Resources
Testimonials
Builders
CHRIS GAUTREAUX, ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER OF MITCHELL HOMES, MOBILE, ALABAMA, BUILDER OF OVER 200 HOMES THERE ANNUALLY, SAYS:
“When building in high wind areas we use Windstorm panels from Norbord for structural wall sheathing. Windstorm panels allow us to meet codes while reducing the amount of costly uplift hardware. We also save on our blocking material, construction time, and framing labor. All our Windstorm sheathed houses survived Hurricane Ivan with no problems. We feel that Windstorm is the only way to go.”
MR. JIM DAVIS OF TEXAS HOME DEVELOPMENT IN MONT BELVIEU TEXAS NEAR HOUSTON:
“I use the Windstorm 109 1/8″ panel on my 9′ stud walls to save the cost of blocking material and labor by eliminating horizontal joints. Also, my engineer uses the added top plate nailing to reduce the stud/plate uplift hardware resulting in savings of about $ 500 per house.”
BRANDON ROBERTS OF ATLANTIC COAST BUILDERS, MOREHEAD CITY, NC SAYS:
“Frustrated with the cost and time required to meet high wind codes using traditional 8′ sheathing I was excited to see the windstorm ad. After contacting Norbord, they helped my building supply stock Windstorm.”
“We’ve now switched to full height Windstorm and eliminated the horizontal joints and all the additional material, labor and waste costs previously endured. We produce a stronger home while saving time and money.”
“No way would we go back to using the other expensive methods – Windstorm is the best way to sheath walls and meet the codes.”
STEVE PARSONS OF KAR-SAN DEVELOPMENT LTD, ELIZABETH CITY, NC HAS THIS TO SAY:
“We switched from using 8′ panels to Norbord’s full height panels on our two-story homes to save time and money and meet high wind codes. Starting these sheets at our sill plates we span through the first story floor band and wall section and join sheets in the second story floor band. The second sheet then takes us all the way up to our top plate. We save blocking material, handle fewer panels, cut waste and disposal costs, speed up framers, complete houses faster, and add savings to our bottom line.”
“When I first spoke to my framer about Norbord’s product he wanted to give me a hug. After he used them he said it was the best product to come along in years. Now our superintendent has other framers asking when they can use Norbord’s product on their jobs. My framer, engineer, accountant, and I all agree that this is a better way to build.”
NARMA STEPANOW, THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR MICHAEL J. WRIGHT CONSTRUCTION CO. INC.
“Time was a challenge throughout this project. The wall sheathing made a world of difference. The speed of the job was remarkable.” said Narma Stepanow, the project manager for Michael J. Wright Construction Co. Inc. “The panels not only went up fast, but they also went up the right way quality-wise.”
JOHN MCHUGH, PROJECT MANAGER FROM KAPLAN COMPANIES
John McHugh, project manager from Kaplan Companies, was thrilled with the capabilities of Windstorm. “Windstorm made this an easier job for me. It helped me meet Energy Stars standards and eliminated the need for caulking the 4×8 panel edge gaps. It also significantly helps with the blower door test. This product is just what we needed to reduce air infiltration,” he commented.
“Using Windstorm also saves time during construction, “ McHugh continued. “Installation goes from a seven-step process to a two-step process in which the engineered wall sheathing is simply nailed into place according to an engineer’s specified nailing schedule – eliminating a significant amount of hardware and time spent installing panels.”
“The vertical manner in which Windstorm is installed simplifies our jobs and ultimately saves valuable time and money, which, in today’s economy is essential,” said McHugh.
Stepanow elaborated saying, “The simplicity of the product is crucial, and the simpler something is, the fewer mistakes you’re going to make.”
Engineers
ACCORDING TO M. DON WILLIAMS, P.E., OF WILLIAMS ENGINEERING, MOBILE, ALABAMA:
“When engineering wall assemblies for high wind areas, using Windstorm panels from Norbord is a great way to meet code. Windstorm wall sheathing allows me to specify a nailing pattern that grabs both the bottom and top plates of the exterior stud wall. This approach helps me to meet my uplifts requirements while reducing the amount of costly uplift hardware. Builders accept Windstorm sheathing from Norbord as a great way to save on material and labor costs in our high wind counties.”
MIKE QADDUMI PE, OF INTERFIELD GROUP CONSULTING ENGINEERS & CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS, IN HOUSTON TEXAS, STATED,
“Going plate-to-plate is a better method for shear wall construction and performance, it eliminates the common practice of not overlapping the top plate all the way (less margin for human error). It offers better shear development, less handling and nailing, while eliminating mis-nailing at blocked joints. The house is a better box.”
RONALD F. WOLFMAN, P.E., OF WOLFMAN & ASSOCIATES, P.C. CONSULTING STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, IN SILVER SPRING, MD
“To strengthen our buildings and provide significant savings to our builders we specify full height Windstorm panels. We found this to meet the high wind codes we faced on the East Coast and to be a much better method than piecing 8′ board.”
THOMAS E. BEITELMAN, M.S. P.E. S.I., OF SOUND STRUCTURES ENGINEERING, INC., IN TALLAHASSEE, FL
“Specifying Windstorm simplifies the engineering design calculation time that can be better spent on more critical aspects of the typical job.
A common problem I encounter with stud to plate connectors occurs at the inspection process when correction of the stud plate tie installation requires significant reconstruction. Windstorm sheathing and nail spacing alone reduces the errors
Windstorm performs without the necessity of stud plate ties, as the portion of the “Continuous Loud Path” from the top to bottom of the walls
It is advantageous to the builder to save time and money by eliminating the need for stud plate ties.”
Framers:
EFIGENIO CONTRARAS OF E C CONSTRUCTION
“I use the Windstorm 109 1/8″ panels on 100% of my houses as a builder/framer. I save about 1 1/2 days labor per job and without the Windstorm panels would charge the builder about 35 cents per square foot for materials and labor to install stud/plate uplift hardware.”
TRAVIS WOOLLEY A FRAMING CONTRACTOR FROM MOBILE AL TOLD US,
“Windstorm wall sheathing from Norbord saves the framing contractor time and money. We are able to save twelve to sixteen man-hours when framing with Windstorm panels. Windstorm panels span the full height of the wall allowing us to cover both plates and nail to the engineer’s specified pattern. This eliminates the time spent installing blocking and costly wall uplift strapping. Windstorm panels from Norbord definitely make our job easier and faster.”
JODY WOLFE CONSTRUCTION, IS ONE OF THE LEAD FRAMERS FOR TEXAS HOME DEVELOPMENT.
“Using Windstorm 109 1/8″ panels saves me the labor of using 2 men one entire day to cut and install horizontal blocking and install stud/plate uplift hardware. Also, I save about $70 per house on the 2,000 nails required to attach the uplift hardware.”
