Posted By jonr on 11 Dec 2011 04:48 PM
They attach tar paper right to the open studs?

Foam, double layer taped stucco wrap, mesh, stucco makes more sense to me.

Posted By ICFconstruction on 11 Dec 2011 10:29 PM
How is that rigid enough to apply stucco mud, without sheathing? I must end up thicker in-between the studs.

And here are the results of this type of construction:

Posted By jonr on 12 Dec 2011 09:20 PM
So the window flashing is set up to dump water behind the foam?

Posted By guest on 12 Dec 2011 10:09 PM
no voids or honeycombs in that construction

Posted By jonr on 14 Dec 2011 11:17 AM
I'm going to guess that racking + stucco = cracks and cracks mean even more leaks.

Posted By Lbear on 14 Jan 2012 10:16 PM


Of course the HVAC ducts are NOT within the thermal envelope of the home. They will insulate the attic and the vents will sit ABOVE the insulation. In a Phoenix summer, the attic can reach 140F temperatures .

I noticed that the OSB roof has a thin aluminum type of lining attached to it from the bottom (as seen in the photo). Is this supposed to help radiate the heat back to the outside? I don't know how effective it is?

Posted By Alton on 14 Jan 2012 11:45 PM

No, since there is not an air space between the OSB and perforated foil.  Think Low E instead.

Posted By ICFconstruction on 11 Dec 2011 10:29 PM
How is that rigid enough to apply stucco mud, without sheathing? I must end up thicker in-between the studs.

I remember before using plywood sheeting when we only used 1X4 or 1X6 let in braces. The stucco was uniform in that it bowed in between each stud. The exterior side was flat and did not show the variances.

I was once called to a job to find a leak. When I finally found it on the second floor it was I small staple tear like the missed staple in the picture.
 The wall was on the windy side of a hill side house. With the drywall and insulation removed the wind was blowing the rain three feet inside the house through the stucco,

It made me realize how porous stucco was and wonder how many small leaks the average house had ?

Posted By Lbear on 14 Jan 2012 10:16 PM



I noticed that the OSB roof has a thin aluminum type of lining attached to it from the bottom (as seen in the photo). Is this supposed to help radiate the heat back to the outside? I don't know how effective it is?

Posted By SCIP Panel on 15 Jan 2012 10:05 AM

I remember before using plywood sheeting when we only used 1X4 or 1X6 let in braces. The stucco was uniform in that it bowed in between each stud. The exterior side was flat and did not show the variances.

I was once called to a job to find a leak. When I finally found it on the second floor it was I small staple tear like the missed staple in the picture.
 The wall was on the windy side of a hill side house. With the drywall and insulation removed the wind was blowing the rain three feet inside the house through the stucco,

It made me realize how porous stucco was and wonder how many small leaks the average house had ?

Posted By Alton on 15 Jan 2012 07:25 AM
To reduce temperature in the attic.  The theory is that the roof and decking will soak up the heat but be very slow about releasing it to the attic (Low E).  The holes in the foil are to keep it from being water and vapor proof which would not let wet decking dry.  See http://arrowheadroofing.com/news/ra...-and-foil/  for a little better understanding.  However, I think th article somewhat misses the concept involving which side should have the air space for radiant to work.

If the attic floor was the hot source, then the foil on the bottom of the decking with its air space would reflect heat back to the attic.  Since the sun is the heat source, then for reflection to work well, there would be a need for the foil to have an air space between it and the decking.

Also see http://www.lpcorp.com/LP_Products/R..._It_Made_/    Incising the decking after the foil has been installed punches holes through the foil and glue thus letting the panel breathe.  This is the brand that I have used.  Tech Shield engineers tell me this type of decking reduces heat in the attic by being a poor material for re-radiating the energy stored by the sun in the decking to the attic (Low E).

Posted By sundevils on 24 Jul 2014 09:27 PM
Hello, I am having a house built in arizona and when I noticed they were not going to Sheath the whole house I started researching and found this forum. There are some holes in the paper. They are using a spray foam for the insulation. Will the holes in the paper cause any issues for me having spray foam? If so what can I do to fix this?

• The spray foam should have solid OSB backing it, not 15# building paper, it should have a solid surface to adhere to
  
• The foam will expand and push on the building paper causing it to move/rip since there is nothing supporting it

1. I would have them install OSB on the ENTIRE exterior of the home, not just the corners like they are doing. Sheathing the entire exterior is common practice in the entire USA except in Phoenix, Las Vegas and parts of Utah. A fully sheathed home is stronger, less "racking", provides a better air barrier, gives a solid surface to adhere to, ties the whole wall framing together.
   
2. Once that's done, I would have them use dense packed cellulose within the wall cavities, not spray foam. The cellulose is a lot cheaper than spray foam and less likely to have issues with.
   
3. I would have them tape the OSB seams on the exterior and install 30# building paper and then 2 inches of rigid EPS on the exterior OSB, then stucco it.
   

• The spray foam should have solid OSB backing it, not 15# building paper, it should have a solid surface to adhere to
  
• The foam will expand and push on the building paper causing it to move/rip since there is nothing supporting it

1. I would have them install OSB on the ENTIRE exterior of the home, not just the corners like they are doing. Sheathing the entire exterior is common practice in the entire USA except in Phoenix, Las Vegas and parts of Utah. A fully sheathed home is stronger, less "racking", provides a better air barrier, gives a solid surface to adhere to, ties the whole wall framing together.
   
2. Once that's done, I would have them use dense packed cellulose within the wall cavities, not spray foam. The cellulose is a lot cheaper than spray foam and less likely to have issues with.
   
3. I would have them tape the OSB seams on the exterior and install 30# building paper and then 2 inches of rigid EPS on the exterior OSB, then stucco it.
   

Posted By sundevils on 25 Jul 2014 12:33 AM

Hello, This is in Phoenix Area (east valley). They have already begun to attach the chicken wire pretty much all around the house so I don't think they would use OSB now. It's a tract home so the superintendent don't really listen to anything I say. I believe it's open cell insulation. From looking at pictures on the builders website it looks like they just spray it on the paper between the studs. Really disappointed how cheap these builders are here in Arizona. Should I expect major issues in the near future with moisture or anything else? Thanks for your help

Posted By beetle55 on 28 Jul 2014 10:40 PM
I read this whole thread. This is crazy! I thought it was a joke at first. Sundevils, I would back out of that home in a heartbeat if you could. I am in the middle of building a houses right this minute that feels so over the top, OVER engineered I swear Godzilla would have to work at it to flatten it, but these pics and thread is scary. I would never dreamed this was legal. A home is something that you invest a lot of money and time into. You want to do it right for Christ's sake. I would tell that builder to take a hike if your contract provides and get your money back. Get the bank involved if you can. You are the owner correct? Is this shit not against code? Even if it isn't, tt is way against common sense.

Posted By beetle55 on 29 Jul 2014 12:41 AM
Oh, a major mistake on my part. Didn't see the date on the first post. Had no idea it was that old. For some reason it was under a column that was supposed to be "recent post." So by now Sundevils "open framed" house is long been built, but the point is still the same though.