House Build - Sheathing Question

[DerbyDad03]

I've been watching the progress of a house build that a co-worker is going through via pictures that he is taking.

I've been able to explain to him just about everything that the builder is doing except for this:

On both sides of most large exterior openings (large windows, patio door, etc) there is a short, horizontal length of a 2 x 4 spanning the interior side of 2 studs with a bolt through the sheathing and 2 x 4, secured with a lever nut (similar to the link below) on the 2 x 4 side.

These braces appear to be holding the sheathing against the exterior of the studs. Were these braces installed prior to nailing and have simply just not yet been removed or do they serve some other purpose - like wind load protection or something like that until the house is closed up?

Thanks!

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Seeing 2x4 wall it must be on milder climate(South) wood fries pretty fast in the open. I maybe wrong it is my own guess, they try to keep it square/straight until wall is built. We use 2x6 for exterior wall up here and windows/patio doors are minimum double pane, often triple.

[RicodJour]

It sounds like blocking for bicycle-frame scaffolding. That's what I've heard them called, but I'm not sure of the correct term. Here's an example:

R

[RicodJour]

I just read the description from that link - what jamokes! They're made out of steel, not aluminum.

R

[DerbyDad03]

quoted text -

First: 2 x 6 studs, not 2 x 4. (I never mentioned the stud size since I don't think it's relevant to the discussion)

Second: Western NY (snowed this morning), not a mild southern climate.

Third: Perhaps you are not picturing what I described correctly.

The 2 x 4 horizontal braces span the interior face of the studs - the same surface where the drywall will eventually be hung. They will have to be removed eventually in order to finish the walls.

If I can get a hold of a picture I'll post it someplace later.

[DerbyDad03]

I think you've got it!

By looking more closely at various pictures, it appears that there is indeed scaffolding outside in the same areas as these braces.

I'm going to assume that the lower portion of the bracket has some means of distributing the weight across the sheathing. I'd hate to think that the part of the bracket that carries most of the weight would be concentrated on such a small area of the OSB sheathing. Seems like it would have the potential to punch right through.

Thanks for solving the mystery!

[RicodJour]

No problem. The mystery was in searching for something to show you when I didn't know the name. It took me almost five minutes - that's over three months in internet time. ;)

R

[dpb]

On 3/31/2011 12:53 PM, RicodJour wrote: ...

I'd give that a "good guess" from description...

Speaking of Qualcraft, I've several (forgotten the exact number) unusued Qualcraft pump jacks I'd let go to a new home for reasonable offer if there's anybody needing...

I never used; ended up buying enough regular scaffolding instead when did the barn rebuild/reroofing a few years ago. Boxes are somewhat weathered but other than that, they're new; iirc only one box or maybe pair was even opened.

SW KS...(yeah, I know, there ain't nobody else within a half-continent so probably not a good deal but... :) )

[RicodJour]

Those suckers are heavy and not all that expensive to start with. Driving hours to get them or shipping them is a non-starter. Probably best and easiest is to donate them to a local Habitat for Humanity and take the deduction.

R

[dpb]

On 3/31/2011 3:02 PM, RicodJour wrote: ...

Well, they shipped 'em to get 'em here... :)

And there ain't no HfH closer than 200+ miles that I'm aware of...

I haven't done anything about 'em; one morning I'll try to remember the local radio call-in buy/sell/trade (yeah, it's small town enough we gots one of them :) ) and see if get any takers...if not, they can continue to take up a little space until the final disposal auction I suppose...

[RicodJour]

Yeah, that always bugs me...that economy of scale thing. I guess I've got to scale up and the it won't bother me about the shipping. On second thought - nah! ;)

We have a Habitat Re-Store, which is a _great_ place to get rid of contracting and home building odds and ends. It's also a bit of a hike for me - about 35 minutes if I don't pay too close attention to the signs with numbers on them along the highway.

You must have more stuff to dispose of than just some pump jacks. Yard sale or notice on a supermarket bulletin board would be other possibilities.

R

[dpb]

On 3/31/2011 4:25 PM, RicodJour wrote: ...

Too much trouble for too little gain, plus I'm really not all that eager to have a bunch of town folk out to see what all is stashed away where out here as far as the sale thing. (Unless you're interested in a 60x24 silo (buyer must move) of course... :) I'll even throw the old top unloader and Allis ensilage blower and enough pipe to reach in gratis.)

If I could ever remember to do it when there I could put a note up at the hardware/farm supply, lumber yard, etc., indeed and might get at least a chance't.

Unloading them is not a high priority, let's put it that way...I just happened to think of them w/ the link you posted to the platform braces so thought I'd throw it out there. :)

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