New House Build in the Country!!!

[justinramani]

I don't really know. In my brain, I do things a certain way every time. Your crew is doing things that I don't think will pass code if you where in an area that had code and inspectors. I'm not an engineer, nor do I know every way of dong things. I just do it the way I know 100% it will last and pass an inspection. Code is considered the minimum way of doing things. Not the best, but if it's not done to at least code standards, it's wrong.

I also think every space, every inch of the building should be done to the best method known.

Eddie,

We have codes and inspections out here. I can't imagine that they would frame it in a way that wouldn't pass inspection.

I think they are using those nails to frame interior walls. Why is that bad? Too short?

 

[EddieWalker]

Yes, a 2 3/8's nail is too short for framing!!! Subtract 1 1/2 inches for the thickness of one board and you have less then an inch of nail going into the other board. I use 3 1/4 inch long nails for framing. Remember, the point of the nail has no holding power. The shaft is what holds the nail in place. A 2 3/8's inch nail minus the point, is going to have about half an inch of shaft into the second 2x. Basically useless. A 3 1/4 inch nail is going to go through both boards and have the full length of the shaft through the second board for maximum holding power.

Since you have inspections, that is who I would be talking to for the final approval. We are just pointing out things that we see being done that might, or might not be wrong. Only your inspector knows enough about your area to say if it's right or wrong.

Be sure to find out for sure what size nails they are using on your framing. I'm having trouble believing anybody would use such short nails on framing. But I have seen it done on decks before, and they where falling apart months after it was built!!!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I have seen joists attached like they did, with a 2x2 under and joist notched. I don't like it, I'd use hangers myself In the end, the hangers are only held onto the beam with a few nails also, so is it much different?

 

[GPintheMitten]

Well we don't know what they are using those nails for. Let's not get the guy all nervous about his build job. He's hired a contractor to do the job and he has building inspectors to enforce building code.

There are different methods being developed. Just because we haven't seen it done before doesn't mean it is not as good or better.

If those nails are for the flooring or roof sheeting he's fine.

Justin, just ask a few questions of your general contractor and building inspector. And people here are glad to spend your money on upgrades that might be an improvement but not necessary. If you did everything that everybody suggested, you probably couldn't afford to build it.

 

[EddieWalker]

Joist hangers have nails specially designed to support the load of the joist. My concern is that nails and screws are not structural and not designed to carry a load of any kind. Nails ans screws are designed to hold material in place. There is a HUGE difference!!!!

That 2x2 is acting as a Ledger Board just like done when people build a deck off of their house. A Ledger Board should be bolted to the beam, or the lag screwed. The spacing and number of bolts or screws is very important since it is supporting so much weight. Also the size of the Ledger Board is important because of all the weigh resting on it.

I fail to see where that 2x2 is strong enough to support much of a load, or that it is attached with bolts or lags in the appropriate manner.

The more I think about it, the more I don't like it.

 

[EddieWalker]

Joist hangers have nails specially designed to support the load of the joist. My concern is that nails and screws are not structural and not designed to carry a load of any kind. Nails ans screws are designed to hold material in place. There is a HUGE difference!!!!

That 2x2 is acting as a Ledger Board just like done when people build a deck off of their house. A Ledger Board should be bolted to the beam, or the lag screwed. The spacing and number of bolts or screws is very important since it is supporting so much weight. Also the size of the Ledger Board is important because of all the weigh resting on it.

I fail to see where that 2x2 is strong enough to support much of a load, or that it is attached with bolts or lags in the appropriate manner.

The more I think about it, the more I don't like it.

 

[geblackwell]

I am a long time looker on this site and never comment much. I have been a part of the home construction business for over 30 years and have observed that there are many ways to build a house. In one part of the country they do it one way and in another a different way. In the end they all seem to work. The one thing that I have observed if I were going to build a house I would not post pictures on this site to have everything critiqued by everyone. I would be a nervous wreck and fear my house was a complete disaster. I would hate to be the framers and come to work each day to hear what I had done wrong the previous day. When it is said and done, I am sure they are building it to code in that area.

 

[aczlan]

Per Rules for Drilling and Notching Deck Framing - Professional Deck Builder Magazine and https://engineering.purdue.edu/~jliu/courses/CE479/extras/Notching_&_Boring_Guide_A11.pdf a notch should be less than 1/4 of the height of the board:


Aaron Z

 

[justinramani]

I am a long time looker on this site and never comment much. I have been a part of the home construction business for over 30 years and have observed that there are many ways to build a house. In one part of the country they do it one way and in another a different way. In the end they all seem to work. The one thing that I have observed if I were going to build a house I would not post pictures on this site to have everything critiqued by everyone. I would be a nervous wreck and fear my house was a complete disaster. I would hate to be the framers and come to work each day to hear what I had done wrong the previous day. When it is said and done, I am sure they are building it to code in that area.

You make a great point. Trust me - I don't go complaining to the GC or framers every time someone makes an observation or suggestion. I do appreciate the feedback and I use the old internet to learn more about the different methods that are used. Im sure that my GC is trying to save money where he can - after all - he is building our house for what we feel is a very fair price. He is also very flexible and does not charge us change order fees for adjustments to the original plan. I should mention that we used to own a house that he custom built for another family. We were very pleased with the build quality of that house and have no reason to believe that he would built this house to a different standard.

It would be great to have a house that is built with all of the best products available, but we have a budget and we need to keep that in mind.

The one thing that I really enjoy about this site with regards to build threads is learning about all of the different methods of construction that are used in different parts of the country.

 

[Billrog]

There are a few things I do differently but as whole I'd have to say they are doing a very good job everything is perfectly plum. Any thing I would do any differently would not have any bearing on the structure of the home. For any example I always laid my joist,walls and trusses out from the same end of the house so they all line up vertically. This is beneficial when eg. when putting up the ceiling you only have to look at a stud to see where the joist or rafter is as well as for plumbing, wiring and heating the space is a full 14.5" so when going up through a wall you can come out right along side a member to tack your wire or pipe to. Like I said only a preference of mine.