i have not done framing in residential new construction for about 5 years. I saw a new finished foundation in NJ with LVL bolted to the foundation. Is this the new preferred material over pressure treated sills? What are the pros & cons?
also, I noticed in the rough window openings in the newly poured basement foundation, there was styrofoam panels tightly fitted and taped there. What is the purpose / reason for this? (winter climate related?)
Replies
was they panel or ICF
Your descr5iptions are a little short of painting the whole picture. This is interesting, but do you have a digicamera to take with you on thesse tours?
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as of yet, I do not own a digital camera. I do believe I will obtain one in the future. They are a great investment. what brand/make/model do you use. they are probably priceless for portfolio pictures, change orders, ......... aren't you able to download dig camera contents into computer, develop pictures, edit & print them out?
i am definitely going to do my homework. my goal is to purchase one w/in 6mo.s thats a great BE
If you want a digi camera, go buy one. They have got the price down now aday to where you can a pretty nice one for less that $200. I got a low end Nikon for that much. Heck, you can probably get one for $100 if you just want "snapshots". I doubt that more than 20% people really take/print truly high quality pics anyway? Personally I have no use for a picture taken on a 5 megapicksil (sp?)camera at the high resolution setting. They all come with easy to use software or I just use windows to get the pics off the camera and on my coputer. As for specific brands, etc, maybe go look at some att he store, decide how much you want to spend and go look at http://www.epinions.com/ for a lot of opinions on individual models. You gotta watch it though when buying a digi camera, the price of the "accessories" can easily increase the overall purchase price substantially. Proprietary batteries, memory cards, case, etc.
thanks alot for yer feedback! i appreciate it!
LVL bolted to the foundation, huh? Hmmmm.... that's a new one to me. If, in fact, it was LVL I highly doubt it was the "garden variety". Standard LVL stock fairs terribly in a damp environment is isn't meant for contact with concrete or potentially damp conditions. Delaminates and falls apart in a heart beat.
The styrofoam panels in the windows? Some sort of insulated buck? Maybe just excess foundation insulation cut to fit the openings and block out the cold until the windows are installed? I'm just guessing here.
This sounds like a case where a pictures could offer a good deal of information. Any chance you've got or could get one?
I'm thinking the styrofoam was some of that new structural styrofoam. They build sky scrapers outa the stuff these days. ;-)
Was the LVL directly on the concrete, or might there have been some sort of barrier, metal or synthetic, between them?
-- J.S.
there may have been a barrier underneath, but there were no signs of roll insulation or termite shield visible. isn,t the barrier mat. a hair wider than sill plate?
Chipper,Do you have a camera phone?You can also buy a Kodak throw away camera and take pictures and then bring it to a CVS and they will give you the pictures and a CD. I did that before I had a digital. It's just something quick if you want to take pictures and post them here until you get a digital. Joe Carola
Chipper,
I'm from Caldwell about 25 minutes from you. I've never seen a lvl for a sill before. Maybe it's a treated lvl and it's something new that we're going to start using instead of all this ACQ garbage.
I'm framing an addition right now with a wrap around deck and we installed (2) 3-1/2" x 11-7/8" Treated Laminated Beams.