House fell over

[supton]

How much does clapboard contribute to rigidity? I've contemplated stripping the exterior of my house someday, so that new insulation and tyvek could be done right. Never thought about what the clapboard adds to strength. In my case it is just clapboard on the studs, no sheathing. Do have Sheetrock on other side though, but I think most of the house has Sheetrock on studs also.

 

[SteveSRT8]

I once built a house directly on the beach in Florida. Since normal summer thunderstorms can rip off roof shingles there we used some special tricks. All WOOD construction on a stilted base.

The base was tongue and groove concrete slab with poured reinforced concrete over that. Set on huge iron pipes in 8X8X16 concrete footers underground. Then everything else was wood.

Walls had 2X4's running diagonally across and siding was rough cypress but totally structural, ended up with a remarkably wind resistant structure that has stood up for 40 years so far.

 

[tom slick]

Originally Posted By: Andy636
Pictures like these make me appreciate that we still build houses here with good ol` brick and mortar

Brick and mortar in an earthquake = no more building.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
Originally Posted By: Andy636
Pictures like these make me appreciate that we still build houses here with good ol` brick and mortar

Brick and mortar in an earthquake = no more building.


Exactly. Too much rigidity is not always a good thing. When the wind was blowing 120 mph at the beach house you could feel the top floor move a bit, it was very disconcerting at first. But that was its secret, it gave a little but was very strong too.

 

[Schmoe]

uhhhhhh....what kind of oil are you using in your generator???

 

[HardbodyLoyalist]

Originally Posted By: Schmoe
uhhhhhh....what kind of oil are you using in your generator???

 

[HM12460]

Now you got a mess to clean up.