Like any gangly teenager you simultaneously love
and loathe, the “Levels of Gypsum Board Finish” document has grown up-it just
celebrated its twentieth year of distribution.
When I do technical seminars about EIFS, one of
the most frequent questions is, “Should I use adhesives or mechanical fasteners
(screws plus washers), or even both, to attach the foam insulation to the
wall?” The answer depends on a number of factors, and sometimes you have no
choice about which to use.
Well folks, it’s been awhile since I have felt
whole enough to pen anything meaningful for these pages. The economic issues
surrounding the collapse of the construction industry that is such a big part
of my life and yours made anything that I may have had to say seem meaningless.
After much soul searching and a little prodding from John Wyatt, I have decided
to end my self-imposed exile from these pages.
When compared to the application process for
other construction materials, attaching a sheet of gypsum board is a reasonably
simple task. After all, how difficult is it to find a stud and run a nail or a
screw through the board?
No, this is not a story about an evil Santa
Claus or cheesy movie-it’s much worse. The Killer Klaus is what could ruin you
as a subcontractor. This story is about the subcontracts the general
contractors typically offer you when have been lucky enough to win a bid.
Before
you think the title is a mistake and it should read Frank Lloyd Wright, you may
change your mind at the end of this editorial. Most people know Frank Lloyd
Wright was America’s
most famous and greatest architect.
Certain
people make it a point to arrive “fashionably late” for social events. It stems
from a psychological quirk to make them feel important, as if the party doesn’t
begin until they arrive and everyone is awaiting their grand entrance.
(Professional psychologists tend to view this as a counter-reaction to low
self-esteem.) I know people like this and I suspect most of you do, too.
Because
all three are installed to prevent the passage of fire and heat, it’s not a
stretch to say that a fireblock, a draftstop and a firestop system each serve
a similar purpose in a building’s fire protection.
When
EIFS with drainage is used, the details at the termination of the EIFS are
different from traditional EIFS. This is especially true at the bottom edge of
an EIFS wall.
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