blue 2x4

[ShawnRussell]

I am watching a show called Holmes on Homes. When they reframe they use a blue colored 2x4. Does anyone have any information on what the material is that is impregnated into the wood? I am assuming it is a termite and rot treatment similar to pressure treated lumber down here. Is this a Canadian only product?

btw, is the advice on the show pretty spot on or is there a lot of tv wizardry?

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Shawn,

It's called BluWood and no there isn't tv wizardry.

BluWood

 

[BobKovacs]

btw, is the advice on the show pretty spot on or is there a lot of tv wizardry?

My biggest issue with the show is that none of their carpenters seem to own a hammer or a nail gun- they screw everything together.  I've seen them screw deck framing together (even with hangers), screw studs to plates, etc.  I don't know about the codes up there in Canada, but here in the US, the IRC doesn't allow screws for those applications.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Here in Europe most things are done with screws too. Nails hardly have any use anymore. What's the reason the IRC would forbid screws?

 

[Erik63]

Screws have less strength than nails when in a shear loading situation. So where a nail will bend. A screw will break.

Him and screws are my biggest thing with him. He acts like if your using nails. Your not doing a good job. Screws are better in some situations. Decking, subfloors etc. But not all situations.

 

[fdengel]

Yes, depends on where they are being used.  Nails are simply superior for some use cases.

As to whether screws are allowed for some of those things, I think a lot of it depends on your actual location.  Walls that are not load-bearing can usually be done with screws instead of nails, though -- load-bearing ones usually need to be nails.

 

[Dane]

I think Holmes is a decent carpenter, but in terms of taking his advise and techniques as gospel- be cautious.  I work in a building science based profession and his grasp of the realities of heat and moisture transfer is questionable.  I have seen him recommend some things that are quite likely to result in major structural damage due to moisture transfer.  Vapor barriers in the wrong place etc...He has a particular love of slapping closed cell foam wherever he feels like it.

Also, nails are vastly superior in so many places where he uses screws- I notice that in almost every show.  It may well come from his Canadian background, maybe they have stronger screws or no shear forces up there.

 

[tiralie]

It may well come from his Canadian background, maybe they have stronger screws or no shear forces up there.

Yup definitely everything is better up here...that's why everything is at least 20% more expensive....just kidding.
Holmes's excessive whining drives me nuts, I don't watch much anymore, particularly the discovery intros sections.

I do like TOH approach a lot better. Just get on with it and if you don't know, get someone who does to advise you so we all learn something. Kevin is starting to get a little grating but it's easy to ignore him and focus on what Tommy is doing.
Tim

 

[mastercabman]

btw, is the advice on the show pretty spot on or is there a lot of tv wizardry?

I have watch the show,but he also has another show called Holmes inspection.
Basicly he inspects a house after the homeowner paid someone else to do the inspection and did not do a good job.
He founds problems that the inspector did not catch and make it sounds like it's the end of the world!
But i found the show a little funny as he just tears and remove walls to see what could be a problem.But i don't think "home inspectors" are allowed to do this kind of damage just to see what's inside a wall.
I think he is overkill with bringing the house "up to code"  Like replacing the whole electrical panel just because there is no more room in the existing panel to add a circuit or a wire is melted somewhere in the wall.
Anyone else seen this show and feel the same way?

 

[tbellemare]

I have had this gnawing away at my brain all morning - to the point that I'm not able to think about anything else...

Can someone please tell me what sort of design depends on the shear strength of nails (or screws) to be a sound structure?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[BobKovacs]

I have had this gnawing away at my brain all morning - to the point that I'm not able to think about anything else...

Can someone please tell me what sort of design depends on the shear strength of nails (or screws) to be a sound structure?

Thanks,

Tom

Ummm....holding sheathing to a wall (hence the term "shear panel"), developing diaphragm action in a floor or roof, holding a multi-ply girder together, holding a cleat or ledger to a wall- basically anything that relies on resisting sideways motion between two pieces of material.

 

[tbellemare]

Thanks, Bob...

My mind was stuck thinking about stick framing.

Tom

 

[jmbfestool]

Screws have less strength than nails when in a shear loading situation. So where a nail will bend. A screw will break.

Him and screws are my biggest thing with him. He acts like if your using nails. Your not doing a good job. Screws are better in some situations. Decking, subfloors etc. But not all situations.

Not true actually!  screws are actually stronger than nails now  also if its load bearing you use metal plates and/or bolts not just nails and screws or some sort of joinery joint.

Here in Europe most things are done with screws too. Nails hardly have any use anymore. What's the reason the IRC would forbid screws?
[/quote]

+1 in the UK  screws are more often used now

Here in the UK joiners using nails are considered actually rough joiners or just house bashers.

 

[neth27]

Screws have less strength than nails when in a shear loading situation. So where a nail will bend. A screw will break.

Him and screws are my biggest thing with him. He acts like if your using nails. Your not doing a good job. Screws are better in some situations. Decking, subfloors etc. But not all situations.

Not true actually!  screws are actually stronger than nails now   also if its load bearing you use metal plates and/or bolts not just nails and screws or some sort of joinery joint.

Who says they are
Here in Europe most things are done with screws too. Nails hardly have any use anymore. What's the reason the IRC would forbid screws?

+1 in the UK   screws are more often used now

Here in the UK joiners using nails are considered actually rough joiners or just house bashers.

Who says they are rough or are house bashers??? You..

I use 95% screws for the work i do, but i don't pay for them. If the price was was out of my own pocket i would use a lot more nails  [big grin]

John..

[/quote]

 

[Deansocial]

ditto, i use nails where needed and screws where needed. I wouldnt batten a roof with screws would I. Or screw an architrave on,

 

[Vindingo]

I have used blue wood a couple of times; I did not like it at all. 

It makes your hands and arms tingle if you handle it with no gloves on.  I would imagine that this is the affect of the chemicals seeping into your skin.  After feeling that tingling I started to wonder what breathing in blue wood dust was doing...

I think it is overkill to build an entire house out of treated wood, and the treatment also weakens the wood.   

 

[John Stevens]

I have had this gnawing away at my brain all morning - to the point that I'm not able to think about anything else...

Can someone please tell me what sort of design depends on the shear strength of nails (or screws) to be a sound structure?

Thanks,

Tom

Ummm....holding sheathing to a wall (hence the term "shear panel"), developing diaphragm action in a floor or roof, holding a multi-ply girder together, holding a cleat or ledger to a wall- basically anything that relies on resisting sideways motion between two pieces of material.

Sistering joists?

 

[jmbfestool]

Dean, Neth,   Especially you Dean!

You both knew what I meant.  

I'm on about places where screws and nails can be used and structural strength can be a factor.   Obviously you don't use screws for architraves and other things like that.  I should of made my self more clear and explained more...... I thought I didn't needed to I thought it would of been obvious I wasn't talking about finishing type of jobs or lathing a roof but i forget this is Fog ain't it.

Me and my mate say it!  Every joiner I come across using a paslode banging nails in seems rough and joiners I see who take the time to use screws instead are more likely to take the time to do it better.

Well I think screws are a far cleaner job looks clean and if you just want to move something over you simply unscrew it.  not go round banging your hammer about to get it where you want putting dents in your wood like when doing studding etc..  Not archtrive,lathing.... [tongue]

Jmb

 

[ShawnRussell]

So much good information here. Thanks for all the replies.. I am starting to feel like a kid again. The more answers I receive the more questions I have.

I almost dread the fun that I have... I so look forward to the end of the day so I can come home and work with my hands. Anyone in the Atlanta area want a no cost intern on the weekends?

Will work for knowledge.

 

[Vindingo]

Here in Europe most things are done with screws too. Nails hardly have any use anymore.

This has to be due to different construction methods.

Are you telling me that they would build a house like this (stick framing) with screws? 

It would literally take twice as long.