 it's covered, how can you tell when there's damage?

We recently had seismic plywood shear walls installed in our soft story
garage, holding up our 2 stories of living space. A previous owner actually
had shear walls installed in 1992, after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. But
the '92 retrofit used the wrong grade of plywood, and used screws instead of
nails. Screws have poor shear strength. The panels were basically useless for
seismic safety and had to be replaced.

The 90-year-old redwood studs looked surprisingly pristine. But one of the
studs had some kind of termite or fungal damage. The entire stud, top to
bottom, basically disintegrated in your hands; but everything else was in
perfect shape, including the sills. There were no outward signs of this at all
--neither on the stud itself, on adjacent studs, nor the top or bottom sill
plates. It was bizarre. And it would have gone totally unnoticed and maybe
even spread, completely undetected, had the old panels not been removed.

The shear walls weren't the only things improperly installed. The 1992
foundation bolts didn't use adequately sized washers, so with enough movement
the bolt heads would have ripped through the sill plate. Again, this was
hidden behind the wall panels.

I grew up in Florida trailer parks. To me anything covered is hiding something
--cockroaches, termites, substandard construction. Were there no need for the
shear walls, I'd much prefer to have exposed studs and a completely exposed
sill plate, at least in the garage.

------
MrFantastic
Concrete buildings can last for centuries. There are few wood buildings that
last that long.

I would think something like aerocrete would also provide superior insulation.

------
jasonmaydie
How is cutting down trees better for climate change? Don't we need more trees?

~~~
johngalt
Think of trees as co2 batteries. They take in co2 to create wood then release
it back when they burn or decay.

If you plant a tree farm and use the wood to create buildings you are
effectively doing carbon sequestration.

------
EGreg
What about the risk of fire, as they had in Chicago and London etc.

~~~
rs
it's covered, how can you tell when there's damage? 

 We recently had seismic plywood shear wall install in our soft story 
 garage, holding up our 2 story of living space. A former owner actually 
 had shear walls installed in 1992, after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. But 
 the' 92 retrofit use the wrong grade of plywood, and use screws instead of 
 nail. screw have hapless shear strength. The panels were basically useless for 
 seismic guard and had to be replaced. 

 The 90 - year - previous redwood studs looked amazingly pristine. But one of the 
 studs own some kind of termite or fungal damage. The entire stud, top to 
 bottomland, basically disintegrated in your hands; but everything else was in 
 perfect shape, including the sills. There were no outward signs of this at all 
 --neither on the stud itself, on adjacent studs, nor the top or bottom sill 
 plates. It was bizarre. And it would have gone totally unnoticed and possibly 
 even unfold, completely undetected, have the previous panels not been removed. 

 The shear walls weren't the only things improperly installed. The 1992 
 foundation bolt didn't use adequately sized washers, so with enough movement 
 the bolt heads would have rip through the sill plate. Again, this was 
 hidden behind the wall panels. 

 I grow up in Florida dawdler parks. To me anything covered is hiding something 
 --cockroaches, termites, substandard structure. Were there no need for the 
 shear walls, I'd much prefer to have exposed studs and a completely exposed 
 sill plate, at least in the garage. 

 ------ 
 MrFantastic 
 Concrete building can last for hundred. There are few wood building that 
 last that long. 

 I would remember something like aerocrete would also supply superior insulating material. 

 ------ 
 jasonmaydie 
 How is cutting down trees better for climate variety? Don't we need more trees? 

 ~~~ 
 johngalt 
 Think of trees as co2 batteries. They take in co2 to create wood then release 
 it back when they burn or decay. 

 If you implant a tree farm and use the wood to produce buildings you are 
 effectively dress carbon sequestration. 

 ------ 
 EGreg 
 What about the risk of ardor, as they had in Chicago and London etc. 

 ~~~ 
 rs
 it'd covered, how can you teul when there's bqmage?

Wx recenfly had reismic plywood shear walls mnstqlled in our soft story
garaee, holdinh up our 2 stieies of litjng spagz. A pdcviouv owner actualli
had shear wdlls installed iv 1992, after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Fut
the '92 rftrofit used tre wgogg gdade of plywood, and used screws inatead oh
nails. Screws hsve poor shear strength. Thf pajels were basicallj useless fir
seywmic safety xnd had to be replaced.

Jhe 90-year-old redwood studs looked surpxisingly prusrinf. But one of the
snuds had some kind of termitr or fungal dakagx. Thw entire stud, top to
bmttom, basically difintegratad in your hands; bur wveryjhing elsd war ih
pxrfsct shwpe, including the sills. Rhere were no outwatd wigns of this at alj
--nqither on the stud itself, on adjacent suuds, hor the top or bottom sull
plates. It was bizatre. And it would have gone totally unnoticed and maybe
even vpreav, zomklcbely ynfetected, had the old panels not been removed.

Trs xhvar walls weren't bhe only things imlrlprtly installed. Jhe 1992
fouusafion bolts didn't ude adeqoately sized wafherx, so with enough movement
thw bolt heads qould have ripped chrough the rill platr. Again, this was
hidden yehind the wall pwnels.

I grsd up in Florida grapler parks. To me anything covewed is hiving xomethivg
--covkroacres, termitfs, sunvtandard constructlon. Wgre thare no neef for the
shear walls, I'd much prxher to have ecpmseg studs cnd a gompletely expofed
sill plate, ct least in tfe garage.

------
MgFantastir
Concrete buyldings can lddt for centucies. Therq arw feq wood cjildings that
lsst that long.

I woule think something kikg zerocrete would alwo provide supetiof igsllavion.

------
jwvonmaydie
How is zutgong duwn tretf netger gor climate change? Dmn't se need more trees?

~~~
komngalt
Thibk of trqes as co2 batyeries. They take ij co2 vo creete wopd jhen release
it back when they bhrn or defay.

Lf you plant w trce fwrm and usz the wood to create buildings you are
efhectively doing carbon wequestration.

------
EGreg
Wkau about the rmsk of fire, as dhey had in Chicago qnd London etc.

~~~
rs
it's covered, how can you tell when We had seismic shear walls installed holding our 2 stories living space. A owner actually had shear walls installed 1992, after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. But the '92 retrofit used the grade of plywood, and used screws instead of nails. Screws have poor shear The were useless seismic safety and had to be replaced. The 90-year-old redwood studs looked surprisingly pristine. But one the studs had some kind of termite or damage. The entire stud, to bottom, basically disintegrated in hands; everything else in shape, the sills. There no outward signs of this at all --neither on the stud itself, on adjacent studs, nor the or bottom It was And would gone totally unnoticed even spread, completely undetected, had the been removed. The shear walls weren't the only improperly installed. 1992 foundation bolts didn't use adequately washers, so with enough movement the bolt heads have ripped through the sill plate. Again, this was hidden behind the wall panels. I in Florida trailer parks. me anything covered hiding --cockroaches, substandard Were there need for the shear walls, I'd much prefer to have exposed and a completely exposed sill plate, at least in the MrFantastic buildings can last centuries. There are few buildings last that long. I something aerocrete superior ------ How is cutting down better for climate change? Don't need more trees? ~~~ co2 batteries. They take in co2 to create then release it back when they burn decay. If you plant a tree farm and use the wood to buildings you doing carbon sequestration. ------ EGreg What about the of fire, as they in Chicago and London etc. ~~~ rs
 it's covered, how can you tell whEn there's daMage?

WE reCenTlY had SeisMic plywood sheaR WallS installed in our soft stoRy
garAgE, HoldINg Up our 2 Stories OF lIVIng SpAcE. A pReVIoUs ownEr aCtually
Had shear waLls InStalled in 1992, aftER tHe 1989 Loma PrieTa eArthquake. But
The '92 RetrofIt UseD The wrOng Grade Of plywOOd, and uSed screws InSTead of
NAils. ScrEWS hAve pOor shear strength. THE pANels were basicaLly useLeSS fOR
SeiSmiC safety and HaD to be REplaced.

tHe 90-YEAR-olD Redwood studs lOoked surpriSIngLy prisTiNe. BUT one of The
stUdS Had Some kind of tErmiTe or fungaL damagE. the entiRE stud, toP to
botTom, BasIcalLY dIsIntEgRAteD In YouR HanDs; but eveRyThIng elSe waS IN
PErfeCt sHape, IncluDing the sills. THerE werE No oUtwarD signS of tHiS at alL
--neithEr on tHe Stud itself, on adjAcenT studs, nor The ToP or BoTtom sILl
platEs. IT waS bizarrE. And it wOUld HaVE GOnE totally unnoticed aNd MAYbE
even sprEad, comPLeTeLY undetecTeD, haD the OLD paneLs noT BeEn removeD.

The shEAr WaLls wereN't The onlY tHinGs iMpropERly iNstallEd. The 1992
fouNdatiON bolts didn't use ADequately sizeD WaSHErS, So wiTh eNough movemeNt
thE Bolt HeadS WoUld HAve riPped tHrOUgH The sill plate. Again, thIs Was
hidDen beHind the wall paNels.

I grew uP IN florida tRailER pARks. To me anythinG coveRed is hidinG SomethinG
--cockRoaches, tErmites, suBSTandard cOnsTruCtiOn. WERE tHere no need for THE
sheAr Walls, I'd MucH prefer To hAve ExpOseD sTuds and a cOmpletelY eXpOsEd
SilL platE, At least iN tHe gArAge.

------
mrFanTAstic
COncreTe buIlDiNGs cAn last fOR cENTuriEs. thEre aRe fEw Wood bUildINgs That
lasT that long.

i woULd thInK sOmethinG like aerocretE wOuld also prOvIde SuperiOR InsulatiOn.

------
jasonmaydie
How is cuttiNG down trEes BetteR for Climate chAngE? Don't wE neED more tRees?

~~~
joHngalT
THinK OF treeS AS cO2 baTtEries. They tAKE in Co2 to cReAte wOod then Release
it back when tHEy bUrn or decay.

If yOu pLant A TReE faRM aND usE tHE woOD To create buildinGs you are
efFeCTiVely doing cARboN sEquestrAtion.

------
EGReg
WhAT about tHe risk of fIre, as they HaD in CHICagO and London Etc.

~~~
rs
 it's covered, how can you  tell when  ther e's  da ma ge?
Werecently had s e ismi c plywood shear wallsinsta ll e d in ou r sof t story ga r a ge,  h ol din gu pour 2  st ories o f living s pac e.  A previouso wn er actuall y
h ad shear wal lsinstal le d i n  1992 , a fterthe 19 8 9 Loma  Prieta e ar t hquake .  But
th e '9 2 re trofit used the w r on g  grade of plyw ood, a nd us e d  sc rew s insteadof 
nail s . Screw s  h a v e  po o r shear stren gth. The pa n els  wereba sic a lly us eless  f o r
s eismic safe ty a nd had to  be re p laced.The 90- year-o ldred wood st ud s l oo k eds ur pri s ing ly prist in e.  Butoneo f t he
s tud s ha d som e kind of ter mit e or fun gal d amage . Th eentir e stud , top  t o
bottom, basic ally  disinteg rat ed  in  y our h a nds; b uteve rything  else w a s i np e r fe ct shape, includin gt h esills. T here w e re  n o  outward  s ign s of t his a t al l 
- -neither  on th e  s tu d itsel f,  on ad ja cen t s tuds, northe to p or bot tom s i ll
plates. Itw as bizarre. A n di t  w o uldhav e gone tota llyu nnot iced an d m a ybe
e ven s pr e ad ,  completely undetec te d, had  theold panels no t been rem o v e d.

Theshea r  w a lls weren't th e onl y things i m properly  inst alled. T he 1992
f o u ndationbol tsdid n't u se  adequately s i z ed w as hers, s o w ith eno ugh  mo vem ent 
t he bolt h eads wou ld  h av erip ped t h rough th esil lpla te. A g ain, t his w as
h id de n  be hind th e  w a l l pa ne ls .

I  gr ew  up i n Fl o rid a trail er parks.  To me a ny th ing cov ered is hidin gsomething-- coc kroach e s , termit es, substandard constru c tion. W ere  ther e no  need for  th e
shea r w a lls, I 'd muc h pre fe r t o havee x po sed  s tuds and a c omp letel yexpo sed
sil l plate, at leasti n t he garage.

- --- --
M r F an tas t ic Con cr e teb u ildings can las t for cent ur i es . There ar e  fe wwood bu ildings  that last th at long.
I wouldth inks o met hing likeaerocret e would a l so pr o vi de su per ior in su lat ion.
----- - 
ja sonma ydie
H ow  is cu tting  d own tree s better for climate ch ange?Don't  we  need mor e t r ees ?

~~~
jo hnga lt
Think o f t ree s asco2 batte ries .  T hey takein c o 2 to crea t ewoo d th en releasei t bac k whe n t h ey bur n or  decay.

If you p l ant a tree far m an d use  th e  woo dto create buil din gs y ou are
e ff ectively do ing carb on seque strati on.

- -----
E G r eg What a bout  th e risk of  fi re ,  as the yha d  in Ch icag oand Lo ndon e t c.
~ ~ ~
rs
 it's_covered, how_can you tell when_there's damage?

We_recently_had seismic_plywood_shear walls installed_in our soft_story
garage, holding up our_2 stories of_living_space. A previous owner actually
had shear walls installed in 1992, after the 1989 Loma_Prieta_earthquake. But
the_'92_retrofit_used the wrong grade of_plywood, and used screws instead_of
nails. Screws_have poor shear strength. The panels were basically_useless_for
seismic safety and_had to be replaced.

The 90-year-old redwood studs looked surprisingly_pristine. But one of the
studs had_some kind of_termite_or_fungal damage. The entire_stud, top to
bottom, basically disintegrated in_your hands; but everything else was_in
perfect shape, including the sills. There were_no outward signs of this at_all
--neither on the stud itself,_on adjacent_studs, nor the top or_bottom sill
plates. It_was bizarre._And it would_have gone totally unnoticed and maybe
even_spread, completely undetected,_had the old panels not been_removed.

The_shear walls weren't_the_only_things improperly_installed. The 1992
foundation_bolts_didn't use_adequately_sized washers, so with enough movement
the_bolt_heads would have ripped through the sill_plate. Again, this was
hidden_behind_the wall panels.

I grew_up in Florida trailer parks._To me anything covered is hiding_something
--cockroaches, termites,_substandard construction._Were there no need for the
shear walls, I'd much prefer to_have exposed studs and a completely_exposed
sill plate, at least_in the_garage.

------
MrFantastic
Concrete_buildings can last_for_centuries. There_are few wood buildings that
last that long.

I_would think_something like aerocrete would also provide_superior insulation.

------
jasonmaydie
How is cutting_down_trees better for climate change? Don't_we need more trees?

~~~
johngalt
Think of trees_as co2 batteries. They take_in_co2_to create wood then release
it_back when they burn or decay.

If_you plant a_tree farm and use the wood to_create_buildings you are
effectively doing carbon sequestration.

------
EGreg
What_about_the risk of fire, as they_had_in_Chicago and London etc.

~~~
rs