Sheathing Issues

Important Sheathing issues discussed at the BPI conference included improper sheathing practices in the field.  When Sheathing is not properly nailed to the mudsill, seen in these exposed mudsill photos, the results are ineffective lateral bracing of the structure (also known as lateral loading capability), which leads to a whole host of other defects in the structure (cracked sheetrock, nail-pops, squeaky floors and stairs).  Also, poor installation is evident when the gaps are too wide between sheets of plywood/osb.  Another big no-no is when plywood/osb is set directly on concrete foundations, which will lead to rapid moisture absorption and dry rot in the walls, completely undermining the long term integrity of the building.  All of these were hot topics for the inspectors and architects present at the conference, who were unanimously supportive and excited about the potential of the Dodge Hangers to remedy these improper practices.