Master Instructor Sid Woryn wants to share something with you that's been coming up lately and more and more as time goes by. The building code on page six of your residential building code R 106.1.2 says that you have to have the manufacturer's installation instructions on the job site at the time of inspection, and there's a reason for that. The old method of installing may no longer apply today. The reason he's sharing this with you is some of the inspectors are catching this stuff, and you're having to do stuff over again.
Example. Take a look at your manufacturer's installation instructions for House Wrap. The old days of using a tack staple are gone. It's gone on every one of the products that he's had to look at. The manufacturer's installation instructions call for cap staples or cap nails, not just staples. In fact, some of the brands using Staples void the warranty.
Your underlayment on the roof. This is a major concern. A Certain Teed especially. They have markings on the underlayment where your cap nails or cap staples go. One brand of Certain Teed allows you to still use roof nails without a cap if the shingles are installed within two days after the application of the underlayment, or if there's a danger of wind blow-off or rain, then it requires a cap staple or cap nail. Some building inspectors are actually using drones to do an inspection of the underlayment. And he doesn't want you to get caught off guard by not installing it right.
Hardi Board for your typical cement boards that if you're still using it for underlayment for your tubs and showers for underlayment for tile. Watch out for that one. There are some new restrictions on nailing and covering those nails or screws.
Composite decking: as most of you know, you can't use nails on composite decking. It's got to be a screw. But again, are they ceramic coated or are they just weatherproof? Make sure you're using the right screw.
Hardwood floors. There have been a couple of lawsuits related to hardwood floors. A couple of things he wants to draw your attention to. If for some reason, the owner wants hardwood flooring installed on a concrete slab, please make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions for doing that. Right to the letter. Vapor barriers. Adhesives. Whatever. Follow it right to the letter. Take pictures. So if those boards warp or deteriorate for some reason, you can always go back and say you follow the manufacturer's requirements for that hardwood flooring.
Basement wall Insulation. In his opinion, it has been a problem. He doesn't know how the building departments are addressing it, but in the building code in Chapter 11 of the Energy Code, it says that basement wall blankets go from the top of the wall all the way to the floor. And yet, in some cities, they're permitting and allowing it to go halfway to get below the frost line. And if you're using basement blankets, then install it according to the manufacturer's requirement.
Re-siding an existing house. This is another one that's been creating some issues. If you're pulling off existing aluminum or vinyl siding off the house and it already has house wrap on it and you want to put fan full insulation over that. Can you put fan fold insulation over house wrap you better check the manufacturer's requirements for that particular fan fold and house wrap.
You've got to remember something here. When you pull off that old siding, you're going to leave hole penetrations from your nails in the house wrap, which totally negates its value. Okay. And the ones that I have checked the fan fold goes on first, and then the House wrap can go over it. But it all depends on the manufacturer's requirements for the House wrap and for the fan fold. So make sure you got something in writing that proves you did. According to the manufacturer aspect. Good luck on your project.
