypsum exterior sheathing under pine claps.I personally,have never seen this used as a exterior sheathing in a residential building.Can anyone shed some light on this,and educate me?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Few people understand it. Nobody agrees what it is, how to learn about it, or who's responsible for it. It has never been more important
Featured Video
How to Install Cable Rail Around Wood-Post CornersHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
I've seen it a few times. Usually in tract style homes.
It was used for a while. I think it was for added fire protection.
As long as there was plywood at the corners, or diagonal bracing installed, its OK as sheathing. But just OK.
And the siding needs to be nailed into the studs, since the SR sheathing doesn't hold nails.
I have it on my house, but very little of it remains, only the garage really. Exactly what Shep said. It's worthless as far as I'm concerned. I replaced almost all of it with plywood. It was used in the late 50's into the 60's and maybe even 70's I'm not sure. It's biggest thing was that it was fire resistant. It affords little or no lateral structure and yes, all siding must be nailed through into the studs.
My house was built around 1939-1940. I have exterior T&G gypsum sheathing underneath wood clapboards. I never saw it( gypsum sheathing) before either. My claps are nailed into the studs. I later installed vinyl siding overtop the claps...nailed into the claps... didn't worry about hitting studs for such light weight.
My home's interior is wood lath and plaster. Between the interior wood lath and the exterior claps being nailed into the studs, my house has faired OK. It is a 2 story stucture. Ive had no real problems structurally.
My house was ballooned framed...aaagh! Don't really like that...the rafters also were framed without a ridge board...the rafters were mitered tight and have remained that way. BTW, no collar beams were present either. Like I said, house is now approx. 70 years old and still standing...and not leaning or racked. Also, no concrete footer...house has cinder block foundation resting upon clay soil...period.
Old timers always say, "They don't build them like they used too anymore..." And I say, Thank God!
But, bottom line, house still here. I still live in it. Done some remodeling...but still basically the same shell.
Davo