Before plywood and oriented strand board (OSB) were invented, homes were built entirely with solid board lumber. The exterior was sheathed underneath the siding with wide boards that, over time, shrank and cracked. All these cracks -- and the many others inherent in most homes -- are pathway...
Today's structural codes require builders to space wall studs uniformly to accommodate plywood and other 4-foot-by-8-foot sheeting materials. The most common stud spacing is 16 inches on center, which means the center of one stud is 16 inches from the center of the next stud. Stud spacing...
If building in an area that follows the Model Energy Code (MEC), builders must either install a “vapor-permeable housewrap” on the exterior or seal all the penetrations in the building by using some combination of polyethylene, caulks, and gaskets on the interior. Performance Measures for ...
batt insulation, plastic or cardboard panels, rolls of plastic sheet, and as bubble sheet. Rigid foam panels with a reflective surface absorb some of the heat but also reflect it. They are applied to exterior walls and don’t require a vapor barrier. ...
Have a ladder available and place it at the corner of the house for firefighters to quickly access your roof. Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals. Patrol your property and monitor the fire situation. Don’t wait for an evacuation order if you feel threatened...
Step 8: Cladding, Trimming, Painting, & Caulking Exterior You're almost done and these finishing touches to the exterior are just as important as the other steps. These steps are important for an overall flawless finish. Seal cracks and gaps with caulking and you may use pre-finished material...
Siding: Choose an exterior-grade plywood painted in a dark tone to act as a visual backdrop for your cedar trim and enhance the structure's aesthetics. Insulation: Utilize polycarbonate panels for the walls. They offer excellent insulation, are lightweight, and are nearly unbreakable compared to...
The pieces of the sandbox are cut from 3/4-inch exterior plywood; for added water resistance, the box rests on 2 × 4 skids. Two eight-inch-wide seats are set into the sides; the end panels are notched so that all top eges are flush. For a favorite all-summer-long toy, build ...
If you’ve used plywood to protect your home from hurricanes in the past, hurricane panel installation using multiwall polycarbonate is a doable DIY. Like plywood, polycarbonate hurricane panels can be direct mounted to your home without the use of installing a framing system, but they are ...
For this, you want to use a thinset mortar meetingANSI 118.11and it should have this number on the label. ANSI 118.11 means it’s approved to go over exterior grade plywood. That’s what you want. It doesn’t have to be an LHT mortar. Specific products include: ...