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I had never considered stucco as possibly adding structural strength to a house, but an article in the New York Times describing testing of wood frame structures for resistance to earthquake damage (modeled on the Northridge, CA, quake) says that stucco may add significant stiffening to a structure – it’s an interesting article:
(The New York Times requires registration, but they have never sent me spam or other messages.)
http://www.nytimes.com/library/national/science/072500sci-quake-house.html
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Building codes have gotten much stricter about shear requirements following various earthquakes and hurricanes, however until recently stucco (as was drywall) was allowed in required shear panels. It never calculated out as much as plywood, but it did have some value. I can remember shear nailing stucco wire in 1980. Even though it is no allowed as a means of resisting calculated shear loads, that does not mean that it won't continue to resist shear loads in existing construction. Its value is especially important in older consttruction where it may be the only shear panels.
*I don't think many engineers would consider stucco as a shear membrane in their calcs. Sure, it will stiffen a wall-up until the point when it fails catastrophically. When that point is reached depends a lot on the work in the field and is too hard to predict.
*I see you working Casey.Let's see hot dry windy climate, cool wet climate, high winds, possible earthquakes, what works.Stucco resists brush fires, the wind doesn't get underneath it and blow it off, and it holds paint. Stucco doesn't rot, insects don't eat it, might work in the gorge?But does stucco give it shear strength? Might not have too over 1/2" fir plywood sheating.What's going on in Rowena Casey?Just finshed my job in Hood River. Think you might consider one beer at Full Sail Brewery on your way back to the big city. Better yet full cases of Pale ale for $15 this week.Going to AK soon myself (vacation).joe d
*b TVMDCWhile stucco does add shear value, it depends on what lath you are using. Chicken wire is useless. K-lath, however, does add significant values over chicken wire. However, since the Northridge quake, the values for both stucco and drywall have been significantly downgraded.
*How about if you add a latex modifier to the mix?
*b TVMDCDavid, while a latex modifier may add some elastomeric properties, you'd be better off adding hydrogen peroxide.